Tilda & Kristina (Sweden)

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 seem likely 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.

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 the second 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!

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”.

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.

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.

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 as communicating 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.

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 over whelming. 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.

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.

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.

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

Kristina & Tilda Kallur
Sweden