In addition to improving the children’s English skills, our other main goal is to bring creativity and imagination to the Thai classroom, enabling the children to think independently and look at things more curiously. We want to branch out from the typical question and answer teaching methodology, where the children simply memorize, and create more interactive learning environments. You can often find that the students are able to correctly pick the definition of a word on a test, but if you put them in a situation where they are asked to use the same word in a sentence, they are not capable. By integrating English with activities such as drawing, songs, and physical activity it makes the students more engaged in the learning process. When learning by creating or through activity it creates a larger need to understand the concepts of the task rather than merely listening to a teacher or reading from a textbook. More fun makes the experience unforgettable and it becomes relevant to their lives. It encourages the children to associate what they are learning with the world around them, so that they can use their knowledge outside of the classroom. The learning process becomes about more than just reciting facts. Active learning requires decision-making skills and those can be used in every aspect of the child’s life, regardless of whether it involves English or not.

We believe that volunteers are the perfect tool in creating new and exciting learning environments. We are not expecting volunteers to come for month placements and create fluent English speaking students. What we do expect is for them to create lesson plans based on their own personal skills, abilities and experience. Volunteers are not limited to strict teaching methodologies and are more adaptable to their current situation. They bring a variety of cultures to the Thai classroom and each person has a unique skill to incorporate into their teachings. Before arrival each volunteer must be able to explain to us what skills they have and how they would like to incorporate them into the classroom. We require each volunteer to create their own lesson plans, to ensure that the children are having a new and unique experience each time. They bring with them; inspiration to do some good, curiosity in that they are as eager to learn about a new culture as the students are to learn about them, and lastly they are a doorway to the outside, the world that would otherwise be closed due to lack of money.

Education is an empowerment tool. By providing under-funded schools with foreign volunteers, the students will not only be learning valuable English skills, they will also come into contact with different ways of life. With no disrespect to the Thai education system, we see a lack of motivation in the students to think independently and creatively. The intelligent children are focused on, and those that are slower to learn are repeatedly left behind. There is little to no reason for the children to believe that they are capable of changing anything in their lives, or to reach for anything more than the minimum expected of them. We want to teach these children that they have abilities they can build upon and prospects in their world that reach further than the next rubber tree farm or local corner restaurant.