brucetefl

I think its fairly common but you can always cover up inportant info like passport numbers until you feel more secure with who you are dealing with.

And what time is it?

Because they change every 15 minutes or so.

And "appear to be" is crucial since TCT seem to be as transparent as mud. As I mentioned in my earlier post, we have had a few dozen students of our BA request letters confirming their enrollment because, according to them, just the letter will allow them to get a Work Permit through their school.

The current rules appear to be that a B/MA is required in Education,

Wow.

So a full 120-credit degree is the same as a CELTA?

Exactly what planet are you from?

Wow.

By the way show me a TEFL course approved by the MOE in Thailand. There are EXACTLY three that have been approved, the rest are just English schools that have been approved that offer TEFL courses on the side.

Its NOT a B. Ed. But it is a degree. Just as students of our degree many of our students are already getting work permits through their schools. Don't ask me how because I just do not know.

And with the degree and a Diploma in education you can be fully qualified. That is assuming the TCT do not change the rules again (very likely to happen).

Wow.

The current rules appear to be that a B/MA is required in Education, period. I have seen many posts of laments, persons with degrees from great schools washed out because they have Lingustics and Language Aquisition printed on their sheepskin.

That says TESOL and is nothing more than a glorified CELTA program.

Approved MOE...like every TEFL and Thai language school on Thailand.

Whats the stamp supposed to do lol?

I am not an expert in yoga, but I'm somewhat of an expert in teachers, especially new teachers. So I'm happy to offer a device and suggestions but please take my words with a grain of salt.

I have no idea how long you have been involved in yoga, but a lot of teaching is in the attitude. Can you come across as a teacher? If you are teaching someone yoga, Would they believe that you are an expert? Qualified to teach them? Obviously, you could always promote yourself as yoga instructor for novices in Yoga, too.

My son Studies sports science and, According to him, personal trainers and fitness instructors earn between 150 and 600 baht per hour. Yoga obviously is conducive to group classes where you can charge six students 100 baht each.

Anyway, just my ideas. I hope they're helpful.

I would have to agree that an average US/UK university is better than any of the top Thai universities. The education does not even compare I am afraid. It starts out with a system that discourages any kind of individual though and creativity. Its pretty tough to change that when they get to university.

My nephew studied at one of the largest and most popular universities in Thailand. He also went to an above average US high school. He said it was like going back to year 10.

 

You mean to tell me that the school (Chula) whose students didn't even know who Hitler is supposed to be near the top 200 hundred schools in the world? I could name hundreds of better schools in America alone.

 


one top thai uni graduate was trying to impress me telling me how hitler did the worst ever things in history... i asked how she felt hitler's crimes compared to those of stalin and mao - she replied 'who?'

Cool.

I have heard nothing but good things about Mahidol. I am also sure it is not the only program that can be of benefit to Thai students.

I know nothing about Music, but I do know a young man from Mahidol that played at the Kennedy Center and found numerous of his videos and performances on the internet.

I assume he has talent, which when combined with a good program, has produced an excellent young musician.

I am sure he isn't the only one.

Actually it was founded in 1995, so almost 20 years now. I have met the director, he is a good friend of one of my good friends.

And having a keyboard that can connect through MIDI to a computer can be a very useful and educational tool so do not completely discount their use--although my keyboard is a Korg.

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Mahidol Department of Music, being BY FAR the best and most famous music school in Thailand, also gets the best musicians. Its a very good cycle and I am sure that will continue.

And yet didn't exist 15 years ago - im sure it just became so through the patronage of the hi-sos, and not through vision, philosophy, innovation, and industriousness. And thankfully our students don't play on yamaha keyboards either

Thongsook College became accredited by the MOE in 1995.

Right now, as we anticipate most of the demand to be from Thai students (or ASEAN) looking to finish a degree in 4 years, we are looking at sticking to the traditional university schedule and calendar.

I guess the Bachelor of Bus. Admin would be the most popular.

What type of study schedule do you plan to have for it? For example full-time Mon-Fri or weekends?

I think Ram or another uni has the option for both and the students can choose which scehdule they want, for example those working Mon-Fri will do the weekend one.

Also, where will the place of study be?

Well done and good luck.

Mahidol Department of Music, being BY FAR the best and most famous music school in Thailand, also gets the best musicians. Its a very good cycle and I am sure that will continue.

Working on an MS ED

Will you offer any master degrees?

It was actually you that mentioned the yamaha keyboards.

I went to the Shanghai Musical Instruments show last October, biggest in the world now, bigger than Germany. Last June I also visited dozens of instrument manufacturers in China, including places like Huizhou (not easy to find even on a map). So (like I said about not knowing people and making assumptions) I might know a bit more about what I am talking about than you might think.

But like I said, I appreciate your input and your passion.

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Apparently you still failed to read the summary course description...

100,000,000 baht would buy 100 Yamaha keyboards... per student! lol

Great - now purchase 1 baby grand piano for performances (and maybe 2 more for faculty offices), and at least 10 upright pianos (probably closer to 20-30 if you have individual practice rooms, which I am sure you do right?) Cost for that - closer to 30 million. You planning to open a university level degree program using yamaha keyboards? International standard indeed

Apparently you still failed to read the summary course description...

100,000,000 baht would buy 100 Yamaha keyboards... per student! lol

Anyway you have your opinion and you obviously feel passionate about that. Thanks for your input.

Thanks for the kind words, Sailinghome, but you do overstate things just a bit. Thongsook, today, is a small, quiet, middle-of-the-road Thai university. But give us some time and we aim to change that.

And ANY degree from a university in Thailand that is recognized by the MOE can lead to graduate study in the US or UK. Nothing special there.

