ASSIGNMENT 2: ARTICLE ANALYSIS

[Kiri Ferris]

Hi Emily,
Thank you for this article summary, it gave me a much more clear idea of Muay Thai and its origins, which I had no idea about before. I think it’s very interesting to consider how the sport has developed from the need for soldiers to protect their kingdom to become so popular and world renowned as a martial art. I had not considered the mental element of Muay Thai prior to reading your summary, but it is very intriguing to read about how important this side of the sport is considered for success. Overall, your summary was a very informative read and my knowledge about Muay Thai has been much improved as a result.

[Zakaria Mabrour]

Article: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2598591/compromise-is-in-order
The article addresses the diminishing prospects of the Move Forward Party (MFP) forming a successful coalition government. The MFP’s efforts to maintain stability are being tested, and there are concerns that even if a coalition is formed, internal conflicts could lead to its collapse. One example of potential strife is the relationship between the MFP and the Pheu Thai Party, the two largest likely coalition partners. Observers suggest that this “marriage of convenience” is bound to fail, as the MFP depends more on Pheu Thai than the other way around. The MFP’s hard-line political ideology, particularly its pursuit of controversial issues like the amendment of Section 112 (lese majeste law), has isolated the party and created divisions among its supporters.
The upcoming House speaker election is seen as a determining factor for the MFP’s chances of leading the next administration. However, the competition for this position between the MFP and Pheu Thai could lead to a free vote, where Pheu Thai’s candidate is expected to receive more support, even from opposition parties. This potential outcome may strain the relationship between the two parties and jeopardize the MFP’s prospects of securing Pheu Thai’s support for its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, to become the prime minister.
In summary, the Move Forward Party’s prospects of forming a successful coalition government are slipping away. Internal strife and disagreements, particularly with its likely coalition partner, the Pheu Thai Party, have complicated matters. The MFP’s hard-line political ideology and stance on sensitive issues have caused divisions within its own party and isolated it from potential allies. The upcoming House speaker election, where the MFP and Pheu Thai are vying for the position, could further strain their relationship. Pheu Thai’s potential victory in this election may negatively impact the MFP’s chances of securing support for its leader to become the prime minister.
The political situation of every country assumes more importance nowadays in a globalised world, therefore when working in a country, being informed of its political situation becomes vital as any little change can have an impact on your daily life.

[Zakaria Mabrour]

I find particularly interesting the article that you chose to discuss about. It is fascinating to see young generations going out and voting, making informed decisions on who to vote and expecting more transparency from the government. I strongly believe in the fact that a government represents its citizens, hence the more they are informed, demanding and expecting certain services to be provided, the more a country’s policies can change for the better.

[Ciana Lynch Quinones]

Reply to Kate D’s post.
Similarly to the article I chose, yours appears to suggest that a lot of the challenges surrounding English education, are not just limited to that one subject. It seems to be an issue within the Thai Education system. That issue being that the system is outdated and has not adapted to modern times, and to the needs students have currently. Having lived and studied in several countries, I am aware that this is not just prevalent in the Thai education system. Sadly this is a very common problem in education throughout the world, in particular when there in a big generational gap between the policymakers and the students and teachers. I agree that the UK system, despite having its own set of problems, is incredibly good at adapting to the new technologies and modern society and using them to its advantage. It is unfortunate that Thai students have this problems, but the government does seem to care and to be actively trying to improve the situation.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Ciana Lynch Quinones.

[Subhaan Hamid]

This article (https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/06/1137927) focuses on the drug users in Thailand who faced severe punishment in the past to now facing a future of compassion and treatment. To begin this article, it focuses on a particular man who had dealt with a drug addiction at an early age & what affects it had on him. Rather than giving up on the use of drugs, this individual has resorted into living with the side effects. Further on in the article, it states how Thailand had severe punishments for those who broke strict drug laws. However, as of 2021 the legal system has shifted towards rehabilitation for drug users.
Growing up in Bradford, England, it is extremely common for many people to be addicted to illegal drugs as well as misusing prescribed drugs. Although the punishment for the use of illegal drugs is fair, it is not always effective. This is because despite harsh punishments all over the UK for drug users, many of those initially punished, get re-offended for the same crime due to the little help available. As well as this, many people who know users of drugs also become users of the same substances. Therefore, I feel it will be progressively beneficial for more support to be readily available for those suffering from such addictions, following the model taken up by Thailand.

[Subhaan Hamid]

Hi Emily, i really enjoyed gaining further insight to the traditions and origins of Muay Thai. Your in depth explanations on the sport really opened my mind to the deep cultural significance this has for the country, as well as the rich history of why Muay Thai was introduced. The Understanding that it was originally implemented for soldiers to defend their kingdom shows us that it’s an extremely tough combat sport which the people of Thailand take good pride in. Outlining the differences between boxing and Muay Thai is interesting as i was unaware of the pre-fight dance rituals as well as the use of 8 limbs compared to the use of just the hands in boxing. I look forward to gaining further knowledge on the sport during my visit in Thailand and a greater understanding of the discipline and toughness needed to become a Muay Thai fighter.

