ABDF

• Essential Facts:
• Location: Hatton, Sri Lanka
• Principal:Mr. Vijaya Singh
• Number of Students:45 students (less as you get to the higher grades)
• Grades taught:1-12
• Number of English teachers:12

Background Information:

A view of Land's End

Hatton is a surprisingly bustling town of around 14,000 famous for being at the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea-growing region. As Hatton is at such a high altitude (1,186 meters or 3,894 feet) the climate is much cooler and more comfortable than the oft-times steamy coast. The mountainous region is known for its beautiful tea estates as well as the natural wonder call World’s End; a spectacular escarpment plunging 1,050 meters (more than 3,000 feet!) to the plains below.

The majority of the residents of Hatton and the surrounding tea estates are Tamil of Indian descent, brought by the British to work the tea plantations around 200 years ago. In practical terms this means that education and educational facilities have largely been ignored by the government until recently. As a result, Estate Tamils have the lowest educational levels in Sri Lanka, a hard truth that this teaching project seeks to help ameliorate.

Highlands College

One of the few educational success stories is that of Highlands College. This school produces the greatest percentage of students that go on to University of any estate Tamil School, and consistently scores high in all subject areas. Believing that strengthening already strong institutions only makes the whole system strong, the ABDF has identified Highlands College as one site for its’ teaching pilot project.

(Please note that the term “college” is used differently than in the States. Many schools offer only one or two subject area “streams,” such a Math/Science or Tamil/Arts or Business. A college offers instruction is all subject areas. In Sri Lanka, colleges teach all grade levels up to University, unlike in the States where we go to college after graduating high school.)

Hatton lies along the bottom of a valley.

Furthermore, Highlands offers “English Medium” classes. Normally, schools teach in whatever the local language may be (ie: Singhalese or Tamil) and English classes resemble the Spanish or French classes we Americans have in high school. The top schools offer English medium, which means that subjects other than English are taught in English. For example, when Project Director Bennett Hinkley visited the school, some students were busy taking math and geography classes in English. All students from 5th grade onwards take English medium classes; 8 subjects are taught in English and five in Tamil.

Requirements and job description:

Requirements include both a certification and working experience in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL aka EFL), OR 5 years experience teaching in a school environment, OR some combination of the two.

The candidate must be willing to commit to six months at Highlands; a stay of less than one term does little good for the students.

Mr. Vijaya Singh, Principal.

Ladies will wear sari in accordance to Sri Lankan custom. Don’t worry, it’ll be fun. You’ll be taken shopping and assisted in putting them on, and soon you’ll be an expert. Think of it as a challenge!

Gentlemen, or those of you pretending to be gentlemen, will wear slacks and a dress shirt, according to Sri Lanka custom.

The job will involve teaching a full round of classes, generally starting at 8:00 in the morning, and ending at 2:00, Monday - Friday (Sri Lankans eat a late lunch by our standards). There are a total of 8 classes taught per day, ay about 45 minutes each. Yup, it’s a full day.

Some of your fellow English teachers.

Classes will be taught with the annual national exams in mind. Rightly or wrongly, these exams will determine each child’s educational future. This does not necessarily mean that every session must be taught to the test; as long as the curriculum is generally followed and all bases covered, there should be plenty of opportunity to creatively teach the students what they need to know.

Studying geography.

If you are a teacher of a subject other than English (ie: math, science, art, history, etc.) your expertise might be extremely useful. If interested, please contact Project Director Bennett Hinkley to discuss whether the school can use help in your area of specialty.

The prospective teacher must self-fund his or her stay in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately the ABDF does not currently have a budget big enough to support teachers, although ABDF is actively seeking out sponsors for this project.

In return, the school will supply:

Two students.

Hatton would be a great place to live; once the candidate(s) arrive, they will be given the option of boarding with one of several families. THIS is really how you get to experience the real Sri Lanka, by getting to know the people. The rooms themselves will be clean comfortable, and with a private bathroom with a western-style toilet. Bathtubs are virtually non-existent in Sri Lanka, so you will have a shower. Arrangements for food will be made either with the family, or a local eatery, as per your preference.

In an English Medium class.

Although it isn’t something we can specifically guarantee, Sri Lankans are known for their hospitality. Chances are you will receive more invitations to meals than you can possibly eat, more offers to tour around the area than you will have time for, and multiple offers to visit other towns and stay with families. The land of Sri Lanka is beautiful, but the people make this place an amazing experience. If you are relaxed, open, and interested, you will have the opportunity to get to know Sri Lanka in a way that very, VERY few foreigners ever have.

Bennett’s personal impressions:

“First of all, let me say that Hatton may be small, but it’s got more bustle per square foot than most towns twice the size. And it’s located in a beautiful part of the country. Highlands College, perched above the town, looks right down over the downtown area.

The campus is rather hilly.

“I was extremely impressed with Highlands, and the English teachers I met. All of them seem dedicated to their work.

“However, what sold the place to me were the kids. I talked with four different grade levels – 5th through 9th – who were in the middle of their math or Geography classes. Especially at the upper level the English was quite good, but the kids themselves were so friendly, so curious, and so excited to talk with an English speaker that they could barely contain their excitement. I had such a great time with them. Then, as I was leaving, they all insisted I autograph their notebooks. Made me feel like a star; no I know what Brad and Angelina feel like!

Giggles and smiles.

Whoever ends up working at Highlands will be very lucky, and will have my envy. If I didn’t have other responsibilities, I’d LOVE to teach there.”