Typical school day in Thailand

Memories from my teaching days (2003-2011)

No one seemed to have brought a textbook. I put up the text from the song 'Hotel California' on the screen for everyone to read. It's a very popular song in Thailand, even today. They like the song, but no-one knows the words.

Little surprises me anymore in this country, so I was not surprised when I attempted to explain 'Tiffany' and I heard the class in unison say "Ladyboy Show." 

Luckily I had Google Photos at the rescue to show Tiffany windows and Tiffany jewelry.
Smart Aleck kid blurts out "Thai Tiffany also have jewelry!"
Took me a while to regain my composure

Sakon Nakhon

School Days

Faculty School Trip 2003 to convince parents to send their students to S-B.A.C     No license required for tractors

Sakon Nakhon

Early S-BAC

Sakon Nakhon Business Administration College 2003-2011 - Sport Day 2004

Temporary rain god visit

Graduation party at SPC (formerly S-BAC) this Saturday evening. I have a table for eight persons. If you want to accompany me to the event, call me.  There's plenty of room at my table

The weather system  seems to be moving in a northwesterly direction. Rain will delay the hotter temperatures (32) till late afternoon

Tropical Storm Nesat D.O.A

Nesat D.O.A.

Tropical storm Nesat, which promised to bring increased rain and flooding, left the area after four hours of light rain. Like a 'Magic Dragon' it went puff in the middle of the night and disintegrated. Those disappointed by Nesat' visit may find condolence in the next storm headed this way. Typhoon Nalgae is on on a very similar path as its predecesor.

Sanuk Caravan: Missed it

Family Rally and Trade fair
August 31 through Sept 4 2011
It's nice that Tourism Authority is posting video's of events that just happened.   Wish they would spend some time at advance publicity !!!

Thai Baht to Weaken 3.6% by Year-End...   Bloomberg



I Love it when I'm right

Years ago, back in the U.S.A., a Thai guy had asked me how he could get rid of his Asian accent when speaking English.  I told him to sing a lot.  I had noticed many foreigners singing in English seemed to have less of their foreign accent.  Apparently I was right:

Singing therapy..   Scientific American 

(Financial) Meltdown at Aljazeera

Found the forty minute videos (linked below) quite informative  and educational, especially the second video.
I had anticipated a financial crisis since early 2000. Houses were being sold and resold, each time at a higher price.
A neighbors house was resold three times in one year,, each sale raised the value by over $10,00. I knew that balloon had to burst eventually

The men who crashed the world  The first of a four-part investigation into a world of greed and recklessness that led to financial collapse. 

A global financial tsunami  Meltdown examines how an epidemic of fear caused banks to stop lending, triggered protests and led to industrial action.

Thai School parade sparks outrage  CNN   The Sun

There was quite an uproar, especially in the Jewish community, over the recent exhibition of Hitler regalia at a Thai Student day.  Of course teachers claimed they had no prior knowledge.  It was all the student's idea.
If you believe that......!!!
What it does reflect is the lack of the Thai education system.
Most of these students and teachers don't even know where they are.
I asked my students yesterday what countries are to the east of  Sakon Nakhon.
The answers were Cambodia, Burma, London and Paris.
Of course the correct answers should have been Laos and Vietnam.
These same people also thought Hainan was someplace in Europe

Metal Sculpture at S-BAC

English lessons just got a lot easier for me

As promised I finally have a computer and overhead projector in my classroom. It helps when over half the class forgets their textbook, or probably sold it.

Use Google translate most of the time, but also use Google pictures to help the learning process.
I use the textbook only half of the time. English textbooks printed in Asia tend to need some proofreading.
Choose the word from the box below! No box or list of names appear below.
 Have also caught a number of grammatical errors.

Occasionally I get stumped between British and American English.
Take a recent lesson: A picture of a boy and girl. The boy asks "can I borrow the rubber."
Where I come from if I were to ask a store clerk where I could find "the rubber," he would not direct me to the stationary section for an eraser.

Google translate has also come in quite handy to quell class disruptions.
I typed: "Three girls in the back of the classroom are sharing some hot gossip."
Made them blush, but it did stop their private conversation.

