English teaching reform in Thailand to begin this year

[webfact]

English teaching reform in Thailand to begin this year
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, March 7 - Caretaker Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang has urged all English teachers nationwide to create new standard for English teaching in a bid to improve students' English communication skills as soon as this year.

Speaking at a meeting on English language educational reforms today, Mr Chaturon reported about one million students were able to read in Thai but needed improvements, while more than 100,000 students could not read at all, no need to mention that vast majority of the students have such poor English skills.

At present, many Thai students could not speak English fluently even after learning the language for 16 years as teaching in the past focused only on improving student’s reading and writing skills.

Mr Chaturon, however, noted that electronic devices used in education allow teaching to be more accurate compared to normal teacher-centred classes.

The minister said he had instructed ministry personnel to outline implementation drafts in order to reform English teaching in Thailand, otherwise Thai students will lack behind their peers in other countries. The implementation plans will be applied in other schools as well, not only those supervised by the Office of the Basic Education Commission of Thailand (OBEC).

The reform outlines will be based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR), the internationally recognised framework that describes students’ language ability on a scale of levels from A1 for those who completed sixth grade, A2 for those who completed ninth grade and B1 for those who completed twelfth grade or those with high-vocational certificates.

The reform is mainly inspired by how students learn to speak Thai at home and later learn to read and write Thai in schools, Mr Chaturon said, adding that from now on, English lessons will be focus more on class interaction to improve student’s communication skills.

The ministries will first catagorise Thai schools into three level of readiness ranged from high to low, so that different teaching method will be implemented appropriately for each school. Thai teachers will also need to improve their skills, while more electronic devices will be used in the classrooms to improve Thai education.

ICT devices will be used as well as special classes being set up to promote academic performance in Thai students. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-03-07

[Xangsamhua]

I doubt Khun Chaturon will have much opportunity in the near future to implement these reforms.

I'm no fan of PTP or the former TRT, but I think Chaturon is sincere in wanting to do more than just speak in platitudes and then leave it to a spineless MoE bureaucracy. I heard him at a conference in 2005 challenging senior bureaucrats, academics and school leaders to come up with a concrete plan, but a year later he and TRT were gone.

I don't remember much about the Common European Framework, but from memory it would be a good one to work with for putting English teaching, whether by foreign or Thai staff, on a good systematic basis. Despite what people say, there are many keen Thai teachers of English who would like to improve their skills and teach more effectively, but they are put in a position where it's just too tempting to teach English through the medium of Thai.

It's not easy to teach a language in that language unless you're pretty good at it, but too little is done to get Thai teachers to that level. The Education budget is quite big in Thailand, but the money doesn't get to where it's needed.

[sirchai]

Mr Chaturon, however, noted that electronic devices used in education allow teaching to be more accurate compared to normal teacher-centred classes.

How many times did we have that on TVF's "teaching in Thailand" as a topic, that all foreigners should have access to a simple projector, using the www and PowerPoint, etc.. to make teaching easier? But all they were trying to do was to buy Chinese tablets for little kids, destroying their eyesight and creating other problems.

The ministries will first catagorise Thai schools into three level of readiness ranged from high to low, so that different teaching method will be implemented appropriately for each school. Thai teachers will also need to improve their skills, while more electronic devices will be used in the classrooms to improve Thai education.

1.Normal school in the village. 2.Better school in a town. 3.World Class Standard School.Different teaching method? No need of plural here.

Gotta love their "theoretical thinking." The truth is that Thai teachers, especially those who're teaching English mostly don't even know how to create an email address in English. Nor speaking one sentence properly. Don't lose face, please and let all pass, even in grade 12. Even those who can't even spell S A P H A G H E T T I..

And please make it easier for foreign "windmill fighters" to do what they'd like to do to teach those kids English.(Many of them do know the problems Thailand is facing, and they don't lose face.

Change the visa and work permit situation and make it similar to an Indian computer specialists, who're more than welcome in many countries and get a passport of this country issued as soon as they arrive.

Finally, pay them decent money and check on Asian "teachers", coming from a country, where English isn't the first language, but Thais believe they speak English, but it's Tinglish..

