Chiang Mai: May 2006

Our wisdom and well being correspondent, Bud Wiser, brings us full coverage of Ray and Nikki's five-week TEFL course at Chiang Mai University, and the conclusion to the exciting story of their mission to become qualified English teachers.

Arriving back in Chiang Mai, following their amazing two-week tour of neighbouring Laos (Following the Mekong Trail Part 2), Ray and Nikki returned to their apartment at the Hillside Plaza, to begin their final preparations for the five-week TEFL course.

Above: The wonderful, modern Hillside 4 Plaza and Condotel; Ray and Nikki’s base for the five weeks of the TEFL course – a far cry from the straw huts and muddy paths of the Laos villages they had returned from and only a few minutes away from the University

“I had asked my brother Paul to send me my laptop computer so that I could use it during the course” said Ray. “As it was coming over, Nikki and I asked him to add a few other bits and pieces, including some DVD’s, coffee and Marmite, so that we would have some creature comforts while we were studying” he added.

On the University Campus, both Ray and Nikki were required to wear formal clothing, as teachers are regarded with great respect in Thailand and it would have been considered inappropriate for them to dress casually, even though they were students for the five week period. So new outfits were duly acquired, transforming our travelling duo into smart looking professionals. “It felt really strange wearing proper clothes again” said Nikki. ”It was nearly a year since I had worn a pair of long trousers” added Ray.

Above: Before and after - Ray and Nikki transformed from back packers (left) to students. They may have got the clothes but they were still a long way from becoming teachers at this point!

Chiang Mai University is situated North West of the old city. The ambience and learning facilities at the University are unmatched in Northern Thailand and the Campus has about 20,000 undergraduate students studying a wide range of subjects. For more information about the facilities and resources at the University, click here (Chiang Mai University).

The TEFL course is run by an independent organisation, based at the University, called the Language Institute and has rapidly become one of the best certified qualifications available in the region. “Those of you who read Part 1 (University Challenge Part 1) will know that we researched our options very carefully and chose the course at CMU because of its great reputation and endorsement by the Thai government” said Ray. For more information about the Language Institute, click here (Language Institute).

Above: The main entrance to the University on the Huay Kaew Road was only a five minute bike ride away from Ray and Nikki’s apartment

Below: The University grounds were incredibly beautiful, creating a great environment to learn in. There are many facilities for students, including their own Buddhist temple!

The TEFL course runs for five weeks. To qualify, students are required to complete 120 hours of study, with 40 of those being practical teaching under observation, with Thai students who are learning English. “We were really pleased to meet our tutors, Peter and Karla, who were excellent from the outset and made us feel like we were in very safe hands” said Nikki. “We also benefited from being in quite a small group, as we got more individual time with them” added Ray.

Above: Ray and Nikki were very fortunate to be tutored by Peter and Karla, who have masses of experience between them in teaching English. They opened the course with the quote on the board, which says “Great teaching comes from preparing thoroughly, challenging the students, listening carefully and respectfully, constantly learning as you teach and including in every class a clear, insightful new concept”. This set the tone for the next five weeks and created great excitement for our wannabe teachers

Students who take the TEFL course are assessed by a combination of practical assignments and exams. The 40 hour practical teaching starts after the first week and takes place each evening between 5-7pm. Ray and Nikki were required to design and prepare a number of lessons for a class of 14 Thai students (age 20-24). They were also observed and assessed teaching their classes. 50% of the overall marks for the course are allocated to preparing and teaching lessons. The remaining 50% of the marks come from a grammar test, a final exam and participation and attendance throughout.

To gain the TEFL qualification, students are required to obtain an overall mark of 60% or higher. A pass with distinction requires 85% or more and with High distinction, 95% or more. “I asked how many past students had gained High distinctions, to gauge my chances” said an inquisitive Ray. “When I discovered that only one person in the history of the course had managed it, it made me really determined to go for it” he added.

Above: Guided by their excellent tutor Karla, Ray and Nikki take up the challenge of becoming qualified teachers, hoping they will both achieve great results by the end of course, but blissfully unaware of the hard work awaiting them!

