Traditional Games

Lately, it’s been a bit hard to compete with the traditional games that go on outside of the classrooms during the school day. Apparently there are several traditional Cambodian games that come out only this time of year; a month or so before Khmer New Year.

And let me tell you, I can definitely notice it. The kids sure do look like they’re having fun. But I have to admit it does get a little frustrating when you’re trying to teach a class and you have to compete with the noise that is going on outside, simply because another teacher has decided to let them just play games during that hour. It’s literally like trying to conduct a class in the middle of a playground. The classrooms have open windows lining the walls – and my poor students are stuck inside, trying to learn English while they are watching everyone else shouting and playing and having their fun outside.

I asked my co teacher why they are all playing these games, and he told me it is the tradition, close to Khmer New Year time. I asked why they only play them right now, he said because they have more free time now (which I didn’t really understand as to why they have more free-time now, when as far as I knew – we were supposed to be teaching our normal schedule. But nonetheless, I guess it has to do with the Cambodian tradition as to why some of the teachers let this all go on.

The games do look like fun….and the students do look like they are enjoying themselves after all. I mean who wants to be stuck inside a classroom when it’s this hot anyway? I admit, I am a bit jealous at times.