This is my last day as the Executive Director of Fulbright Thailand and I'm sure I'll continue blogging as much as possible....now that I'll have the luxury of time!
The past days have seen me in my similar routine except turning into the guest of a surprise party my team and alumni have organized!
I was deeply impressed by the extensive details of the party, the collective efforts of all who have helped, and all who attended and a few who got stuck in the traffic or with some prior obligations.
It was the time in my life when I couldn't think of anything much but feeling so 'greng-jai' and 'touched' ka.
Ajarn Bruce said it was the 'labor of love' that made the party possible. Some others told me I was 'well-loved'. I really think I realized the true meanings of the two that very evening ka.....all relate to our Thai context of 'heart' to achieve whatever we do out of our love....and love from the heart is likely to be lasting!
Assistant Professor Benjawan Ubonsri is my successor who will take on this position on her own from tomorrow on, after overlapping with me for 15 days! Please continue to give your kind cooperation ka.
I'll be in the education circle using ptkanj@gmail.com as my regular contact address na ka.
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 30 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2557
วันอังคารที่ 21 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2557
Identifying root cause
Dear All, hope life is beautiful every day ka.
I gave a talk at the First CULI-LITU International conference entitled, "Colorful ELT" late last week. It was a striking topic that made me have the urge to accept the invitation right away, feeling that it must be quite challenging.
It was very challenging once I started thinking seriously of what to share with the audience who are basically teachers of English and language experts. In addition to the nervousness, I didn't feel that safe, coming from the culture of trying not to make mistakes when speaking English! I still make many mistakes all the time but feel much more comfortable ka!
Even after over 3 decades of watching Thai people learn their English, I feel that not much has improved, especially many kids in provinces. We still can't speak or feel far too shy to speak the language. We still stay a bit away from foreigners. We still think Americans are caucasian only.....the list can go on!
My colleagues helped search for several related studies after we decided to focus the talk on our own Thai cultural traditions, what Fulbright Thailand has placed a high important priority all along. We found that the studies pointed out Buddism-related dimensions like respect the more senior and no confrontation; and the notion of 'Kreng-jai' (Negatively -- You do or say something against your true feelings because the person is at the upper hierarchical level or he/she does not want to look bad in others’ eyes. Positively-- You do or say something against your true feelings because you're considerate of the impact you have on others in their daily as well as emotional lives or think of the trouble that someone will go through.)
I was surprised that the studies didn't touch on the notion of 'Mun-sai' what I have personally found is one of the root causes in the Thai life from studies to daily living.
(Man-sai---negatively, one feels jealous, annoyed, irritated because another person behaves pretentiously or ridiculously, or the person shows off that he/she is better at something. Positively, it means teasing a person in a loving way because the person does something so very cute, or the person exaggeratedly says something good about herself/himself that could be found amusing.)
I crafted my talk around the latter plus 'Mun-sai'. My argument was for the Thai teachers to reflect on their own selves, how they have grown up and learned another language in classes amid the'Kreng-jai' and 'Man-sai' feelings.The self-reflective activities will lead them to see how to use the two positively. For me, it'll contribute even better to the Thais to become more professional in the regional and international forums.....as very few can understand why Thai people feel 'man-sai' about everything and everyone easily ka!
Another point that I raised was 'diverstiy' that comes along with understanding about the mobiity and changes in the world while respecting each other's ideas and thoughts regardless of age, race, background, authority, etc.
The points above are our Thai cultural traditions that need to relate to teaching and learning in general as well since they're part of the real root causes.
It's Chulalongkorn Day tomorrow so I think from his reign, Thailand has started to move speedily to become more modernized in many aspects....though English proficiency stays on as our huge challenge until today.
I gave a talk at the First CULI-LITU International conference entitled, "Colorful ELT" late last week. It was a striking topic that made me have the urge to accept the invitation right away, feeling that it must be quite challenging.
It was very challenging once I started thinking seriously of what to share with the audience who are basically teachers of English and language experts. In addition to the nervousness, I didn't feel that safe, coming from the culture of trying not to make mistakes when speaking English! I still make many mistakes all the time but feel much more comfortable ka!
Even after over 3 decades of watching Thai people learn their English, I feel that not much has improved, especially many kids in provinces. We still can't speak or feel far too shy to speak the language. We still stay a bit away from foreigners. We still think Americans are caucasian only.....the list can go on!
