“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.”
I have experienced many new things since I started teaching, particularly since I began teaching here in Thailand. School trips away to competitions in Math, Science, and English, The Bright Challenge held in Bangkok earlier this year, and Space Day, just concluded here in Buriram at the beginning of August. These experiences have proven to be both invigorating for me, professionally and personally, and life-affirming, in that I see a positive future for students here and, by extension, for the country as a whole.
For those considering whether to teach in Thailand or explore opportunities with the BFITS Program, moments like these highlight how meaningful teaching abroad can truly be.
Welcoming ASEAN Education Leaders to Buriram
Another such event occurred here in Buriram on Monday, August 23rd, when the school where I work, Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School, was honoured to host visiting Education Ministers from ASEAN countries and other participating nations for the 13th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting.
This consists of the Philippines, Myanmar, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and, of course, Thailand, representing the ASEAN countries. They were to be joined by another 8 Ministers representing China, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Russia, and the United States. The theme of the meeting was “Transforming Education in the Digital Era.”
Understanding ASEAN and Regional Cooperation
Before I go further, I would like to give a brief history of ASEAN itself. ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, was established on 8th August, 1967 when five leaders—the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand—sat down together in the main hall of the Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok and signed a document declaring the birth of this new organization.
Essentially, it was formed as an association to promote regional cooperation and to “accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development.” A testament to its success has been the accession of further countries to membership, bringing the number to 5 from the 5 that initially launched it on that day in 1967.
Preparing Students for a Major Event
About a month before the Ministers’ visit, we held interviews with a large number of students from all grades who were interested in participating in the proceedings on the day. We would need students to act as guides, MCs, and, of course, as themselves, as there would be classes the Ministers would be invited to observe. During these interviews, the students once again outdid themselves with their enthusiasm and desire to be a part of this upcoming event. Where they sometimes get the energy, I find it hard to fathom.
I myself was not involved in the selection process, but my more than capable colleagues succeeded in whittling down the numbers to those who were to be selected. I hold the opinion that the benefits of these events on students are manifold. Yes, there comes an added pressure, of course, but who has achieved anything worthwhile in life has not had to deal with pressure of some kind? It is ultimately part of success, and it makes that success more valuable and worthwhile.
I believe that participation in such events outside the classroom can contribute to students’ higher self-esteem and self-confidence, which can lead to higher academic performance. The social interactions involved are themselves invaluable, as is the focus on time management, as a lot may have to be done in a relatively short space of time, as was the case here.
Rehearsals and Team Effort Behind Success
On Saturday, August 10th, we gathered for our first rehearsals with the chosen students. I was selected to help some students who would serve as guides on the day, so I role-played as one of the visiting ministers. These were not students that I personally teach, so I thought that added a layer of authenticity to the rehearsal, as the students were not familiar with me.
The students who had been picked came from many different programs and departments within our school. After some initial nervousness, I thought the students did well, and after offering my own feedback, I would then engage with another pair of guides. This was the general back and forth of the day, and even though it was early days, I knew we had a good bunch.
We would meet regularly during breaks in class over the next two weeks to try to iron out some of the issues we thought we had and to discuss any problems we envisioned. Everybody got behind the effort, students and staff alike, and we would remain focused.
Final Preparations and Building Confidence
There would be many more meetings between us all as the day approached, but it was really in the weekend just past that I felt it had all come together. On Saturday, August 24th, we gathered again for the final time to rehearse in full. By this point, everybody was pretty tired, but we were so close and felt it was worth one last real push before the real thing on Monday.
There would essentially be 3 parts to our tour of the school, beginning with a visit to our main hall, Tewson Hall, where the Ministers would be shown a video showcasing our school and all it has to offer. Our students would then put on a show that reflected life as a student here and also accentuate Thai culture, including sports, dance, and traditions.
Part 2 would involve a visit to various classrooms to observe a small selection of lessons, including English and Thai classes, while we would finish with a tour of our impressive school library. Throughout all of this, our students would be the stars, serving as various guides, MCs, and performers. Each Minister would be assigned a student guide, and on this last day of preparation, I acted as the Russian Minister.
After wrapping up a final run-through of the tour, I felt all the students were as ready as they could be and tried to inspire them with an impromptu speech at the end of the day, as did numerous colleagues of mine. We eagerly awaited the Ministers’ arrival and slept well on Sunday.
The Day of the ASEAN Visit Begins
And arrive they did, in great numbers, the following day at about 2 pm. Before that, the students had one more rehearsal in the morning, and as I walked around the school grounds towards the main hall, I could feel a palpable tension or nervousness in the air. Everybody was dressed well and excited, of course, but there was a sense that this was indeed a big occasion for the school, one also to be embraced, as I had every faith in our students and their mentors.
I myself was to be involved in part 2 of the tour, as mentioned earlier. This was where a delegation would visit classrooms to observe students and teachers in action, and while I was not teaching the class, I would be present to help with questions.
ASEAN Ministers Arrive and Students Shine
The Ministers and their entourages arrived at approximately 2 pm, and after our school band greeted them, they proceeded to our main hall for a planned welcoming show. This was a great success, and although I was not present to see it in real time, I have been told that the students did themselves and the school proud, and that our visiting guests were very impressed.
After this, there was a tour of some classes, and the class I was placed in was, naturally enough, the Math class. The “Digital Transformation in Education” was the primary concern of the visit, and thus our class focused on it, as our teachers used various technologies while delivering their lessons.
I engaged various Ministers in conversation as they entered the Math class and was happy to answer any questions they had, but again, it was the students who shone brightest in that regard and were more than capable of handling any queries that came their way. Various other Ministers visited other classrooms and, by all accounts, were suitably impressed with what they saw, as they were kept engaged throughout.
Showcasing Students and School Excellence
The ASEAN ministers completed their tour with a visit to our school library, and below I am going to share more photos from the other parts of their trip, as I believe the photos will convey their experience more clearly than my words here can.
Reflection on Teaching and Student Growth
The trip lasted less than 90 minutes, but we were able to showcase many of the positive aspects of our school to the visiting dignitaries. And the most positive aspect of our school, in my opinion, is our wonderful students, who, despite the understandable pressure they must have felt, embraced the responsibility entrusted to them and rose to the challenge.
I, like all of my colleagues, felt enormous pride in how they conducted themselves, and I can safely say that the event was a huge success and a great boost to the morale of everyone involved with our great school. I had never experienced an event like this before, but I feel invigorated afterward.
I’m left thinking that I hope there are many more days ahead just like this.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
I want to personally extend my gratitude to all the visiting Education Ministers from each country, along with their entourages and minders. To the local police, who did a wonderful job on safety. To the fabulous staff at Buriram Pitthayakhom School, who worked tirelessly to ensure a successful day for all. And finally, to our students who did themselves, their school, and their families proud.
To a brighter future.
Chris Whearty
Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School
