Doing What We Love

Back in the saddle! Phil and I went through teacher training again early this past week with two other volunteer teachers (one from Minnesota, the other from Wisconsin). Here we are in the official Santisuk newsletter portrait (note the Christmas tree still in the background):

Joyce (on the left) is an accomplished writer and speaker, and was awarded the job of teaching the writing class this session. Diane (on the right) is a five-month volunteer who is currently teaching level 4. They are staying in the apartment directly above us in the Mission House.

Phil and I were assigned to teach two level 1 classes as a team. Which we actually prefer (Phil’s jokes lighten up my seriousness). We taught level 1 last year, so the material is familiar.

What is not familiar this year is the large class size (12 students in one class, 9 in the other) and the fact that we have two Buddhist monks in our afternoon class. Phil and I were a bit apprehensive about this, mainly because we weren’t sure of the protocol of how to address them and whether they would fit in with the classroom camaraderie (we like to laugh a lot in our classes).

This is part of a wall that runs along the river walk.

I took this picture of the Buddhist temple complex on a walk last Sunday.

One of the temple structures inside the wall.

As it turns out, we needn’t have worried. The younger monk (named “Duck”) is a former international soccer player who became a monk after retiring. He loves to laugh and joke. The older one (named “Khaow”, pronounced “Chow”) holds himself a bit aloof in class but has taken a shine to Phil and has inquired about taking more private English instruction from him. He comes regularly to the common lunch table an hour before class to practice speaking English with us, and yesterday presented us with a container full of sweet, crispy rolled crackers. Khaow’s English is much more advanced than Duck’s, but we enjoy them both.

The two monks are at the rear of the classroom.

Phil is teaching the story of Jesus’ healing the paralyzed man.

Our first session is from 1-3 p.m., and we usually eat with students around noon, then stay after class to play games in the lobby.

Our second session is from 7-9 p.m., and no one stays after class to hang out, so we are able to go home and crash.

It’s a funny thing about teaching. Prior to class I think, “Whoa, I’m not sure I have the energy for this.” Once things are in motion, however, it’s really fun and energizing. Then after class is done, I’m drained and need to rest up for the next one.

The energy comes from the students. They are eager for interaction, love to laugh, appreciate Phil’s and my concern that they pronounce words correctly, and call out the best in us as we teach. This brings an energy and happiness (joy?) that makes life sparkle a bit more. It’s worth whatever effort we are putting into it.

Dream, one of our students from last year. She’s a very smart

law student with an eye for fashion. She’s designed a shirt that reads,

“Doing good is justice.”