ASSIGNMENT 2: ARTICLE ANALYSIS

[Aku Soctine]

Thanks for the word of caution. This article is so common in many 3rd world/developing countries where freedom of speech is on the borderline where there is freedom of speech but activists are not allowed to dispute or highlight discrepancies without consequences. Furthermore, Labor laws of the country are bent or ignored by large multi million-dollar cooperations, for reasons you have stated. I also think they win because employees are unaware of labor laws that are in place to protect them, level of education they have, the fear of losing their jobs when they speak up, or personal relationships are some reasons why employees keep quiet, and not come out in numbers to support activist and make things right.

[Mark Niebuhr]

Culture in Thailand

As I read through thia pieca of information baout the culture of Thailand I cant wait to just be part of it and see it for myself and live in it for a few months. People canalways read about things and hear things but for me it is very important to be aprt of it experience it in real life. I am very exited. The culture for the tHias is very important for them and a big hammer on respect for the peolpe arou nd them and their traditiosn. Religion is also a very important thing for the Thais.

[Steward Gouws]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thailand-lgbtq-same-sex-marriage-equality-bill/
“Thailand lawmakers pass landmark LGBTQ marriage equality bill”
Thailand’s lower house of Parliament has approved a marriage equality bill, making the country the first in Southeast Asia to legalize equal rights for marriage partners of any gender. The bill amends the Civil and Commercial Code to change “men and women” and “husband and wife” to “individuals” and “marriage partners”. It would open up access to full legal, financial, and medical rights for LGBTQ+ couples. The bill now goes to the Senate and the king for royal endorsement.
As someone who is apart of the community it is a huge step. Knowing that the country I am going to live in is accepting and welcoming to me, makes me feel safer and more at ease. I am a big supporter of letting people be who they are, because supressing it is exhausting. This law will make it normalized and not seem like something different.

[Steward Gouws]

Reading the news when it came out made me really happy for people living Thailand and every
other LGBTQ person. This is a really big step in the right direction and although there is still more
that needs to be done in the protection of LGBTQ folks, this gives us hope. I never was aware of some
of the things you mentioned in your summary, but I’m really glad you mentioned it, regarding trans
people. Hopefully things just positively change from now on.

[Kendra Weilhammer]

Pierrette,
Thank you for sharing this article. I was not aware that the pollution problem reached as far south as Bangkok. I was only aware of the issues facing the northern portions of the country. I even turned down a teaching position that was in this part of the country, due to health concerns related to the burning season. I am glad to see that there is more awareness surrounding this issue and that steps are being taken to ensure the health and wellness of the population. Prior to doing research regarding moving to Thailand, I was totally unaware that this was an issue in the country. Thank you for sharing this informative article.

Kendra W.

[Kendra Weilhammer]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-ban-recreational-cannabis-use-by-year-end-says-health-minister-2024-02-29/

“Thailand to ban recreational cannabis use by year-end, health minister says”

Thailand became the first nation in Asia to legalize recreational use of medicinal cannabis in 2018 and soon followed with legalization for recreational use in 2022. This has led to a boom in the industry as well as purportedly drawn in tourists numbering in the millions, mainly from other Asian nations, to experiment with the substance. Many Asian countries have strict laws regarding the use of cannabis and some nations, such as Singapore, use the death penalty as a deterrent. The Thai government, however, is now shifting gears and looking to reverse the legality of recreational use in the country. Critics say the laws were rushed and claim that the cannabis will be misused. They fear the misuse will have a negative impact on the nation’s children and subsequently lead to use of other drugs.
The government is seeking stricter laws for the booming industry and will seek to keep medical use legal but place a ban on recreational use. Under the new laws, fines for recreational use could be as high as $1700 and fines for those selling and or marketing cannabis could be as high as $2800 and result in jail time. Illegal farming of the substance would also result in hefty fines ranging from $560-$8000 and could result in a jail sentence ranging from 1 to 3 years. Under the new laws permits would be required for the cultivation, import and export of cannabis. The government would give the businesses (estimated to be numbered near 20,000) time to adjust to the new laws.

