When the opportunity to
volunteer presented itself to me for the summer following my completion of
secondary school, I was thrilled. Being able to experience Cambodia, a stunning
and unique country with some of the kindest and gentlest of people, outside of
the stereotypical tourist viewpoint is a huge privilege and something I will be
forever grateful for.
Having grown up in the UK I was
confident enough in my English abilities to not be concerned with the expectations
of teaching. Upon arriving at PTD I was given a choice on what to teach and ultimately,
I chose Grammar and Phonics, two sub topic subjects taught twice a week to two
classes. Schools in Cambodia are also split in two- Khmer schools and English
ones- which meant that there was a Morning Class and an Afternoon Class. PTD
placed immense faith in my abilities, allowing me to create lesson plans and
teach without relying on senior members of staff. This helped me feel like a
valued member of the school community and resulted in me forming close bonds
with other members of the staff. Everyone within the PTD community are extremely
dedicated to the cause, striving for the best for the kids they support. Not
only are they dedicated but they are also open minded, constantly exploring for
new ways to improve their teaching in a way that will see the greatest benefit.
I learnt invaluable lessons off them and I hope that they felt they could learn
from me too. Following this entire experience, I believe I have a much greater
understanding of Cambodian culture and society as well as the students’
individual experiences and lifestyle. This, for me, is much more valuable than
anything I would have seen as a standard tourist as I feel I have made
connections with people I otherwise would never have a reason to know.
Initially, I admit, I was nervous
at the thought of teaching an entire class on my own but PTD were encouraging
and supportive, ensuring that I was comfortable in my position while pushing me
just enough to step out of my comfort-zone. Teachers reminded me to correct
them when I observed their lessons, enforcing this idea of learning from each other
and showing their dedication to our mutual objective of supporting the students.
The pupils in question impressed me with their diligence and discipline. Within
PTD there are two primary school classes and a kindergarten class as well as a
Special Needs class but I worked the closest with the primary schoolers taking
on many of their lessons and forming bonds with the students. They made me feel
welcome; encouraged me to play games with them, read stories and attempt to speak
Khmer to general amusement. Despite their limited English abilities, they made
a great deal of effort to include me in their activities and treating me closer
to a friend than a teacher.
Overall, my experience within
the school has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and has
opened my eyes to the importance of volunteer work which is something I will definitely
try to incorporate in any travels I do in the future. I wish all of the staff
at PTD luck and health and to all the students a safe, bright future.
