The Story So Far ...

We said farewell to our work friends at the RSPCA and BBC on 14 September, farewell to our families on 3 October, and set off for Africa to save cheetahs, decorate school buildings, and look around a bit. After a trip home for Christmas, we headed for South East Asia on 6 January -- where we were stunned by Qatar and Cambodia, taught novice monks in Laos, and acted as security guards at an Elephant Festival. It was back home for four weeks to look after John's dad, before we tangoed our way through five South American countries in fifteen days. We then snooped our way through New Zealand, dipped our toes into Fiji, drove-thru California and were home from home with family in Vancouver.

Now, we are home itself. Fulfilled, happy, and ready to earn the respect of our friends and family by knuckling down and earning some money once again ...

Monday, 31 January 2011

The English Teacher

Meet the Volunteer Teachers of  '11
Mel (Australia), John (UK), Kirsten (Australia), Donna (USA), Lily (USA), Henry (UK)

I was angry at first, but now it just makes me sad, and want to try harder.

It was my first day of teaching English to Lao students.  Miss Tuey was the classroom teacher - in her early twenties?  There were 17 students in the room, ranging from cheeky 8 year olds to studious 19s.  She greeted them in Lao, mentioned something about "Mr John".  I smiled, trying to hide my nerves, ready to sit to her side, observe, and think how I could best help her.

She handed me the open text book.  "You - teach - this - chap - ter," she instructed me.  And it was she that sat down.

I paused, an eyebrow raised.  "Er - well - how far have they got, what do they already know?" I murmered to her, as discreetly as I could in front of her pupils.  She looked at me, blank.

I had learnt my own first lesson.  She had hardly understood a word I had just said.  In this privately run college, the English speakers can't speak usable English, because the Lao State Education System hadn't taught them enough English in the first place.  Oh yes, they can write Future Simple Active/Passive on the board, above a table of verbs.  But discuss a lesson plan with her assistant?  Goodness, no.

My 60 classroom hours as an English teacher had begun.

John

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