Thai teachers to learn from the best

[bangon04]

I expect that all the teachers who attend this event will get a certificate to say they have passed.

The teachers from government schools will get a nice medal ribbon to add to their nice uniforms.

[duckmandon]

Old saying " You cannot fill a cup that is already FULL". If you already know everything as Thais do then you can't learn.

[nikmar]

I expect that all the teachers who attend this event will get a certificate to say they have passed.

And there will be lots of photo ops to enhance Facebook posts.

[LannaGuy]

They will listen and conclude farang don't understand 'Thainess'

[smotherb]

Well, it's very apparent that all non-native English speakers are simply unqualified to be teachers, no matter their credentials.

[AlQaholic]

After the seminar the Thai teachers need to go to a session of "attitude adjustment" to reset the clock to Thai standards....

[cmsally]

'Think Across', 'Think Ahead' and 'Think Again'

How about a little essay for the participants of the seminar.

Title = Explain how the slogan is relevant to the development of Thailand's education.

[toybits]

Somehow, this feels like writing on a bad DVD or CD. Just won't work.

[SuwadeeS]

First of all, they need to do, is to get open minded. Otherwise it does not work. Right now the minds are blocked with Thai, Thai, Thainess.

They are to busy with the word THAI.

Second, they need to respect foreigners, and treat them equal. No dual price system anymore.

Finally, Thais need to learn to listen and to take advices from foreigners.

[lostoday]

I'm gonna use a big word here so don't let me scare you away. Ethnocentric. South Korea is a leader in ethnocentric behavior as is Japan. They make Thailand look downright accepting of Farang. But. But. Korea and Japan have great education systems.

Oh I forgot. What is ethnocentric? It's like Thainess that you all have been discussing.

So if you want to look at a reason for a bad education system Thainess/ethnocentrism is not the place to look. If it was Japan and South Korea would not have such highly regarded education systems.

[Baerboxer]

Finland had the same problems as Thailand in the 1960's. They hired experts and changed their education system till now it is one of the best in the world. Thailand could do the same. We have much to learn from each other.

From my understanding, part of that change involved the remuneration and position in society accredited to teachers in Finland. They are well trained, closely mentored in their early career years and have a respect level of other professionals.

The people who own and run the private schools in Thailand won't make that sort of change. The public sector squanders and thieves too much cash from the budgets as it is.

Thailand could learn a lot from countries like Finland, South Korea, Italy (early learning), and the US and UK tertiary sector. But there has to be a willingness to change quite fundamentally and a desire to accept the learning.

[lostoday]

Finland had the same problems as Thailand in the 1960's. They hired experts and changed their education system till now it is one of the best in the world. Thailand could do the same. We have much to learn from each other.

From my understanding, part of that change involved the remuneration and position in society accredited to teachers in Finland. They are well trained, closely mentored in their early career years and have a respect level of other professionals.

The people who own and run the private schools in Thailand won't make that sort of change. The public sector squanders and thieves too much cash from the budgets as it is.

Thailand could learn a lot from countries like Finland, South Korea, Italy (early learning), and the US and UK tertiary sector. But there has to be a willingness to change quite fundamentally and a desire to accept the learning.

D.C. public schools are violent, chaotic places that have among the highest dropout–and the lowest graduation–rates in the country. In 2007, D.C.’s fourth- and eighth-grade students scored lower than children from all 50 states

Obama acting like the the rich guy that he is chose to send his own daughters to Sidwell Friends, a private school among D.C.’s most exclusive institutions whose annual tuition runs around $30,000.

And at the same time canned a voucher program that was working to get students a decent education in the DC area.

In America the problem is rich people and teachers unions and Democrats (teachers unions big contributors) http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/16/school-voucher-washington-dc-teacher-union-opinions-contributors-obama.html

Finland eliminated all private schools. Thailand if it wants a decent education system has to do the same thing.

Simple really. A general in charge could do it in a minute #44. No more private schools. Done. The schools would be better in short order.

Mr Rich Somchai is not going to let little Lek go to a bad school. Same thing happened in Finland.

