Asia Teach

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Teaching in Thailand

Who? Me?  You must be joking!!  That was the initial thought I had when asked whether I would be interested in doing it. For one – I had NO experience in teaching since I have been working in the Corporate World for 28 years. A second “problem” was that I was not really a person that could identify with small children although having had two of my own. (Whom at this stage was all grown up and fending for themselves!!)

But then – it was an opportunity, since I had no job in my own country due to no fault of my own. I also thought back and remembered something I wrote on an annual staff evaluation form more or less six years ago. The question was “Where do you see yourself within the next five years” At that moment I just randomly wrote “In another country, doing something that will help other people” I never even thought about where I wanted to be in the company!!  

And here I am – by OWN choice teaching 6 year old students for the past two years!! I have just decided to take the opportunity and make something of it. If you told me two years ago that I will do that, I would have laughed in your face. If you tell me now that I will not be doing it in the next two years  - I will laugh in your face!!

Daneel Cleghorn

Teaching as an alternative

As a mom I was one of those people who never had time for teachers. They were always a bit too wise for my taste, too sure of themselves and just a little bit to eager for you to accept their point of view as the ultimate. Little did I know that all those personality traits had nothing to do with teaching. They were probably just descriptive of the kind of people I knew at the time!

I would never have guessed that teaching here in Thailand would become as easy as breathing. It is now a matter of relating to children in the most basic way possible, and if done with honesty, it is probably the most rewarding job that you ever will attempt. To see those little faces light up as you walk into the room, to listen to them trying to speak English to please you, and realising that you actually had a hand in the growth that is so evident. To get a  little handmade card that says "thank you teacher, you are the best teacher in the world for me - I love you" is the most humbling and satisfying of all emotions. This satisfaction, this gut feel of a job well done, this very humbling regard that the students and the parents show for you, makes light of those first few days of stomach churning absolute terror that you invariably experience during the first two weeks of teaching.  I can honestly say, it does start of VERY ROUGH, but before you know it, it becomes as smooth and sweet as  honey. Come try it for yourself!

Annette Cleghorn

 

 

 

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