Monday, July 7, 2008
Having a BLAST!
Being that I am in Thailand, the 4th could not be quite like at home - but it was close! I had class all day but was able to make it back in time for the majority of the fun. Some of the students played games, I mostly talked, and then it was dinner time! We had hamburgers and french fries, potato salad, grilled chicken, and lots of ice cream! Then, there were fireworks! Like last year, they did not disappoint.
Myula plays with her doll while waiting for dinner.
At last!
Ben knows how to enjoy a burger!
We came around the corner and look! - both with a cob of corn and a cone. I guess we're related...
Ben kindly bought 10 kilos of ice cream - a little over 20 pounds. It's the tradition in Thailand that on your birthday you buy others gifts.
Everyone got to participate in the fun this year with sparklers.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Academia et al
Has it really been almost 2 months??? I knew it had been awhile, but that's ridiculous.
The last couple months have not been without their fun and points of interest. In fact, a lot happened which would account for the lack of posts.
I am now a grad student at Payap University. I am working towards a Masters in TESOL. I have a great class. There are a total of 15 (excellent class size in my opinion) students and every one of them is interesting. We have just completed the second week of classes (its all day Thursday and Friday) and already I think we feel at ease. I have been doing a lot of academic reading, but am happy to find that I believe it will end up quite practical as well. Our class is also diverse in terms of native and second language English speakers so it really aids in discussions.
I've also moved into an "apartment" of sorts. Basically a room with a bathroom (and a wee little back "porch"). It has been full of pillows and other miscellaneous bedding. Therefore, no pics - it's a disaster! However, this week I finally was able to get a shelf home on the motorbike (I'm getting the hang of this Thai transportation thing!) and so now there is beginning to be order. Pics to come.
Student-wise things are okay. The students appear to be enjoying their classes. Frankly, I feel a bit out of touch. I only teach three classes and all to the 1st year students. We've had some issues with health. Nothing too major, but still, a few students (or kids as it were) out of 20 and it seems like a lot. relatively speaking, I've spent a bit of time in local hospitals.
Getting out and going to school has increased my proficiency with a motorbike. Prayers for my general safety are of course appreciated! If I think about it, it kind of scares me. But if I want to live here and actually feel a little bit independent - well, motoring around it is. And I do find it fun.
This past summer Ben and I instituted weekly fahrang nights. This entails going out on Wednesday night for food that is more like what we are accustomed to. Now our group has grown to include two of the new teachers and another guy that is staying here as well. It's fun to be able to get out. Having all these native speakers around has done wonders for my vocabulary! It had been on the decline, but I'm happy to see it pick up. I'm sure my masters level reading helps a bit too. ; )
I should really post some pictures and will probably do so in the next couple days.
Just in general, to all those at home that I have done an awful job of emailing, I'm sorry I haven't been keeping in touch! I do think about everyone often!
The last couple months have not been without their fun and points of interest. In fact, a lot happened which would account for the lack of posts.
I am now a grad student at Payap University. I am working towards a Masters in TESOL. I have a great class. There are a total of 15 (excellent class size in my opinion) students and every one of them is interesting. We have just completed the second week of classes (its all day Thursday and Friday) and already I think we feel at ease. I have been doing a lot of academic reading, but am happy to find that I believe it will end up quite practical as well. Our class is also diverse in terms of native and second language English speakers so it really aids in discussions.
I've also moved into an "apartment" of sorts. Basically a room with a bathroom (and a wee little back "porch"). It has been full of pillows and other miscellaneous bedding. Therefore, no pics - it's a disaster! However, this week I finally was able to get a shelf home on the motorbike (I'm getting the hang of this Thai transportation thing!) and so now there is beginning to be order. Pics to come.
Student-wise things are okay. The students appear to be enjoying their classes. Frankly, I feel a bit out of touch. I only teach three classes and all to the 1st year students. We've had some issues with health. Nothing too major, but still, a few students (or kids as it were) out of 20 and it seems like a lot. relatively speaking, I've spent a bit of time in local hospitals.
