Provide Education for 470 Burmese Migrant Children

Dear Supporters,

Our students have been busy bees, here is what they have been up to in the past months... Since the month of September our learning center has a full time native English teacher to work with the higher grades (6,7,8). The English classes are based on the Myanmar Basic Education Curriculum, which primarily focuses on reading and writing skills. These students have been exposed to a fair amount of reading and writing, however, their listening and speaking skills are lacking. Sophie (their new teacher) has introduced a new English curriculum based on the textbook, English Made Easy: Learning English through Pictures. This textbook exposes students to basic conversational scenarios through illustrations. Sophie has been using the Myanmar Basic Education Curriculum as a foundation, incorporating the English Made Easy textbook to give students practical conversational scenarios.

Music has also been incorporated into the English curriculum. Basic rhythms and music theory are taught to the kids. Students also attend optional dance and keyboard lessons during lunchtime, where they learn through English instruction.
There are constantly opportunities for the students to converse with their English teacher outside of class. The students have welcomed Sophie into their community by inviting her to football tournaments, weddings, and field trips. They initiate English conversations with her and are proud to show her around Thailand. All in all, the first month of teaching has revealed the students’ desire to learn and speak English proficiently, opening doors of opportunity for their future.

The students at the Unified Learning Center (ULC) spent the first week of October preparing for their subject exams. After writing their exams from October 9th – 15th, the school was closed for a two week holiday. During the holiday, a Civic Education training session was held at the ULC for three days. Teachers from Phang Nga and Ranong participated in the event. Trainers from Mae Sot taught about the importance of teaching civic education, which equips and empowers the students to act as good citizens and participate in their community.

A presentation was given by the English teacher, Sophie, who taught about the contrasting civic education system in South Africa vs. the United States. This gave the Burmese teachers a global perspective on citizens’ rights and how differing countries incorporate civics into their education systems. The teachers at the ULC will be implementing civic education into their lessons, including the English classes. Students will gain a basic understanding of their rights and will be able to identify when their rights are being violated. They will also learn about the importance of being a good citizen and how they can influence their community on a daily basis.

During the month of November, all students were assigned additional English classes during lunch. These classes include English instruction through singing, dancing, and storytelling. The students enjoyed the extra English classes and took advantage of the opportunity to learn English through music.

During December, several volunteers came to visit the students at the learning center. Students were interviewed by the volunteers in English and discussed their goals for the future. Each of the students shared their dream to pursue a higher education. Nay, grade 8, dreams of going to medical school and becoming a doctor. Khin Mo, grade 7, shares her dream of attending fashion design school in London. Zin, grade 6, wants to study education and become an English teacher. With the support of the FED donors, ULC teachers, and other contributors, these dreams will hopefully become a reality in the near future.

Grades 6, 7, and 8 have been preparing for their spelling bee, which will take place in February. The students have each found their own English storybook novel from the learning center library and write 5 – 10 new vocabulary words a day, practicing the spelling of each word. The students also anticipate the arrival of new volunteers in February, where they can perform their English songs in front of a large audience.