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Read the following story. Then, answer the questions that follow.
How does a young foreign teacher feel about working in Thailand? A British blogger, 24-year-old Anil Mehmi, writes with great energy and enthusiasm about his teaching experience. Here are his thoughts on the highs and lows of teaching Matayom students.
FIRST JOB
One of my first experiences of teaching high-school students was when I got placed in a school very far away from Bangkok in a little town called Kham Khuen Kaeo, Yasothon. After a gruelling 12-hour coach journey I finally arrived and was ready to start teaching! Slightly nervous, but equally excited, I met the Director of English and was quickly assigned my classes - Matayom 4 and 6. All the materials and class content were pre-prepared but it was my duty, as a native English speaker, to deliver a high-quality impactful lesson on conversational English. Was I apprehensive? Of course!
Teaching teenagers is very different to my experiences with kindergarten and primary students. The classroom dynamics were strange and this meant a swift change in teaching methods. But I adjusted fairly quickly, mainly because I tried to use humour and keep the learning environment relaxed.
I had an all-boys class once a week who didn’t have any interest in English until I came along. But despite three occasions dragging them off the field (for playing football and skipping class), they finally turned up on time for the fourth and final class with me. It was great.
BACK TO BANGKOK
I decided to finally settle down at a school in Bangkok. I got offered a job at Samsen Wittayalai School which turns out to be one of the best Thai schools in the country. I was responsible for teaching Matayom 2 and 3.
Teaching is not always easy but it certainly helps when you have a great network of colleagues around you. Working as a team is really what drives the success in our department. Some days are good and some days are disastrous but at least you can come back to the office knowing that you’re not alone. And it’s not all work and no play - we do know how to have fun once in a while.
HIGH STANDARDS
Teaching is far more challenging than my previous jobs, but I quite enjoy that. A reputable school comes with high standards and there are no excuses to be made. I have the resources and facilities, so it’s up to me to fulfil my mission as a teacher - to instil a love of learning.
The students here are quite conscientious and their English tends to be very good. You’ll find in a lot of Thai and International schools that respect is a prerequisite for student conduct and it’s definitely evident here. Students have a lot of respect for their teachers and will often wai you every time they see you.
So far, I’ve completed a semester at Samsen and I’ve loved every moment. From the marking of hundreds of exam scripts to the conducting of the national Spelling Bee competition – it’s all been a great journey.
Follow Anil’s blog at //www.anilmehmi.wordpress.com/
SECTION 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. Where is Anil Mehmi from?
a. The UK.
b. Ireland.
c. The USA.
2. Teaching is Anil’s first job. True or false?
a. True.
b. False.
c. The story doesn’t say.
3. Which of the following best describes Anil’s classes?
a. Strict.
b. Easy.
c. Fun.
4. What does Anil say about Samsen Wittayalai School?
a. It’s one of the most famous schools in the country.
b. It’s one of the most exclusive schools in the country.
c. It’s one of the best schools in the country.
5. Which of the following has Anil done, according to the article?
a. Given presentations.
b. Marked exam papers.
c. Won a competition.
6. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the article?
a. Anil thinks that teaching is easy.
b. Anil thinks that it’s unnecessary for students to wai their teachers.
c. Anil thinks that a school with a good reputation has high standards.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the article?
a. Anil has completed a year at Samsen Wittayalai School.
b. Kham Khuen Kaeo is located in Yasothon province.
c. Anil has taught primary school students.
SECTION 2
Match each of the following words used in the story with the correct definitions from the choices given.
| 8. impactful | a. that must exist or happen before something else can happen or be done |
| 9. apprehensive | b. very difficult and tiring, needing great effort for a long time |
| 10. gruelling | c. having a major effect |
| 11. prerequisite | d. taking care to do things carefully and correctly |
| 12. disastrous | e. very bad, harmful or unsuccessful |
| 13. conscientious | f. worried or frightened that something unpleasant may happen |
SECTION 3
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
A month of teaching passed incredibly quickly and I still reflect on how …..14….. an opportunity it was to teach …..15….. this school. This school was a truly …..16….. host for a relatively new teacher and I learned so much. …..17….. being a provincial school in the middle of nowhere, the standard …..18….. English was actually pretty good. The kids were very respectful …..19….. teachers used to fuss over the fact that I was English – I felt special.
14.
a. amazing
b. amazed
c. amazingly
15.
a. on
b. at
c. from
16.
a. exception
b. exceptional
c. exceptionally
17.
a. Despite
b. However
c. Because
18.
a. of
b. under
c. to
19.
a. but
b. or
c. and
SECTION 4
Write down the noun forms of the following words used in the story in the space provided.
20. deliver
……………………
21. swift
……………………
22. fulfil
……………………
23. reputable
……………………
24. adjust
……………………
Answers
Section 1
1. a.
2. b.
3. c.
4. c.
5. b.
6. c.
7. a.
Section 2
8. c.
9. f.
10. b.
11. a.
12. e.
13. d.
Section 3
14. a.
15. b.
16. b.
17. a.
18. a.
19. c.
Section 4
20. Delivery.
21. Swiftness.
22. Fulfilment.
23. Reputation.
24. Adjustment.
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