“We started the course with five days of classroom work to learn the key theories behind teaching English as a foreign language” said Ray. “This was very useful and the workload in those first few days was quite challenging for us” added Nikki. “It definitely helped us to prepare psychologically for teaching Thai students the following week” she explained.

Above: Nikki, with fellow students Paul and Chris take part in one of the many classroom exercises during the first week of the course

If they thought the first week was going to be the hardest, Ray and Nikki were mistaken. Once the practical teaching classes had begun, their workload effectively doubled, as they continued to attend their own classes during the day with Peter and Karla and were teaching Thai students in the evenings. “We started setting our alarm earlier and earlier as the course went on” said Nikki. “We always had reading to do for homework, but our lesson planning usually took up the evening, so reading got pushed back to the next morning” she told me.

Above: Day breaks over Ray and Nikki's balcony in their Chiang Mai apartment - the workload for both of them continued to increase as the course progressed, which meant a lot of early morning’s and late nights

Below: Ray and Nikki were lucky to have access to hundreds of very cheap places to eat, as it meant they could work late into the evening without wasting any time in the kitchen!

Two weeks into their course, Ray had still not received the package with his computer from England, as it was being held by Thai customs in Bangkok. “It turned into a bit of a nightmare” said Ray. “I discovered that I was required to pay VAT and import duties on my own possessions, which infuriated me because I had intended to save money by using my own computer, instead of the local Internet Café’s” said a very annoyed Ray. “Even though I tried to explain this to the Thai authorities, they were unwilling to yield and there was nothing I could do about it” he added.

Meanwhile, Karla continued to guide Ray and Nikki in their practical teaching. “We learnt a great deal by observing Karla teach” said Nikki. “We saw how important good lesson preparation was and started to understand how to keep our students engaged in the lesson” she added. “This was very important for many of our students who had a limited understanding of English” she explained to me.

Above and below: Karla was a brilliant role model for Nikki and Ray, showing them how to work with students effectively and leading by example

In Thailand, students address trainee teachers formally, as Khruu (pronounced Crew). This has a convenient double meaning because the lead teacher in the classroom can call upon ‘the crew’ to assist in specific activities during a lesson.

Once they have qualified, they acquire the title Ajarn (pronounced Azsarn). In the classroom, Ray, Nikki and Karla all had to address each other in this way during class, to maintain the esteem and respect that Thai students have for teachers.

Above: Khruu Ray teaches students about how to have conversations in English. Some of our readers might recognise the “Conversation Cycle” model – something Ray first came across many years ago

Below: Khruu Ray stands next to two of his students and gives encouragement during one of their learning activities

Above and below: Khruu Nikki in action, gaining experience working with her students during classroom activities

The second and third week of the course for Ray and Nikki was their main opportunity to gain teaching experience in the classroom, in preparation for their two hour, assessed teaching lesson in week four, worth 20% of their overall marks. They had the full support of the team that work in the Language Institute and often needed to use the facilities to prepare teaching material for their classes.

“The staff in the Language Institute were great” said Ray. “We often called in to use their computers or get photocopying done and they were always very accommodating. We felt like they genuinely wanted us to succeed” he added. “They also had an air conditioned office and a comfortable sofa, which was a welcome relief from the heat outside” added Nikki.

Above: The team at the Language Institute were very supportive, friendly and genuinely wanted Ray and Nikki to succeed in their TEFL course

According to the teaching staff at the Language Institute, the fourth week is the hardest for student teachers as the combination of the lesson assessment, the grammar test, and revision for the exam and daily classes takes it toll. “At this stage, the pressure really started getting to me” said Nikki. “We were receiving new information every day with no time to consolidate and the pressure I had put myself under to achieve a high score was not helping” she recalled. “I was missing what had become ‘normal’ activities in my life, like going to Yoga and lazing by the swimming pool!” she mused.

Above: “It’s all getting a bit too much – when am I going to get my life back?” wonders Nikki.....

Below: ...“Don’t worry Nikki” says Ray – I think we can use this neat software to get us a bit more time.....

