ASSIGNMENT 2: ARTICLE ANALYSIS

[Ryan Stickles]

Hi Ian! I enjoyed reading the article about the Karen people. I thought your summary of the article was spot on. It’s very unfortunate about what happened to the Karen people and how they were coerced into staying on their land at the cost of their own livelihoods and futures. I’m glad they were able to find at least a little justice and collected reparations. It just shows us that language barriers and cultural differences can lead to misunderstandings and in this particular case it lead to the Karen being taken advantage of and losing everything. I don’t think I’ve heard the term ecological citizenry before, always good to learn something new. The injustice shown to the Karen people and the lack of support and guidance shown was something that really hit home for me. These sorts of problems are very systemic and we need to be able to work past these things and help our fellow man/woman.

[Olivia Douglas]

Education in Thailand

This article was a little dated since it was published at the beginning of 2018, but I still found it insightful and really interesting. Though, I would be interested in how certain aspects of it would change if it was reviewed and re-published currently.This article was focused mainly on the education system in Thailand, but it also talked about politics and economics in it as well, something I wasn’t expecting. This was helpful, since it talked more than just the structure of the system, which is what I was originally after. Coming from America, I was curious about the structure of the system would be different, and what to expect to walk into. And it did cover that, but it also talked about how the current politics and economics in 2018 was affecting the education system. One thing it touched on was the multiple education ministers it’s had, and how it’s had numerous education reforms that haven’t seemed to be predictive as of 2018. Meaning school systems will be at different stages or might be teaching different things. For me as a teacher, since I’m staying for a longer period of time, if I decide to move schools, I need to be ready for a harder shift in focus. Teaching English means I won’t change my topic, but what I’m teaching or the fluency might change depending on where I am at, rather than age/level. Not that the idea of this is new. The States are similar, with rural schools struggling more than city schools in some aspects or focusing on things that are relevant to that area. This just means that I’ll need to be ready to adapt or change things as I come to better understand my students and the people I work with.

Another subject that this article covered was the actual set up of the school system, like how grades work and what things are available to students when choosing a path. One aspect that was new to me that the article covered was promotions. Students at grade 9 and 12 take examinations in each subject, including foreign language. As I’m working with 11 and 12 level students, it gives me more insight into what will most likely be on the students’ minds especially those in my 12th intensive English. It also tells me that I need to try and ensure that students have a thorough understanding of English so that they can be ready as they can be for the examinations. As languages build on itself, it’s important for them to have a firm understanding of its base, or the grammar, so that as they continue to build on it, their foundation holds and they only become more confident in themselves and their abilities.

[Rachelle Flambard]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2647278/most-parents-back-vape-ban-study
The article ‘most parents back vape ban: study into e- cigarettes viewed as gateway drugs’ highlights the current dilemmas countries face when trying to combat new recreational drugs e.g. vapes, and how Thailand is combatting their introduction into society. They were initially introduced as less harmful than smoking but current studies have proven this to be an invalid assumption.
Thailand will maintain a ban on all imports and selling of vapes to limit the young people’s exposure to smoking and illicit drugs, this has all been backed up by the Royal College of Pediatrics and the Ministry of Education’s Safety. This is a pressing topic of the modern era and affects people within my age group, also becoming a teacher of science and health in Thailand, I will be discussing and denouncing the use of vapes for health and social reasons to high school students.

[Rachelle Flambard]

Hi Olivia,
I found that you have really thorough understanding of the article and the impact that the school structure in Thailand would have on your teaching. It would have been nice if you could have highlighted from the article the specific structures mentioned and/or aspects in a bit more detail that would change your approach to teaching in Thailand from your experience in the USA.
However, it was really nice to read how you will adapt all your teachings for the Thai English examinations and how you will do this for varying levels and ages if you are going to stay longer in Thailand.

