Teach English in Zengkou Zhen - Bazhong Shi

For many students around the world, it is absolutely essential to learn English. Thai students are no exception to this unspoken rule. Due to the fact that Thailand’s primary schools have been teaching English for years, you might think that Thai students will be relatively proficient in English. However, in my opinion, after 3 years living and working in Thailand, this does not seem to be the case for a majority of students and since my plan is to teaching English to the Thai students I was aimed to search and gather information about the main problems and the possible solutions. 1. They are Accustomed to Rote Memorization Problem: Many Thai schools use a simple rote instructional method that students must follow closely in order to receive passing marks. Teachers do not often stray from the books. For instance, English grammar and conversation lessons are simply comprised of a worksheet or a list of rules with examples that students must memorize and/or copy. Thus, they may not have interactive opportunities to make English their own and learn it in an individualized way. Solution: When it comes to teaching students how to speak any foreign language, there’s no substitute for practical experience. The best way for you to give your Thai students this much-needed experience is to create situations where proper communication in English is a must. 2. They Get Minimal English Writing Practice Problem: Although Thai students are required to write essays in class, they don’t get plentiful opportunities to practice the whole writing process, that is, brainstorming, drafting and editing an essay. They simply go through the steps of preparing an essay and perhaps looking it over once before turning it in for a grade. Solution: Drafting, proofreading and self-editing activities go a long way towards helping Thai students to develop mastery over the writing process. These activities can teach them the steps they need to take to become better writers. 3. They Place Limited Focus on Editing Problem: While students are taught to proofread and correct their pieces before turning them in, there’s a little emphasis placed on things like self-editing checklists and other options that could help them to actually re-visit their ideas and catch sizable mistakes earlier in the writing process. Solution: It’s much easier to find errors when reviewing fresh material. In order to give students more experience with the editing process, it’s beneficial to allow students to edit each other’s writing assignments. In many cases, the students with stronger writing and editing skills are given the opportunity to help students who aren’t quite as far along in the English learning process. 4. They are Used to Getting Grades, Rather Than Full-on Feedback Problem: While students do receive some feedback on their writing assignments, mostly in terms of a grade, they may not fully understand their weaknesses. They may not always receive guidance as to how they can improve their English grammar on an individual level. Solution: There are several viable solutions to this particular issue. First, you’ll want to introduce a mix of teacher-student conferences, individual feedback sessions, small group meetings, and peer feedback. This variety of feedback can be instrumental in teaching students how to write and speak English effectively. Interactive support and peer learning are essential tools in any classroom. Many students in this part of the world don’t typically get exposure to these types of learning tools, which are far more prevalent elsewhere in the world, like the United States and Canada. However, they’re excellent tools for learning English. Another way to create opportunities for feedback can be through the sponsoring of mandatory writing competitions with some type of awards on the line. By creating competition among several different learning institutions and having independent English experts serving as judges, there’s a high likelihood that most students will put their best foot forward and think seriously about what they’re writing. The anticipation of getting feedback from independent judges could also be a motivating factor. If you can’t arrange such a large event, then make it happen in your school, or even just in your classroom! 5. They Do not Feel Confident in Their English Skills Problem: Most high school students understand the need to learn how to write with great English grammar for college and career purposes. However, they may feel they lack the means to do so on their own and must rely on their institutions and teachers. Solution: The good news is Thai students seem to be eager to learn ways to improve their English writing skills. A more intensive English writing curriculum and teachers who are more involved with each student’s progress, along with interactive assignments and peer learning opportunities, can help students to learn how to have English proficiency in a more effective way. The more proficient they get, the more confidence they’ll have in using their English skills. As you can see, teaching English to Thai students is much like teaching English anywhere and I believe as a teacher after having enough self-confidence, the teaching experience will be the key factor for a teacher to tackle any problem that he/she will be facing.