Oh, sorry, just had a dream........

Edited March 7, 2014 by sirchai

[lostmebike]

Here we go again....

Thai teachers will also need to improve their skills

But the 'bad teachers' aren't the schools problem, they work for the government!

This is the problem plus schools can't be seen to be hurting teachers little (or is that big???) faces.

Edited March 7, 2014 by lostmebike

[Somtamnication]

Was this article from 20 years ago? 'cause that is when it should have been proposed and implemented.

And don't get me started on electronic devices, like my son's school-supplied tablet.

[HarrySeaman]

"The minister said he had instructed ministry personnel to outline implementation drafts in order to reform English teaching in Thailand, otherwise Thai students will lack lag behind their peers in other countries. The implementation plans will be applied in other schools as well, not only those supervised by the Office of the Basic Education Commission of Thailand (OBEC)."

Perhaps they need to improve their English reading and writing skills too.

Edited March 7, 2014 by HarrySeaman

[sirchai]

Here we go again....

Thai teachers will also need to improve their skills

But the 'bad teachers' aren't the schools problem, they work for the government!

This is the problem plus schools can't be seen to be hurting teachers little (or is that big???) faces.

Thai teachers will also need to improve their skills to pass a Kindergarten test from the U.K.-

[Mudcrab]

Mr Chaturon, however, noted that electronic devices used in education allow teaching to be more accurate compared to normal teacher-centred classes.

How many times did we have that on TVF's "teaching in Thailand" as a topic, that all foreigners should have access to a simple projector, using the www and PowerPoint, etc.. to make teaching easier? But all they were trying to do was to buy Chinese tablets for little kids, destroying their eyesight and creating other problems.

The ministries will first catagorise Thai schools into three level of readiness ranged from high to low, so that different teaching method will be implemented appropriately for each school. Thai teachers will also need to improve their skills, while more electronic devices will be used in the classrooms to improve Thai education.

1.Normal school in the village. 2.Better school in a town. 3.World Class Standard School.Different teaching method? No need of plural here.

Gotta love their "theoretical thinking." The truth is that Thai teachers, especially those who're teaching English mostly don't even know how to create an email address in English. Nor speaking one sentence properly. Don't lose face, please and let all pass, even in grade 12. Even those who can't even spell S A P H A G H E T T I..

And please make it easier for foreign "windmill fighters" to do what they'd like to do to teach those kids English.(Many of them do know the problems Thailand is facing, and they don't lose face.

Change the visa and work permit situation and make it similar to an Indian computer specialists, who're more than welcome in many countries and get a passport of this country issued as soon as they arrive.

Finally, pay them decent money and check on Asian "teachers", coming from a country, where English isn't the first language, but Thais believe they speak English, but it's Tinglish..

Oh, sorry, just had a dream........

And I thought spaghetti was Italian. Live and learn.

[Lupatria]

Was this article from 20 years ago? 'cause that is when it should have been proposed and implemented.

And don't get me started on electronic devices, like my son's school-supplied tablet.

Somebody must have thought publishing the same crap 20 times a year is good enough

[brimacthai]

I agree that Thai students have spent a lot of time learning grammar, reading and writing skills but few have the real experience of speaking.

I found many Thai students afraid to make a mistake when speaking English so they don't. Call it saving face or whatever but it's a real fear that they have.

As a certified and experienced life coach, I started adding some coaching skills into my classes and found this worked for most students.

I went from being an English language teacher to an English language coach and many of my students benefited from this. They didn't need some one to teach them English... they already know it... what they needed was some one to help them develop the confidence to "use the language" without fear of making a mistake.

[janpoo]

Always the same. Every year change the educational ( system ). There's no system here. Schools in this country is business, money and nothing else more. Where education starts?????? YES AT HOME, and not at school.The most parents, or who takes care them they have know idea about education, and how important it is for the rest of their live and the country. AGAIN MONEY MONEY MONEY. They drop their kids at school at 06.30, and hopefully they'll pick them up at 18.00!!!!!!!! Nothing will change here believe me.

