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First Annual TESOL conference held at Asian U.
The First Annual TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers
of Other Languages) conference has just finished at Asian U. The conference
was organised by TEFL International (Teaching English as a Foreign
Language), Bang Phe, Rayong. There were displays of books and teaching
material by DK Books, Cambridge University Press, Macmillan, Pearsons and
TOIEC; all of whom were supporting the conference.
From April 26 to 27, over 150 delegates from different parts of Thailand and
of many nationalities attended the two day conference. The keynote speaker
on the first morning was Dr. David Nunan, an Australian, who is professor of
Applied Linguistics and director of the English centre at the University of
Hong Kong. With plenty of audience participation, he spoke about grammar and
the structure of language; with examples and questions for the delegates.
 Robert
Shrubsall, dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Asian University, made a
presentation at the First Annual TESOL conference.
Other presenters included Robert Shrubsall, the dean of the Faculty of
Liberal Arts at Asian University, and Mark Starrs, head of the English for
Business Communication Programme also at Asian U. David Hopkins, the
director of academics at TEFL International, and Bob Woodhead, the managing
director of the Education Development Center of Test of English for
International Communication (TOEIC), Bangkok, gave informative and
interesting presentations on other aspects of communicative English
teaching.
Apart from the presentations, there were several workshop sessions, where
the delegates (mostly English teachers) were able to discuss their
experiences in a focused manner. They looked at adapting textbooks to their
own situations, using songs and chants, as well as other methods and ideas
for teaching English.
Dr. David Nunan was the
keynote speaker on the first morning
Workshops were popular during
the conference.
ISE hosts Mekong River International School Association sports competition
Middle School Sports Exchange April 20 – 23, 2006:
The ISE campus on Burapha Golf Course was bustling with activity as 140
international school students and coaches from Vietnam, Cambodia and
Laos came to play basketball, volleyball and participate in
cross-country running. The ISE community of families and staff
generously opened their homes to student visitors and coaches for the
weekend.
Activities commenced on Friday with basketball games. Under the watchful
eyes of referees from the physical education department at Burapha
Teachers’ College some closely contested games were played. Rain forced
a delay in the afternoon play but the spirited and keenly contested
competition continued later until the last games were played.
Early Saturday morning ninety-eight eager students met at the front of
ISE for the start of the cross-country event. The run wound around
Burapha Golf Course B and brought the runners back to the finish line in
the middle of the ISE playing fields.
Shortly after the running event the volleyball games were played. The
weather cooperated nicely. Brilliant sunshine and welcome breezes
greeted the athletes. Phyathai Hospital provided an ambulance to
transport any sports injuries but luckily there were no casualties.
On Sunday, the ISE community said good-bye to all their weekend guests.
Every student went away with a sense of accomplishment having made new
friendships and gained a healthy understanding of competition.
The girls basketball games
were fun and exciting.
The cross-country event
wound around Burapha Golf Course B.
Activities commenced on
Friday with basketball games.
ISE Eagles gave their
friends from other international schools a big welcome.
Tournament all-stars show
off their well-earned t-shirts.
Amidst all the sporting
events, there was also time for a party.
Conference discusses switch to new loan program for students
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Officials of the Student Loans Fund (SLF) held a conference at
Ambassador City in Jomtien on April 21 to present a progress report on
the loan fund performance and to prepare for the next round of loans
which will be under a new system, named Income Contingent Loans (ICL).
Over 1,000 Student Loans Fund (SLF) officers
attended the meeting.
SLF manager Dr Prempracha Supasamout was the lead presenter of the
conference that had around 1,000 delegates from the educational and
local government sectors.
Under Thai government policy a new program named Income Contingent Loans
(ICL) will replace SLF for the 2006 education year. This new system is
part of educational reform designed to give students a better chance to
study in the universities.
Dr Prempracha said that during the 10-year SLF plan to support students
from low-income families who wished to study at university there had
been 2,656,106 students taking loans for a total amount of
221,360,742,263.22 baht. At present there are 1,209,185 students due to
pay back their loans, which is 45.73 percent of the total loans issued.
The total amount due is 93,944,861,151.27 baht, or 42.62 percent, with
70 percent already paid back.
