JoY Bilingual School
The Learning Network Ltd is a company
that brings together several learning facilities under a common goal
of progressive education here in Suratthani. The largest of the
branches is called Joy School and it is a bilingual school for grades
K-6 and where I will be doing all of my instruction. Then there is
The Language, an after-school program for elementary students where
learning is more informal and classes are smaller (usually 15
students – compared to about 25 students per class at Joy School).
Next, there is AE or Alternative English, which is a program for
teenagers where they are encouraged to develop independent study
habits, using the computers but also having a lot of individual
attention and support. Finally, there is an entire program for
advancing teacher education and training which is supplied through
Global TESOL and gives on-going training and certification programs
for ESL teachers.
The education coordinator at The
Learning Network is Lisa Garvey and she has an amazing background,
having completed all levels of the Global TESOL courses as well as
holding a Masters degree in museum and curatorial studies – she was
working in museum education in England before she decided to move to
Thailand to pursue a career in education! Clearly with the common
passion for Art as well as Education the two of us have hit it off
nicely and I am looking forward to taking her workshops throughout
the year and getting to know her more!!
The school has been so organized with
everything from the Welcome Packet all the way to our training,
schedules and orientation as well as providing in-depth curriculum
outline for the entire year. However, they are also extremely
flexible and while they provide you with the topics and required
coursework you are able to plan your own lessons and teach in
whichever style you feel most comfortable. They encourage creativity
and having FUN! The best part is the Director, known as Kru Nok
(literally translates as Teacher Bird) who has a pet parrot that
chills on her shoulder and flies freely around the school! The birds speak mostly Thai so we are going to see how much English we can teach them this year!!
They have already suggested using yoga
as a warm up exercise to begin your day!!! With my class of
kindergarteners I will start the day off with the lining up at the
flag in the morning for the national anthem, followed by milk time :D
then in my lessons I will be building vocabulary, teaching phonics, a
little bit of math, story time and my most favorite … ART <3
Finally I will assist in getting them lunch, brushing their teeth,
and finally getting settled for nap time. Each day by noon I am off
to lunch and have the remainder of the afternoon set aside for
planning.
& Since I have not done a great job of taking pictures of the campus quite yet, I will simply leave you with this......
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