Learning with My Students
Authored By:
As my first semester of teaching is coming to a close and I am assessing how much my students have learned, it is also important to recognize how much they have taught me.
Teaching kindergarten has been such a gift. This age group has been wonderful for many reasons, but one of the most transformative is that it has been as much a learning experience for me as for my students.
In addition to making me a better educator, this opportunity has allowed me to learn the basics of my students’ language as I have shared mine with them. Because their English is so limited at this age, my English lessons have doubled as a crash course in basic Thai vocabulary for me. The significant language barrier has presented a unique set of challenges, but that language gap is steadily decreasing.
Every week, my school assigns a topic and accompanying vocabulary for me to teach. Because it is a trilingual school, the same topic is taught in Thai, Chinese, and English. The school provides a PowerPoint with relevant vocab words in all three languages, and the rest is up to the teachers.
This semester’s topics have included nature, colors, numbers, day and night, writing, and much more. This has given me to opportunity to learn the Thai vocabulary for each of these topics from my students as I teach them the English words. When I hold up a flashcard of the color red or hold up an image of a monkey, inevitably the whole class will shout the word in Thai. I gently inquire for the English word and make a mental note of the Thai one. In this way, my Thai vocabulary has grown exponentially.
My priority is first and foremost as a teacher, but I believe that learning from your students is essential to succeeding in that role. Sometimes, students need you to hear them in their language. I try to meet my students halfway in this journey toward understanding.
I recently finished writing and administering end-of-semester English exams for my students and am impressed by how much we have learned from each other this semester. It is my mission of gratitude to teach them as much as they teach me every day.
Related Posts
Tapas to Pad Thai: My Experiences Teaching Abroad in Spain and Thailand with CIEE
CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL Alum Spotlight: Meet Meghan! I have totally become the annoying friend that won’t stop talking about their time abroad. In my defense, it was one... keep reading
Vol. 1: Letters to The World From a Thai Classroom - Thailand Through Thai Eyes: Our Culture & Our Pride
What do you want the world to know about Thailand? Volume 1 offers a moving portrait of Thailand through the voices of eight Thai high school students: Panyawee R., Nattakorn Auykhiphan, Noey, Benyapa Polyiam, Chalisa Rodto, Doungkamon Chimtabtim, Chanidapa Charoen, and Napapron Attapan. Together, they reveal a Thailand deeply rooted in compassion, spirituality, artistic expression, and pride in tradition. From the open-hearted acceptance of LGBTQ+ people to the reverence for karma. These young voices speak of a nation that values harmony, family, humility, and cultural richness. Their stories remind us that to know Thailand, one must look beyond instagram and into the hearts of its people.
Orientation for Teaching in Thailand: A Day-by-Day Breakdown/ What its Really Like
What REALLY Happens at Orientation Week in Thailand: My CIEE Experience From jet lag and jungle curry to temples and teaching prep—orientation week in Bangkok is a wild ride of nerves, excitement, and unforgettable firsts. If you’re about to teach abroad with CIEE or OEG and wondering what those first few days in Thailand actually feel like… this is your sneak peek. I’ll walk you through each day of the June 2025 orientation—what we did, what I wish I knew, and why this week shaped everything that followed. Let’s rewind to the moment I landed in Bangkok, backpack in hand, heart racing. Here’s how it all unfolded.