Literature Teacher in Ang Thong Puts on a Show for Online Classes

Vanida Sayawong teaches her fifth-grade students online in Ang Thong in a video posted to her Facebook on Jan. 23, 2021.

ANG THONG — While the rest of the world languishes in ratty Tshirts and sweatpants for Zoom calls, a teacher in the central province of Ang Thong does not dabble in such half-measures.

For her online classes, Vanida Sayawong, who teaches Thai literature to fifth-graders, goes as far as donning a full Thai dance costume with multiple elaborate masks and headgear.

“See, I can dress up like this because I’m at home. I can’t wear this to school. I need to let it out and wear this,” Vanida said to her students while teaching online. She posted a video of her teaching to her Facebook on Saturday.

Vanida teaches at Wat Ton Son Municipal 1 School. Her parents are theater troupe owner and a piphat band member. Vanida participated in the troupe as she grew up, and eventually graduated in Thai dance.

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While teaching online at home, she eyed her mother’s old lakorn chatri sets and costumes in front of a house and decided to use them to spice up her lessons on the Sang Thong folktale.

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Schools remain closed in 28 provinces since the shutdown was announced in early January amid a second wave of COVID-19 outbreak.

Although the government is set to ease a number of restrictions, there is no plan to reopen schools on the horizon.

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Vanida, standing, with her family’s collection of theater masks.
Vanida, standing, with her family’s collection of theater masks.