Below: ......“Ah! That’s much better – lets have a cup of tea” says Nikki

By the time Ray and Nikki entered the fourth week of their course, they were both ready for their two hour, assessed teaching lesson. “I don’t think I could have been more prepared than I was” said Nikki. “I went over every detail, in much the same way as rehearsing for a part in a play, which gave me a lot of confidence” she told me.

Above Khruu Nikki has one last run through in her mind before her students arrive for her two-hour lesson being assessed by Karla

Nikki's confidence was reflected in the marks awarded to her, as she collected an impressive score of 19.5 from a possible 20. “I was absolutely delighted at my score and felt really satisfied that it reflected the effort I had put in” said a very happy Nikki.

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Above: Khruu Nikki takes it all in her stride as her students listen attentively and witness a master in the making

Below: Khruu Nikki proves that good preparation really pays as she delivers an engaging and dynamic lesson that her students thoroughly enjoyed whilst learning to produce more English at the same time. If you would like to see a short video of Khruu Nikki during her assessed teaching lesson, click here: Khruu Nikki teaching

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Not only was Nikki being assessed for her course, she was also being observed by a prospective employer who had been invited to come and watch her in action. He was so impressed with her he immediately offered her a job teaching at their eight-week English summer school for young learners. “When he approached me after my lesson, he asked me how many years I had been teaching, which made me feel like I had been appearing in the TV programme ‘Faking It’ and had managed to convince him I was a real teacher!” said a very modest Nikki.

Above: Ravee Phoewhawm, from London House, a private school in Chiang Mai, chats with Karla whilst observing Nikki in action during her assessed teaching lesson

Nikki had set an incredibly high standard for Ray, who was scheduled for his assessed teaching the following evening. “She did so well, I was really pleased for her and slightly nervous for myself at the same time as I knew I would have to really be on top of things to match what she had produced” said Ray. “However, I knew I was very well prepared and was excited about my lesson so I was reasonably relaxed about it” he added.

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Above: Khruu Ray, fooling around with Khruu Nikki before the start of his assessed teaching – modelling the phrase “Never take things too seriously!”

Above Left: “Hi everybody – let’s learn English!” says a very excited Khruu Ray as his students enjoy his charismatic teaching style (centre) and pay close attention to him as he talks about the language associated with creating success in their future (right)

Below: Khruu Ray inspires his students to use their imaginations...

... then he explains what he wants them to do in a role play exercise (below left), and looks on with great satisfaction as a few of his students hold a conversation in English about their future plans and dreams (below right). If you would like to see a short video of Khruu Ray during his assessed teaching lesson, click here: Khruu Ray teaching

I spoke to Ray after his assessed lesson to find out more about how he thought it went. “During the lesson, I was very pleased with the class and virtually everything went according to plan” he told me. “There was one change I made on the fly, but no one except Karla noticed this, and even she admired the fact I had managed to improvise so well, which is all part of being a good teacher” he added.

Above: “Now then Karla, while the students are busy working, a little word in your ear about my distinction!”

There were two great pieces of news awaiting Ray on completion of his assessed lesson. The first was that he had scored 19.5 out of a possible 20 marks. “I was delighted” he said. “Not only did I get the same score as Nikki, meaning my pride was in tact, but it meant that it was still feasible for me to achieve the coveted high distinction, assuming that I did well in both the grammar test and final exams” he added.

The other piece of good news was that Ray’s computer was finally going to be delivered, after he had paid Thai customs over £250 in duties to enable it’s release. “It was definitely a case of better late than never, coming too late for the coursework, but in time for Nikki and I to use it for the dreaded grammar test” he told me. “I was also pleased to receive the other bits and pieces in the parcel, including my new MP3 player which I had been eagerly waiting for. The duties on the items meant that we also acquired what was probably the most expensive coffee and Marmite in history!” he laughed.

Above: Ray is absolutely thrilled to be re-united with his beloved Sony laptop, and celebrates by having some of the most expensive coffee and Marmite in the world!

