MEETING LOCAL NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS

10/28/2017

We recently taught in two communities in northern and southern Rakhine State, and can now reflect how much we were able to meet the local needs and expectations.

In northern Rakhine, we taught English to Grade 9 and 10 students six days a week. On our day off, Sunday, we also watched movies with them. Although six days of classes a week was intense, it allowed us to regularly plan lessons and improve our classes. We often discussed with the parents about their children's difficulties in school, and how we could help. Even now, I continue to keep in touch with them on the phone and am happy to hear some have built an inner drive to learn even more.

"Although six days of classes a week was intense, it allowed us to regularly plan lessons and improve our classes. We often discussed with the parents about their children's difficulties in school, and how we could help."

On the other hand, in southern Rakhine, we taught English to Grade 10 students as well as university students and graduates. Some were also government school and tuition teachers; thus, they had a limited time to attend our class. Every week, we taught 3 days in a row, and it was easy for the students to relax and forget what they had learned in the other 4 days they had off. If possible, we would have taught every other day. In addition, the students didn't attend classes as regularly as we expected.

So why did we have such a different teaching experience in these two communities? I think it depends on the local needs and expectations. In the village in northern Rakhine, there is a clear lack of access to basic education. Until recently, the students had to commute to another village to attend school and unfortunately four students drowned on their way. Now, the village is struggling to set up a school for Grade 9 and are always concerned about the closure of their school as it could happen at any time. Thus, they were excited for us to work with them and teach the students.

"Until recently, the students had to commute to another village to attend school and unfortunately four students drowned on their way. Now, the village is struggling to set up a school for Grade 9 and are always concerned about the closure of their school as it could happen at any time. Thus, they were excited for us to work with them and teach the students."

Meanwhile, in the village in southern Rakhine, there is already a high school that's been open since around 1984. There is no such concern of a school closure. The lifestyle is also similar to a city. While the local leader strongly supported our class, the rest of the community was less involved as the parents were busy with their daily job and the students were busy with government school and other activities. However, if we came at another time, perhaps the needs and expectations would have been different.

Thank you to both communities for welcoming us! We appreciate the opportunity to work with them.

Aung Free
NEH Local Teacher Trainee

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