My experience in teaching English to Thai children

Ven. Silar DOUNGBOUTDY

B.A 1
2/11/2017

Three weeks ago, I had opportunity from IBC to share my knowledge to young students (pupils) at Yang Thong Primary School (Thailand). Even thought, I wasn’t qualified to be a teacher but I was delighted to share my knowledge to the students (pupils). Our team had more than fifteen people who are Theravada and Mahayana monks and nuns as well as (some) laypeople.

We had five days (English) program for grade one to grade six. First day, we participated together in the activity which was held in the meeting room. We introduced ourselves and played the game that we sat as a circle when one friend kept a small rope and ran around our backs. The game was fun and connected us closer to the students. Some students who had lost the game had to sing a song in front of all of the friends and teachers. One student was afraid and could not sing, so he cried and that’s why all of his friends were laughing at him.

On the second day, which was also the first class of the program, I was really afraid of teaching for the students because my English was not good enough. I taught grade one with my Dhamma friends who come from India and Sri Lanka. We started the class with English alphabets, and at that moment, we felt shy because the students laughed at our pronunciations, however, I explained for the students that we are from different countries and so the sounds were a little bit strange and funny. Almost of our students are very young, about six to eight years old, and so their English were poor, therefore, I translated the lessons to Thai to make them easily understand. Actually, my Thai was also not good however, the school’s teachers helped us a lot, and I tried my best. Even I was a volunteer Dhamma teacher in a middle school and a high school in Laos, but I still earned from this experience that teaching is not easy, especially teaching children. Anyway, teaching a second language gave me some ideas to better my skills in preaching Dhamma.

After five days, the school’s (principle) director came to thank us for our efforts had impacted on the students and make them wanted to learn more about English, and he hoped that the school will have more opportunity like that to encourage the students.
Finally, we took picture together with the lovely students and teachers; we all smiled and had the beautiful day!