Last week was a fairly quiet week. It went quickly, since Monday was a holiday. I like these four-day weeks. Tuesday morning Khun Toom greeted me with a big smile and a copy of the schedule of events for the term. Finally. It’s really nice to be able to look ahead and see things like Environment Camp and turn in lesson plans and record books on Friday this week. If I know these things, I can then ask her questions a few days in advance to remind her to keep us informed. Life is good again.
The big event this week was going back to the village for the party for Khun Toy’s new granddaughter. It was so good to be with the teachers there again. They greeted me like I am a celebrity. I got to sit with Khun Yindee and we had a good catch-up chat, which we both enjoyed. I do miss working with her and seeing her. She asked if I have good friends at the school, and I told her “not like you,” which is true.
Khun Kumtom presented the baby with a gold chain. I took a photo for Khun Toy. Then I was told to join the group. I thought that meant I would stand with the teachers behind Khun Kumtom, but they had me sit in the chair he had been in and hold the baby for a photo. I was a celebrity.
The blanket the baby was on was wrapped around something stiff. She was covered from head to foot and slept through the whole thing.
Three people from OBEC, the government office for education, were at the party. They were visiting the school for two days to evaluate it, and one of the things they evaluate is how well teachers get along. So the party, which was originally planned for next week, was moved up so they could have it while the officials were there. Usually at these new baby parties, there is dinner, Khun Kumtom makes his presentation, and then everyone goes home. But because of the special guests, the party had karaoke and dancing and whiskey was flowing and people didn’t start leaving until 7:30. I had a good time.
Thursday morning there was a special performance by blind singers during the homeroom hour. Of course, it took half of the first class, too. They were good, and students had a good time. During the last few songs, the younger students stood up and danced. Older students were too shy to do that.
No club on Friday at school because the school is being used on Sunday as a site where people can take the test to become government employees. So teachers and students had to clean the rooms, and teachers were putting up new bulletin boards so they would look beautiful.
My after school group at Bitoy’s house has changed. There were three girls for two weeks and then one stopped coming. Last week Khun Tang’s daughter stopped coming and a new friend of Bitoy’s joined her. Khun Tang had told me that Fah wanted to stop coming, but she had said she couldn’t. Then Friday I guess she changed her mind, as the change was made. I knew Fah wasn’t interested by her behavior; so this wasn’t a big surprise. Bitoy enjoys the class and it seems to give her confidence. I think she has a slight learning disability related to speed of processing. She often knows answers but she needs to think a bit. In class, she is often one of the last to finish a worksheet, but her answers are good. Khun Dakom told me recently that she was very outgoing when she was young, but now she is quiet. In our group, she is outgoing. I think she is quiet in class because she thinks more slowly than most of the good students; so they answer questions and move on before she’s thought of the answer. She probably thinks she’s not as smart as the others.
Khun Toom was talking about the Intensive English Program last week and mentioned that this is only its second year. And last year it was only for 1st and 4th grades. This year it’s for all grades. There are two tracks in elementary grades—one that is IE and one that isn’t. But all students in 7th-9th grades are in IE. We all thought it had been going longer; so this was interesting news that helped explain some things about the program. Like why it’s so poorly organized. And why students lack the skills we thought they had from previous years. Like so many things here, the program was started because it seemed like a good idea, but there wasn’t any planning for how it will work other than that we will teach the same content students are learning in Thai. But they don’t have the background English knowledge to do that. Of course, even in future years many won’t have the necessary skills because the good students leave and go to better schools. So the middle students become the good students, which is good for them, and the rest don’t know enough English to be successful it this program.
Learning that they were thrown into the IE program for the first time this year was useful. It explains a bit why even the good students didn’t understand anything for the first month or so. They weren’t just getting used to having a native speaker; they were getting used to having classes in English. It would have been helpful if we had been told that this is their first year. Then I could have started a bit slower instead of starting with the idea that they were used to studying in English. The other problem is that half of the students don’t know enough English to be in an IE program. Many of them can’t answer or read simple questions and don’t even try to learn. I have suggested that they continue the two-track system in middle school so the lower students can take less in English and more in Thai where maybe some of them can learn. But this probably won’t happen.
Students are finally getting used to me. The 8th grade has settled down pretty much. At least they now quietly so I don’t have to yell to be heard by those who are trying to listen. The girls who talk all the time in class have decided to be friendly outside class and always greet me and sometimes tell me I’m beautiful, which means they like the skirt or blouse I’m wearing. I find this interesting. Most of them don’t know enough English to learn much, but they don’t even pretend to try. They are writing what I put on the board in their notebooks without my yelling at them now, though. I guess this is progress.
Since they are quiet enough that I can talk and those who want to learn can listen and try to learn, I’ve decided that, since they don’t want to learn and don’t try, I don’t care if they learn or not as long as they’re reasonably quiet. This attitude helps. I can’t teach them if they won’t try to learn. And there are enough who are learning and trying to keep me satisfied. One boy wais and thanks me personally after almost every class. Others are really happy when they do well. Some are liking to volunteer to write answers on the board and becoming confident enough to do that. More actually read a word so I could hear them.
I started working with Bank, a 7th grader, on a story for the upcoming contests. We don’t know when the contests will be, but we’ll be ready. His English is very good, as he came from a very good school in Khon Kaen where he had American teachers every year. He also studies English at a special class on weekends. He’s very outgoing and likes to speak English. He translates for the other students. I’m always amazed by the way he—and the students I worked with at the other schools—can memorize something like this in a language they don’t know very well. He knows more than the others; so this isn’t as much of a challenge for him, but it’s still challenging. I’m glad we’re doing story-telling instead of speeches because he only has to learn one story and students should prepare at least three speech topics.
Sunday we all (Khun Toy, Khun Teamjan, Khun Dakom and I) went to the hospital for our bimonthly cholesterol check and to get a new supply of meds. This is the third month in a row I’ve had the blood work done, as I have gone to a new place each month. The trip to the hospital took all morning. Khun Toy left after having her blood drawn because she had to go to a seminar. Khun Teamjan and I were finished after three hours, but it took almost another hour for Khun Dakom’s meds to be ready. We don’t know why. Fortunately, I had a book with me. Afterwards, we had lunch at Khun Somlan’s house. Then Khun Teamjan and I came to my house to wait for the termite-killing man to come back for the second treatment. I haven’t seen any sign of them since I sprayed heavily after the big disaster last month and he treated the house three weeks ago.
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