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Burapha University opens a new language center in Sriracha
Songklod Kaewvisit
A new language center opened on the fourth floor of
Tuk.com in Sriracha on Wednesday April 30. Chonburi Deputy Governor Preecha
Kamolbutr officially opened the center, run by the Burapha University’s
Social Science and Human resource faculty.
Chonburi
Deputy Governor Preecha Kamolbutr and District Officer Prachuap Chuntong
visited the new center to see its new spacious and clean classrooms.
Jira Wattanachaisaeng, Language Center manager said,
"This new facility will teach English, Chinese, Japanese Korean and
Thai to begin and other languages in the future. All lecturers are native
speakers and the courses are based on the latest in education
curricula."
"For English there are 3 levels, a general course,
technical language and a course for children. Chinese, Japanese and Korean
each have courses from beginners level that focus on basic communication as
well Thai for foreign nationals," said Jira.
Jira explained that the center was opened in Tuk.com
because of its convenient location and because it is close to many
international industries.
The center is part of the University’s efforts to bring the Thai
workforce up to speed on foreign languages enabling the community and the
nation to compete more effectively in the world marketplace and ultimately
benefit the national economy.
GIS students present boxes for Camillian Centre children during Songkran
Over the course of last term, staff and pupils at GIS
collected a variety of new items of clothing, toys games, toiletries and
more. On Wednesday April 9 these were all secured into a box (with a
struggle) which was then decorated and labelled, one for each child at the
Camillian Centre.
Camillian
Centre children with their boxed gifts.
Year 6
present their box to one lucky recipient.
Year 10
making their presentation to the Camillian centre students for whom they had
wrapped the gifts.
The following day, Thursday 10th April, 32 children from
the Camillian Centre, Rayong, came into GIS, had lunch and spent the
afternoon in school. They joined in a variety of fun activities organised by
the Primary classes nearest their age group. The Secondary aged children
enjoyed the use of new computers in a computer session and the equipment in
the Art room for a ‘one off’ the art lesson.
At the end of the afternoon the GIS pupils & staff
presented the boxes for which they had been collecting items to each of the
children who were very excited. The boxes were full of goodies and children
were squashed into the transport to return home. Once back at the centre the
boxes were opened and presents for Songkran enjoyed over the holiday.
For a small amount of cost and effort from staff and pupils at GIS the
lives of these children were made happier and their new year was made a
really special time as they played new games, used new stationery and wore
new clothes. The day-to-day needs of these children are taken care of by the
Camillian Centre but at this special time of the year for Thais it is nice
for these children to feel special and receive gifts bought especially for
them.
AFT-ERC treats children from Ban Jing Jai to a day at Pattaya Park
Songklod Kaewvisit
The Association of Filipinos in Thailand-Eastern Region
Chapter (AFT-ERC) took the children from Ban Jing Jai (Sincerity House) for
a day at Pattaya Park, allowing them to play games, swim in the pool and
take a general break from the humdrum of their Soi Nernplubwan home.
All
aboard for a ride on the SS Air Mattress.
Bending
over backwards trying to win the limbo competition.
Uh huh,
that’s right. We look good.
The family day out included a lunch for the children
brought by AFT members and which was kindly supplied by the McDonald’s
branch in South Pattaya. The food and friendly interaction brought smiles
and happiness to the kids.
The group also celebrated the 7th birthday of Jian Ronna
Padilla, complete with birthday cake. More games and fun activities followed
including limbo competitions and a tug-o-war.
Virginia Sorensen, AFT-ERC president explained, "The family day out
was held to not only bring the AFT members closer together within the
community but to provide the children from Sincerity House with the
opportunity to have some fun and play as children are supposed to. These
children already have a tough life. Many are either orphaned or discard by
their own families because of economic reasons."
Sauber Club opens kindergarten in Wanginsah
Text and photos by Stefan Ryser
The Sauber Fan Club Pattaya is not just a motorsports fan
club. Members also undertake projects during their spare time, and if they
can combine this with good deeds, then it is all the more beautiful.
Stefan
Ryser, president of the Sauber Club Pattaya, presents toys to the children.
Members
of the Sauber Club take a moment out of the busy schedule of fun to pose
with the children from Wanginsah.
On 9 December 2002 on the occasion of Stefan Ryser’s
40th birthday, the foundation stone was laid for the building of a
kindergarten in Wanginsah. On 18 April the club could finally open and
inaugurate this kindergarten. A small delegation from the Sauber Fan Club
Pattaya participated and enjoyed this beautiful journey into the northeast
of Thailand.
The journey began at five o’clock in the morning on
April 17. In the bus the group was spoiled with drinks and food by Marlies
Fritz and Rolf. After a nine-hour travel into the northeast, they all
arrived healthy at Udon Thani.
