New Thai Teachers

This is Lara and I with the head of the English Department at our new school, Rong Rian (school) Buakhao (white lotus.) As of last week I live in a small town in the middle of Isaan, the most old-fashioned, conservative, non-Bangkok part of Thailand. If you're looking on a map, its in the province of Kalasin and its next to another small place called Kuchinarai. My town is Buakhao.

There is one other falang in town besides Lara and I, Brenda from South Africa. The three of us teach conversational English to the school. Its a huge school though, over 2,500 students, and we each have nearly 1,000 students a piece. I teach for four hour-long classes a day, and I only see each of my classes once a week. If that sounds nearly impossible, that's because it is. I have been surprised at how much difference a single hour per week can make, but still, I think its just about exposure to native speakers. Many students already have a good grasp on grammar but their pronunciation (of the teachers as well) is often very poor. That is where we come in, teaching those difficult letters and sounds like s, ch, l, r, and w. Overall, I find the job quite relaxing, the kids are wonderful, and I love the town.

I'll write more about all of it soon, and have more pictures up as well, but for now I'm just jotting down these notes between classes on the school's pokey-slow internet.