As you know, my team and I are teaching English to children in the Khlong Toey slum community this month. Since this is an after-school program, we do not have an extremely large class, but a faithful group of six that attend Monday-Friday. It is challenging, as the students range in age from six to eleven, and with that their understanding of the English language. We have even resorted to Google translator at times…which just cracks the kids to hear the computer talking to them. It’s hard to be too tough on them, knowing they have already been in school all day. In addition to this chaos there is Mhin. She rarely speaks at all – Thai or English – and has a hard time focusing. That mischievous little grin gets me, though! Everytine. Here is why this child makes my heart break.
Mhin is new to the Step
Ahead program, and lives without a mother and an alcoholic father at home. We actually first met Mhin on our tour of the Jetsip Rei neighborhood. This little seven year old girl was helping weigh chicken feet (part of the family business) because her Dad was too drunk to function. Mhin has one older sister, and two younger siblings. All of them without an authority figure to look up to, or a parent to be properly loved by. It’s no wonder to me why this child struggles so much in the classroom. She’s constantly looking for ways to earn the attention that she is lacking at home, and seems to shy away from speaking because she is so unsure of herself.
In an effort to better meet the needs of individual student
s (Mhin specifically), we decided to break the kids up. Separation by age was the easiest, and now the two younger girls, Ning and Mhin, are together while Boom, Kat, Bonisa, and Amson study at a more advanced level. Our first attempt at this new structure was last Thursday, and I think it went well! For the two youngsters, we were able to bring things down to their level with games, songs, and engaging activities.
In this smaller setting, Mhin opened up to Ning, and began speaking with her in Thai. At least she’s saying SOMETHING! I really do think she is one bright young girl, just not currently applying herself. However, my goals for Mhin this month go way beyond English. God has really begun to lay her my heart, and my prayer is that with a little extra attention and a lot of love He will change this child’s life. Feel free to join me in this!
