Swasdee ka!
Yesterday was Thanksgiving and even I'm not American, I like it a lot as a special day to feel thankful ka. I could feel so thankful to many people, for many touching moments. Yet, at the end of the day, I sure am so very grateful to Nailuang, King Rama IX for his unconditional love and selfless efforts. I also feel so blessed to be born to my family whose warmth and caring have allowed me to be me and do so many in my professional life with the least worries. You all la ka? Lots to feel thankful for too na ka.
This week, thanks to an invite of Ajarn Chaiwat, a Fulbright alum, I had an opportunity to give several sessions to train public health officers along the Thai border on partnership building, a bit about the use of English, cross culture, and self-reflection ka. So today, I'd like to share what I've learned from this training na ka.
- The use of 'bingo' to get started turned to be so influential to ignite further thinking ka. At first, I thought of an icebreaking and testing their English. Yet, after Ajarn Chaiwat and I discussed it, it showed a lot about the start of partnership from having some clear understanding, objectives, and one's own self how we behaved in a different environment ka. We saw a few who were quiet and waited to be approached while others were proactive to get to introduce themselves and get their objectives achieved.
After the activities, it was really clear that we tended to go for our goal without much thinking of how far we needed to know the other end and how each of us approached others.
- Our pre-test and post-test wasn't to assess the content learned but on the attitude and determination. It didn't go along with what the host actually wanted as they were required to report the use of funding in quantitative terms. We did try come up with some at the end of the sessions to satisfy the requirement. Yet, our qualitative measures to ask them to reflect and answer according to their specific self and office contexts would be so useful for each of them to move forward.
One thing I loved about it was a question about their happiness level from the three days ka. Most were very positive and to us both, it was the first step for them to have more favorable attitude to practice their English, to care more about their partners' needs and constraints, and to be more determined to enhance partnership with cross-cultural understanding.
We both were really happy to hear that it was the first time they didn't sit in the classroom style with more practices in most of the sessions, mine and Ajarn Chaiwat (public speaking and negotiation skills).
- I'd like to add that it was a rare picture to see the host (bureau director) sit through all the sessions....apparently with some work to do in between. Her presence and love of learning were meaningful as a great life-long learner mak mak ka.
- Besides self-reflective moments, we had one session for them to learn how to integrate what they learned so as to see that each skill isn't a stand alone one and they can't just sharpen one skill without thinking and linking with the other ka.
We hope they left the workshops with some learning and eagerness to learn and try more ka.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น