Wanted

One of the Cambodian English teachers is leaving, so we've been holding interviews with candidates over the last couple weeks.  Laum asked me to help.  When the first three applicants arrived last week, Laum dozed in a hammock while Bop and I conducted the interviews.  Somehow, I became the leader of this process and ended up asking all the questions.  Bop helped clarify a few things that I didn't know.  The first girl was o.k. but her English was weak.  I really liked the second girl because her English was good, and she showed confidence and poised.  She also seemed to really like children.  The third girl was extremely nervous, didn't understand my questions, and lacked any teacher training.  I asked her why she wanted the job, and she said, "I want the experience."

They were all supposed to come the following day to teach one lesson.  Only the third girl made it, and it was a complete disaster.  The lesson was confusing and boring.  The students didn't know what she wanted them to do.

Another applicant showed up today.  I don't know where Laum finds these girls, but he should probably try speaking to them in English on the phone first to weed out the ones who can't speak English at all.  I asked her, "Where did you go to school?"  She looked helplessly at Bop.  I repeated the question again very slowly.  No answer.  In fact, she was unable to answer a single question.  After a few unsuccessful attempts at trying to get any information from her, I turned to Bop and asked if she had anything to add.  Bop said, "She don't understand, so no, I don't have question."  Well, that about summed it up.