Low Self-Esteem

[HeijoshinCool]

A Thai nurse who has three decades in the States (so has excellent language skills, i.e., no misunderstandings here), has returned for a visit. She attended some of my classes. Where I have been told by everyone else that Thai kids don't want to speak in class (read: answer my questions) because they are "shy," she claims it is low self-esteem.

I tend to agree.

So, first, do you agree? Or do you go with that vague "Thai people are shy?"

Second, without speaking to them in Thai, and considering their low level of listening comprehension, have any of you found methods, short or long-term, to raise self-esteem in 1st - 6th graders?

.

[Scott]

The issue is not self-esteem. It has to do with, face and being seen as a show-off or arrogant. Questioning people is culturally not appropriate.

I observe a lot of classes--including Thai and Foreign Teachers. Students do not ask questions for Thai Teachers as a rule either.

[sirchai]

"Second, without speaking to them in Thai, and considering their low level of listening comprehension, have any of you found methods, short or long-term, to raise self-esteem in 1st - 6th graders?"

I do not think it's about self-esteem. You'll find the same problems at high schools. They're being raised NOT to ask questions, many would like to respond, but they think the others will laugh, when they say something wrong.

It's not just a low level of listening comprehension, many in grade six still have a problem with their own language.

I can see a huge difference, when I look at our 14 year old son, who'd never been in another country, studying in M.2 now. He's got self-esteem and has no problem to say when something isn't right. To foreign, as well to Thai educators.

I was asking our best grade six kids to write down the negative aspects at our school. told them it will be anonymous.

But it's like they don't want to shit in their own nest, because they're not used to criticize anything in their culture.

Thai kids, generally speaking, do not have something which is called common sense,nor their Thai educators.

[SlyAnimal]

I don't think it's low self esteem.

They are just shy because if they make a mistake, they are scared that they will be told off / corrected, or that their friends might laugh at them.

I have mainly taught mattayom students, but most of them don't have too much of a problem with answering questions, so long as they know the answer. But if they aren't sure, they'll often be very hesitant before they scream out the answer. Although I do find, that the longer I spend at my current school, the less hesitation the students have, as they know that I'm not really a dragon with white skin.

As for asking questions, that's something extremely rare. Although I was pleasantly surprised this week, I had just explained that Christmas was Jesus's birthday, much to my students surprise, who thought Christmas was only about Santa. Then one of them asked me, where does Santa come from then? Why is Christmas about Santa not Jesus? (Not in those exact words, but roughly). It was the English program though, not the Thai section lol, but I was really pleased that they were curious about it.

[Somtamnication]

In my school, when kids ask questions, they get bambooed. It takes months to gain their trust. I even make mistakes in written English and Thai and that forces them to speak up and "correct" me. Works wonders within their group.

They gain face, confidence and firmly believe that I am an idiot.

[Scott]

To help get them accustomed to the idea of asking questions and speaking in English, I would not let them sit down until they had answered or asked a question--depending on the level of English. With classes of 50 students this could be challenging and time consuming.

[Briggsy]

You could argue that your friend, the Thai nurse, is being precise in her choice of words in the way that second language speakers often are.

"Self esteem" has a dictionary definition of "feeling of being happy with your own abilities". Since Thai culture, and Thai school culture in particular, imposes a pervasive hierarchical structure upon all abilites including who is the arbiter of all knowledge. The kids by cultural definition are defined as having low ability because they are kids. Thus there is a constant eroding effect on self-esteem.

In the West, a lot more individualist freedom is allowed for primary school children. The education system is far less didactic and children are steered in the direction of being able to do things and think for themselves and away from the regurgitation of rote-learned knowledge. The conventional wisdom is that doing things for yourself builds self-esteem.

[sirchai]

I don't think it's low self esteem.

They are just shy because if they make a mistake, they are scared that they will be told off / corrected, or that their friends might laugh at them.

I have mainly taught mattayom students, but most of them don't have too much of a problem with answering questions, so long as they know the answer. But if they aren't sure, they'll often be very hesitant before they scream out the answer. Although I do find, that the longer I spend at my current school, the less hesitation the students have, as they know that I'm not really a dragon with white skin.

