“What was the most memorable moment in the classroom when you were a student?” We always encounter this question whenever we meet new people or when we converse with our friends or with our colleagues. Many of us shared experiences based on happy moments with our friends, our very kind teachers, waves of laughter, and sometimes the strict punishments we experienced from our disciplinarian teacher.
Still, for some reason, only a few or maybe none will say I remember about electrons circling the nucleus, the Pythagorean theorem, or the theory of relativity. We always remember our experiences based on the emotions we feel rather than the knowledge we obtain. This is something that I realize from my experience teaching for over 5 years in Thailand and for 12+ years in this profession.
In this blog, I will share with you my favorite teaching moment and how we can inspire our students to be the best version of themselves.
Building Connections with Students in Thailand
Building a connection with our students seems to be quite challenging in this generation. Online games, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and many other social media platforms attract their attention not momentarily but permanently.
Most of them now rely more on AI to do their assignments and can’t be attentive in an actual classroom. Time flies so fast as technology advances further, and we can’t stop it; as the quote says, “Change is the only permanent thing in this world.”
To be honest, it is challenging to get the students’ attention, and the hardest one is maintaining and motivating them to study. As I face these challenges in the four corners of the classroom, I have to deal with them and try my very best to address them.
Now, let’s explore the different teaching strategies where we can maximize the students’ participation in the learning process.
Maximize Learning Process through Students’ Participation
First of all, the participation of the students in the classroom is significant and necessary to maximize the learning process. It deals with flexible classroom management and devising routines you practice to achieve success.
In Saipanyarangsit (SPR) School, my classes usually have routine tasks to follow, especially laboratory experiments scheduled every week and sometimes project work alternately. Most of my students enjoyed science laboratory experiments and learned more with their friends. It helps them enhance their learning skills, such as cognitive, problem-solving, analytical, scientific, and even leadership skills. I’m excited as well as we interact more and observe more participation in the class. Students give me feedback that they have fun and enjoy the class. They discover, learn, and apply the concept in a real-life situation.
Performing science laboratory experiments was the best strategy for learning science, and we possibly enjoyed the science laboratory experiments only because of the unending and unwavering support by BFITS Thailand. They make sure to connect the teachers with whatever we need in our classroom, especially in the MEP Science Laboratory Room.
Recommended Interactive Classroom Applications
Interactive applications are also very helpful. Such as Kahoot! games, PhET Colorado Simulations, Lumio by Smart, Beautiful.ai, and many others were very helpful in the learning process. Kahoot games allow students to master the lessons and also as an avenue to measure the retention of information from the previous discussion.
PhET Colorado Simulations helps students practice the concept using simulations and addresses the issue of lack of materials that apply to the lesson. With such unavailability and expensive and unaffordable materials, you have PhET Simulations. Creating an interactive presentation using Lumio by Smart and Beautiful.ai will enhance the visuals of the information.
Overcoming Teaching Challenges in Thailand
Teaching the students how to be responsible and the knowledge they have to learn in class is not just a job that anyone can do. Challenges become difficult day by day, but when students thank you for helping them learn and do better in class, it is one of the most heartwarming experiences you will have as their teacher.
When the students get good scores on their respective tests and exams, it is even more satisfying as they achieve the curriculum indicators that they have to master. And when they tell you that you were their favorite teacher because you taught them well, one of my favorite teaching moments indeed.
Every term, we usually receive an email with the student’s evaluation and feedback. It was a realization that they meant what they said to you and a perspective for us to be better as well. The genuity of my students made me cry as we received care and acceptance from our beloved students.
Looking Back As a BFITS Teacher in Thailand
Success and achieving a certain goal requires passion, excellence, and influence. When I was a student council vice president in college, I learned this quote: “Passion, Excellence, and Influence: Our Own Definition of Service.”
As a BFITS teacher for 5 years, I have always motivated myself to apply this philosophy in the classroom. I am always passionate about the teaching profession by preparing and honing my skills to be a good and excellent teacher. I always strive for excellence; this year marks the first project I spearhead with BFITS entitled “Students Presentation of Research 2023 – SPR Mini – English Program Upper – Level Project Presentation 2023.”
I earned best practice presenter, top presenter, and an excellent rating for my book file report entitled “Students’ Performances Reinforcement – Learning By Creating (a teaching strategy I devised to improve students’ participation in the class)” from education experts awarded to me by the Office of the Basic Education Commission signed by the Secretary-General of the Basic Education Commission himself Mr. Amporn Pinasa during the National English Medium Instruction Programme Conference 2023 with the theme “Reimagining English – Medium Education: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Togetherness” at Bangbo Witthayakhom School.
I continually influence my students and colleagues to achieve and strive for excellence. I shared my best practices with my co-science teachers by conducting a one-day workshop entitled “First SPR MEP STEM (SPR Mini – English Program Science Team Enrichment Ministration Term 1 2023)” attended by the program manager and SPR BFITS Program Science teachers to recall different strategies and discuss problems encountered in the classroom to find solutions and make sure that we achieve the best teaching and learning process for our students.
I influence, motivate, and support my students in their project presentations. My project advisory class, which is the M 6/7 received the following recognitions such as the Best in Project Output Model, Students/ Peoples Choice Award, Most Responsible Group, and Overall Best in Project Presentation 2023 (the highest recognition) during the “Students Presentation of Research 2023 – SPR Mini – English Program Upper-Level Project Presentation 2023.”
Can All the Teachers in Thailand Do the Same Thing?
Teaching is the noblest profession in the world. It takes passion, sacrifice, and diligence to become one. When most of our students achieve their goals in life, teachers continue to inspire the next generation of youths, the future, and hope for tomorrow. Teachers prepare students for a brighter future, unlike other professions that earn a lot of money. We might not become one of the richest men on this planet but well respected by the students, what more we could have wished for?
Teachers are flexible and resilient in facing any challenges we encounter in the classroom. AI might help students solve most of their problem-solving questions in the classroom, but the teachers will help the students not just to solve the problems but also to be creative, imaginative, and have the ability to think outside the box, becoming innovative, flexible, adaptable, decision – making, and the most important is the ability to interact, empathize, and express and respond to emotions.
Do I Still Want to Teach in Thailand?
Sometimes, I asked myself if I still wanted to continue teaching. The journey of an educator with countless heartwarming stories, the moments showcasing the profound and uplifting aspects of a teacher creating a sense of accomplishment, and unexpected acts of kindness from students, from a heartfelt note expressing gratitude and visits during the teachers’ day celebrations.
Witnessing the transformation of shy students into confident individuals. The validation of the impact teachers have on shaping their lives in achieving and sharing their successes with you. To celebrate milestones during their graduation, reinforcing your role as a guide and supporter in their journey.
I want to share this with all the teachers around Thailand and in the world, remember this, I quote from one of my best mentors, children/ students cannot learn from people they do not like. Establishing a good relationship and communication with our students is essential.
A strong connection is needed for a lasting, enduring, and meaningful bond. We are their second parents, we must be the teachers we wish our children should have at school. Let’s become a good memory for our students. Let us be one of their inspirations in achieving excellence.
As BFITS teachers, we inspire our students to reach for the stars. Let’s be BFITS “Building a Friendly Institution in Teaching our Students”!
Proudly! I am BFITS!
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