Getting out and going to school has increased my proficiency with a motorbike. Prayers for my general safety are of course appreciated! If I think about it, it kind of scares me. But if I want to live here and actually feel a little bit independent - well, motoring around it is. And I do find it fun.
This past summer Ben and I instituted weekly fahrang nights. This entails going out on Wednesday night for food that is more like what we are accustomed to. Now our group has grown to include two of the new teachers and another guy that is staying here as well. It's fun to be able to get out. Having all these native speakers around has done wonders for my vocabulary! It had been on the decline, but I'm happy to see it pick up. I'm sure my masters level reading helps a bit too. ; )
I should really post some pictures and will probably do so in the next couple days.
Just in general, to all those at home that I have done an awful job of emailing, I'm sorry I haven't been keeping in touch! I do think about everyone often!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Generalizations, but interesting
Lately I have had the opportunity to interview prospective students for the school. I am amazed at how much I am getting to learn about the culture. There are basic questions that I realize I never had the answers to. Whether this is due to lack of curiosity on my part when I first arrived, or to having asked, but not gotten a satisfactory answer, I am not sure. At any rate, now my students are providing me with good answers - to my plethora of questions!
In order to remember what I learned I wrote it all down. I'm just going to paste what I wrote here. Some of you might find it interesting, because it shows how what we do here is actually a real service to communities and ethnic groups in Thailand and Burma. Hopefully we will be able to become more efficient so that our students will reap greater rewards for their time.
School Systems
America
Public School – Free
Private School - $$$$
Homeschool - $
Thailand
Public School – Families pay for tuition/uniforms/housing (where applicable). It sounds like there isn’t any free school. Tuition increases each grade. Students in the hilltribes/mountains often start Level 1 later (around 9 years old) and get to some point within Level 2. It doesn’t seem like many get through Level 3. It appears many who do not get through Level 3 go on to Bible Colleges a year or two after leaving school. Often missionaries start these schools and they are inexpensive or free. Some have requirements that the students need to pass Level 2 or be 18.
An example for tuition would be B5,000 for 2 girls (one in pre-school and one in Level 1.1) for one term (6 months). This does not include costs for uniforms, which are about B350 apiece. This is about $380 US for one year. That doesn’t sound like much but it is if the average income is about 150B/day (we’re only talking about in the mountains here – not cities), than that is a lot. One of my students guessed that people in the mountains make between B30,000-50,000 ($938-$1563) per year. She also said, though, that there are many who don’t make that much. Also, their income depends on their crops. Farmers here also end up buying seeds and supplies on credit, only to go into debt or have to pay those off when the crops come in.
Literacy: Online the figure I found was a 93% literacy rate in Thailand. After asking about it, that seems right. It’s just that most older people read and write in their native languages not Thai. Among the younger generation, most read Thai and their tribal language.
Myanmar/Burma
Students have to pass each standard. Many students do not pass every one, so they repeat standards until they pass. This is why it’s hard to put an age on when they graduate from school.
Government School – Tuition, Uniforms
Boarding School – Tuition, Uniforms, Housing
Apparently many students in the cities are able to go to school. Most students now want to complete all 10 Standards, otherwise getting a job is very difficult. My students said that one way people are able to pay for their children is by negotiating prices with boarding schools. Some headmasters apparently try to be nice, others want to charge a lot. It also seems like tuition is greatly influenced by the help students get. Many students (who have the money) get tutors and more materials. This seems to affect the average student more than it would in the US.
For those outside the cities it is very difficult to get a good education. There are many fees that must be paid throughout the year. An estimate from one student was $1000/year/student for the 10th Standard (each level costs more). Although each level costs more, I think this seems high. Online it appears that students pay closer to $200/year. Either way, it’s a lot of money if you have 5 kids. My student explained that for every little fee the family must figure out what they can give up so it can be paid. The students guessed that most in the villages just make it to the 4th Standard and then work on the farm.
They also explained that the 10th Standard exams are out of synch with what they learn. Students who are often at the top of their class might not ever pass the test. Students who did not have good grades might actually pass. (It doesn’t seem like this has much to do with bribery or cheating, since this happened within my student’s family. The youngest sister had the best grades and couldn’t pass, three others didn’t have the best grades and did pass.)
