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nuns trying to avoid the heat We went back to Sagaing (Sa Gai) for a different kind of experience, to teach English on the suggestion of our driver from Mandalay. We visited the school on our original trip to Sagaing and learned that nine monks had started the school which teaches primary and high school. The students are mainly local children and young monks living in a nearby monastery. Some of the students are from other provinces of Myanmar. The curriculum includes Buddhist Scripture, meditation, language (Burmese, English, and Japanese, and Chinese), mathematics and science and basic computer skills (typing in English and Burmese). While we visited we were queried by curious monk novices (a few that spoke English). It was an opportunity we couldn't pass up.
The school itself lies on an undeveloped slope of Sagaing hill. The classrooms are bamboo thatch with concrete floors and include benches (for desks) and a chalk board. The classrooms are built through donation, one of which was built with funds from a donor from Thailand. There is also a small classroom with computers. The students all bring notebooks and pencils to class.
While we prepared lessons not really knowing where to begin (Mazi has had some teaching
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Mandalay mini taxi experience) not to mention that we didn't fully understand the students' abilities. It really dawned on us that we had taken on a pretty tough task. Not wanting to disappoint we brainstormed ideas we could use for our classes. We prepared our lessons in our room at a nearby nunnery, our home for the week.
On our first day, in the morning, we woke up to breakfast prepared by the nuns. We ate quickly and a neighbour helped us negotiate a ride with a trishaw to the school about 10 minutes drive away. We climbed up the dirt road to the school and met with the Principal. We split into two classes. Geoff took the older group of highschool students and Mazi took the primary grades. We headed to our classrooms and waited for the groups to settle. After some introductions we got right into it. Our first day was a bit of a test run. We began with some simple phrases like "hello, how are you?" and "My Name is ...". Geoff realized most of his class could read and write these simple phrases without a problem but it was their oral conversation that needed practice. I was
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little market in Sagaing near the tea shop really surprised to find many students could read and write at least small sentences very well. Some of the staff were instructed to help us as well as translate commands, requests, and explanations. The first class ended and we went back to the nunnery for a much needed rest. Later, with some lesson books we prepared some more difficult material that focused on practicing their oral reading and asking and responding to simple questions.
We were very comfortable at the Nunnery which had the same amenities as a clean and comfortable guesthouse. In the evening we ate another meal of curry rice and vegetables the nuns prepared for us. At night we got snacks of Burmese milk tea and bread.
Mazi and I felt pretty passionate about teaching when we realized the students really wanted to learn. I was pretty stressed out about creating a meaningful lesson plan but remembered that we were only there for a short time and we would only be able to do what we could.
While staying at the nunnery we got to know our neighbour. He was 17 years old taking a free computer course. We practiced speaking English with him
and asked him questions about his life and goals. Meanwhile he helped us get fair prices for rides on trishaws and showed us around the area.
In the evening we ate dinner prepared by the nuns and after we went for a stroll up the hill to a small Paya which our driver previously showed us for the sunset. Winding our way through narrow alley-ways and steep steps we heard a yell from inside a small monastery. A few seconds later a boy about 11 years old showed up and proceeded to lead us up the stair case to the view point. Mazi queried him and found out his name, his age and where he lived. He stayed with us for a good hour as we enjoyed the sunset. On the way down I lent him our new wind-up flashlight which he took to help lead us down the unlit path back down the hill. He also showed us around a big temple nearby which we had been meaning to visit. For his services we took him to the nearby tea shop for a cold pop.
When we weren't preparing lessons we tried to learn about the nun's
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a typical betel nut stand life at the nunnery. We often heard nuns practicing and chanting Buddhist scriptures but we also saw them when they were relaxing and taking it easy. Mazi played with some novice nuns who taught her Burmese games, braided her hair with flowers and the novices offered Mazi their cherished Burmese candies.
On the fourth day, we woke up to a knock on our door. We were asked to prepare to accept visitors. It was the vice-principal monk and a man who came to check up on us at the nunnery previously. They had come to tell us we could not go to the school to teach anymore so we respected their wish. We could tell all parties were distraught and we all felt the disappointment. Barely awake and a little shocked the two of us sat together wondering what we should do next.
Later, we were told it was okay to visit the school one last time before we left town. When we arrived our classes had mostly dispersed for lunch and many of the novices went back to the monastery. We met with the principal and the teachers and we all expressed our regrets. We talked about
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view from Sagaing hill how in the future, it may be possible to teach again, under different circumstances. Before we left we took a picture with the staff, visited the nearby monastery and they gave us an information kit about the school. The principle have asked us to help create a website for the school in hopes of getting in contact with other communities and donors. We hope to get started with that when we return to Canada.
Our friend, 'trishaw driver' helped translate for us and we got together with the teachers for tea after school finished. The week was great, we both got an unforgettable experience, learned lots of new things, tried teaching which Mazi especially enjoyed. I (Geoff) enjoyed it as well but felt exhausted after just three mornings of teaching.
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anonymous
non-member comment
good job you guys. This is amazing. COME HOME! e