I tell the students that having goals is awesome. Each student deserves the best, and those that put forth effort will be rewarded.... That reward, though, might not be what they initially expected.
Better said, it might not be what their parents initially wanted for them.
Yeah, so these kids, they aim for the stars. They go all day, study, work, and then study some more before sleeping. Their dream is to please themselves by pleasing their parents, showing that they are excellent students, destined for the 'big paying' jobs.
I understand this attitude, I do. Many of my friends had it growing up, and I had many kids in the class that wanted to attend Harvard or Yale. It just makes me a little nervous though....
I can remember feeling heartbroken when my friends didn't make it. It was such a let down for everyone when the big dreams didn't materialize....
This is never mentioned to my students now, but I do though try to tell them about friends that attended ivy league (or similar :) universities and friends that didn't. A couple days ago, I showed them pictures of friends from my home town. Some of the kids attended ivy league-caliber schools, some went to regular uni, and some never finished high school.
All of them had one thing in common. They were living paycheck-to-paycheck because everyone had debt or families or both. I told the kids about the high costs, the levels of competition, and the realities of working.
I showed them a story about parents spending $40,000.00 for a tutor that specializes in sending kids to Ivy league schools in the U.S. I told them about the hours and preparation necessary to successfully navigate high school and the entrance exams. Then I told them about a possible 4 million Baht debt waiting for them upon graduation.
We also talked about the economy (not so hot :-) is a nice way to put it), and the future.
Granted, for some of these kids, money is not problem. But, I have to wonder if all of it is really worth it. Falling victim to the attitude and perception of current culture may not bring them money or more importantly: happiness --- personal or otherwise.
Kids I think now see a different picture, and I hope that's an accurate one. I don't want them to stop improving, but I want them to have a perspective from someone living in/from a western country. The best kids, the ones that really try, they need encouragement and attention. I want to give them that, but I also think it's my job to tell them what life can be like.I understand the dreams. I just think those dreams need to be rooted in reality. Whatever that might be :-).
Ultimately, I just want to be a good teacher, and I think to do that, I need to tell them something more than the proper placement of modifier.
There comes a time in one's life when dreams are slashed, at that point one grows up.
ReplyDeleteIf time permits, let them dream a little more, for when they wake up, many of them will be crying in a cold sweat.
Sepiroth, I want them to dream. That's the only way many of these kids are going to achieve. The issue becomes though, that I am often fighting an uphill battle. Most of these kids are not encouraged to acheive or think outside the box. Everyone is taught to remember and repeat.
ReplyDeleteSo, most of the time I don't have to worry about slashing students dreams. I just have to hope some of them have one or two. The ones that do have dreams; I want them to understand a western perspective then make up their own minds :-)....
I have only been here for less than a month so there are still many things about Thai culture that I don't understand. However, I spent part of my childhood in an Asian education system, so I recognize some of the things you described.
ReplyDeleteWhen you said they don't have dream, do they not even make a general statements like "I want to be rich/famous/a movie star"?
I am curious as to how one keeps going without a goal.
No, most of them don't mention that kind of goal. I think the idea of stardom is a more western ideal, not to say though that the Thai do not enjoy their entertainment and their entertainment figures.
ReplyDeleteHere in Thailand the idea of a 'goal' is different than western cultures. Remember the precepts and ideas of Buddhism are a prevalent part of the life here. People are about the here and now. They're not planners, and I don't think large, independent things are encouraged. Save for being rich and beautiful, most people don't think or dream the way westerners do :-).