Pedagogical Contents
MENTORS
TEACHER JOHN MARK SIONICIO
Speaking and Listening (Filipino / Foreign Teacher)
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During my SEA Teacher Program journey, I had the chance to observe Teacher John Mark, a Filipino teacher who truly exemplified adaptability in his approach. Assigned to teach Speaking and Listening to Thai high school students (Mathayom), he chose to focus on simple, relatable topics like "Daily Routine" and introduced minimal English to match the students' comfort level.
When students struggled, he effortlessly switched to Thai language to ensure they understood, despite having only been in Thailand for a year himself. His commitment to learning Thai just to connect with his students left a lasting impact on me. It showed me that teaching effectively is not just about language proficiency; it’s about showing genuine dedication, building trust, and meeting students where they are.
Teacher JM utilized his laptop for a PowerPoint presentation to show vocabulary words and basic topics, which made the lesson easy to follow. The classroom had a built-in microphone and speaker, so everyone could hear clearly, which kept us all focused. For assessment, he asked students to speak the vocabulary words shown on the screen. This way, we could practice saying the words out loud, which helped us get more comfortable with English. His method made learning feel natural and encouraged us to be more active in using the language.
TEACHER WARAPHON SUKSAWAENG
Basic English (Thai / Native Teacher)
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Teacher Mai, my Thai mentor, and considered as a native teacher has a fun and energetic way of teaching basic English. She’s really good at translating English words into Thai, which helps students understand better. Her students feel close to her and frequently talk with her which shows the strong bond she has with them. Even though teaching grammar can be tough because the students are not very familiar with English, she does her best to make the lesson clear and easy to follow. Watching her, I saw how much she cares about helping her students learn and feel comfortable in class.
Teacher Mai uses the "i-Learn Smart World" workbook and student’s book for her lessons, which gives us a clear path to follow as we learn basic English. She also uses her iPad for presentations, making it easy for everyone to see and stay engaged with the lesson. By combining these materials and switching between English and Thai, she makes sure everyone understands. Her way of teaching feels organized and supportive, and she uses each tool in a way that keeps us interested and helps us learn more effectively.