Eight secondary school department heads and directors gathered at the conference of our Board Member’s law firm, to share views and prepare themselves for their exchanges in April 2010 with close suggestions by Fulbright alumni and current grantees.

On February 1-2, TUSEF organized a 2-day orientation and language training for the very first time for the Thai grantees-to-be under the 2010 Educational Seminars Program (ESP).

The first day, the orientation was conducted in Thai to pave general background and basic understanding about the Educational Seminars Program. A brief overview of  the Fulbright Program and TUSEF was provided.

Following a presentation of the Fulbright Program by Khun Porntip Kanjananiyot, Fulbright’s Executive Director, Valuable experiences were shared by Fulbright Administrator Alumni, namely, Dr. Supranee Kraiwatnussorn, Director of Satreeseesuriyothai School, Ajarn Tippa Jaiyai, Deputy Director of Nawamindrachutit Krungtepmahanakorn School and Ajarn Yajai Mekraksakit, Head of English Department from Suan Kularb Wittayalai School. The three alumni offered their extensive hands-on experiences and preparations as well as main challenges when visiting schools, attending lectures or other academic/cultural activities. The must-know issues were also added for the grantees-to-be during the roundtable.

In the afternoon, the alumni continued discussing their recent contributions after return and how they have integrated knowledge gained from the exchange to their schools and communities. Moreover, the alumni told the group how much they treasured the experiences and the connections they made during their exchange stay in the U.S.

Later on, the batch had a group discussion on goals and expectations prior to the departure. More importantly, preparations and expected outcomes in an academic level after the program completion were also strongly emphasized under the alumni’s close guidance. Before the orientation ended, the group brainstormed and discussed on self-expectations and preparations in terms of English proficiency and Thai/U.S. educational policies prior to the Seminars as well as how to handle impromptu situations all by themselves.

On the second day, the eight participants had the English intensive class with close supervision and suggestions by current U.S. Fulbright scholars and a prominent Thai alumna: Ms. Anne Lieberman, Dr. Gregory Galligan, Dr. Robert Hearne and Dr. Somporn Kamonsiripichaiporn.

The participants were prepared to individually give a self introduction, thank-you note, an introduction on their home schools and a presentation on Thailand with brief comments and suggestions from our distinguished grantees/alumni. In the afternoon, the participants and grantees were divided into two groups and discussed intensively on Thai politics and Thai education. This 2-day event offered both academic and language components with the addition of essential tips for their best preparations to ensure a successful exchange. This was also a great opportunity for the candidates to get to know one another in person for an effective teamwork and friendship before they depart as a group for the very first time.

For the academic year 2010, eight Thai grantees have been nominated to participate in the 3-week exchange program in April 2010 and five US administrators will come to Thailand in July 2010. The final result and the matching will be announced in late February.

The selected candidates under this program consist of Ajarn Areerat Wattanathongpiew, director of Rattanakosinsompoch Bangkhen School, Bangkok; Ajarn Sumet Jeadpiyawat, director of Chiangsam Wittayakom School, Chiang Rai; Ajarn Phakamas Nokkaew, Head of Foreign Language Department, Benjamarachutit Pattani School, Pattani; Ajarn Sa-nguansak Kosinan, Head of Math Department, Khamcharoen Wittayakom School, Kalasin; Ajarn Sawitree Tadpinij, Head of Foreign Language Department, Srikranuan Wittayakom School, Khon Kaen; Ajarn Somporn Thongsamak, Head of Physical Education Department, Thasala Prasitsuksa School, Nakhon Si Thammarat; Ajarn Sumruay Wongmuneevorn, Head of English Department, Panyawut School, Pattalung and Ajarn Supawadee Punchuban, Head of English Department, Ban Klongsoob School, Chumphon.

This program is the first of its kind to enable department heads and school directors to conduct an exchange with American counterparts. Though this is no longer a Fulbright program, the TUSEF Board has given priority to the importance of teacher development and continued to endorse all the nominations.

Reported by

Ajarn Sa-nguansak Kosinan and Ajarn Sawitree Tadpinij - 2010 ESP candidates

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