How on earth did Finland eliminate private schools? Gosh that is a great move for a quality education.

America can't do it. Too many teachers unions guarantee bad teachers jobs. Thailand has no teachers unions.

There are only two professions left where results don't matter, teachers and weathermen.

[Nobb]

It is a shame that the prior government turned there head on education. So sad Thai children did not learn from the best. The children is Thailand,s future!

[eldragon]

Finland had the same problems as Thailand in the 1960's. They hired experts and changed their education system till now it is one of the best in the world. Thailand could do the same. We have much to learn from each other.

The key with Thais is to teach em things privately then let em tell their friends it was a Thai idea. They'll never accept anything otherwise.

Unlike farang who feel they already know everything and believe they have nothing to learn from anyone else.

There are no universal "best methods." Even within one classroom, the one-size-fits-all approach won't work for everyone. Assuming that something that's been moderately successful with middle class students in Europe will be easily transplanted to rural Thailand with similar results is naive.

Most of the students studying at the graduate level in science, engineering and mathematics in the US are foreign and most of them are Asian. But the blinkers are still on and everyone still maintains that the Western approach to education is superior to that in most Asian countries.

It will come as no surprise to observers of graduate education that the report documents the fact that foreign students make up the majority of enrollments in U.S. graduate programs in many STEM fields, accounting for 70.3 percent of all full-time graduate students in electrical engineering, 63.2 percent in computer science, 60.4 percent in industrial engineering, and more than 50 percent in chemical, materials and mechanical engineering, as well as in economics (a non-STEM field).

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/07/12/new-report-shows-dependence-us-graduate-programs-foreign-studets

So what % of the foreign students are Thai ? The vast majority or as I suspect a very small amount if any?

My wife is a teacher and had to go to school today even though she has a very high fever !

Why did she have to go?

Their are 5 teachers and a director at the school. 4 of them, including the director are not attending as they have to attend meetings.

The other teacher is off work because she has a high fever too, so my wife felt obligated to go and be the only teacher.

This is NOT a one off occasion this happens on a regular basis.

Not good for the pupils and their future, and not good for the teachers to be put in this position.

Education in rural Thailand, A JOKE

Not to mention the ones that up and quit midway through a semester like it's a part-time job. Totally unheard of even at the worst schools back home.

[BlindMagician]

The make up of graduate level STEM non-US students studying in the US comes from many non-US countries, and tends to be the best of the best from those countries. This does not allow for any concrete conclusions to be made about any one of those individual countries educational methods. The best of the best generally teach themselves, and will always do well. The national educational methods impact the masses the most, and not the academically top few %. You need to understand the mechanics of this, to be able to properly analysis the data and form conclusions. Professional educators who know something about the bigger picture, with experience in different methods and countries, will, I think, all agree that Thailand nation educational methods and standards are very outdated, under performing (bang for buck), and heavily entrenched.

Don't make this an argument about Thai V Farang - that is not constructive, but is divisive and skews the real discussion. Make it a discussion comparing different educational methods, and the change management required to bring new methods into being, effectively.

[MaeJoMTB]

"Professor Mick Waters from the UK-based University of Wolverhampton will talk about the best teaching methods."

This is the best they can find?

Someone from Wolverhampton Polytechnic?

555

[scorecard]

But but but to learn from the best you need the globally modern standards freedom of expression and right to question authorities, which is taboo thanks to current ruling regime which must not be named.

Further, do these seminars have any continuous Thai translation and do they include demonstrations?

[Baerboxer]

Finland had the same problems as Thailand in the 1960's. They hired experts and changed their education system till now it is one of the best in the world. Thailand could do the same. We have much to learn from each other.

From my understanding, part of that change involved the remuneration and position in society accredited to teachers in Finland. They are well trained, closely mentored in their early career years and have a respect level of other professionals.

The people who own and run the private schools in Thailand won't make that sort of change. The public sector squanders and thieves too much cash from the budgets as it is.

Thailand could learn a lot from countries like Finland, South Korea, Italy (early learning), and the US and UK tertiary sector. But there has to be a willingness to change quite fundamentally and a desire to accept the learning.