After 10 years of the SLF program, the government had announced it would
convert the system to ICL. This begins with the 2006 education year for
freshman students, while those who are studying under the SLF program
will continue with SLF until their education is completed.
The budget for the first year of ICL is 4.8 million baht, said Dr
Prempracha.
ICL is available for bachelor degree students, high vocational
certificates, and diplomas. Anyone can apply to take a loan if they are
a student, and no guarantor is needed. However, the decision to advance
funds will be based on potential future income of the loan receiver to
pay back the loan. Only those likely to have an income of 16,000 baht
per month will be considered.
The ICL loan has no interest, but its value will be adjusted in line
with the consumer inflation/index each year. The amount to pay back will
not exceed 5 percent of the student’s personal expenses.
It seems that the first budget of 4.8 billion baht will not be enough
for the students. It is estimated that there will be about 500,000
students who will apply to take this loan, from the total number of
700,000 students per year.
Foundation stone laid for main pillar of Children’s Center
Mayor Narong Boonbanjerdsri held a Buddhist
priest prayer ceremony to bless Buddha, and to give offerings to the
priests for prosperity. This was done during the laying of the
foundation stone and main pillar installation for the construction of
the Children’s Development Center.
Patcharapol Panrak
A foundation stone laying ceremony for the main pillar of the new
Children’s Development Center at Sattahip was held on April 26, with
Sattahip Mayor Narong Boonbanjerdsri conducting prayers and making
offerings to the monks.
Vice Admiral Weeraphan Ngokngam, commander-in-chief of the Royal Navy
Sattahip Base was chairman of the ceremony, the Navy having given its
permission to Sattahip municipality for use of the plot of land at
Prince Chumporn Khet Udomsak Garden and Nongtakhian Water Reservoir.
The Children’s Development Center will stand on an area of 2 rai beside
the Princess Theprattana Ratchasuda Library and is designed for children
before they go on to kindergarten or primary school.
Teachers have been specially prepared to take care of the children and
school them in the basics of self-development and social integration,
and the center will be of particular benefit to families in which both
parents are at work each day.
Mayor Narong said that local development is beginning to show tangible
assets, with better infrastructure connecting the communities. However,
there is more to this than roads and water supplies, said the mayor, and
development plans are being implemented in the fields of public health,
culture and education. Sattahip is a seaside town with many tourists,
and the area needs to be clean, orderly and efficient.
Pattaya - much more than meets the eye
Helle Rantsén
PILC Welfare Chairperson
Large parts of the population of Pattaya have in common that they
are visiting the city, staying for a few days or weeks, enjoying the
shopping, the food, the tourist sites or the nightlife. Some might say
that it is especially the nightlife that has placed Pattaya on the world
map.
The children at Ban Jing Jai will be some of
the recipients of proceeds from the Beach Party evening on May 12 at
Rabbit Resort.
But what people “around the world” and in Thailand perhaps are not aware
of is that another large part of the population of Pattaya actually live
as residents in the city, having made Pattaya their home. A lot of these
people belong to different clubs or groups who meet on a regular basis
to socialise and exchange information. All have one thing in common:
their engagement in charity work, to care and take care of the many low
income families, handicapped, or children in high risk situations among
others who live in the Eastern Seaboard. Not because they have to. But
because they choose to act and respond when the need is there.
An example of the different groups/clubs supporting yet another attempt
to help where there is a need, is the fantastic response to be a part of
the first Charity Beach Party ever in Pattaya.
The Rabbit Resort on Dongtan Beach, PILC and BPH are working closely
together to create an outstanding night on the beach where you can
easily bring your kids or your mum. Live music, great BBQ in a super
buffet and soft drinks, games, raffle and a chance to bid on a unique
piece of art created by the children at Ban Jing Jai.
It is for these children that the dental health care program will be set
up by PILC and BPH using the proceeds from the Beach Party evening at
Rabbit Resort. This fun evening is on May 12 from 6.30 p.m. and onwards.
Tickets are 800 baht for adults and 400 baht for children. For tickets
please contact Reina Rances: 09 044 59 20, Helle Rantsén: 01 63 68 165
or Rabbit Resort: 038- 303- 303-4.
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