[Marcia Corbaley]

Article http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-04/07/c_137956853_2.htm
Feature: Thailand holds annual event featuring 1,000-year-old Khmer history, culture

This article is about the celebration of the history and culture of Buriram in northeastern Thailand. The locals have celebrated for years with a three hour parade up the mountain to Phanom Rung. The parade culminates in dancing to local music by university students. Phanom Rung is a temple on an extinct volcano that dates from the Khmer Empire a thousand years ago. It is a popular tourist destination for locals but the people hope that it will become more well known among foreign tourists as well. They hope a new generation of tourists would look for more travel experiences besides shopping.
The temple was lost to the world for centuries and rediscovered in the 1800s. In 1971 the Thai government began restorations on the temple. The Thai government plans to ask for Phanom Rung to be added to the UNESCO world heritage sites. It has been open to the public for many years. Some say the best time to visit is a few days out of the year when the light from the rising sun passes through 15 doorways creating a magnificent light in the ancient sanctuary.
This article is five years old. Phanom Rung is currently on the tentative list of world heritage sites. Hopefully it gets permanent status in the near future. I think this article shows the depth of history in Thailand. It also shows the pride locals have in their own part of Thailand. Travelers can expect something substantial in any area of Thailand.

[Marcia Corbaley]

Hi Raneam
I agree that rote learning and a lack of critical thinking hinder students. I have seen the evidence of that in my own hometown. Thank you for mentioning that there are different teaching methods in different countries. I think we can all learn a lot from studying various teaching methods. The article has a good point that access to digital technology helps students prepare. If we find ourself somewhere that it’s not readily available we can still encourage critical thinking.

[Callum Knowles]

Callum Knowles – Thailand Cultural Foundation Course Assignment 2 – Article Analysis

https://www.unicef.org/thailand/press-releases/alarming-poor-mental-health-trend-among-children-and-adolescents-thailand-requires#:~:text=An%20estimated%201%20in%207,Country%20Report%202022%20developed%20by

This article and study by UNICEF highlights a poor mental health trend among children and adolescents in Thailand.

To prevent serious lifelong damage to their health, development and future, the study states that Thailand must urgently increase investment in quality and timely mental health care and services for children aged 5-9 and adolescents aged 10-19. Suicide is currently the third leading cause of death among adolescents in the country, with 17.6% of adolescents aged 13-17 having recently seriously considered suicide.

It is said that factors causing poor mental health include stress, anxiety and depressing resulting from violence, bullying, loneliness, uncertainty and the impact of COVID-19. However they are often hidden under the surface because of stigma and lack of access to appropriate information, screening, support and services. The study notes that Thailand have made important progress in addressing child and adolescent mental heath, but there are crucial gaps that need addressing, including increasing investment in education, social welfare and justice sectors.

This is vital to understand from a teaching in Thailand point of view as teaching and the classroom can be a great way to engage with these children who are feeling lonely, anxious or depressed, and can have positive and wide-reaching influences on children’s and adolescents lives in and out of the classroom. It’s important to be very mindful of students lives outside of the classroom and make attending school a positive interaction for everyone who enters the classroom as a TESOL teacher and enable students to thrive in a positive and inclusive environment.

[Callum Knowles]

Hello Kendra,

Thank you for uploading this, and summarising the change in cannabis laws. What this highlights to me is the ever-changing political landscape in Thailand and just how quick laws can change, showcasing the need to be the vigilant and being aware of this as a traveller so we are always respectful to the community and remain law-abiding. With the political landscape potentially changing every few years what was once legal might not be so within just two years, and as a traveller and teacher this is vital to live a happy and positive life in a new country.

[Rhona McIlroy]

Hi Callum.
This was a really interesting article, and thanks for the summary. What this means to me is that although there will be a language barrier among the teachers and the students, mental health issues transcend this. It is important to bear this in mind when teaching, especially as it can affect how the classroom in managed and how the teacher/student relationship is built. While we as foreign teachers will be limited in what we can do to help and can’t change the country ourselves, I agree that it is important to ensure our classrooms are seen as a safe space, and help however we can.