D.C. public schools are violent, chaotic places that have among the highest dropout–and the lowest graduation–rates in the country. In 2007, D.C.’s fourth- and eighth-grade students scored lower than children from all 50 states

Obama acting like the the rich guy that he is chose to send his own daughters to Sidwell Friends, a private school among D.C.’s most exclusive institutions whose annual tuition runs around $30,000.

And at the same time canned a voucher program that was working to get students a decent education in the DC area.

In America the problem is rich people and teachers unions and Democrats (teachers unions big contributors) http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/16/school-voucher-washington-dc-teacher-union-opinions-contributors-obama.html

Finland eliminated all private schools. Thailand if it wants a decent education system has to do the same thing.

Simple really. A general in charge could do it in a minute #44. No more private schools. Done. The schools would be better in short order.

Mr Rich Somchai is not going to let little Lek go to a bad school. Same thing happened in Finland.

How on earth did Finland eliminate private schools? Gosh that is a great move for a quality education.

America can't do it. Too many teachers unions guarantee bad teachers jobs. Thailand has no teachers unions.

There are only two professions left where results don't matter, teachers and weathermen.

And American universities occupy most of the top 10 places in the various recognized rankings.

UK private schools are mainly excellent, misleadingly called public. The state schools are highly variable. Although UK second best for universities after US. The old UK grammar school system was excellent - but the loony left were bent on destroying that, whilst still sending their kids to private schools of course!

Finland is a small country, with a small population and therefore easier to standardize and increase those standards.

[MyFriend You]

They will have to ban Cell Phones from the training sessions, or employ a cellular jammer at the venue, no one will listen to a Fahlung trying to "Teach Thai's how to Teach:"

[lostoday]

From my understanding, part of that change involved the remuneration and position in society accredited to teachers in Finland. They are well trained, closely mentored in their early career years and have a respect level of other professionals.

The people who own and run the private schools in Thailand won't make that sort of change. The public sector squanders and thieves too much cash from the budgets as it is.

Thailand could learn a lot from countries like Finland, South Korea, Italy (early learning), and the US and UK tertiary sector. But there has to be a willingness to change quite fundamentally and a desire to accept the learning.

D.C. public schools are violent, chaotic places that have among the highest dropout–and the lowest graduation–rates in the country. In 2007, D.C.’s fourth- and eighth-grade students scored lower than children from all 50 states

Obama acting like the the rich guy that he is chose to send his own daughters to Sidwell Friends, a private school among D.C.’s most exclusive institutions whose annual tuition runs around $30,000.

And at the same time canned a voucher program that was working to get students a decent education in the DC area.

In America the problem is rich people and teachers unions and Democrats (teachers unions big contributors) http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/16/school-voucher-washington-dc-teacher-union-opinions-contributors-obama.html

Finland eliminated all private schools. Thailand if it wants a decent education system has to do the same thing.

Simple really. A general in charge could do it in a minute #44. No more private schools. Done. The schools would be better in short order.

Mr Rich Somchai is not going to let little Lek go to a bad school. Same thing happened in Finland.

How on earth did Finland eliminate private schools? Gosh that is a great move for a quality education.

America can't do it. Too many teachers unions guarantee bad teachers jobs. Thailand has no teachers unions.

There are only two professions left where results don't matter, teachers and weathermen.

And American universities occupy most of the top 10 places in the various recognized rankings.

UK private schools are mainly excellent, misleadingly called public. The state schools are highly variable. Although UK second best for universities after US. The old UK grammar school system was excellent - but the loony left were bent on destroying that, whilst still sending their kids to private schools of course!

Finland is a small country, with a small population and therefore easier to standardize and increase those standards.

I don't think they are teaching college professors. They should but I don't think that is the thrust of this conference. So American universities would not matter. American education is not good and ranks 23 in PISA science scores.

Edited October 5, 2015 by lostoday

[PeVee1st]

What is the point when the students are forced to not ask questions by the teachers?

Teachers do not know the subject they are teaching, except about Thai.

Most schools are little more than childminding services.

Lastly, reducing school hours will only make the problem worse.