That's my research for the day! I hope it was of some interest.
PS - If someone knows how to increase the width of my tables in Blogger, please let me know. I cannot figure it out!
In order to remember what I learned I wrote it all down. I'm just going to paste what I wrote here. Some of you might find it interesting, because it shows how what we do here is actually a real service to communities and ethnic groups in Thailand and Burma. Hopefully we will be able to become more efficient so that our students will reap greater rewards for their time.
America
| Grade | Age | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-school | 4 | |
| Elementary School | Kindergarten-6 | 5-12 |
| Junior High | 7-8 | 12-14 |
| High School | 9-12 | 14-18 |
Public School – Free
Private School - $$$$
Homeschool - $
Thailand
| Grade | Age | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-school | 1-3 | 3-6 |
| Level 1 (ป) | 1-6 | 7-12 |
| Level 2 (ม) | 1-3 | 12-15 |
| Level 3 (ม) | 4-6 | 15-18 |
Public School – Families pay for tuition/uniforms/housing (where applicable). It sounds like there isn’t any free school. Tuition increases each grade. Students in the hilltribes/mountains often start Level 1 later (around 9 years old) and get to some point within Level 2. It doesn’t seem like many get through Level 3. It appears many who do not get through Level 3 go on to Bible Colleges a year or two after leaving school. Often missionaries start these schools and they are inexpensive or free. Some have requirements that the students need to pass Level 2 or be 18.
An example for tuition would be B5,000 for 2 girls (one in pre-school and one in Level 1.1) for one term (6 months). This does not include costs for uniforms, which are about B350 apiece. This is about $380 US for one year. That doesn’t sound like much but it is if the average income is about 150B/day (we’re only talking about in the mountains here – not cities), than that is a lot. One of my students guessed that people in the mountains make between B30,000-50,000 ($938-$1563) per year. She also said, though, that there are many who don’t make that much. Also, their income depends on their crops. Farmers here also end up buying seeds and supplies on credit, only to go into debt or have to pay those off when the crops come in.
Literacy: Online the figure I found was a 93% literacy rate in Thailand. After asking about it, that seems right. It’s just that most older people read and write in their native languages not Thai. Among the younger generation, most read Thai and their tribal language.
Myanmar/Burma
| Grade | Age | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-school | 3-5 | |
| 10 Standards | 1-10 | 5-15,16,17 |
Students have to pass each standard. Many students do not pass every one, so they repeat standards until they pass. This is why it’s hard to put an age on when they graduate from school.
Government School – Tuition, Uniforms
Boarding School – Tuition, Uniforms, Housing
Apparently many students in the cities are able to go to school. Most students now want to complete all 10 Standards, otherwise getting a job is very difficult. My students said that one way people are able to pay for their children is by negotiating prices with boarding schools. Some headmasters apparently try to be nice, others want to charge a lot. It also seems like tuition is greatly influenced by the help students get. Many students (who have the money) get tutors and more materials. This seems to affect the average student more than it would in the US.
For those outside the cities it is very difficult to get a good education. There are many fees that must be paid throughout the year. An estimate from one student was $1000/year/student for the 10th Standard (each level costs more). Although each level costs more, I think this seems high. Online it appears that students pay closer to $200/year. Either way, it’s a lot of money if you have 5 kids. My student explained that for every little fee the family must figure out what they can give up so it can be paid. The students guessed that most in the villages just make it to the 4th Standard and then work on the farm.
They also explained that the 10th Standard exams are out of synch with what they learn. Students who are often at the top of their class might not ever pass the test. Students who did not have good grades might actually pass. (It doesn’t seem like this has much to do with bribery or cheating, since this happened within my student’s family. The youngest sister had the best grades and couldn’t pass, three others didn’t have the best grades and did pass.)
That's my research for the day! I hope it was of some interest.
PS - If someone knows how to increase the width of my tables in Blogger, please let me know. I cannot figure it out!
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