Alongside my responsibilities at Baphnom High School, I dedicate my Sundays to teaching children at Wat Trea Primary School, nestled within Wat Trea Pagoda. The students here range from 6 to 12 years old, with occasional attendees aged between 4 and 13. Predominantly, 80% of the students are female, with the remaining 20% being male. Our sessions typically involve following English curriculum books for grades 4, 5, and 6, though we also incorporate extracurricular activities at times. Over nearly two years together, our bond has grown stronger, fostering a deep connection between the students, the community, and myself, to the point to be invited to different school ceremonies
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To integrate technology into our sessions, we watch movies in both English and Khmer. This serves two main purposes: first, to practice listening comprehension in English, and second, to enjoy Khmer cartoons. One of the titles we enjoyed watching together was "The Lion King."
The Lion King movie
There are opportunities where we integrate physical activities into our English classes. These exercises enable students to absorb new vocabulary through the Total Physical Response (TPR) method.
Football game.
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(2023) Teacher birthday celebration.
The students and parents organized a surprise birthday party for me in secret. After finishing our class as usual, all the students arrived with cake and drinks. It was unexpected, and I was completely surprised by such a lovely gesture, especially considering the significant financial investment it must have entailed for the parents.
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(2023) Graffiti workshop.
During a 2-hour workshop, we ran a graffiti class aimed at fostering creativity, imagination and self-expression among the students. The session provided them with valuable insights into various artistic concepts and techniques. The students participated enthusiastically, as they had never had the opportunity to work with spray paint before. This hands-on experience not only engaged them deeply, but also broadened their horizons, allowing them to explore their artistic potential in new and exciting ways.
Photo: Gabriel Grela Mesa, Wat Trea, 2023, Cambodia, Prey Veng, Ba Phnom.
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(December 2023) Awards & certificates.
On December 14, 2023, Tra Elementary School celebrates the presentation of awards and certificates of recognition to outstanding students. The ceremony was attended by Phanheap Ti Bo Lay Vet, the monk of the pagoda and the honorary head of all committees. The school's venerable Pisal is the head of the school management committee, Mrs. Ros Sidon, the officer of the district education office, Mr. Hom Samnang, the councilor of Cherkach commune, Mr. Mom Sereibot, the principal, Mr. Gabriel Grela Mesa, the representative of Peace Crop organization, and the teachers, parents, students.
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(March 2024) Painting Art Class.
Recently, we introduced a new art class where we utilized paintbrushes and acrylic paint with the objective of developing fine motor skills. Fine motor skills entail the coordination of small muscles in movements that demand precision and control, such as writing, buttoning a shirt, using scissors, or painting, among many others.
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