[Allie Norris]

Article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9212222/

This article is focused on the impact that the recent global pandemic had on Thailand specifically. With various educational institutions closing down for durations of time or having to adjust throughout the pandemic, and things are not completely back to normal yet. The article discusses Covid-19 in general, as well as the importance of education, and how one affected the other immensely over the last few years. Throughout this pandemic, Thailand implemented various protective measures to keep students safe, similar to other countries. Some being social distancing and as mentioned previously, it had to go as far as shutting schools down or delayed. Over 13 million students and their families were affected.
This was a challenge for students and their families, due to the uncertainty of returning to regular life, as well as financial struggles associated with job loss, etc. But this was also difficult for the teachers themselves. This caused a big adjustment for teachers and their teaching habits. Many experienced an increased workload, as well as learning some new technology to be able to teach from home, not everyone is digitally literate. Online learning was useful during this time to continue providing education to students, however, it certainly is not for everyone in society. The article states, according to statistics that were from the International Telecommunication Union, in Thailand, only 21% of households have computers, this percentage is 49% lower than the world average percentage, thus, online learning may not be practical for students in Thailand. This pandemic caused many problems in society and had a large impact on the education system, directly impacting the lives of students, teachers and their families, many faced psychological difficulties while trying to adjust to this new normal. Despite this being a difficult time for many, it is important to recognize that the education system improved in some ways (online learning, social equity).
This article is relevant to me as someone moving to Thailand to teach English because I am headed right into the education system as a full time student. It is important to recognize and understand what the students of Thailand had to go through in recent years to be able to adjust to be able to best work with them and teach them. I also learned some interesting things throughout reading the article, such as the computer statistic! Knowledge like this is good to have going into a teaching position in a new country!

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by Allie Norris.

[Leiya Fournier]

Hi Olivia,
the choice of subject for your article was very well thought. It’s true that we all have different education systems in place in our home countries and it’s very important for us to assess the differences in advance so we can be well prepared. I liked that you were able to compare Thailand’s school system to the one in the United States, it shows that even if you are from two completely different countries you can have similar challenges.
Leiya

[Philip Nicholson]

Article https://apnews.com/article/thailand-politics-thaksin-return-parliament-vote-705f9e9b3c7c26dba2e3322985088d64# titled “Former Thai leader Thaksin goes to Jail as political party linked to him wins vote to take power”

The article “Former Thai Leader Thaksin goes to Jail as political party linked to him wins vote to take power” written by AP News, investigates the motivations and circumstances of the recent arrival in Thailand of former prime minister Thaksin after a self-imposed 15-year exile.
The article details how Thaskin’s return seems to have coincided with the formation of a new government coalition led by Thaskin’s party coming to power, putting an end to months of turmoil as the conservative military-backed senators in the country blocked the progressive Move Forward party from taking control of the government despite amassing a majority of votes in the previous election. It is important for anyone traveling to a new country to understand the political climate they are entering. Keeping this in mind I think it is important as someone who plans to spend time living and working in Thailand to understand the ramifications of Thaskin’s return to Thailand and the goals of the new governing coalition. Thaskin’s party Pheu Thai has said that the coalition they are leading has agreed to back the party’s platform of boosting the economy, increasing the minimum wage, and ending mandatory conscription all while working to make the constitution more democratic. Pheu Thai leaders have stated that the reason that Move Forward was excluded from the coalition was because of Move Forward’s promises to reform laws that forbid insulting the royal family. AP News argues that Move Forward’s exclusion from the coalition suggests that the policies of the new coalition government will not be as progressive as Move Forward’s platform.

[Nora Hill]

I found this article to be very insightful, and I do think with the rise of social media and travelers looking to TikTok for recommendations, I myself, will work to capture and visit off-the-beaten path destinations. I find that the majority of time people spoke about Thailand, they mentioned the southern islands and Chiang Mai, though Thailand has SOO much more unique areas to offer, which would really help out smaller villages and more rural towns. I myself will make it a point to go beyond the touristy sites and bring awareness to the underrated areas.

[Brooke Reed]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2535710

“Schools Discuss Active Shooter Drills”

This article discusses how international schools in Thailand have incorporated active shooter preparedness training into their crisis management courses for both students and faculty members. This training aims to prepare them for potential active shooter situations. Unfortunately this is the reality we are living in today. As someone from the United States, active shooter drills and preparedness plans are something we Americans have become acclimated to. Every year, schools in America have practice and evacuation drills for students. Teachers also have to go through extensive training as well on how to handle an active shooter/lockdown. It is really interesting to see other countries adopting this safety plan considering how active shooters have become more and more common. I think this is important for all foreign teachers to understand and be prepared for. Always be aware of your surroundings and know where your exits are! These situations can happen anywhere so it’s important to have some kind of plan. This article strictly talks about international schools, but I think this is something all schools in Thailand should be paying attention to.

