teach to teach

It was a busy week and just so happy to have week-ends. Yesterday, I was really exhausted and could hardly wait for my last class to finish. The last subject was for Freshman highschool. My topic was about "Food". Just simply unlock the difficulties, improve their vocabulary and speaking and then games to motivate them. Honestly, pretty challenging to teach ESL especially students with behavior problems, so I really need to be motivated too, and be as flexible as I can in my teaching style. So, most of my Thai students did not know the English terms for common food.. And so I used pictures on the chalkboard. While I paused for a drink, the repeater student, Jakkrid, who's really no read no write in THAI, took my stick and then pointed the pictures and eventually asked his classmates, What is this???? What is this???? And so the classmates answered. I was stunned what this student was doing.... then we were all laughing... It was fulfillling for the first time he participated in class. I can't speak Thai, he can't speak English. So what I did, I let him hold all the flashcards for the other students to answer. But one thing happened, he chose all the cards that he knew (just learned by listening) and answered first before showing to his classmates. So everyone in class just enjoyed of his cleverness to answer. What a great day!
When teaching seems tough yet rays of learning appear to students, everything will seem joyful and fulfilling amidst challenges.