[Ayla Hughes]

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40027955

‘Digital classrooms trial a success: BMA’.

The article begins by explaining that Bangkok has launched the first digital classroom, powered by Google Workspace at Thai Nyoman Sognkhro School in Bang Khen district, where students are given Chromebooks to promote the use of digital technology. The article explains that the aim of such digital classrooms is to improve both student learning and teacher capability.

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt spoke at the launch, and stated that the implementation of this digital classroom is an expansion of the online lessons that students took part in during COVID-19. He described that as a result of the pandemic, teachers have access to lesson materials in digital format, meaning digital classrooms can be easily implemented.

The article also mentions a pilot study that was conducted, where the use of digital classrooms saw improved performance in topics such as English pronunciation. As a result of this success, the Governor stated that they wish to expand this programme to over 430 schools.

As I am coming to Thailand to teach English to students, the idea that digital learning can improve performance on topics such as English pronunciation fascinated me. I hope to implement such strategies during my time in Thailand, to hopefully provide effective English lessons to students.

[Ayla Hughes]

Hi Subhaan,

I found your summary of this article really clear and informative! As a current psychology student who has studied criminology in the past, I find the treatment of individuals who have broken the law. I am also from an area where drug use is common, and punishments are ineffective, so I found it really interesting to learn about how this is dealt with in Thailand. I agree that the new model Thailand has implemented is the right way to deal with substance abuse, and hope that it works towards reducing rates of addicition.

[Luca Vaughan]

Article: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/meet-ice-the-royalist-turned-monarchy-reformist-and-now-election-giant-killer/
This article follows the change in views and the start of a political career of Rukchanok Srinork, who was previously a royalist, and is now an elected MP for the Move Forward Party. She grew up as a firm supporter of the Thai royal family, and became uncomfortable when others criticised the royal family in front of her, even saying she would be willing to live 10 years less if it meant King Bhumibol Adulyadej could live one week longer. She thinks this belief stems from two sources: first the Buddhist belief that Kings achieve their position through accumulated merit, and that the authorities treat loyalty to the monarch as a great trait.
This love for the monarchy changed while she worked in the US and was slowly changed over a period of several years into a pro-democracy liberal. She voted for the Future Forward Party in 2019 (now dissolved), and then later decided to run for the Move Forward Party in Bangkok’s constituency 28 which had been dominated for decades by the Pheu Thai Party. Pushing her liberal views and campaigning on bike, against all odds she won a majority in the 2023 elections with the Move Forward Party winning the largest proportion of votes of 38%.
This movement is part of a wider fading taboo over talking about and criticising the monarchy, following youth protests in 2020 calling for a reduction in the royal budget their political influence lessened. This will be relevant while I am in Thailand as you must be careful of criticising the Monarchy due to Thailand’s strict lese-majeste laws, and while people I speak to might not criticise the Monarchy, this might not necessarily reflect their own views. The Monarchy is an integrated part of the school system to which I am teaching in, with a picture of the royal family in each classroom, and it will be interesting to see how views towards the royal family and their relevance will change over time.

[Luca Vaughan]

Hi Poppy,
That was a very interesting review of what is a not enough talked about topic. It highlighted the horrific living conditions that some animals live in, as well as their use in the entertainment industry making the animals’ return to the wild impossible. I agree with you that animals should be refrained from being used solely for tourist activities as it leads to the poor conditions you mentioned, especially due to their reliance on tourist funding. This article makes me want to go and teach about animal welfare in Thailand to raise awareness of this topic, and eventually push for stricter laws on animal welfare.

[Lois Aggett]

Article: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/the-paradox-of-thai-public-acceptance-of-lgbtq/

‘The paradox of Thai public acceptance of LGBTQ+’ is an article that addresses the extent to which Thailand is truly accepting of members of the queer community. Shane Bhatla, an Associate Director of the Equal Asia Foundation, revealed that 56% of the LGBTQ+ individuals whom they interviewed had experienced bullying in the month prior. Shane talks about his own experiences of bullying and how the tolerant exterior Thailand presents itself as having is only partially accurate and how it is easy for tourists to be misled into thinking Thailand is far more accepting than it is.
From the course I have completed on Thai culture, I too was going to arrive in Thailand under this presumption. Working in a school with young and impressionable individuals, it is crucial to be aware of the difficulties that the students may face. This article has heightened my awareness of any discrimination that could occur between classmates whilst I’m there.
Additionally, the article discusses how the support for the LGBTQ+ can only extend to careers that do not involve power or responsibility, meaning that if you want to become a judge or delve into politics then things will be much more challenging. From reading this article, I will ensure that I do the most to encourage all students to follow their dream careers, especially motivating students that identify as queer to allow nothing to stop them from doing what they want growing up.

