Drug Rehab Made Fun

Rangsit University International College and Thanyarak Institute on Drug Abuse recently joined forces to organise a short English course at the institute for female addicts at Baan Pailin.

The project was aimed at encouraging and rehabilitating patients through games and group activity in English.

Teachers were volunteer students Jessica McGinn and Shannon Marlow from Rangsit University International Programme.

McGinn, an exchange student in international affairs and economics from Northern Arizona University, said she was very happy to have a chance to help people in the Thai community.

"Joining the programme is such a great opportunity for me to work with people in a different culture. I really want to take advantage of it."

On the preparation for the course, McGinn said she went on-line for a proper lesson.

"What we did was look at a different website about teaching English as a second language and went with that," said the 20-year-old.

Since both volunteers did really know Thai, teaching through pictures was the best way to go.

"We assembled the teaching package with pictures with short dialogues for them to be able to go over and practice (easily)," McGinn said.

Marlow, from the University of Iowa, said the teaching topics were set to a general level but changed with every class due to the different knowledge and abilities of the patients.

"We taught them how to say their name, where they are from, how old are they, how are they feeling. There were also lessons about professions, and vocabulary," said the 24-year-old clothing and textile design student.

Classes were held every Thursday for four weeks. Each class lasted for one and a half-hours.

The atmosphere inside the classroom was fun and, with lots of smiling and laughter from both teachers and students. There was no hesitation among the students in going in front of the class and getting involved with the games.

Noon (not her real name), a 17-year-old patient, said she was very happy with all activities and with the attitude of the two volunteers.

"I did not understand much English but they tried their best to explain until I could understand the lesson. I was very impressed with them."

Noon said she joined the programme to show her mother that she was fine at the hospital and was getting a chance to learn something new as well.

At the end of the programme, McGinn and Marlow said what impressed them most about the programme was the attitude of their students.

"They were always involved whether they understood or not. They all tried and were willing to answer the questions. It fun for us too," said McGinn.

Marlow said of her students: "They were so eager and willing to learn and were always happy."

Watchara Saengsrisin

The Nation