In My OPINION
Because nobody is an island, everyone needs a little help at some time; but how far should we go when someone asks for help?
STEVE GRAHAM
There are many duties and responsibilities that are expected of a teacher. I have always felt that one of the reasons foreigners are allowed to teach in Thailand is that they are expected to help their Thai colleagues.
A friend in need
The life experiences and methodologies that foreigners can offer to teaching have proved invaluable to Thai students over the years. There are also English language skills, as well as the proven use of English over a long period of time that can prove invaluable to those teachers, who have questions that need answering.
This is not a native speaker versus non-native speaker argument. I am not saying anyone is better than anyone else. It is just that people are not the same, and they all bring something different to the table. On the other hand, I can say that I am always thankful for my Thai colleagues, who can explain the grammar points of my own language to me, so that I can have a better understanding of them.
So, when a colleague asks for help, I am more than happy to oblige. What does this colloquial phrase mean? When would you use this type of saying? There does come a point, though, when help starts to creep into the boundaries of something quite different, and I am finding it more and more difficult to know where to draw the line.
Proofreading or mentoring
When it comes to proofreading, I have come across some instances where I am expected to rewrite the whole piece of writing, which I find very embarrassing, as information is not readily forthcoming as to what the writing is to be used for.
I want to be helpful. However, there are those who expect this voluntary service to be conducted at lightning speed, confirming the lack of understanding of the complexities of such a task. To be able to rewrite something, the writer's original intentions are important in deciding how to change the initial draft.
I am also aware that some of the texts may well be parts of a degree thesis. In this case, you have to ask yourself: "Is it right for me to rewrite someone else's work, so that he or she can progress up the academic ladder?" This is especially so when the subject is associated with teaching English to speakers of other languages.
By refusing to help, there is the chance of being branded as unhelpful, which is something that no foreign teacher wants to be associated with when he or she is working in someone else's country.
In my opinion, it is very difficult to help with proofreading, unless there is an understanding of what the writer wants to say. A one-on-one situation would be ideal, where there is the possibility of working together, with the original writer setting the content and tone and with the "mentor" suggesting ways in which those can be expressed. I believe that there is a very fine dividing line, and that discretion is needed.
Right mixture of teachers and resources
I have found that the sharing of resources is always a problem. Most schools and universities I have seen outside of Bangkok and the major cities are underfunded and have little resources that they can call their own.
To add insult to injury, recent reports of fake textbooks and the involvement of a former committee member of the Office of the Education Council have only highlighted the problems facing those in charge of Thailand's education system.
I have used my own resources for about 95 percent of the courses I have taught at Udon Thani Rajabhat University. However, I am thinking that, after a period of more than five years, surely we should be doing more to equip our education institutions with the resources they need. You can't rely on goodwill forever, as, all of a sudden, you might find that it is all used up.
The resources are no good unless there are teachers who know what to do with them. Having a wonderful collection of the latest textbooks to show visiting dignitaries will not help the plight of the students, who are screaming out to be educated in an effective manner.
In my opinion, we need qualified active teachers with genuine up-to-date resources that they can use to ensure that the students of today can progress to be our leaders of tomorrow. Only then would I feel that my work has been accomplished.
Steve Graham is an English language teacher at the Language Centre, Udon Thani Rajabhat University in northeast Thailand. You can contact Steve at steve@steves-english-zone.com if you have something you would like to discuss.
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