The Biggest Light I've Ever Seen

My family and I with the KHAS students and teachers during their visit to SMK PNZ!

Back when I first arrived in Besut, Malaysia, I was given a tour of my school. As we walked through the exposed hallways, children waved, shouted and pointed. They were obviously shocked to see a foreigner walking through their hallways. All in all, I suppose it was quite different than I expected and in my head I started thinking, “I wonder how this is going to go…” No matter, I remained positive.

As we concluded our tour, we walked past three classrooms with bright, colorful bulletin boards that said, “KHAS.” The welcoming bulletin boards and cute decorations caught my attention. 

KHAS Standout 16- year old Students!

“Apa ini?” (“What is that?”)  I asked my mentor, Halilah.

“This is KHAS class,” she replied.

“Apa ini?” I asked again unsure of what KHAS meant.

“This is for special students. Students with disabilities,” she answered.

“Oh!” I said surprised that a school in my village would even have such a program. In certain parts of Asia, special education programs are still a new concept. In fact, in many Asian countries, they do not even exist.

Halilah went on to explain that only certain

One of my 17-year old students. His smile and
pure curiosity always put a smile on my face!

schools in Malaysia have special education
programs, and I was astounded to realize that my assigned school was one of these.

“Can we go in?” I asked Halilah. She seemed surprised, but led me in.

As we walked in, the students smiled and some waved. The KHAS teachers immediately came up and greeted me with warm embraces and smiles. Only one of the teachers, Jamaliah, in KHAS could speak some English, so she went on to explain their classes to me.

After a 45 minute tour and interacting with the teachers, I looked at the 15 plus students. Perhaps it was their curious demeanor or their kind eyes that captured my heart, but I immediately asked, “Can I work with your students? I could come once a week and do songs with actions or color. I could just help in your classes."

KHAS male students receiving an award for their
accomplishments during the school year.
Photo: Courtesy of SMK PNZ

Students doing a drama!

They looked at me, once again surprised. “But, Miss Rachael they know no English,” they explained.

“I’ll make it work,” I exclaimed.

From that moment on, I went to the KHAS class for forty-minutes, once a week to do songs with them. Although I did converse a bit in Malay with them to build a connection, we did the songs in English. We did the Hokey Pokey, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, This Little Light of Mine, I’m a Little Tea Pot and Itsy Bitsy Spider.

A few teachers and I before the performance at Teacher's
Day! 

KHAS students doing a song performance!

With relentless repitition over weeks and months, the students were able to catch onto the words and the corresponding actions. Even better, the six KHAS teachers were so eager to help me and participate. We became something of a big team. Together we helped students do the actions and form the words with enthusiasm and energy. The KHAS teachers even helped me teach the students high fives for girls and air fives for boys, as well as how to say, "Hello. How are you?" in English and "See you later!" 

The students practicing for their skit!

Hands down, Hokey Pokey was the students' favorite song. Beyond just the songs, I built such a strong relationship with the KHAS students and the teachers. Even when I did not have class, I would go to the KHAS classrooms to have tea, converse and hang out with the teachers, who became dear friends.When my family came to visit, the KHAS group through somewhat of a little party for them and my family even did the Hokey Pokey with the students. When my friend Frannie came, she met and sang with the students too! In May, I even participated in the KHAS class's drama skit for the annual Teachers' Day held nationwide in Malaysia. 

The students loved stickers! Whenever
my lovely family members would send
stickers from America, the students
 would become so excited!

Honestly, I was never able to have even a partial verbal conversation with any of the KHAS students, but through singing, moving, laughing, coloring, sharing stickers from America and playing, I built a friendship with each of those students. By June, when I would see them in the hall, the girls would give me huge hugs and the boys would give me the legendary “air five” that I taught them. As for the KHAS teachers, I enjoyed several lunches with them every week and that little corner of the school on the first floor became “my place.” It was a place where I felt comfortable and moved each and every day. This set of three little yet vibrant classrooms of so small in the comparison to the world, but yet they shine one of the biggest lights I have ever seen.

Thinking back to my last day at school when I went to KHAS to say “Jumpa lagi (meet again),” it brings tears to my eyes. As I said farewell, I was not even sure if they understood that I was not returning for the next school year. Those students’ smiles, giggles and laughter bring sheer, pure happiness to my heart. In fact, whenever I hear Hokey Pokey, I will surely be thinking of them!

The KHAS teachers and my family. The KHAS community showed my family
quite a welcoming embrace!

Lights! Camera! Action!

In late September, I was notified that my school was chosen to be featured in a documentary entitled, “ETA Success Story.” The documentary was to be aired on television, as well as printed on DVDs in order for the people of Malaysia, the U.S. Embassy, expatriates as well as future ETAs to learn more about the purpose of the Fulbright ETA program in Malaysia.

I was thrilled that my school was chosen to be the “star” of the documentary. With my consent to do the video, officials as well as a film crew came to my school to storyboard. I could not believe the amount of background work that went into filming a short documentary. We sat in a drafting room choosing what topics of school and ETA life we wanted to feature, and we also tried to plan film shooting times and schedules. With the school year quickly coming to a close, we had a great deal of work to do in a short amount of time!

When mid-October approached, the word of film crews being at school spread and students were ecstatic. I explained to the students that because they accomplished so much this year, we were chosen to share our story in a documentary! Some students became very shy, while others said, “Can I speak on the video?” To which I enthusiastically replied, “We will see!”

Malaysian officials, as well as the film crew became a daily appearance at school, and my students were thrilled to be recognized for their hard work. It was as if they could not believe their school, one of thousands, was selected. Sensing the pride and happiness of students, I beamed with excitement. The crews came to my classes and my extracurricular activities, and they followed me around to try to capture a “Day in the Life” of an ETA. Moreover, they took the time to interview my students and hear their stories about life with an ETA.

Pieces of the documentary were obviously staged, while other pieces were unrehearsed nor planned. Although I have not seen the finished product yet, it is scheduled to finish production very soon! I am anxious to see the faces of my students in the video, as well as relive some moments of pure enthusiasm experienced while working with my unique students. My favorite part of the entire experience was proving to the students that hard work does pay off. From a rocky beginning with my students, we were able to build camaraderie in and out of class, create transformation and ultimately be selected as the “ETA Success Story.”