[Rhona McIlroy]

Article: As Thailand revels in Songkran water fights, tourist hub Samui suffers through drought
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/12/as-thailand-revels-in-songkran-water-fights-tourist-hub-samui-suffers-through-drought
In this article, the author discusses how Thailand is celebrating their New Year, despite a severe drought on the Island of Samui. Locals mention how they can go for days without water, affecting their businesses as well as their quality of life. In contrast, big hotels can afford to buy water privately which means that tourists are not as affected, and the festival can go ahead.
Songkran brings people from all over the world to Thailand to participate in possibly the world’s largest water fight, with numbers increasing every year. Year round however, the amount of people moving to the Island is increasing too, something the Island does not have the infrastructure for. This is all happening while the country is experiencing extremely high temperatures.
Despite all this, the festival this year has been extended from its usual 3 days to 3 weeks, and the President of the Tourism Association in Koh Samui says that they are trying to find ways to celebrate with less water and encourage tourists to stay longer on the island, such as foam parties and orchestral concerts. However, he also states that the traditional water fight will still go ahead, despite the cost. As he says: ‘’Even if we don’t have water. It’s like … Christmas, no matter if you don’t have anything you will at least try to provide your family with a cookie and warm milk’’.
This describes the overall lifestyle of Thailand, always finding a way to remain positive and ensure that everyone enjoys the time they spend in the country, no matter how long. As someone travelling to Thailand, it is important to be aware of these issues and remember just how important these cultural events are to the people of Thailand, while also ensuring that I don’t contribute to the issues that are already affecting the country. Despite not being there for Songkran, I am looking forward to experiencing all aspects of the Thai culture.

[Khadydia Gueye]

Related Article: Songkran celebration turns violent in Phitsanulok with gang attack

The following articles is related to a distressing event consisting of violence and sexual assault. This week, Thailand celebrated their annual water festival called Songkran. During the festivities, on the late evening of April 13, a group of Thai teenagers and young men were causing commotion amongst the general public. At one point, when being deterred by on-lookers, the group of Thai youth left only to return with knives and more accomplices. Currently, Thai police are on the search for the main perpetrators who were within the age range of 17 – 23 years old.

Naturally, being a foreigner who will be traveling to live in Thailand, I value my safety above anything else. It’s typical for people in an unfamiliar environment to be twice as much on your guard as you usually would. In this case, however, this incentive is three times as much during times of celebration. We naturally want to feel comfortable and enjoy ourselves, especially getting the opportunity to partake in another country’s cultural holidays and traditions. As unfortunate as it is, the safety of your environment could change quicker than you realize. As the saying goes: it’s better to be safe than sorry.

[Khadydia Gueye]

Hi Rhona,

As great as it is, Thailand is getting lots of tourists visiting and seeing what the country has to offer, that is really disheartening to hear the local people on the island aren’t having water to enjoy Songkran like officially. But I find it quite admirable how Thai people are very optimistic and they intend on enjoying Songkran all the same. I agree as much as you, that as a visitor/tourist, be aware of your traveling and how your money goes towards either helping to hurting the locals.

[Saajidah Simjee]

Article: Overview of the Thai Education System: A Regional Perspective | Asia Education Review
The Thai education system has undergone significant evolution influenced by historical, cultural, and socioeconomic factors. It spans 12 years of free primary education, with compulsory education extended to 9 years in 2003. The historical context of Thai education dates back to the 13th century, with notable reforms in the 19th and 20th centuries emphasizing secularization, English language integration, and decentralization. The structural framework includes three main tiers – basic, vocational, and higher education – providing opportunities for over 20 million students in more than 30,000 educational institutions.

The curriculum focuses on essential subjects like Thai language, mathematics, science, and social studies, with an emphasis on global English proficiency. Pedagogical approaches are diverse, with student-cantered learning and technology integration gaining importance. Higher education in Thailand is characterized by public and private institutions, with universities like Mahidol and Chulalongkorn well-known for academic excellence. International collaboration plays a significant role, with initiatives like the Thai and UK World Class University Consortium aiming to enhance research and innovation.

Cultural values and socioeconomic factors influence the education system, shaping values like respect for authority, social harmony, and community values. Arts and music are integrated into the curriculum to preserve Thai traditions and beliefs. Policymakers address challenges in educational access and outcomes to create a more inclusive system. The future outlook for Thai education is optimistic, with ongoing reforms focused on diminishing regional disparities, improving teacher training, and fostering a dynamic learning environment to meet evolving societal needs.

In conclusion, the Thai education system reflects a commitment to quality education, balancing tradition with modernization to prepare students for the global workforce. Continued efforts to address challenges, embrace innovation, and foster international collaboration will be crucial in shaping the future of education in Thailand.

I think that as a foreigner to Thailand, who is coming over to teach English and be an active participant within the education system, it is important to familiarise myself with the education system in order to ensure that I am able to give of my best!

[Author]

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