My address:
Anna Littlehale
SK Marang
21600, Marang
Terengganu, Malaysia
Feel free to send Valentines!
Primary school here is so different from the states. Students have an assigned classroom but teachers go into different classes to teach their subject. Most primary teachers teach one subject – math, science, religion, Malay, or English. Therefore, the students just
wait in the classroom for the teachers to arrive for their subject.
In addition, there is no consistency for the students as far as teachers. Every year, the class may have a different English teacher, math teacher etc. I’ve noticed that the students who are exceeding tend to be the students who are lucky enough to have the same teacher for that subject two years in a row.
One thing I love about the Malaysian school system is how LOUD the classrooms are. Quiet classrooms are looked down upon here. The students must not be learning if they are not talking. This will be important as I try to teach English.
For starters, primary and secondary schools stream students into classes based on exam scores. Therefore, in my primary school there are three classes per grade, A, B and C. While most of the students in A classes are girls; the majority in C classes are boys. A and B classes can have up to 40 students in a class; whereas C classes cap at 25 students.
So far, I have taught my students “Head, shoulders, knees and toes” as well as “If you’re happy and you know it”. Until I can grasp the proficiency level of my classes and individual students, it will be hard to plan lessons beyond singing and choral speaking.
One difficulty I am having is learning my students’ names. I see about 80 students a day and about 400 students a week. Not only is that a lot of kids, but each students has about four or five names, none of which I can pronounce or spell. I had them all write their names for me on post-its I have on my desk. I hoping if I see them written enough I can at least say a couple names by the end of this week.
More on the education system to come. These past couple weeks have been full of surprises. Every day I learn that my “plan” for the day will change but I am getting used to it. Two weeks ago was Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year was a glorious weekend filled with friends, jungle trekking and celebration. I had a four-day weekend due to Chinese New Year so I decided to head to KT, just 20 minutes away, to visit the six ETAs that live there. About half of the ETAs went to Penang for the weekend, while the rest of us stayed in KT. The trip to Penang required two overnight buses, which I wouldn’t have been able to handle after my long first week.
One of the ETAs mentor’s invited us all along to see Chemerong Waterfalls on Thursday. It’s about a two hour drive from KT and almost impossible to get to unless you have a car or a driver. Thankfully, we got to ride on a school bus (charter bus) with an ETA’s students. What a day we had. The hike up to the top of the waterfalls took about two hours. There was no path except for worn down roots. Many parts of the hike were very steep. The hike involved walking across a wooden bridge and on a log holding on to a rope. It was a little terrifying at times. By the time we got to the top of the waterfalls, we were so sweaty, exhausted and tired that we rested for a while. In many ways the way down was harder. Climbing down the steep path of roots proved to be quite difficult.
After jungle trekking, we spent the weekend going from one Chinese house to another, participating the traditional Chinese New Year activities. We ate tons of delicious food, got money because we are all still single and learned Chinese brush painting.
Last week was a busy week. It was Sports Week at my school so everyday the students would come to school from8-11am and then 3-6pm to compete in events. All of the events weretrack and field events – 100 m, 4 x 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump etc. Remember, my students are seven to thirteen years old and it is insanely hot here. In addition, the students have to wear long pants and shirts. Let’s just say we had more than a couple students stay home from heat exhaustion. All I had to do was sit and watch the events. I think I drank about four water bottles an hour. I was expected to wear long pants and a t-shirt to the events. All in all, Sports Week was interesting and hot. I learned all about Malaysian prize giving. When I arrived one afternoon, I was very confused as to why there were three tables stacked with Tupperware on the field. I later found out that the younger students receive Tupperware for winning events. I guess they like big prizes and don’t care what the prize actually is. I asked a fellow teacher what the students do with the Tupperware and she replied “ Give it to their mothers”. It was quite a sight watching all my students walk home grinning with Tupperware in their arms.
This past weekend was wonderful. Four ETAs came to stay with Andrea and me in Marang. We explored the small town, went to the market and took a ferry to Kapas Island for the day. Kapas Island is absolutely gorgeous. I felt like I was in a dream with the turquoise water and white sandy beaches. On Saturday, the State Department arranged for all the ETAs to go on a river cruise and then experience traditional Malaysian arts and crafts. We saw top spinning, kite flying, dancing and even trained monkeys get coconuts out of trees. Great experience.
Missing everyone on Valentine’s Day! Sending my love! Hope to talk to you all soon!
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