MA In Thai Studies At Chulalongkorn University

[simon43]

I've just started this MA course at Chula, which promises to be very interesting. The course itself is taught in English and is not concerned with teaching the Thai language. Rather, it covers aspects of Thai history, culture, art, politics etc.

My first impressions:

- The obligatory black skirt and white blouse that I wear is too tight

- The university students on campus seem to be almost entirely women! (not sure how I'm going to concentrate on my course . . )

- My fellow course students (7 others) are either Thai or from other Asian countries - I am the only long-nosed farang...)

Simon

[bangkapiboy]

And how are the teachers? Do the courses move fast? The course major sounds fascinating. I have looked on the chula.ac.th web site.

[simon43]

Well, not sure how fast the course moves because it was my first day! The lecturer was the fomer Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture...

Simon

[sabaijai]

I've just started this MA course at Chula, which promises to be very interesting. The course itself is taught in English and is not concerned with teaching the Thai language. Rather, it covers aspects of Thai history, culture, art, politics etc.

My first impressions:

- The obligatory black skirt and white blouse that I wear is too tight

- The university students on campus seem to be almost entirely women! (not sure how I'm going to concentrate on my course . . )

- My fellow course students (7 others) are either Thai or from other Asian countries - I am the only long-nosed farang...)

Simon

What percentage of the students are Thai? Seems odd they would take an MA course in Thai studies in English.

[simon43]

Students are:

Thai - 3

Japanese - 2

Korean - 1

Chinese - 1

British - 1 (me)

.. and I agree with you. These Thai students are 'home-bred', not brought up overseas. So it is indeed a little strange that they want to learn about Thai culture.

Simon

[Prakanong]

I've just started this MA course at Chula, which promises to be very interesting. The course itself is taught in English and is not concerned with teaching the Thai language. Rather, it covers aspects of Thai history, culture, art, politics etc.

My first impressions:

- The obligatory black skirt and white blouse that I wear is too tight

- The university students on campus seem to be almost entirely women! (not sure how I'm going to concentrate on my course . . )

- My fellow course students (7 others) are either Thai or from other Asian countries - I am the only long-nosed farang...)

Simon

I actually considered doing that course at this very time. I finished up freelancing last year and was going to take a couple of years off.

I was then offered two permie jobs with offers I just could not refuse so took one of them.

We might have been swapping notes ;-)

Give us a running commentary or do a blog - it would be very interesting to a lot of people. One guy did this on the intensive thai course there and that was really good.

[simon43]

Your wish is my command!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/blog/simon43/

(This initial entry just sets the scene and has nothing to do with the MA)

Simon

[Maestro]

Simon, congratulations on your blog. Super idea.

If you haven’t got it yet, treat yourself to one of the new-fangled mobile phones with a built in camera and spice up your blog with photos, eg your tight college uniform (can be a literal pain in the butt) – face not necessary to preserve your anonymity on this forum, the female students on campus who distract your mind, etc.

Every time you add some juicy bit to your blog, post a couple of lines in this thread to bring it to our attention.

How many hours per day, days per week do you go to class at Chula?

--

Maestro

[chinthee]

I've just started this MA course at Chula, which promises to be very interesting. The course itself is taught in English and is not concerned with teaching the Thai language. Rather, it covers aspects of Thai history, culture, art, politics etc.

My first impressions:

- The obligatory black skirt and white blouse that I wear is too tight

- The university students on campus seem to be almost entirely women! (not sure how I'm going to concentrate on my course . . )

- My fellow course students (7 others) are either Thai or from other Asian countries - I am the only long-nosed farang...)

Simon

Wow...you're going to get one of those elusive real Hi-So Uni-girls. jealous.

[simon43]

... spice up your blog with photos, eg your tight college uniform . .

[\quote]

Maestro - that was my perverted sense of humour! I'm wearing a casual shirt and trousers, (because I'm an international student and an old student as well!). But I will definitely take some photos and try to provide useful comment each day.

I have to attend 3 days per week, and there are a number of field trips also thrown in, depending on the course matter being studied. Today I start the course about Thai films and music, so I'm in the mood for dancing

Simon

[RAZZELL]

Maestro - that was my perverted sense of humour! I'm wearing a casual shirt and trousers, (because I'm an international student and an old student as well!). But I will definitely take some photos and try to provide useful comment each day.

I have to attend 3 days per week, and there are a number of field trips also thrown in, depending on the course matter being studied. Today I start the course about Thai films and music, so I'm in the mood for dancing

Simon

I looked on the blog and there was nothing there...

Have you got another link?

Simon...what's your opinion so far?

I'm still condsidering doing the 3 month language course next year...(if things work out with the gf )

RAZZ

[simon43]

Yes, sorry about the blog! I started it but need to add blogs each week! I'll try to catch up.

However, after 2 weeks of lectures etc, I can say the following:

If you have an interest in Thai culture/history, and/or if you want to live in Thailand permanently and understand Thai culture more deeply, then this is certainly a very interesting course. For my first semester, I chose 3 different topics to attend:

- Thai world view (how Thais see themselves and others, Thai history etc)

- Thai film and dance (history of the Thai theatre, dancing, cinema etc, with plenty of archive film material)

- Thai modernisation (recent Thai history)

There are other modules that I'll attend about Thai Buddhism etc.

Being a 'Chula' student also meant that when I went to the BKK immigration office to change my tourist VOA to a student ED visa, I was treated very respectfully!! (My B business visa had run out 2 weeks before, so I was on a 30-day VOA). As soon as the officers saw my letter from the Chula authorities, they asked me to sit down whilst they did all the paperwork. They apologised several times for the delay of 10 minutes!!!

But the downside of this course is the cost (about 80,000 baht for each semester). The course is about 2.5 semesters in length...

I don't actually need an MA qualification. But it will certainly do me no harm to learn more about Thai culture and might help with my PR application which I'll make in ... er ... about 20 years time

Simon

[Johpa]

I've just started this MA course at Chula, which promises to be very interesting. The course itself is taught in English and is not concerned with teaching the Thai language. Rather, it covers aspects of Thai history, culture, art, politics etc.

My first impressions:

- The obligatory black skirt and white blouse that I wear is too tight

- The university students on campus seem to be almost entirely women! (not sure how I'm going to concentrate on my course . . )

- My fellow course students (7 others) are either Thai or from other Asian countries - I am the only long-nosed farang...)

Simon

Uh, if you are wearing such obligatory garb then perhaps the mods ought to move this to another forum.

[jdinasia]

I've just started this MA course at Chula, which promises to be very interesting. The course itself is taught in English and is not concerned with teaching the Thai language. Rather, it covers aspects of Thai history, culture, art, politics etc.

My first impressions:

- The obligatory black skirt and white blouse that I wear is too tight

- The university students on campus seem to be almost entirely women! (not sure how I'm going to concentrate on my course . . )

- My fellow course students (7 others) are either Thai or from other Asian countries - I am the only long-nosed farang...)

Simon

Uh, if you are wearing such obligatory garb then perhaps the mods ought to move this to another forum.

yeah! The Chiang Mai forum!