[diehard60]

1. You have to educate your teachers in English. Right now many in the rural areas can not even answer simple questions like "What is your name?"

2. Teachers now adays teach grammar more then anything else as it is easy for them to, even if they teach it wrong.

3. If you are use a text book, there are other material that goes with it like CD's, work books and more. But the schools dont have them or use them.

[johnmcc6]

I agree that Thai students have spent a lot of time learning grammar, reading and writing skills but few have the real experience of speaking.

I found many Thai students afraid to make a mistake when speaking English so they don't. Call it saving face or whatever but it's a real fear that they have.

As a certified and experienced life coach, I started adding some coaching skills into my classes and found this worked for most students.

I went from being an English language teacher to an English language coach and many of my students benefited from this. They didn't need some one to teach them English... they already know it... what they needed was some one to help them develop the confidence to "use the language" without fear of making a mistake.

My Thai partner speaks good English and teaches 5 to 15 year olds English. They know how to read and write but cannot speak it. I volunteer an hour a week to talk English with the better students. They are at first very shy with little ability to pronounce many words. After a few hours it is amazing how quickly they can pick things up. They are a delight to chat and joke with while they learn to talk at the same time. Pehaps those with a bit of time could help out in the same way with family and friends who have students strugling with speaking English.

[Scott]

I've not run into many students who could read and comprehend well and couldn't speak. Of those who hadn't had much experience with conversation, they caught on really, really quickly.

I have only run into a handful of Thai students who could write anything very well.

Why do they think that in order to improve one thing, they need to impede another?

[SOTIRIOS]

..............oh................my................

[kingstonkid]

The problem is not the kids speaking English in class. They can do that. the issue is that they only do it 1 class a week and then the rest of the time is spent speaking thai.

had the same problem learning French in school. Students need to have more time in school speaking English. Also there has to be an awareness campoaign for the kids by kids as to why they need to learn.

Most kids their parents think it is a nice thing but that is it.

I am doing private teaching and seem to be gaining more and more students not so much so that they can learn more but because it is the ability to have their kids in an environment outside of school where they have to speak English, sing English songs and play English games.

[inzman]

I guess it's that time again, for another empty promise of education reform. Haha. Next week another empty promise of some other reform, gotta love the press releases. Just trying to justify where all the tax payers money is going.

[falangadang]

"The reform is mainly inspired by how students learn to speak Thai at home and later learn to read and write Thai in schools, Mr Chaturon said, adding that from now on, English lessons will be focus more on class interaction to improve student’s communication skills."

Oh,... hallelujah,... this is so obvious its stupid!

I observed this 6 years ago when I was teaching here. Since then it's been discussed many times and identified as the major problem with the way language is taught and studied here and yet only now are they suggesting it as a required urgent overhaul method!

Thailand have been dropping and fumbling the ball now for years,.. all whilst claiming their students and system is of outstanding standard.

Panic times are upon them as they are poised to enter ASEAN and are set to be the laughing stock of their ASEAN country partners.

Som Nam Na!

Edited March 7, 2014 by falangadang

[wolfmanjack]

"The minister said he had instructed ministry personnel to outline implementation drafts in order to reform English teaching in Thailand, otherwise Thai students will lack lag behind their peers in other countries. The implementation plans will be applied in other schools as well, not only those supervised by the Office of the Basic Education Commission of Thailand (OBEC)."

Perhaps they need to improve their English reading and writing skills too.

The minister should have instructed ministry personnel to hire someone from an English speaking country to outline drafts on reform instead of instructing them to do it themselves. The ministry personnel are the reason the English text books are so bad in the first place.

[janpharma]

After a lifetime carreer in the pharmaceutical industry where the leading language is English, I retired and decided to do something usefull. I took a TEFL course that I have enjoyed so much. I applied for a teacher job in several schools, I gave free lessons... they were alway enthousiastic but "have no budget", whilst the head-master had 3 cars, amongst them also the newest Toyota Fortuner...As long as corruption rules, Thailand has NO future.

[JesseFrank]

Does anyone know if Mr Chaturon is able to speak English.

