**This post was originally about midterms, but then turned into a school rant in general.
We arrived back in Kalasin just in time for midterms week, and my what a week it was.
Before I had left for my vacation, I had written three midterms, one for M1, one for M5 and one for 5/10, who have an exceptionally high english level. The head of our department had asked us to write them out and give them to him, and we assumed this was so he had time to look them over, check for any mistakes and make suggestions if need be. All the foreign teachers had their's written and turned in in time, and heard nothing, so we assumed we were in the clear.
Being that I had a 10 day vacation ahead, midterm protocol was the last thing on my mind. I had written what they asked me too, and figured if they needed anything else they would let me know. One thing that I have found SO GRATING about the Thai education system is the complete lack of communication.. It is non-existent. So whenever the teachers need something done, we are informed the day of, and even then are given the most minimal amount of information possible. So we all returned to school at the beginning of this week without the slightest idea of how midterms worked. Would we be attending all our classes as usual and be giving them then? Would there be designated days for each test, or designated days for each grade? Would they all test in the same space, or in their given classrooms? How would they be graded? Did they have a computer scanning system, or would they need to be hand graded? If so, who would be grading them? The list of unknowns goes onnnnnnnnnnnn.
I have found that at Anukoolnaree, it is much easier to just sit back and relax and when the time comes do as you are told. So I came to school with that mindset exactly. I figured that they would let us know if they needed anything. Apparently my M1's were testing that day. At about 10:30, one of the student teachers comes in with a question about my test. I had made sure to reread and edit all my tests, but it always helps to have a second pair of eyes to edit, which I had assumed was gonna happen when we gave our drafts to the head of our department. FALSE. Only AFTER they had printed 700 tests, on the DAY of the test, only then do they have questions and things to point out................ Fortunately it wasn't anything too severe, so the test went ahead as planned. Shelby was not so lucky. There was some confusion and the test she had written for her M4's was given to her M1s. So that was fun. But oh no, that's not all. Part of Shelby's test was fill in the blank format, and for some reason, because of this, she had to hand grade her tests. ALL 1200 of her tests. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy had they not informed her of this before the day of the test, before they had printed all of them, and if anything, she could have hand graded the first part, and the rest could have been graded by the computer..... Logic doesn't exist in Thailand. And mistakes like this just kept happening throughout the week. And I got my M1 results back, and over half of them failed..... And even though I know it is not my fault, I still want my students to do well!! And it makes me wonder if I could have done anything to improve their scores. But I later learned that there were some classes taught by Thai Student teachers where none of the students passed. So even the Thai teachers have been struggling to teach their students english.
Sidenote- every once in a while, the teachers will have us edit English tests, or essays. On Monday, one of the teachers had me edit a test (was not told what for, just that I should edit). I actually enjoy doing this because I like writing and reading, and feeling like I am the true expert in the field haha. BUT YOU GUYS, this test, this test was a JOKE. The test contained short conversations, with fill in the blank responses. So like question one would be "pick the best way to express an apology" and the answer options would be A. I'm sorry B. I apologize C. Please forgive me D. I hope we can make up................. ALL THE ANSWERS MEAN THE SAME THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just didn't even know what to do. And every single question was like this, like another example "pick the best way to express a warning" A. Don't touch! B. Be careful! C. Watch out! D. It's hot! The fact that every single question was like this, I just didn't have the energy. If I had received this test at the beginning of my stay, I would have made the effort to point it out. But I have found that the Thai teachers ask for your suggestions more as a form of show, and they actually have the answers they want all along, and ignore your suggestions.
But yea, I came to this school with a lot of optimism and really wanting to do my best. But the school has consistently fallen through . We had to miss a day of school to sort out our visa, and so we all wrote lesson plans for the substitute teachers. We come back the next day, and they were untouched. And the entire visa trip was for not because they were missing an essential document. So we missed ANOTHER day a few weeks later, wrote another set of lesson plans, in which I expressedly asked them to collect the work because I was missing some grades. Nothing.
We arrived back in Kalasin just in time for midterms week, and my what a week it was.
Before I had left for my vacation, I had written three midterms, one for M1, one for M5 and one for 5/10, who have an exceptionally high english level. The head of our department had asked us to write them out and give them to him, and we assumed this was so he had time to look them over, check for any mistakes and make suggestions if need be. All the foreign teachers had their's written and turned in in time, and heard nothing, so we assumed we were in the clear.
Being that I had a 10 day vacation ahead, midterm protocol was the last thing on my mind. I had written what they asked me too, and figured if they needed anything else they would let me know. One thing that I have found SO GRATING about the Thai education system is the complete lack of communication.. It is non-existent. So whenever the teachers need something done, we are informed the day of, and even then are given the most minimal amount of information possible. So we all returned to school at the beginning of this week without the slightest idea of how midterms worked. Would we be attending all our classes as usual and be giving them then? Would there be designated days for each test, or designated days for each grade? Would they all test in the same space, or in their given classrooms? How would they be graded? Did they have a computer scanning system, or would they need to be hand graded? If so, who would be grading them? The list of unknowns goes onnnnnnnnnnnn.