[Brooke Reed]

Hi Steven,

Thank you for sharing, I really enjoyed reading this article. I think it is really great they were trying to preserve the natural beauty of Maya Beach and the Reef. It reminds me of Hawaii. I visited Maui a few years ago and they had done something very similar. They closed off the reef for a while to help preserve the nature and coral. It turned out, the sunscreen from tourist was killing the reef at a really fast rate! Once they were able to preserve the area, they opened it back up to tourism. One requirement they had was to use sunscreen free of oxybenzone and octinoxate—two chemicals that are believed to be bad for the coral reefs, causing coral bleaching.

[Heidi McIntosh]

Hi Steven,
I really enjoyed the article you chose about the month-long closure of Maya Bay and your response to it. I completely agree that although it may have been a tough choice to close the beach, it was the right one.

I agree that it is important we preserve our natural environment, both for future generations and all the living beings we share this planet with. It can be disappointing when we are unable to do something that we were looking forward to. However, it is our responsibility as visitors to the country to respect these choices for the better of everyone.

Additionally, the article also mentions the closure was partially due to safety concerns. I believe the safety of tourists should be prioritised over potential loss of earnings. This limits the risk to tourists and local businesses and ensures that when tourist spots are open, visitors can feel free to explore and enjoy the wonders Thailand has to offer without worrying about their safety

It is a shame that this decision could cause locals to miss out on the revenue, especially if it is their primary source of income. Moving forward, it would be great to think of some ways that we can encourage more sustainable and responsible tourism, as well as schemes that could provide local business owners with an alternative source of income.

[Heidi McIntosh]

I have chosen the article ‘Get past school uniforms, reframe the purpose of education’ by Atikan Kulsakdinun. The issue of school uniforms has long been a subject of debate, not just in Thailand but globally. In this article, the author shares the views of a teacher activist, who calls for us to consider ‘the purpose and real goals of education.’ when debating policies such as school uniforms.

In the article, the teacher questions whether enforcing controls such as school uniforms on students is beneficial to the goals of the education system. They ask readers if you create ‘‘a school that does not allow kids to talk or question, can you motivate them to learn?’. This raises important questions regarding the purpose of education. Should education focus on the teaching and rote learning of information, such as grammar and spelling, current and historical events, and widely accepted, well-established theories? Should the goal of a good student be to remember as much information as possible and to accept it as fact? Or should education look to encourage students to question the world around them, to think critically about theories and to seek new knowledge to expand their understanding? Throughout human history, innovation and scientific discovery have largely been driven by innate human curiosity and our tendency to question the world around us. Thus, if we tell students they must blindly follow rules without question, do we risk discouraging their innate motivation to learn? Does encouraging conformity to arbitrary rules stifle students’ creativity and discourage critical thinking?

The teacher highlights the importance of considering the lived experience of real students when drawing conclusions on the school uniform debate. He argues that ‘By assuming that students, or anyone participating in education movements, are manipulated by political polarisation, one ignores the lived experiences, pain and oppression’. Whilst I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment the teacher puts forward here, it is important to be careful when joining political discussions in a new country. As someone from a Western background I will have my own bias’ that influence my perspective on political issues. There will be a number of cultural nuances that I will not fully understand or be able to take into account when drawing conclusions on certain issues. Therefore, it is important that I navigate such discussions carefully, listen to Thai people and remember that it is not my place to speak over Thai people in political discussions

One counterargument to this position is that students should follow a uniform policy as a sign of respect. Respect for those older or of higher social standing is an important part of Thai culture and many other cultures worldwide. Many people see students questioning or not following the uniform policy as a lack of respect. However, there are several reasons why parents and students might advocate against school uniforms that do not stem from a lack of respect. Many students find that uncomfortable school uniforms can distract them from learning and make it harder to concentrate. There can also be concerns about the cost of uniforms, particularly for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Furthermore, even if it is felt that is not the student’s place to question the uniform policy that does not mean that education leaders cannot make the decision to revise it. Leaders often update policies in line with modern views and changing school uniform policies does not need to conflict with Thai culture. It could be beneficial for schools to adapt the school uniform policy to meet the needs of the students and reflect the values of the education system. There are many ways in which students can show respect in how they dress without needing a set school uniform. For example, schools could allow students to wear their own clothes but expect them to follow particular rules, such as ensuring clothing respects religious and cultural values.