As for asking questions, that's something extremely rare. Although I was pleasantly surprised this week, I had just explained that Christmas was Jesus's birthday, much to my students surprise, who thought Christmas was only about Santa. Then one of them asked me, where does Santa come from then? Why is Christmas about Santa not Jesus? (Not in those exact words, but roughly). It was the English program though, not the Thai section lol, but I was really pleased that they were curious about it.

One of my grade six! kids was asking me, if I couldn't get her in touch with Santa Claus. When I's asking her why, she explained to me that she'd like a new watch.

As she'd no e- mail account, we just created one and sent an e-mail off to Santa. She's asking me a few days later, if Santa had answered.

I said yes and will do all that Santa will make all the way to lower north east to bring her the watch.

Made Christmas to my teaching topic this week, but neither they knew something about it, nor their Thai teachers.

I have to commit, that most of the conversation with the young girl was in Thai.-- .

Edited December 21, 2012 by sirchai

[HeijoshinCool]

All good observations. I think we're all talking about the same thing. Face, shyness, self-esteem are all threads of the same cloth.

The suggestion of keeping them standing is one I use. When they can't answer, I help. Then praise them when the finally repeat it. It does take time. When they answer, I praise. I also bake cookies for the little ones. Works wonders both for responses and being quiet. But the first graders haven't learned about face yet, and aren't anywhere near as shy as the 6th.

Sad to oppress kids, in only six years, into not learning.

Makes me want to leave.

Makes me need to stay.

[sirchai]

All good observations. I think we're all talking about the same thing. Face, shyness, self-esteem are all threads of the same cloth.

The suggestion of keeping them standing is one I use. When they can't answer, I help. Then praise them when the finally repeat it. It does take time. When they answer, I praise. I also bake cookies for the little ones. Works wonders both for responses and being quiet. But the first graders haven't learned about face yet, and aren't anywhere near as shy as the 6th.

Sad to oppress kids, in only six years, into not learning.

Makes me want to leave.

Makes me need to stay.

Better stay. There're not too many people out there like you.

[culicine]

The issue is not self-esteem. It has to do with, face and being seen as a show-off or arrogant. Questioning people is culturally not appropriate.

I observe a lot of classes--including Thai and Foreign Teachers. Students do not ask questions for Thai Teachers as a rule either.

Further to that, my son claimed that the teacher would berate children who asked questions (in a Thai program). I had him moved to my EP so he could more freely express himself. There were other reasons for moving him though - larger class sizes and overly difficult work as well.

So face is part of it, but so is punishment for asking questions. Teachers as supposed to be 'perfect' in this country - they are supposed to have said everything they needed to say in their lecture, so no questions should be necessary. Everything should have been so well explained that there should be no questions, and that everyone understood the topic. Well, we all know that's not true - most of the country get less than 50% on most of their external exams. Perhaps they could do better if they were allowed to ask questions?

[HeijoshinCool]

All good observations. I think we're all talking about the same thing. Face, shyness, self-esteem are all threads of the same cloth.

The suggestion of keeping them standing is one I use. When they can't answer, I help. Then praise them when the finally repeat it. It does take time. When they answer, I praise. I also bake cookies for the little ones. Works wonders both for responses and being quiet. But the first graders haven't learned about face yet, and aren't anywhere near as shy as the 6th.

Sad to oppress kids, in only six years, into not learning.

Makes me want to leave.

Makes me need to stay.

Better stay. There're not too many people out there like you.

You're too kind.

[HeijoshinCool]

The issue is not self-esteem. It has to do with, face and being seen as a show-off or arrogant. Questioning people is culturally not appropriate.

I observe a lot of classes--including Thai and Foreign Teachers. Students do not ask questions for Thai Teachers as a rule either.

Further to that, my son claimed that the teacher would berate children who asked questions (in a Thai program). I had him moved to my EP so he could more freely express himself. There were other reasons for moving him though - larger class sizes and overly difficult work as well.

So face is part of it, but so is punishment for asking questions. Teachers as supposed to be 'perfect' in this country - they are supposed to have said everything they needed to say in their lecture, so no questions should be necessary. Everything should have been so well explained that there should be no questions, and that everyone understood the topic. Well, we all know that's not true - most of the country get less than 50% on most of their external exams. Perhaps they could do better if they were allowed to ask questions?

I can believe this.

The only teacher here with whom I can speak English, is quite perfect.

They don't seem capable of correlating pitiful scores with outstanding teaching.