I have arrived in Ubon Ratchathani. I spent my final day in Bangkok mostly relaxing and walking around a little as I tried to expect the unexpected. I go to Ubon with little knowledge of the school, the city, my living arrangements, how to teach English, and generally everything that I am getting involved in. I have been told that I will teach students and teachers. The student classes have 40-45 students per classroom and there will be, so I have been told, a Thai teacher in the class with me. Then I will also be teaching some classes of teachers.
On first appearances, Ubon seems to be a laid back, friendly, and rusty town. I met several teachers today, including a Vermonter, a few Aussies (That is for you Michael’s favorite student), an Irishmen, and a Texan. The school employees 10 Western teachers, and by Western I mean white, Aussies count. They all teach in the English and Bilingual Program. I will not be teaching in this program. From my understanding, I will be with students who are taking English in the same vain that American students take Spanish or French. The school is a 3 or 4 story complex with all the classroom and office doors opening towards the center courtyard.
I will not be working with students who have been immersed in English, the students will be rather fresh, with limited skills. The school does offer a program, where the other Westerners and Filipinos teach, that attempts to provide a much more significant amount of English throughout the academic disciplines.
I felt great going to the school, maybe the school atmosphere is my element. An Aussie teacher told me that the students will be in awe, because they never interacted with a Westerner before. But, if any of my students are reading this, we all know that students around the globe are in awe of me!!!! I will start my teaching on July 1. I am excited. And N.C., you can tell J.H. that I will try to track down Ronald McDonald for him, I didn’t see him on the drive in from the airport.
On first appearances, Ubon seems to be a laid back, friendly, and rusty town. I met several teachers today, including a Vermonter, a few Aussies (That is for you Michael’s favorite student), an Irishmen, and a Texan. The school employees 10 Western teachers, and by Western I mean white, Aussies count. They all teach in the English and Bilingual Program. I will not be teaching in this program. From my understanding, I will be with students who are taking English in the same vain that American students take Spanish or French. The school is a 3 or 4 story complex with all the classroom and office doors opening towards the center courtyard.
I will not be working with students who have been immersed in English, the students will be rather fresh, with limited skills. The school does offer a program, where the other Westerners and Filipinos teach, that attempts to provide a much more significant amount of English throughout the academic disciplines.
I felt great going to the school, maybe the school atmosphere is my element. An Aussie teacher told me that the students will be in awe, because they never interacted with a Westerner before. But, if any of my students are reading this, we all know that students around the globe are in awe of me!!!! I will start my teaching on July 1. I am excited. And N.C., you can tell J.H. that I will try to track down Ronald McDonald for him, I didn’t see him on the drive in from the airport.