 I've also learned quickly that I must pre-screen some searches.
Recently used Google pictures to explain "dress classy.'
The pictures that popped up resembled a Fredrick's of Hollywood catalog. I quickly deleted that page. At least I had all the boy's attention.

 

Mothers Day Celebrations at School

When I arrived at the school, 9 AM, they were busy preparing lunch.

Fish BBQ

They were still setting up some of the displays.  Didn't quite figure out what was on display here.
I kept looking for darts

Is that a spare gas tank or the glove compartment (BLEND)

Adults seem to be more into the POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE (formal ceremonies)

Ceremonies honoring mothers

For some reason this part of the mothers day ceremonies quite often becomes very emotional.

For some reason this poster made me think of 'Hot Dogs.'

On my way home I passed a number of schools, all seemed to be having mothers day celebrations

I'm really going to miss teaching!!

The change of my schedule by the school this semester, has made teaching English senseless.
My new teaching schedule of Thursdays and Fridays is repeatedly superseded by student and school activities on those days.
I see no sense in teaching English once a month, or even once every two months.

I have been with S-BAC since its inception and have hundreds, if not thousands of enjoyable memories, interacting with students and their  families,  teachers and staff.  Weddings, birthdays, graduations, public events... it's a long list of activities: Pleasant memories.




I'm really going to miss teaching!!

Katey and Katei visit S-BAC Talent Show

Katey and Katei

S-BAC (Sakon Business Administration College) Sold

The privately owned and operated school was recently sold.
Announcement of the sale and introduction of the new owners to teachers and staff where made yesterday at a dinner hosted at the Grand Palace Hotel.

Sin Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival

Half way through the video sound is discontinued.
Advance video to 04:10,  made me grin.  Only in Thailand



Red moon Eclipse visible June 16 THE NATION

If you stay up till after 1:22 am and the sky is clear

Watch this Movie Trailer   Bad Teacher

Double header Saturday

S-BAC graduation ceremonies where held this morning at the Imperial Sakon Hotel.
Both academic and vocational diplomas where awarded.

Sakon FC hosts Udon FC today 5 pm



Thai tourism to lose Bt3 bln in revenue from Japan disaster  MCOT

One year visa extension. In and out in 18 minutes Khonkaen. Forum
  
Rubber prices way down The Jakarta Globe March 17

School's almost over

You have your good days, and you have your bad days...

Prepared for the day, I was on the way to school.
Then I was told: Today we want you to give an ICT lecture to the students.

I was no longer prepared for the day.
Half of the seventy-some students in the lecture hall where my regular students.
Now that's what you call teaching by the seat of your pants.
Luckily the lecture hall had a internet ready computer.
I spent a large part of the class showing the students their pictures I had taken over the years, and where to get copies.

It was really a neat way of ending a school year.
I have one more week to teach, then it's finals week, graduation party and graduation ceremonies.
I just hope to have instilled something they find useful in their lives



Sakon FC vs Mukdahan FC, March 5, 5 PM
After two delays, the Division 4, Eastern division games can begin

Local ladies looking for love

I've been following a few Thai dating sites.  Local Thai girls advertising to connect.
What does amuse me in these ads is the age limits these young ladies are aiming at.

One recent ad from a woman in her early thirties was:  interested in a man from 32 to 69.

I've seen the age limit go up to the low seventies by ladies in their twenties.
I suspect one of the introductory questions would be "how big is your pension?"


Record Thai Sugar output likely  Bloomberg

Dengue Vaccine in ten years mysinchew

Herbs for Removing Plaque in Arteries eHow

S-BAC Sport Day

สกลนคร End of Semester Celebrations

Most final projects and tests are over.  The end of another semester is near.
Time for student celebrations.  Time to make happy school day memories.

At S.BAC SakonNakhon Business Administration College some of the projects where on display


Student Art

  

    

Foreign Language course offerings
                                                                                                                          Scrabble in English

    

On Stage
Traditional Thai Dancing

  

  

            

Awards and Certificates

Couples in school uniforms

          

Plastic Fashions
Looking Good in Recycle

         

 

And the winner

Getting ready for the next number

 

The show continued on without me. I had other things to see and do.
Did see a model airplane over the parking lot as we departed.

Looks like another local school is practicing  for celebrations