The issue of what it means to show respect is something that I feel will be most difficult for me to navigate. Respect can be defined in different ways by different people so when starting a new role in the UK I have often had to assess my new employer’s expectations and adapt my behaviour accordingly. For example, in my current role, if I do not understand an assignment I will often ask questions to clarify what is expected of me and ensure I am able to complete it to the best of my ability. However, in other workplaces seeking clarification on an assignment is seen as questioning the judgement of a superior. When I start my new role in Thailand, I will have the added difficulty of navigating cultural differences and the language barrier. For example, in Thailand group harmony and saving face are empathised so questioning an assignment in front of colleagues could be seen as a lack of respect. Additionally, due to cultural differences, it is possible that I will misread a situation if I judge Thai people’s reactions by Western standards and it might be harder to ascertain if I have done something wrong. Thus it is important that I am aware of my bias’, listen to Thai people, learn about Thai culture and am careful not to make too many assumptions. Where possible it would be helpful to seek advice from trusted sources on the best way to navigate situations I am unfamiliar with.

Get past school uniforms, reframe the purpose of education

[Leon Heavens]

Muay Thai and its Place in Thailand’s Culture
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/thailand/articles/muay-thai-and-its-place-in-thailands-culture?apcid=00644aee2a036821fcd26200

Muay Thai uses the whole body as a weapon and a shield. It is thought to have been used by soldiers and by locals to protect their lands. Before Muay Thai was a sport, it was an important survival tool. In ancient times, Kings trained in Muay Thai. Muay Thai stayed popular through military training and entertainment. Due to ancient history, today’s modern fighters respect the links between Muay Thai, the monarchy and Thailand’s history. Muay Thai is traditionally passed down from a master to a trainee. As a result, fighters have deep respect for their seniors. Fighters honour trainers with a Wai Kru ritual before every fight. After the fight, fighters congratulate each other and show respect to their opponent’s trainer. Religion is strongly linked with the clothing of Muay Thai. The headpiece (mongkorn), armband (prajioud) and shorts all have cultural and spiritual significance. Traditionally these are blessed to provide luck and protection. Military camps were centres of Muay thai training in the past. Monks often become Muay Thai masters, passing on fighting techniques and religious teachings together.
Muay Thai often begins at an early age for children. Particularly in rural areas parents see Muay Thai as the only realistic opportunity a son has of earning money. Children from broken homes often find refuge at a Muay Thai camp. Camps can provide a stable and secure environment for children who would have few opportunities otherwise. Parents who can afford it generally send their children to university. Muay Thai offers an alternative path for poorer families. It is rare for a professional fighter to come from a wealthy background. Most professional fighters come from Northeast Thailand also known as Isan which is the poorest region in Thailand. I think this is important for an expat or a traveller in Thailand looking to do Muay Thai. In the mainstream media Muay Thai is simply just seen as another martial art often used in MMA promotions such as the UFC and Pride. Learning about the ancient history and the importance within Thai culture is important to be fully immersed.

[Leon Heavens]

Hi Jenshin this is very interesting that Thailand are trying to expand on their growing on their tourism by trying to grow tourism in lesser known cities. I think this is a good thing for Thailand. Other than the main tourist attractions such as Bangkok, Phuket and others, not many lesser cities are well known or travelled to. With the travel vouchers this could be used to encourage tourists to visit lesser known citites with the money being used to develop communities and improve infrastructure. Hopefully tourism continues to grow in Thailand it continues to be the tourism powerhouse that it current is in Southeast Asia.

[Jennifer McConnell]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/03/optimism-is-high-for-bangkok-pride-after-thai-elections

The article “‘Time of new hope’: Optimism is high for Bangkok Pride after Thai elections,” speaks about LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand. In a recent election, Prayuth Chan-ocha was rejected by voters. This was important because Chan-ocha had been in rule for the previous nine years, which shows a change toward equality for the LGTBQ+ community. I feel that this is an important topic for someone moving to Thailand because it is important to understand the society that you are moving into and the cultural beliefs that are held there.
This article also highlights the fact that Thailand is well known for the series Boys’ Love and is often regarded as an “LGBTQ+ paradise in Asia.” However, activists have said that this is not exactly true. They still have a lot to do in terms of gaining equality, but are optimistic, as the most progressive party won a majority of seats in the recent election and are promising to push for inclusive laws. Again, I believe that this is an important article for someone moving to or living in Thailand as it speaks about the realities of an important issue within Thai society and government.

[Author]

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