Small Classroom, Big Dreams

 I teach English in my house, which was converted into a small classroom located in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The classroom is simple. I started off with six small kids' tables; children were sitting on rugs. Now we have four ceiling fans, tables, and chairs with a total of 50 students, as I teach 8 different sessions with 4 different levels of teaching.

Many people think a good classroom needs modern equipment. Of course, those things help, but what my students need most is encouragement, love, and belief. Many of them dream of becoming teachers, doctors, or guides, and some want to study abroad for further education, which their families cannot afford to send them to.

As a non-native English teacher, I am learning too. I learn how to explain simple words and motivate them to try putting their new English vocabulary into sentences. Some students come from families that do not value education because of financial struggle. Those students need encouragement the most to keep in class, and I learn that progress is slow but real. Our classroom may be small, but the dreams inside it are big.

This is why I continue teaching.