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Being "Kruu"
Ian John Magarao
Teachers here in Thailand are addressed as “Kruu”. The word comes from the Pali language, meaning “knowledgeable, true and without blemish”. In the Thai social hierarchy of respect, being a teacher has the same status of a parent. It is the responsibility of the teacher to be a parent to the children; I guess this is true in every culture and nation.
I feel privileged to work as a teacher here. My colleagues are very welcoming. They always extend their help and guidance. They are all nice and welcoming, despite the difficulties in communicating, for most of them don’t know how to speak English. Communication is really difficult. All the documents and instructions in the school are in Thai language and script; it is a difficult language to learn. Slowly I'm learning to speak and read Thai.
I teach kindergarten, primary and secondary level. It is really a tough load, yet, I really enjoy it. I like to be with the students even if there are times that they are not that interested. For them, learning English is a bit of a burden. They often complain and comment that it is a very difficult language. I notice that some students are not interested to learn the language because they feel secure here in their own land. There is no need for them to go out from their own realm for they are sufficient enough. This is the opposite for every Burmese student. Burmese students really try their best to learn English in a hope that they can have a better life and leave their country to settle in other country.
As the academic year ends, I really hope that my presence in the school has made a difference in the lives of the students.