My colleagues helped search for several related studies after we decided to focus the talk on our own Thai cultural traditions, what Fulbright Thailand has placed a high important priority all along. We found that the studies pointed out Buddism-related dimensions like respect the more senior and no confrontation; and the notion of 'Kreng-jai' (Negatively -- You do or say something against your true feelings because the person is at the upper hierarchical level or he/she does not want to look bad in others’ eyes. Positively-- You do or say something against your true feelings because you're considerate of the impact you have on others in their daily as well as emotional lives or think of the trouble that someone will go through.)
I was surprised that the studies didn't touch on the notion of 'Mun-sai' what I have personally found is one of the root causes in the Thai life from studies to daily living.
(Man-sai---negatively, one feels jealous, annoyed, irritated because another person behaves pretentiously or ridiculously, or the person shows off that he/she is better at something. Positively, it means teasing a person in a loving way because the person does something so very cute, or the person exaggeratedly says something good about herself/himself that could be found amusing.)
I crafted my talk around the latter plus 'Mun-sai'. My argument was for the Thai teachers to reflect on their own selves, how they have grown up and learned another language in classes amid the'Kreng-jai' and 'Man-sai' feelings.The self-reflective activities will lead them to see how to use the two positively. For me, it'll contribute even better to the Thais to become more professional in the regional and international forums.....as very few can understand why Thai people feel 'man-sai' about everything and everyone easily ka!
Another point that I raised was 'diverstiy' that comes along with understanding about the mobiity and changes in the world while respecting each other's ideas and thoughts regardless of age, race, background, authority, etc.
The points above are our Thai cultural traditions that need to relate to teaching and learning in general as well since they're part of the real root causes.
It's Chulalongkorn Day tomorrow so I think from his reign, Thailand has started to move speedily to become more modernized in many aspects....though English proficiency stays on as our huge challenge until today.
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 2 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2557
my heart sings repeatedly!
Hello all!
My heart has sung a few times the past week ka!
First, it was after I gave my talk at KKU Medical School on EdPEx (Education Criteria for Performance Excellence) last week. It was basically about 'why' to boost more 'how' so I shared with them some of the world trends, opportunities and possibilities lae ka.
During lunch time, one medical ajarn said to me, 'Lots of reference for me to study further!'.
Immediately, my heart sang! I was thrilled because no one has ever mentioned that to me before. Isn't it nice to see at least one in the audience who wishes to read more from the articles cited!
Secondly, I was at Mae Fah Luang University to give a cross-cultural training in English for its support staff (and guests from Myanmar and Indonesia) to get ready for ASEAN . It was really great to see the university invest in its team members, not just students and faculty. It is essential for all in the university community to have a share so the whole team can move on together. This initiative made me feel fantastic! Several were able to express themselves in English quite well and even some others didn't express themselves that much, their eagerness to learn with and from others in the group made my heart sing!
Third, this is the week when a group of our American grantees finished their role as English Teaching Assistantship and we had a farewell for them last night. They came up with a song for us all at the Fulbright office, and two vdo clips about their lives during the year. All of them wrote a one-page thank-you note to us too. Their success in cross-cultural learning and all the tears of joy from their friendship within their own batch and with us were so overwhelming! My heart couldn't help singing again!
Will sure have more opportunities to sing lae ka!
Have a great weekend.
My heart has sung a few times the past week ka!
First, it was after I gave my talk at KKU Medical School on EdPEx (Education Criteria for Performance Excellence) last week. It was basically about 'why' to boost more 'how' so I shared with them some of the world trends, opportunities and possibilities lae ka.
During lunch time, one medical ajarn said to me, 'Lots of reference for me to study further!'.
Immediately, my heart sang! I was thrilled because no one has ever mentioned that to me before. Isn't it nice to see at least one in the audience who wishes to read more from the articles cited!
Secondly, I was at Mae Fah Luang University to give a cross-cultural training in English for its support staff (and guests from Myanmar and Indonesia) to get ready for ASEAN . It was really great to see the university invest in its team members, not just students and faculty. It is essential for all in the university community to have a share so the whole team can move on together. This initiative made me feel fantastic! Several were able to express themselves in English quite well and even some others didn't express themselves that much, their eagerness to learn with and from others in the group made my heart sing!
Third, this is the week when a group of our American grantees finished their role as English Teaching Assistantship and we had a farewell for them last night. They came up with a song for us all at the Fulbright office, and two vdo clips about their lives during the year. All of them wrote a one-page thank-you note to us too. Their success in cross-cultural learning and all the tears of joy from their friendship within their own batch and with us were so overwhelming! My heart couldn't help singing again!
Will sure have more opportunities to sing lae ka!
Have a great weekend.
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