The CamTESOL organizers arranged six site visit options to different types of language schools and programs. I selected the site visit to two private schools, Beltei International Institute and the New York International School, that offer English language classes.
At Beltei, an administrator gave a formal presentation on the company’s history and principles. Because the company also has a construction division, they build all of their schools – and they all use the same color scheme so that they are easily recognizable as Beltei schools. Beyond looking alike, the eleven schools follow the same daily curricula and schedules for their English classes, standard primary and secondary classes in Khmer, and a slew of other programs.
In addition to visiting an empty classroom, we were introduced to students in an English language class and to students in a class taught in Khmer. The teachers’ room includes video monitors so that administrators can watch faculty and their students throughout the day. Administrators have access to seating charts so that they can take note of anyone who is out of order.
The New York International School is not affiliated with any New York programs. Rather, the school included New York in their name to signify that they teach American English, which they think is easier for Khmer students to learn and more beneficial to their career goals. The school was more modest than Beltei but a very happy place, and several of the teachers connected with me as the American in the group since the school prefers American English.
At the New York International School, the hallways included purchased posters, but most of the classrooms were decorated by teachers using handmade items. While the school had asked specific classes to stay late (the students attend the school in the morning and a public Khmer school in the afternoon), we had open access to those 6-8 classrooms. As a result, I had an extended discussion with an intermediate level class with students ranging in age from 7 to 11.
After the visits, we were taken to a local buffet, which was fine, but not fabulous; we were served something more akin to Chinese, when most of us would have preferred Khmer cuisine. Since we finished a full hour before the buses were scheduled to take us back to the hotel, a few of us walked to the Russian Market. We got hot and sweaty, and only a few people bought anything, but it was a fun experience to wade through the touristy items on the outer loop and to see the food at the center of the market. Then we walked back to the restaurant and convinced one of the buses to take us back a little early; the bus easily filled with people who didn’t want to wait at the restaurant longer. 🙂
I walked back to my hotel from the conference hotel, walking part of the way with two teachers from Australia. I actually walked too far with my colleagues and had to backtrack, but that let me see a bit more of the area in the daylight.
Tonight, I found the courage to cross a busy couplet (on either side of a skinny park) to go to a restaurant. It was easy enough to cross mid-day, but it gets quite busy at night. The food was worth the effort. I had the restaurant (K’NYAY) to myself, which was a shame, because the food was amazing. They offered free peanuts roasted with garlic and herbs, and I ordered Amok, which is a Khmer curry with fish (typically white fish). It was flavorful, rich, and tender. The portion was perfect to feel sated but not stuffed.
Crossing the streets on the way back was more difficult, but a kind local helped me make it across the first street, and the second was a bit easier. There aren’t really cross-walks, and only the very busiest intersections have lights (which seem optional to follow). So crossing a street means taking a lane at a time; it’s a careful dance among pedestrians, bikes, motorcycles, tuk tuks, and cars.