Be Like Chris: Help Students Shine During Exams While Teaching in Thailand

Teaching in Thailand is more than just a job—it’s an opportunity to inspire young minds, embrace a new culture, and grow alongside your students.

Well, as they say, “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”

As exams approach, teachers here take on the important role of guiding students through both the academic challenges and the emotions that come with them. In this article, I share my own reflections and practical tips for helping students shine during exam season, while building a supportive and encouraging classroom environment in the heart of Thailand.

The Buzz of Exam Season in Thailand

It’s mid-July, and there is a great feeling in the air as school is now back in full swing, and most of us, and our students, will be facing their Midterm Exams for Semester 1 in the coming days. A critical time and an excellent opportunity for all to take a minute and gain an insight into the progress being made, here I wish to discuss my thoughts on exams in school and what can be gained from sitting them.

And the pitfalls to avoid! For anyone who wants to teach in Thailand, supporting students during exams is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

Facing Stress and Building Resilience

So we’ve all been there. The feelings of stress, anxiety, and nervousness that accompany any or at least most big tests in our lives can leave deep emotional scars if things do not go our way on the day. It could be a job interview, a driving test, a college exam, or simply just an end-of-unit test.

These feelings are a normal response to the pressure of performance, but need to be harnessed correctly so as not to become overwhelming and affect focus negatively. Part of our job as teachers at exam times is to guide our students through these emotions as professionally as we can.

Of course, some students will be more adversely affected by negative feelings of inadequacy than others, but with our encouragement, they can overcome this. And in a sense, it is all about balance. About studying enough but not overdoing it. About sleeping enough and eating a balanced diet. All of this makes a difference.

And a positive one when done correctly. I encourage all of this with my students, but we are all different. When I was in school (over 20 years ago), we were advised to make study schedules, i.e., Math 6-7 pm, English 7:15-8:15 pm, French 8:30-9:15 pm, etc. That never really worked for me.

I used to prefer going for long walks in the open air with my book/copybook and taking things in that way. This is something teachers in Thailand learn to adapt to, finding unique ways to connect with their students.

Hands-On Learning Moments That Inspire

And this is where the importance of exams in a students life comes into the equation. Exams serve as a powerful motivating tool for students and they encourage consistent and effective study habits. They are an opportunity for students to show what they know and what they have learned.

They are not there to catch you out or to punish you although they will punish a lack of knowledge and especially a lack of effort. If I attempt to pass a bus driving test having never driven a bus before, I would not expect the results to be good and indeed, I may be responsible for some casualties in that instance.

Do not worry, it is not something I plan anytime soon. For anyone planning to teach English in Thailand, encouraging these study habits is an essential skill.

The Big Picture: Skills for Life

My point is that regular engagement with the subject matter reinforces learning and aids retention. There are important life lessons to be gained from exams for our students. Exams give students an insight into how to manage their time effectively under pressure, and to actually deal with said pressure.

These are valuable skills that may be transferable to later life, particularly when a student is working to a deadline or has a specific target to meet to be deemed successful. And of course, the actual knowledge they gain from each subject can be used over and over again, depending on what they choose to study or do in their post-school life.

Ultimately, exams hold students and teachers alike accountable. For students, it gives a clear signal as to their efforts and understanding. The more you put in, the more you get out kind of thing. From a teacher’s perspective, it provides insight into whether their teaching methods are effective and highlights areas where a majority of students may be struggling.

Exams generally make equals of us all, and the integrity of the exam must always be respected. Teaching in Thailand means embracing this shared responsibility with your students.

Guidance, Encouragement, and Balance

As I mentioned earlier, there is some general advice I give my students. I tell them how they should be getting a good night’s rest, how they should be eating well and exercising regularly, and how they should study in short bursts rather than 4-5 hour slogs. It’s these small moments of support that make teaching in Thailand so meaningful for both students and teachers alike.

Here, teachers can be effective by helping students to prioritize their time and energy on certain aspects of each topic. After all, it is we who have crafted each exam and know exactly what it contains. We should encourage our students to see the positives in studying and the value in learning, as each stepping stone leads to a brighter future.

A supportive environment is particularly beneficial at this time of the year, as it allows students to approach us with any questions or doubts, which we can then help alleviate. And celebrate progress! Acknowledge and praise students’ efforts because we all like positive feedback. If you want to teach English in Thailand, remember it’s not just about lessons—it’s about being that guide and cheerleader.

Wishing All of the Students the Very Best

I hope that here I have been able to put across some points about how exams are important for a number of different reasons and about how students can maximise their efforts to excel without causing unnecessary stress to themselves. I have also shared some tips that I myself use with my students and this advice has proven successful to me in the past (and still does).

Of course, exams are only a part of the overall student experience and in a lot of ways not always the most important aspect but their importance is clear and we as educators need to help our students to get the best out of themselves, to make sure our students take pride in their efforts and to celebrate their achievements when the time to do so arises.

This is what makes teachers in Thailand stand out: our willingness to support students not just in class but in life. I wish all of our students in the BFITS community, along with their many dedicated teachers, the very best of luck in their upcoming exams and continued prosperity for the rest of this term and beyond.

Chris Whearty
Line: kilkennycats1986
BP BFITS Program
Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School