I have found that at Anukoolnaree, it is much easier to just sit back and relax and when the time comes do as you are told. So I came to school with that mindset exactly. I figured that they would let us know if they needed anything. Apparently my M1's were testing that day. At about 10:30, one of the student teachers comes in with a question about my test. I had made sure to reread and edit all my tests, but it always helps to have a second pair of eyes to edit, which I had assumed was gonna happen when we gave our drafts to the head of our department. FALSE. Only AFTER they had printed 700 tests, on the DAY of the test, only then do they have questions and things to point out................ Fortunately it wasn't anything too severe, so the test went ahead as planned. Shelby was not so lucky. There was some confusion and the test she had written for her M4's was given to her M1s. So that was fun. But oh no, that's not all. Part of Shelby's test was fill in the blank format, and for some reason, because of this, she had to hand grade her tests. ALL 1200 of her tests. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy had they not informed her of this before the day of the test, before they had printed all of them, and if anything, she could have hand graded the first part, and the rest could have been graded by the computer..... Logic doesn't exist in Thailand. And mistakes like this just kept happening throughout the week. And I got my M1 results back, and over half of them failed..... And even though I know it is not my fault, I still want my students to do well!! And it makes me wonder if I could have done anything to improve their scores. But I later learned that there were some classes taught by Thai Student teachers where none of the students passed. So even the Thai teachers have been struggling to teach their students english.
Sidenote- every once in a while, the teachers will have us edit English tests, or essays. On Monday, one of the teachers had me edit a test (was not told what for, just that I should edit). I actually enjoy doing this because I like writing and reading, and feeling like I am the true expert in the field haha. BUT YOU GUYS, this test, this test was a JOKE. The test contained short conversations, with fill in the blank responses. So like question one would be "pick the best way to express an apology" and the answer options would be A. I'm sorry B. I apologize C. Please forgive me D. I hope we can make up................. ALL THE ANSWERS MEAN THE SAME THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just didn't even know what to do. And every single question was like this, like another example "pick the best way to express a warning" A. Don't touch! B. Be careful! C. Watch out! D. It's hot! The fact that every single question was like this, I just didn't have the energy. If I had received this test at the beginning of my stay, I would have made the effort to point it out. But I have found that the Thai teachers ask for your suggestions more as a form of show, and they actually have the answers they want all along, and ignore your suggestions.
But yea, I came to this school with a lot of optimism and really wanting to do my best. But the school has consistently fallen through . We had to miss a day of school to sort out our visa, and so we all wrote lesson plans for the substitute teachers. We come back the next day, and they were untouched. And the entire visa trip was for not because they were missing an essential document. So we missed ANOTHER day a few weeks later, wrote another set of lesson plans, in which I expressedly asked them to collect the work because I was missing some grades. Nothing.
When we first arrived, all the Thai English teachers were studying for an annual English proficiency test. Apparently over half of them failed so they were hosting a workshop at our school during each weekend in the month of August. Near the end of June, one of the teachers approached us about working that event because 6 native english speakers were required. We were all very glad to help! So we said sure, we can each do 1 or 2 weekends, because all four is a bit much on top of our 24 class a week workload. And they said sorry, it's all or nothing.... okay??? If that is what you want, then okay. But then we hear a few weeks later, that they had gone to Becky's school, desperate and asked her to help out for one or two weekends?!?! The exact thing we had offered. They were sooo desperate, yet too worried about saving face, to re ask us.. That was kind of another nail in the coffin, I must say.
Basically, with the continued inefficient and backwards experiences, I really don't have much sympathy left for the school. All of the foreign teachers have consistently done their part, and the school falls through again and again. It is pointless for me to stress, I can't change anything, so I'm just gonna try and make the rest of my time here as easy as I can. I really don't like to be negative, and I'm sorry if this post appears like a complain fest, but it is simply reality. From the get go, we were left to fend for ourselves. None of the teachers showed us around the town, helped us open a bank account, or showed a general interest in us. And honestly, it's kind of freeing, because I don't feel a loyalty or obligation to the school. I hate how negative this post looks. I genuinely am happy, and grateful for the experience. I really have made some great friends and connections, and absolutely love my students. There are so many amazing things about Thailand. It has been life changing. BUT, the school itself is a bit of a joke. I think my next post will be a Thai appreciation post. Okay bye!!!!
Basically, with the continued inefficient and backwards experiences, I really don't have much sympathy left for the school. All of the foreign teachers have consistently done their part, and the school falls through again and again. It is pointless for me to stress, I can't change anything, so I'm just gonna try and make the rest of my time here as easy as I can. I really don't like to be negative, and I'm sorry if this post appears like a complain fest, but it is simply reality. From the get go, we were left to fend for ourselves. None of the teachers showed us around the town, helped us open a bank account, or showed a general interest in us. And honestly, it's kind of freeing, because I don't feel a loyalty or obligation to the school. I hate how negative this post looks. I genuinely am happy, and grateful for the experience. I really have made some great friends and connections, and absolutely love my students. There are so many amazing things about Thailand. It has been life changing. BUT, the school itself is a bit of a joke. I think my next post will be a Thai appreciation post. Okay bye!!!!
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