Tilda o Kristina_volunteer Story_november 2009

8/9/2019 Tilda o Kristina_volunteer Story_november 2009

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Tilda & Kristina

Could we find a place to volunteer even as non-native English speakers

and when only having 1½ week available to volunteer? It did not seemlikely but we still searched the web for it. We, meaning myself aged 38

and daughter 15, both Swedish wanted to find a place where we cold stay

as volunteers for such a limited period of time. We already had a holiday

planned to south of Thailand with the rest of our family and wanted to

stay behind to see another side of Thailand and also to try to do some

good.

After finding the Learn2Give project on the web all was arranged for us in just days.

The people in the project, especially Aom, fixed all and a little more with a smile.

Aom at the festival Loi Khratong which we got to celebrate during our stay.



We were a bit nervous when we arrived to Ubon. What had we gotten ourselves in to?

We were still unsure of where to go and what sort of reaching we would be expected

to do.

The English Crazy crew met us at our hotel and we felt warmly welcomed from thesecond we met. The crew immediately took care of us like we had been friends for

long. They showed us around town, told us abort their projects, guided us around in

beautiful temples and taught us how to behave in them. They also taught us useful

songs and games that could be used while teaching. We were lodged at the university

campus with Ging, one of the friendly crew members. Most generous of her!

Inbed here this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re9M8ruwz88

Ging, Kwan, Aum and June, members of the English Crazy club, part of the Learn2Give project showing a song which was a success using at school.

Packed on motorbikes we were driven around town and shown many of the

interesting sights. We also got to try delicious Isaan food and of course learnt how to

praise good food in Isaan, “saep, saep elee elaw”.

Aom, Tie, Ann, Kwan and June driving us around Ubon

Another great member of the project, Kwan, took us to her home town where we got

to stay one night at her family’s house. It was another great experience. We were

even invited to a celebration at one of their relatives. We were served great food, such

as sticky rice, right next to the rice fields, and a big warm family.






Kwan, who invited us to her home, and Geng at a Korean BBQ birthday for Geng

that we were invited to.

The day before our first teaching day our hosts came to the University to pick us up.

We felt warmly welcome. Our hosts, Pornpattra and Thanacorn, were very warm-

hearted people and from the moment we met we instantly fell for them. They showed

us around and we learnt o lot of life in a smaller north-eastern village.



Our host mother, Phornpattra, was a teacher for younger children at the school

where we were.

The teaching was challenging at times but much fun. I think we learnt as much as the

students. Every class would start with a big “Welcome teacher” and then we would

get playing games, singing and teaching. We had to be very energetic ascommunicating with language was difficult. As there was no English teacher at

school and no teacher to help in translating instructions we had to use games and

songs that were easy to explain. The students laughed a lot both at and with us when

we were drawing pictures or using excessive body language when trying to explain

something.

Singing and playing with patong 11

We learnt that for some games it was easier to go outside as there was many students

per classroom. Other lessons were best performed when having something to draw or

write at. We initially believed that the younger groups would be the most difficult but

learnt that the oldest students we taught, aged 14 was more difficult. This as the

general understanding of English was the about the same as for the 10 year old ones.

We had difficulties explaining games more suitable for older kids that they would feel

comfortably in joining especially with a crowd of other students as audience.



The teaching experience was an eye-opener. It was both fun and inspirational. We felt

much appreciated. The attention that was shown was unexpected and quite overwhelming. After the school day ended students would come with gifts like flowers,

biscuits and fruits. Students would walk us home and hold our hands tightly. For my

co-teaching daughter Tilda it was a very different situation compared from home.

Students escorting us around after school hours.

We only had time to teach for one week. Beforehand we thought it might be far too

short. Looking at it with perspective it was short but not too short. I hope and

believed that we at least were able to show that learning another language can be fun.

Even if the few lessons did not give knowledge in English we hope it awaked more

interest in learning it. The students were eager to learn, the biggest problem was the

lack of English speaking teacher. At the school where we were English was normally

taught by teachers who themselves could not speak many English words.



Farewell ceremony at school

We would warmly recommend anyone interested in this kind of experience to take

the chance. With an open mind and a smile ready most things work our much better

and easier than first expected. It is difficult to pick what was best, the actual teaching,

life with a host family or spending time with the great Learn2Give team. We won’t

even try.

Students in the Learn2Give project

We thank the Learn2Give project for the opportunity to volunteer in this fabulous part

of Thailand!

Kristina & Tilda Kallur

Sweden

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Tilda o Kristina_volunteer Story_november 2009