Thai Educators Network

February

Encouraging Observations

Alan S. Mackenzie
East Asia Regional Project Teacher Training Manager
British Council

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

18.00 to 2030

Roadhouse Barbecue 

► Many teachers are scared of being observed and for good reason! Administrators often use observations to criticise, blame and chastise teachers, which can be demoralising and even professionally destructive.

► Looking at observation as a process of inquiry and as a developmental tool has the potential to turn what is often a traumatic process into a constructive, creative event that teachers request and look forward to rather than fear.

► This presentation introduces a simple procedure for non-judgmental observation that can be integrated into any teaching situation to promote reflective teaching, inspire creativity and foster change in teaching practise.

Alan S Mackenzie is East Asia Regional Project Teacher Training Manager for the British Council. Based in Bangkok for the past five years, he has extensive experience working in the East Asia region. Previous to this he lived and worked in Japan for fifteen years as an English Language Instructor in Waseda, Sophia, Obirin and Keisen Universities and was Director of Programmes for the Japan Association for Language Teachers. He is currently an advisor to the board of Thai TESOL and a graduate of the Teachers College Columbia University MA TESOL programme on which he has also been an instructor.

March

Teaching Tomorrow’s Leaders

Wednesday, 10 March

Pamela Hongsakul
Leadership Educator

Thailand’s youth have witnessed a country in turmoil the past three years and been exposed to different leadership styles. What are they learning from it?

Can leadership be taught? Some people have said you must be born with it - yet there are educational programs worldwide. Do they really work?

Pamela, regarded as Thailand’s first Leadership Coach, has worked with student leaders and politicians since 2004 – including a governor, six MPs and four ministers.

She currently offers customized leadership training classes to international schools to support the development of next generation leaders. Topics include Success, Power and Issues in Society.

Pamela’s talk will appeal to anyone interested in programs that improve student leadership skills.

In 2004, Pamela created a groundbreaking Senior Seminar for students at Vajiravudh College, which aired on UBC-TV as ‘Future Leaders’. Taught to teenage slum leaders at the Duang Prateep Foundation in 2009 it is being introduced in international schools in 2010 to help develop multi-cultural youth.

April

Montessori 101 – A thorough Intro
Tuesday, 30 March

Patricia Barber
Shalini Dey
mmi-thailand.com
Modern Montessori International

Started by the first female doctor in Italy, Dr. Maria Montessori, Montessori educational methods were developed over 100 years ago. Focusing on whole-child development, the method teaches children to become problem solvers and critical thinkers and since its start has been the educational beginning of many successful people.

During their talk, Patricia and Shalini will discuss Montessori benefits and will touch on the Montessori Philosophy including internal aides for child development, an absorbent mind definition, sensitive periods, laws of natural development and what is meant by a prepared environment, vertical grouping the role of the teacher.

Certain to be an extremely informative evening, their talk is certain to answer a great many questions a great many teachers have about Montessori, its practitioners and its students.

May

Thai Culture course unraveled
Monday, 10 May

Dr Nikolaus Mische
United Educational Consultants
www.uecthai.com

The 20-hour, Thai Culture & Ethics Course is required by all foreign teachers in Thailand. Why was it created and what can we really learn? How can we connect the dots and use cultural differences to student advantage in the classroom beyond what we already know.

Beginning with a closer look at us first, we will analyze and identify trigger points for frustration and self-improvement.

Nik’s talk will appeal to anyone interested in understanding important elements of Thai culture and what makes a good, 20-hour course.

Dr Mische, MD, UEC Thailand, an adjunct faculty person represents the State University of New York graduate program for international educators in Bangkok and international conferences. He is also a trainer at the TEFL Institute with an interest in culture and its impact on decision making.

June

Education in the UK – past, present and future
Thursday, 10 June

Chris Thatcher
sutletgroup.com

The UK education system is one of the oldest in the world and has been recognized as one of the best by standards of the time. Is this still the case?

What are some of the key factors influencing educational developments in the UK? Are they sustainable and realistic and account for the needs of the various societal elements with an interest in a successful education process (indeed what IS a successful process)?

What factors influence school success and what is the relationship with teaching and learning?

Is a good teacher in a bad school as effective as a capable teacher in a good school? How do we measure such things efficiently yet still maintain the right balance between assessment and teaching? Indeed what is assessment for?

Chris Thatcher was Head teacher of a large primary school in the UK for 20 years and became National Association of Headteachers President in 1999 working closely with the UK Government.

In 2002, he left teaching to work in the development of the then innovative on-line assessment field and in 2004 became SE Asia Education Development Director of Cambridge Education. In 2008, he set up a small education company in Thailand offering consultancy and support to international schools.

July

Challenges facing schools and agencies in the current EFL market
Monday, 12 July

Jason Alavi
Managing Director
The American English Language School

Recent changes in the EFL community have made it increasingly difficult for private language schools to make the same profit they enjoyed for the last 15 to 20 years. Why is this? How can language schools combat this trend?

The Teachers Council of Thailand, the government body that controls teacher licensing recently issued strict licensing requirements for those who wish to teach. Why is this and what can schools and agencies do to survive and prosper?

What are school and agencies legally required to do; and what responsibilities do teachers have?

Jason Alavi is MD and owner of The American English Language School, which provides English language instruction from a single student to large organizations. Its focus is recruiting, training and managing Non-Thai teachers in a variety of organizations, especially government schools.

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