Teaching in Laos has proven to be a challenging experience. I must admit the students have given me all sorts of tests. They have tried my patience, challenged my teaching skills, and forced me to think creatively. Try putting yourself in my shoes: imagine teaching Asian students English using an African accent. I would say the task is challenging. I have been teaching for five months and it has been an experience of a lifetime. (Mostly having to get the students to understand my odd Lao and English accents.) However, all efforts have not been in vain: in the past months my students and I have built a great relationship. That on its own is yet another tale. Today I want you to help me judge who the best artist is. The school has few resources and if they are there, they are usually not enough to share with all the students (30-60 people per class). I often call them up to the board so they draw certain illustrations and drawings related to the English lesson of the day.
Secondary 4A
Secondary 3B
Secondary 2C
Secondary 4B
The students enjoy being called up to the blackboard to exhibit their unique talents.
One of my favorite moments of the day is when I have to respond to the students' welcoming chorus: "Good morning, Teacher," even though the good morning part is said at any time of the day. However, getting all of them to pay attention is hard especially if you are competing against their fancy cell phone games. Each class roughly has 30-50 students. And they all have different levels of English comprehension!
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| The camera got their attention pretty quickly. |
The use of games and various activities has been of great use, and they are beginning to pay attention. Some are turning out to be good students. Since they have a communal culture, getting some students to pay attention means that their friends will be easily influenced to likewise pay attention. Their respect and attention to the teacher is based on their social relationship; the closer the friendship is between student and teacher, the better the response/respect is in class.
Since I am halfway through the term, I have the insight to see that my relationship with the students is now increasing exponentially rather than a steady slope. They now tell me about their own lives and feel free to ask me any sort of question, English-related or not. I am really looking forward to teaching them more and discovering more about them.