Having spent a whole weekend working on their grammar test, both Nikki and Ray passed it with flying colours, entering the fifth and last week of the course with 75 points each. With only a further 20 points available from the final exam, the pressure was on as it meant a perfect score would be needed in the examination, which was taking place on the Friday of the last week.

“We started the week with two clear objectives,” said Ray. “One was to successfully complete our practical teaching classes and the other was to revise everything we had learned so we had the possibility of a perfect score in the exam” he added.

Above: “Well done everybody!” – Khruu Ray and Khruu Nikki celebrate with their students who all received their certificates in Communicative English on the last day of their four week course

Below: "We're so proud of you" says Khruu Ray and Khruu Nikki to some of their students

Above: Khruu Paul, one of Ray and Nikki’s colleagues teaching in a different class, also did brilliantly with his students and joins in the celebrations with Ajarn Karla

Both Paul and Nikki chose the theme of The Movies for their assessed teaching lessons. Paul's students provided the crew with a few laughs, like the comedy film titles some of them unwittingly invented when asked to think of Hollywood movies. For example, "Harry's Porter", a behind the scenes account of a young magicians hired help; "Broken-Back Mountain", a gay cowboy film with the most painful rodeo scene ever captured on film; "Nothing Hill" starring Julia Roberth, all about a random guy with a speech impediment from the most insignificant part of London who falls for some movie star; and finally, another gay movie, the alternative of a Shakespeare classic, "Romeo and Julius".

Below: Khruu Nikki and Khruu Ray, with Ajarn Peter and two of their successful students

Ray and Nikki sat the final exam on the last Friday of the course and then eagerly awaited their results over the weekend that followed. “It was a bitter sweet feeling” said Nikki, after they left the exam room. “We knew the course was over, so there would be no more work and we could have a lie in the next day, which felt great. But we were also anxious as we were both waiting on tenterhooks for our final mark” she added.

“On Friday evening, Nikki treated us to a wonderful treatment at a spa in our apartment building, which was such a delight to receive after our exam” Ray told me. “However, all we could really think about during the three hours of pampering was the exam results as we wondered what our final mark would be” he added.

Above: Ray relaxes in the apartment over the weekend and reads a magazine to take his mind off the anxiety of waiting for their exam results

The email containing the results arrived late Sunday evening, putting them out of their misery. Nikki received a distinction, which she was delighted with. “I was absolutely thrilled to pass with distinction, as I have never been a high academic achiever. Ray had set the pace for me, with his determination to pass with a high distinction helping me to raise my own game. I have discovered that I can produce great academic results through dedicated hard work, which is really good to know at this stage of my life” said a very satisfied Nikki.

As for Ray, he achieved his personal goal of becoming the second person to pass the CMU TEFL course with a high distinction. “I knew I was expecting a lot, going into the final exam needing a perfect score. So I applied myself the best I could and asked for divine support the night before” he shared with me. “Naturally, I am over the moon with the result and feel confident about teaching as I continue my travels around Asia. Both Nikki and I really appreciate the support we received from Karla and Peter at the Language Institute” said Ray.

I managed to speak to Karla last week, who had this to say about our dynamic duo:

"When I first met Ray and Nikki, I wasn't too sure about them. They looked like a couple of dodgy backpackers. But they cleaned up really well! I'm not allowed to have favourite students, but if I was, they would both definitely be on my shortlist. As students, they were a pleasure to have in class and as teachers, they were a joy to watch. Both Ray and Nikki have such a natural aptitude for teaching and the conscientiousness to back it up. Their future students will be lucky indeed!"
 

Above and below: Ajarn Ray and Ajarn Nikki receive their TEFL certificates from Sansanee Wannangkoon, Director of the Language Institute

Editors Note: Congratulations to Ray and Nikki from everyone at The Daily Lama! We will now be taking a break for our summer holidays, and we hope to back online with our next issue sometime in August. In the meantime, please email us with any comments or suggestions about The Daily Lama and thanks for reading. See you soon.       

MOZZIE BYTE and AMBER SOLAIRE

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