[Lois Aggett]

Thank you Lara, this article analysis was well summarised and very interesting to read. This was a great article to dissect considering a lot of our female students will also be subjected to this inequality. I also agree that it is important to be aware of this when entering the country as it is different from our own experiences and it highlights how fortunate we are. It is inspiring to hear of female activists that are striving to improve the gender balance despite the unfairness of their experiences. I myself will make sure I am further educated on the matter of gender inequalities so I am more understanding of how the Thai culture currently works.

[Angel Harnedy]

What is the State of Mental Health in Thailand?

This article describes how mental health is viewed in Thailand. In Thailand there is a stigma surrounding mental health problems, the person is commonly viewed as weak. However, many people in Thailand suffer from mental health problems and this stigma has led to a lack of support for those suffering. The article states that ‘suicide is the third–highest cause of fatalities among teens in Thailand and according to the 2021 Global School-based Student Health Survey, 17% of 13-17-year-olds have seriously thought about suicide and 15% attempted to do at least once. Meanwhile, the Department of Mental Health stated there were 7% suicides for every 100,000 people in 2020.’ Despite these statistics there is a lack of support in Thailand, there is just one psychiatrist for every 100,000 people and patients may endure up to six months of waiting before accessing counselling.
There are a few possible causes of poor mental health in Thailand. Teenagers and young adults face a lot of pressure from their families to do well at school and provide for the family, especially children from a poor background. In addition, the strong cultural stigma surrounding mental illness in Thailand often discourages people from seeking help and so symptoms can worsen.
As I am coming to Thailand to teach students, it is useful for me to be aware of how mental health is viewed and the extent to which students in particular struggle with mental health problems. From this article I have learned that the students will likely not talk openly if they are struggling and so I will likely have to infer if a student is feeling upset. I will likely need to take more notice of students’ body language and mannerisms etc to gage how they are truly feeling so that I can try to help them if they are struggling.

[Angel Harnedy]

Hi Lois, I found your article very insightful and it links quite closely to the article I looked at on mental health. Due to the stigmas in Thailand it is definitely important that we are more aware of difficulties the students may face surrounding discrimination. From my article I found that mental health problems are common among young people in Thailand so trying to reduce these stigmas is vital to improving mental health. I also completely agree with encouraging children to follow their dreams despite the potential challenges to ensure they feel happy in the job they do.

[Chantelle Chambers]

Article: A Qualitative Analysis of Academic and Cultural Adjustment: American Students in Thailand, What Can Be Done for Them?
https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211003594
Each year the amount of people traveling to non native speaking countries is increasing. With more and more people deciding to move/ travel to Thailand. This article highlights the importance of dealing with culture shock and the ways in which it can affect a person’s behaviours. Using a historical and contemporary perspective to analyse the known information of culture shock. Whilst focusing on the life of American students moving to Thailand to partake in further education. This article focuses on traditional theoretical approaches and contemporary perspectives on intercultural concepts. To summarize the article, the studies found that the main motivation of studying abroad is to travel. Most of the university students found that the university social lifestyle helped to combat culture shock. With other students social activities made it easier to connect with others. This relates to me as someone traveling to Thailand as teaching will allow me to meet other people with the same desires and goals as myself. Reducing my own chances of experiencing severe culture shock and isolation. This article highlighted the importance of further investigations regarding socio cultural adjustments, as the information available online is limited. The findings of this article showed that multiple factors can contribute to a person’s experience of traveling. More so, the article highlighted the importance of location. The location a person is moving to can contribute to a person’s travel experience and how they deal with culture shock. A student moving from a more similar culture is less likely to feel the negative aspects of the shock. Due to comparisons and similarities which can help an individual adapt and deal with their new surroundings. Rhein states that the spoken level of English in some areas of Thailand is poorer than others. Thus, if the individual speaks the language or knows the basics it will make the experience more positive as they can communicate more effectively. This relates to me as I am trying to learn the basics of the language to improve communication whilst in this country.
Furthermore , Rybo-LoPresti concludes that having a mobile phone will contribute to an easier life in Thailand. Highlighting how technical advances and the increased amount of mobile phone usage has proven to make traveling around Thailand easier for most people. This is specifically related to me as a teacher abroad as this will be my main form of navigation whilst in this area. Thus, it is reassuring that this method has worked for most other travellers.
I found this article reassuring and helpful as someone who is going on a similar journey. Moving to a new place can be overwhelming and my biggest concern is the culture shock. Thus, hearing other people’s experiences and learning ways to reduce the shock is a positive solution to this worry.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Chantelle Chambers.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Chantelle Chambers.

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