As a native English speaker and teacher, my presence is well recieved within the education system of the Karen. English is very important to them, but they have little opportunity to truly learn with a native speaker. Most Karen students have been studying English grammar for years, either in Burma or in the refugee camps. However, learning from a book and speaking are very different, especially with the complexities that the English language presents.

So, my job has been to bridge this gap between book learning and speaking. It is tremendously challenging at first, and enormously rewarding after time. Most students are very shy, and some have never spoken to a "Gola wah" (White Skin) before. A few students had never even seen one until I came around! Teaching materials are scarce and the available technology is extremely low.

English is important because it can lead to further education, local NGO jobs, and communication with the international community. Unfortunately, there is little opportunity for education beyond High School, but there are a few scholarships available.

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