[billphillips]

Insisting that teachers only speak Thai rather than issan (in this NE area) and allowing the kids to ask questions in classrooms would go a long way to starting things off.

Reality will prevent the masses receiving anything approaching an education. The reality being that education is power and strength. It's far easier to control the masses with a little money and a lot of fear. Spirits, ghosts and the dark keep most adults in check here.

[lostoday]

What is the point when the students are forced to not ask questions by the teachers?

Teachers do not know the subject they are teaching, except about Thai.

Most schools are little more than childminding services.

Lastly, reducing school hours will only make the problem worse.

My students in Thailand always asked a lot of questions. I guess a lot of things are taboo to ask questions about. Censorship is the first thing to get rid of.

[lostoday]

Insisting that teachers only speak Thai rather than issan (in this NE area) and allowing the kids to ask questions in classrooms would go a long way to starting things off.

Reality will prevent the masses receiving anything approaching an education. The reality being that education is power and strength. It's far easier to control the masses with a little money and a lot of fear. Spirits, ghosts and the dark keep most adults in check here.

You don't think the people from Issan should learn how to speak proper Thai? Those folks are discriminated against enough without adding poor language skills to the mix.

[SOTIRIOS]

...and this will happen overnight...with a 2-day session where everybody attending smiles and says, 'Yes, yes'..

...short answer..'No'....

[billphillips]

Insisting that teachers only speak Thai rather than issan (in this NE area) and allowing the kids to ask questions in classrooms would go a long way to starting things off.

Reality will prevent the masses receiving anything approaching an education. The reality being that education is power and strength. It's far easier to control the masses with a little money and a lot of fear. Spirits, ghosts and the dark keep most adults in check here.

You don't think the people from Issan should learn how to speak proper Thai? Those folks are discriminated against enough without adding poor language skills to the mix.

???

Perhaps the English language is not your best subject. I think that it is essential for local village kids to speak Thai (not issan) at school. If they don't speak it at school then it's highly unlikely that they will be able to communicate confidently with Thai speakers, because they sure won't learn much of anything in the home.

[lostoday]

Insisting that teachers only speak Thai rather than issan (in this NE area) and allowing the kids to ask questions in classrooms would go a long way to starting things off.

Reality will prevent the masses receiving anything approaching an education. The reality being that education is power and strength. It's far easier to control the masses with a little money and a lot of fear. Spirits, ghosts and the dark keep most adults in check here.

You don't think the people from Issan should learn how to speak proper Thai? Those folks are discriminated against enough without adding poor language skills to the mix.

???

Perhaps the English language is not your best subject. I think that it is essential for local village kids to speak Thai (not issan) at school. If they don't speak it at school then it's highly unlikely that they will be able to communicate confidently with Thai speakers, because they sure won't learn much of anything in the home.

Oh sorry. Now I get what you were sayng.

[selftaopath]

I expect that all the teachers who attend this event will get a certificate to say they have passed.

The teachers from government schools will get a nice medal ribbon to add to their nice uniforms.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh thanks. I always wondered what that crap hanging, pinned, or sewn on the front of their uniform indicated. Hell at first glance one might think they were a decorated war hero. lol BUT tit. What a laugh/joke.

[skildpadden]

Asking for advise from foreigners you will invariable be informed that not all is good in Thailand and things need to change. Then those changes need to be implemented everywhere and there must be consensus that the strategy will not change again next year (as it seems to be the norm).

With remarks from the PM that foreigners do not understand Thailand and Thai ways, this change is going to take many, many years (Bangkok will probably be flooded by that time, and everybody fled to the mountains as suggested by Sukhumband).

[TEFLKrabi]

Does anyone understand that it will take a whole generation, if not two, to make the changes? It's a really slow process and needs to be started sooner rather than later but it can be done with a little outside help and with government backing. Good luck. I think Thailand could become a much better place if these changes can be made.

The event, now in its eighth year

Does anyone read the article?

But seriously, this is all just "Edumacation Theater", meant to make it look like they want an educated populace. And, they've got to spend all that budget.

Sorry, I didn't realize a generation lasted only 8 years.