Some used the afternoon to explore the city, while others
enjoyed a cool beer in the hotel lobby after a refreshing shower. Only
praising words were heard for Marlies and Rolf, although Rolf had slept
through the most beautiful viewpoint. The driver was also praised for his
good driving fashion.
After a good breakfast, the group tackled last 100 km to
Wanginsah. On rough jungle routes they approached their goal, which, after 2
hours, they finally reached. At the temple, decorated with flags, they were
received by the village inhabitants and a merry crowd of children. Under
shady trees a table was laid out for this legion of Samaritans, who were
then presented with flowers and traditional clothes from the Isan region.
Happy, laughing, but also a few scared children’s eyes thanked them
cordially for the toys brought along and distributed to the children.
It became clear once again how little means one needs to
bring large joy. After a small refreshment under the cooling trees, the
tired travelers unpacked colorful paint and distributed it to their new
little friends. The small ones soon realized that they were allowed to paint
their kindergarten. Gradually, the children’s pictures began to cover all
the walls. Everyone in the kindergarten painted, laughed, played and outside
under the trees all enjoyed roasted and cooked chicken. Colas and a few cold
beers were also supplied.
On beautiful days like these, unfortunately time always
runs faster than in normal everyday life. Thus the time came to say goodbye.
Just another group photo and a small gift for our small sparrows, and then
the bus departed Udon Thani.
In the hotel lobby, the happy group relived the wonderful experiences. It
was a unique experience for all. On the next morning the return journey to
Pattaya started and by nine o’clock in the evening, all returned home
healthy and happy. And now discussions are already underway as to what good
deeds the club can undertake next.
The Asian University enjoys 5th year
of English Summer Camps
by James Saville
Summer Camp Director
The Asian University of Science and Technology has now
entered into its fifth year of English Summer Camp programmes. The two
four-week camps are held between the middle of March and the middle of May
each year. Over the last five years the English Summer Camps have trebled in
size, commencing with forty students on each of the first two camps. Now, in
2003, we have the largest number of students to date with a total of two
hundred and twenty-eight students: one hundred and thirty one students
enrolling on the first camp and ninety-seven on the second.
Students
learn the fine points of preparing exotic cuisine.
Students
practice English while doing crafts.
Summer
Camp teacher assistants pose at the entrance to the Academic Building.
Initially the Summer Camps were the brainchild of the
president of the Asian University, Dr Viphandh Roengpithya. Dr Vip conceived
of the Summer Camps as an ideal way for students from all over Thailand,
from the age of 14 upwards, to study English in an environment that is safe,
attractive, friendly, and conducive to learning. It was felt, moreover, that
as the students lived and worked together, their experience would be made
more valuable through a balanced focus on team building and individual
development.
The English Summer Camps provide an intensive academic
programme in English ranging from beginner through to advanced conversation
classes. In addition, students have the opportunity to brush up their
mathematics, information technology (IT) and prepare for such public
examinations as the IELTS and TOEFL. The standard week of a Summer Camp
includes twenty-two hours of English language study, three hours of IT and
two hours of mathematics, thus making it the most intensive English language
Summer Camp programme in Thailand.
The academic programme is taught by twelve well qualified
and experienced native English speaking teachers from countries such as
England, Canada, America, New Zealand and Australia. In addition, regular
lecturers in the university’s Faculty of Liberal Arts supplement the work
of the Summer Camp teachers by providing classes that cover English, drama,
art and the humanities. Then, in the evenings and at weekends, there are
further activities that include cooking, arts and crafts, and Latin dancing
as well as day excursions to various local attractions. The camps also
include weekend sports competitions like Mini-Olympics, team building, and
basketball and badminton competitions between the campers and the full time
university students.
For the after-class and weekend activities the Summer
Camps employ twelve teacher assistants who in general are Thai nationals,
although over the years we have had university students from Austria and
England to enhance the international flavour. Their main responsibilities
are to assist the campers in many different areas such as in the dormitory,
during meals and on day excursions. In addition they ensure that there is
open communication between the campers and their families, check that all
the campers are well behaved, and take care of any minor disciplinary
problems that may arise.
All this gives the campers an ideal opportunity to
experience and prepare for life as a university student. We were, therefore,
happy to see eight campers from the 2002 English Summer Camps subsequently
enrol as full-time students at the Asian University. This year we are
looking forward to seeing around the same number of campers enrol as regular
students at the university for the 2003/2004 academic year.
The English Summer Camps are a great opportunity for Thai students to use
their summer holidays effectively. Through them, students can further their
English language skills, enjoy living and working together and experience
life at an international university.
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