"Cohen and Giles" By International School Bangkok, 2022
Education is often considered one of the most impactful factors on one's life, offering a path for individuals to improve their socioeconomic status and achieve their full potential. However, the reality is that access to quality education is not evenly distributed. Inequality in educational opportunities exists both within and between countries and often mirrors broader inequalities.
In the fall of 2021 English teacher, Andrew Cohen scoured the web for content regarding his Language and Literature class. As an IB examiner, he realized that students were very capable of scoring highly, they just need to better understand what was required of them. However, he soon realized that everything online was either poor or even completely wrong. At that point, he knew that something needed to change, so he gave a call to another English teacher, David Giles.
While some of us may have the luxury of receiving proper guidance, it is not accessible to everyone. The pair realized this, stating that "Students are missing out on acceptance or even scholarship dollars not because they aren't smart but simply because they don't understand what's needed of them". This concept is what lead to the birth of IB English Guys. The two then formed their Youtube channel and from there began their journey of education.
Nothing to do with money and nothing to do with us
Deeper into this project the IB English Guys saw through their Youtube analytics that up to 40% of their viewership were teachers. Knowing this, they started their website and began offering affordable workshops and unit guides specifically designed for IB teachers around the world. The website also offers study guides and exam reviews for students who desire extra practice. With the Youtube channel going strong and the website up and running, these two English teachers were providing resources to students in need everywhere.
There was no shortage of challenges throughout this process. With the new online medium of education, the two teachers found that the lack of a back-and-forth between students made it much more difficult. However, this also turned out to be a positive as Youtube videos had to be near perfect. This initial road bump actually turned out to be a benefit, helping them become better teachers, as they now needed to know the content even more thoroughly than they did previously. There was no conversational aspect in this medium. What they put out was permanent, which added to the pressure. But as the saying goes, pressure makes diamonds.
All in all, promoting equality in education is crucial for ensuring an inclusive society. Access to education is a fundamental right and should not be limited by status, race, gender, or any other factor. It is essential that educational opportunities are provided to all individuals. The IB English Guys, with the help of ISB, have accomplished this and made big steps towards equality in education. Video by video, they continue to teach students of the world.