The strive for globalization has reached every corner of
the world. In one small corner of Rayong in Thailand children at the Ban
Khao Huai Mahad School are reaching out with the aid of AustCham.
Sean
Georget, chats to the children in their third year English lesson, Taweep
Soodsawang, school headmaster enjoys the exchange.
AustCham, as it is known is the Australian Chamber of
Commerce volunteers visit the school every second month to the teach the
children English in this poor rural part of the province and have done so
for the past three years.
"The students look forward to these classes and
those that have been coming for the last 3 years are more confident about
themselves and have the courage to shows themselves as children wanting to
learn," said Taweep Soodsawang, school headmaster.
Taweep has been teaching for over 30 years and at Ban
Khao Huai Mahad School for the last 20 told us that these students are the
children of his former students.
"Most of their parents are daily laborers in the
area and this is the only opportunity kids have to break the cycle,"
added Taweep.
Chanakarn
Jiamthongarun, Office Manager at AustCham (left) and Dale Maxwell go through
the alphabet with new students.
Learning
by word games was fun for all.
AustCham has made significant contributions to the school
by building a library and holding constant lesson for the kids each time
they visit eastern seaboard. Since the beginning of the project, the chamber
has undertaken another two schools, one in the Ban Bueng district in
Chonburi and another in Kanchanaburi.
Chanakarn Jiamthongarun, Office Manager at AustCham said,
"I have been teaching since the beginning and it is good to see the
progress of the children, they are more confident and eager to learn."
The children attending the classes make a special effort
to learn English by going back to school on the Saturday’s when members of
the chamber visit. Many of them have finished their primary education but
are eager to learn in the fun environment. Volunteers had a range of
resources and try and make the process fun for the children by playing word
games and getting the children to think rather than copy verbatim. The day
is full of laughter as both teachers and students enjoy the activities
enriching and learning from each other.
Taweep Soodsawang told me that if the students had the
opportunity to learn more regularly there would significant advancement in
the linguistic abilities. Chanakarn added by saying that her schedule is too
full to carry out more regular English classes since there are another two
schools to consider. Both agreed that if someone were to volunteer their
time to teach the children once or twice a month would benefit the children
greatly.
The Ban Khao Huai Mahad School is one of the poorer
schools in the area and although they have computers for the children to
learn the basics, there are no phone lines to connect to the Internet and
open their eyes to the world around them. Taweep said that in time as the
area progresses it may be possible but for the time being just allowing the
kids to learn another language is enough.
"We would welcome anyone who would like to teach the
children," concluded the jovial headmaster.
Those interested in teaching English in their spare time can contact
Chanakarn Jiamthongarun, Office Manager at AustCham for further details on
Tel: 0 2210 0216, Fax: 0 2675 6696 or Email: chanakarn@austcham thailand.com
