Creating Effective Spaces

Before coming into this position in Phichit, Thailand I had a lot of misconceptions and doubts about my position as a foreigner coming to teach English in a developing country. Being African, I hold strong sensitivities in regards to external support of governments and social sectors of developing countries. So, when I accepted the offer to teach in Thailand,  I was dealing with a lot of my own personal beliefs and whether I was doing what I believed in. After my first week, I realized that a mutually beneficial relationship was going to evolve out of this experience: The schools that volunteers are assigned to, genuinely want volunteers to teach English in their classrooms. For most of the schools, they already have a “resident” English teacher. They want volunteer English teachers to supplement those lesson plans, encourage learning through conversations and games, and help the students to develop their accents and pronunciations.

But the reality is just because I can speak English doesn't mean that I am the most equipped to teach it. The number of times, I've been forced to sit through a lecture by a professor who's studied, research, theorized and written about their work for 5+ years but could not teach the topic is innumerable.

So while I was teaching in my first grade class, in the middle of a lesson I found myself asking if I was being as effective as I could be. Was I teaching them in a way to would inspire them to use their own ability to speak another language as a form of communication? Was I providing space for confidence and curiosity? These are questions that I’m sure I’ll keep asking of myself through this experience.

In my times of weakness and inability, I find courage to question my intentionality and purpose while here.

Extended Trips and Extended Families

We had a Sunday trip to Uthai Thani (a province about 2.5 hours away). We drove and picked up my load of family members, leaving the family van for a very comfy and inviting space! In total, it was my host mom, host dad, 2 host brothers, 2 aunts, 1 uncle, 2 cousins, grandmother and grandfather. Talk about a full house! It was great because I had seen their faces since our last family visit. On the way to the temple, we drove past rice fields and quiet areas. I really love silence and any opportunity to admire nature.

We visited the beautiful Wat Tha Sung. I was in complete admiration when I entered the temple. Being in SE Asia, it's very easy to get "Temple fatigue." The buddhist region has about every style, shape, color and size of temple you could ask for. After sometime, it all muddles into one. Regardless, Wat Tha Sung and the Golden Temple was a sight to see.

Just one of the sights inside Wat Tha Sung

 

This isn't even everyone in the family!

Entrance into Wat Tha Sung

Golden Temple

 

A beautiful lotus flower I spotted after leaving the Golden Temple

Mid-point break: a moment when all the volunteers/teachers come together to share their stories of humor, frustrations, and hopes for the remainder of our time here. It’s beautiful to think that we’re so involved and cognizant of our positions here. (at Ban Taphan Hin, Phichit, Thailand)

Like A Girl

For the remainder of this teaching position, I’m suppose to create a community service project specific to the needs of my community and/or school. As my interests are geared towards international development, I’m constantly questioning myself about efficacy, intentionality and purpose. I truly want to have a service project that is effective and sustainable to the community. Currently, my interests lie in gender issues in the global south. I’d love to hold a workshop, paint a mural or even host a football game that strengthens girl empowerment. But I’m still trying to identify if this is a need that needs to be served or if there is something greater. As I type this, I realize that I need to communicate with my school director about possible ideas.

Scout Day! (very similar to Boy and Girl Scouts but instituted in schools once a week)

 

Monk Things

Leader of Monks (jao-ah-wat) • The Backstory: he called my host mom and requested to meet me at our temple (across the street). We practice English together through talking about Buddhism, Thai culture, traveling and my students. He's been a monk for 34 years (hence his dark orange tint) Listening to people's stories is the greatest pleasure.

motorbike rides with my host mom

"To educate a girl and is to educate an entire community"

My co-teacher Ann, took this picture of my fifth graders.

I feel like it captures my mission and values while I'm here. I keep finding myself tied back to education in some realm or position. Being an African immigrant to the US, I learned to value education at a young age. Very quickly, it became very real to me the sacrifices that I made and were made on my behalf in order to get to this place. For a while, I imagined myself working in international education policy world and working to decrease the opportunity gap in education. During my first year at university, I interned at an international education NGO and found myself at the fore front of these issues. Two years later, with considerable experience, I still find myself tied to this content area. I'm interested in how education can be used as a tool of poverty alleviation and an increase of access. I look forward to the remainder of this experience.