I'm glad he left out the proclamation that Thailand would be the hub of English in Asia by the end of next year.

[sirchai]

I agree that Thai students have spent a lot of time learning grammar, reading and writing skills but few have the real experience of speaking.

I found many Thai students afraid to make a mistake when speaking English so they don't. Call it saving face or whatever but it's a real fear that they have.

As a certified and experienced life coach, I started adding some coaching skills into my classes and found this worked for most students.

I went from being an English language teacher to an English language coach and many of my students benefited from this. They didn't need some one to teach them English... they already know it... what they needed was some one to help them develop the confidence to "use the language" without fear of making a mistake.

Aeehh...sorry. I'd taught English at at a "good" high school in lower northeast and had trained quite a few students for all sorts of competitions.

Two of them bet the <deleted> out of the other attending students/ schools. When we'd trained her speeches, we came to a topic which was...

One speech was about the English language.-

Part of her speech, a grade nine student, was:: Thai students in Thailand's schools have to learn a lot of GRAMMAR, but they don't have enough vocabulary to use it.

It's like flying to the moon without the Apollo.-

[Emster23]

"Thai students could not speak English fluently even after learning hmm studying? being enrolled in English language classes for 16 years" Something they could do right now, at no or little cost would be to allow English speaking foreigners to come volunteer for up to 8 hours a week at schools, without all the work permit, budget siphoning, face saving garbage that stifles education here. I would like to do it. I have beyond masters in Ed, with decades of experience.

[sirchai]

"Thai students could not speak English fluently even after learning hmm studying? being enrolled in English language classes for 16 years" Something they could do right now, at no or little cost would be to allow English speaking foreigners to come volunteer for up to 8 hours a week at schools, without all the work permit, budget siphoning, face saving garbage that stifles education here. I would like to do it. I have beyond masters in Ed, with decades of experience.

Thanks. Good to read your post.-

[mimi9000]

Such declared English teaching reform cannot occur in Thailand as long as corruption exists.

It is deeply entrenched in the education system.

The school systems especially like foreigners to teach English, so they may partake in what's

called "English teacher scam." They hire more teachers than needed, then suddenly the contract

is broken by the school.. early... and guess what happens to the money for the remainder of

the contract? It goes to very local hands in the scheme.

[MrMo]

This has to be a joke. In which year in the 14 years I've been in Thailand have they NOT reformed the teaching of English? The fact that they do not have a clue on how to educate people is borne out by the statistics.

Only two countries in Asia have a lower level of English ability than Thailand and neither are anywhere near the Asian community. (One is North Korea and the other is a "stan".) And this is despite having an English languaged based tourist industry for 40 years. And on general education terms within Asian, Thailand came 8 out of 10 but, as I understand, countries 9 and 10 didn't submit their numbers.

Edited March 7, 2014 by MrMo

[remobb]

As a teacher of English I have to say I am totally fed-up with this topic. Time and time again they blame the teachers.

Teachers in Thailand are told what to teach and how to teach it and to finish the book no matter whether the kids understand or not.

I have just completed marking their exams and have students with 3, 4 or 5 out of 30, and a total of 6,7,or 8 from 100, but I must pass them. These kids have no idea, they are lost at "good morning" and don't understand a thing.

It's not the teacher's fault, these kids are introduced to English for the first time way beyond their level of understanding.

For the sake of the kids, M.O.E. get your act together.

[SanukJoeII]

"Thai students could not speak English fluently even after learning hmm studying? being enrolled in English language classes for 16 years" Something they could do right now, at no or little cost would be to allow English speaking foreigners to come volunteer for up to 8 hours a week at schools, without all the work permit, budget siphoning, face saving garbage that stifles education here. I would like to do it. I have beyond masters in Ed, with decades of experience.

Excellent post, I fully agree. My first disappointment after I just arrived here, was, when introduced to the school staff (I was guest of honour at a scouting evening), there was this lady teacher who said: "Joe, I'm really sorry, but I cannot have a conversation with you, my English is not good enough"!!!

