Challenges

I have been living and working in Thailand for almost a year. I have encountered my share of challenges during this time. The first challenge came on my first class on the first day of school. This was my first school, Sajja Pittaya. I was teaching a class of 2nd graders and I didn’t know what to do. They were running around and I did not know what to say. There was a huge communication barrier, and there wasn’t a Thai teacher to keep them focused. I learned that makes a huge difference. During the months of July and August, I took a TESOL class in Bangkok. That helped me a lot for learning how to write a lesson plan. Another thing that helped me with lesson plans was when Ami Fletcher, a teacher from Nashville, came to Thailand in July. She helped me with teaching and I helped her as she was getting ready to go to seminary.

I have been living and working in Thailand for almost a year. I have encountered my share of challenges during this time. The first challenge came on my first class on the first day of school. This was my first school, Sajja Pittaya. I was teaching a class of 2nd graders and I didn’t know what to do. They were running around and I did not know what to say. There was a huge communication barrier, and there wasn’t a Thai teacher to keep them focused. I learned that makes a huge difference. During the months of July and August, I took a TESOL class in Bangkok. That helped me a lot for learning how to write a lesson plan. Another thing that helped me with lesson plans was when Ami Fletcher, a teacher from Nashville, came to Thailand in July. She helped me with teaching and I helped her as she was getting ready to go to seminary.

A second challenge is the Thai language. It is 5 tones and it has 44 letters. A major part of my orientation was spent learning Thai. It is no exaggeration that I spent 30 hours a week learning Thai. The Thai I learned was basic Thai. I can understand some Thai as long as people aren’t speaking very fast. I am currently learning more Thai at my second school, Udon Christian Wittaya and Udon Christian Suksa.

A third challenge that presented itself to me is one that often happens to foreign language teachers, and that is talking slowly and loud enough. I still have to remind myself to talk slower or sometimes, a student would say “Again please?” This is where I can go back to my training both as a minister and as a singer.

A fourth challenge that I have faced is a common one that happens when living and working in a i foreign country, and that is the legal issue of visas and work permits. So far, I have to been to Singapore once and to Laos three times. It is especially important for me to remember that a) I am a guest in my host country and that b) while I am obviously subject to their laws, I am also dealing with Thai culture and Thai time. Things will get done, but I need to be patient. I am also learning that I have tobe very adaptable and to go with the flow.

In October, I moved from Bangkok to Udon Thani, which is in northeastern Thailand near the border with Laos. Upon changing schools, I learned that schools are like ecosystems. Each have their own culture, their own dress code, stuff like that.

So what am I doing in Thailand? I am teaching English. At Sajjat Pittaya, I mainly taught the kindergarten classes and helped with grades 1-6. There, I would spend roughly 2 hours a week with each grade. At Udon Christian Suksa, I teach grades 1-6 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, I teach the 4th grade English at Udon Christian Wittaya. Since Udon Christan Wittaya is a larger school, (they have 1900 students!) I spend an hour a week with the 4th grade, since there are 5 different classes per grade. At the second period on Mondays, I play guitar and help the 5th grade Bible class.

Sometimes at the teachers’ worship service, I play guitar and sing. On this past Friday, I witnessed on what God has done in my life. One of the Thai teachers translated my words into Thai. On a separate note, I
am learning a few songs in Thai: one about the festival of Loy Krathong and one about how God’s mercy never changes.

Ben Ewert serves as a Long-term Volunteer with the Church of Christ in Thailand.  He is a teacher at Saja Pittaya School located in Bangkok.