Sounds like someone who did not really read the description of the program:

"A degree in music and the music industry: this degree is for people who want to be musicians and study music but also includes the business of music; things like how to promote the concert or how to sell music online. So it's somewhat of a combo degree."

This degree does not have aspirations of being a "world-class Music program". Because, quite frankly, most people who graduate with degrees strictly in Music cannot find decent work. There are two choices: play in a band in local restaurants and pubs (and the career on that is inconsistent and probably ends in 10 years) or work as a music teacher for KPN or Yamaha, getting paid 50% of whatever the student pays. Sure there are a few other career paths (like become wildly famous) but nothing with mass openings. This aims at giving "Music" students a much broader career path.

So, in summary, this degree will not be in direct competition with Mahidol. You are comparing apples to oranges.

And I would love to see a cost list for 100,000,000 in music equipment. For a new program that would have less than 50 students. That kind of made me laugh. But thanks for the input, I guess.

Now I do not know you and you do not know me. Even if you know who I am you probably do not know much about my long-term background--what I have done and what connections I have.

Based upon this, here is a general suggestion: Its probably best to not make assumptions about people on these forums. What we can and cannot do. Like the BA TESOL that so many people claimed was not accredited and recognized my the MOE, you can often be proven wrong in the end.

Just a suggestion.

Just to let you know, every degree at a Thai University must have five registered instructors with masters degrees in the field of study. This degree will be no different.

I'm always surprised at how snarky message boards tend to be. Doesn't it make more sense to ask questions than just make negative assumptions?

People without expertise in music education should not be opening degrees in the field - those of us in the profession have enough trouble without dealing with fly by night start ups with no clear curricular outcome and professional objectives.

Sorry.

here is just the image if that is ok.

Apparently it says:

"Commission on Higher Education take note of approval of this course as of 23 December 2556"

I am open to sincere and polite discussion on the matter.

Can you explain the readers of this forum what the stamp actually says?

I actually did not ask.

I am open to sincere and polite discussion on the matter.

Can you explain the readers of this forum what the stamp actually says?

This was subject to a great deal of debate a year ago. In some earlier posts I describe the process of creating a degree at a Thai University. As I described earlier, once the University Board of Directors has approved a degree the university can begin promoting and operating that degree. The degree is then submitted to the Ministry of Education and eventually, possibly after some suggested changes, the Ministry of Education returns the degree with an official stamp. Honestly I did not know they returned it, sent a letter or just informed the university by phone. Now I know.

Thongsook College BA TESOL received our stamped copy from the Ministry of education about one month ago. Anyone interested in seeing the picture of the degree with stamp can do so at:

I am open to sincere and polite discussion on the matter.

As of now my side will have nothing to do with recruiting teachers. But they have many teachers already teaching in China that seem anxious for a move to Thailand.

Just an innocent question: If the teachers are recruited from the Sates and sent here (ignoring wages and relocation package etc vs 100k pa per student - class sizes?), what would they offer with respect to recruiting in Thailand - it is highly unlikely they would have any idea of the culture, language or an contacts. Nice idea to introduce in a few years perhaps once the courses are up and running, self attracting students and the teachers are in more of a position to be of any use. Do you not agree? Perhaps the best way would be to hire a Thai publicity company on the same basis - they could hit the right media and arrange the right events to fill up the classes. Either that, or hire from here teachers already working with experience that can bring students with them and have contacts.

Well I think you are correct that the study of anything depends upon aptitude and attitude. But just because someone doesn't have an aptitude doesn't necessarily mean they can't learn. I can tell you in all honesty that I don't have an aptitude for learning languages but I can speak Cantonese and Mandarin.

Of course the methodology used in many schools is not terribly effective in developing skills needed to take these exams. But that does not mean that these students don't have A great deal of latent knowledge of English. They just need to access it.

Attitude and motivation are clearly important. Perhaps A 14-year-old in a small town in Issan doesn't have a great deal of motivation but that same student, now 18 and a university student with foreign teachers and possibly even foreign friends might be much more motivated.

So a student that has never been in a bilingual program will not improve substantially after spending a year studying classes taught in English by native English speakers?

Thats your honest belief?

Really?

I have a hard time believing that you really believe this. Honestly.

And, of course, the students who do fail can then enter into an intensive English program until they do pass the exam.

WP question answered with my personal opinion above.

Well yes, of course I honestly believe what I'm saying. Are you serious in asking that question? LOL

A student's aptitude and desire are the two most important factors in determining their likely success in learning a second language, and when those factors are present, a student will have achieved much toward acquiring that 2nd language by the end of high school and would not need what is being offered by the two universities in this scheme. If you really believe that the idea of some Thai kid without aptitude and desire is going to pass his 1st-year core university subjects AND get to IELTS 5.5 - 6.0 is realistic, we disagree greatly on this point.

But I have to go now. It will be interesting to see how this pans out if it gets off the ground. I will check back tomorrow to see if I need reply. Good evening.

In response to Norrad: Yes foreign students can enroll although we anticipate the demand to be mainly from ASEAN students. Its obviously much easier to get a visa to study in Thailand than it is in the US.

So a student that has never been in a bilingual program will not improve substantially after spending a year studying classes taught in English by native English speakers?

Thats your honest belief?

Really?

I have a hard time believing that you really believe this. Honestly.

And, of course, the students who do fail can then enter into an intensive English program until they do pass the exam.

WP question answered with my personal opinion above.

I was asking about the feasibility of recruiting. You guys asked a lot of questions. I answered as completely as I can at the moment. Nothing wrong with the content.