The same lady had later that year to take care of her sick mother and was on leave. A young female took over and she spoke very good English. At my question why she would not apply for the job she said: I failed my teacher exam"...... Something is wrong in the education of educators.

At least I was able to offer my help in communicating in English, as that what a language is, a way to communicate. There was an English camp, in the school, two days, and I rolled from one group to the other. It was a great success, although I didn't like the all-age-groups, as a 7 year old cannot be expected to understand the same level as a 15 year old, but ok, there was a start.

I was even invited to assist at a meeting of teachers of English of the amphoe, only English teachers, wonderful day, many questions answered, many problems solved. But at the same time I thought: if these teachers haven't learned this in university, what can we expect from their teaching?

Anyway, school director changed, new teachers, old teachers left, and for me no more helping to do. Never asked again, never had English camps again, the new teachers know everything, like that you pronounce "guuuud morning" and not "good morning". When my daughter told me this I said it's correct but useless, better know how to communicate than only to remember what the teacher likes to hear.

Teaching is not letting them remember words, it is showing them how to find the words and how to solve problems.

I'm afraid English will remain a disaster. There are differences though. My daughter has a friend of 12 from another school, and this girl speaks really good English for her age, much better than the friends of my daughter, so it is possible that good teachers solve this problem in Thailand.

[BudRight]

"...Mr Chaturon reported about one million students were able to read in Thai but needed improvements.'

If only one million Thai children can read Thai out of sixty million people than either the birthrate is tiny or Thailand is a nation of illiterates.

I vote we label Mr. Chaturon a Thai basher and ban him from the forums.

[davidstipek]

"Thai students could not speak English fluently even after learning hmm studying? being enrolled in English language classes for 16 years" Something they could do right now, at no or little cost would be to allow English speaking foreigners to come volunteer for up to 8 hours a week at schools, without all the work permit, budget siphoning, face saving garbage that stifles education here. I would like to do it. I have beyond masters in Ed, with decades of experience.

This has been a great idea... But it gets ignored! Because even outside the Budget, doing it for free... I firmly believe the idea is passed around that we... are not Thai! Will never be Thai! So Thank you very much... but no Thank you..... (Not anything about causing anyone to "Loose Face", causing anyone to even venture towards this thought... OK?) If you even think Nit Noy towards this venue... Money is all you care about...F*** evryone. everything else!

Shame on you!!!

Let me start this again... I don't want to be Thai... I didn't ask to be Thai... What I asked was to be able to show Thai Children that there are people in the world who care! So they grow up and have these memories of Foreign Friends who taught them where the heart really is... not in their wallet, purse... In their shorts... There are People who gave there life because they cared! Young Men and Women... This was a trait not unsimular of Thai Culture to take care of Families... to care about Father, Mother, Grandma... Grandpa and them as Brothers and Sisters... This wasn't an Asian Monopoly on this Idea...

If someone in the Government by chance gets to read (View) this Post. Insure they get it translated correcty and Co-Workers don't be afraid to ask your Boss if they were shown this article, and why have they not acted upon it's contents....??? Don't be afraid to ask if your Heart is truely home in Thailand.

If I ever got the chance to accept the offer to be welcomed to make Thailand a Permant Home... Yes I would greet it with open arms, relish it for the rest of my Life... Hold it as dear and close to my Heart as I do America. I know an extremely large crowd of Thai's who would Stand Up and Cheer! As I have been told repeatedly I am not a Farang.... I am Thai!! Through and Through!!

Let us help, Teach, take kids on field trips create Activities that are fun for all, including Parents... but Performed in English, where Their beloved Thai Language is not forgotten but comfortably tucked away in their Back Pack. Let us Do the Performing Arts using the World as an Open book to Choose from... Thus suprising Our College Professors on the Jump we have made on our Entry Level Scores and Knolledge. I could go on but I would fill pages on thos Forum...and if no One cares to Act Accordingly, my words would fall upon Deaf Ears......

In any Language, in any Country, City, Provience or any Culture.... "God Bless Our Children, Every One... of Them! They are our only Hope for a Clean, Stable, Honest, Respected.... Future.....

Ministers Act!