Welcome

Welcome to the first edition of the Masters of Teaching English as an International Language Program online newsletter. It is our goal in this newsletter to highlight the achievements of both professors and students, as well as provide information about the various activities, trips, and special events of the MTEIL Program. Interested in learning more? Check out our website at www.siu.ac.th/mteil or join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SIU.TEIL.

MTEIL Students Welcome Guest Speaker from Brunai

On June 28, 2011, Ms. Cynthia Noorhayati Cynthia Abdulla gave a talk to MTEIL students of ED 512 Language Teaching Practice and Obersvation. Ms. Cynthia is an education expert from Brunai Darussalam and provided an enthusiastic and fascinating look inside the educational system of her home country. Following the presentation, Ms. Cynthia took questions from the students. The talk was arranged by Dr. Kantatip Sinhaneti, director of the master’s degree program in teaching English as a foreign language. The students of MTEIL wish to extend a big thank you to Ms. Cynthia for her enlightening talk.

SIU Featured on Thai Oz

MTEIL Program Director Dr. Kantatip Sinhaneti and MTEIL student David Young were featured on the popular Thai Oz Talk television program, hosted by Jaye Walton. The interview featured highlights from the recent MTEIL English Camp held on Ko Si Chang as well as a discussion on the importance of teaching English in Thailand. Thai Oz Talk is broadcast in over 150 countries through TGN.

SIU Instructor Heads Workshop

Thai and foreign teachers of Assumption College Thonburi attended a workshop entitled “Successful Teaching in a Bilingual Environment:  Ideas from Teacher-to-Teacher Bangkok Post Articles” by Dr. Tim Cornwall from the Faculty of Education, Shinawatra University.

Dr. Cornwall is an adult education specialist with extensive experience teaching EFL and IELTS.  He is also an author, having written two textbooks, and contributes to a weekly column in The Bangkok Post Education Section.  In addition he is a Distinguished Toastmaster.  The workshop was divided into 6 periods and was very intensive in scope, covering many aspects of teaching that are of concern to teaching in a bilingual environment.  The topics covered included Establishing Rules, Homework and Classroom Management, Using Backwash, Texting Content, Reading and Writing.  Certificates were awarded to those teachers who completed the workshop.

Sri Chang English Camp a Rousing Success

From September 22^nd to September 24^th 2011, the MTEIL students of Shinawatra University held an English Camp for the high school students of Si Chang Island School on Si Chang Island.  The goals of the MTEIL staff was to provide English instruction in a fun and interesting way while gaining valuable group teaching experience.  Instruction was presented in the form of songs, games, and activities and was held at the school’s outdoor auditorium and the Chulalongkorn Aquatic Resources Research Institute.  The camp ended at the Royal Palace Grounds with presentations, awards, and a closing ceremony.

Over the course of the two day English camp, the MTEIL students noticed significant improvement in the students’ confidence and ability to speak English.  The camp was furthermore hailed by the director of the Sri Chang Island School as their best ever.  Congratulations MTEIL students!

SIU Welcomes Guest Speakers

On August 19th, SIU welcomed Dr. Jo Mynard, director of the Self-Access Learning Centre and assistant director of the English Language Institute at Kanda University of International Studies in Japan, for a very informative talk entitled, “An Analysis of Written Advice on Self-Directed Learning Modules and the Effect on Learning.” Dr. Mynard is also the editor of SiSAL (Studies in Self-Access Learning) Journal.

On December 20th, SIU was honored to have Dr. Duangtip Surintatip present “English for Conference Interpreters, Simultaneous Interpreters and Translators.” Dr. Surintatip is the current President of the Thai Association of Conference Interpreters as well as the Honorary and Founding President. In addition, Dr. Surintatip has translated such works as “As Mother Told Me” for H.R.H. Princess Galyani Vadhana and “On Thai Proverbs and Sayings.” Dr. Surintatip can often be heard on Radio Thailand.

SIU students present research at the ICER 2011

MTEIL students Sirikanya Netrthanon, together with Ittichai Rattanathavorn presented papers entitled Speaking Test in Constructionism School and Current and Future English Language Teaching in High School Thailand at the International Conference of Educational Research (ICER) held at Khon Kaen University in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand from 9th-11th September 2011. Their papers were originally written for Dr. Robert Kirkpatrick’s classes which focus on syllabus design, language evaluation and testing. Their research poster presentation went very well and was visited by plenty of educators and researchers. Sirikanya’s most recent research paper The Project-Based Learning for develop English Performance in Rural School was accepted for a 30-minute paper presentation at the 32nd Annual Thailand TESOL International Conference at the Imperial Queen's Park Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand from January 27-28, 2012. Congratulations to both Sirikanya and Ittichai!

SIU Attends Ramayana Celebration

On December 9th, 2011, students and staff of SIU attended a performance of the Ramayana held at the National Theater as part of the celebrations of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 7th cycle. This special event was presented in nine episodes by performers from seven different countries – Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Singapore, in addition to Thailand.
The Ramayana is the ancient Sanskrit epic adapted under the supervision of King Rama I, as well as his son, Rama II and has become a cornerstone of Thai culture. This revised version, the Ramakien, tells the story of the banishment of Rama from the Kingdom, and the abduction of Sida by the demon king Thotsakan, concluding with a grandly staged battle and Rama’s restoration to the throne with Sida at his side.

SIU Lecturer Defends Need for Tablet Computers

Robert Kirkpatrick, a lecturer of Shinawatra University, under the Master of Education Department, shared his insights about the need of the students of tablet computers in The Bangkok Post on December 17, 2011.
He pointed out that “giving individual access to useful applications, especially for English, mathematics and science will be a boon to the ambitious and intelligent children of rural Thailand.” Although tablets are of great help to students, he further explained that influences of qualified teachers, parents, and hosts are of great role in supporting education.
Since English is only used inside the school, learning is only limited to the four corners of the classroom. Hence if the students have individual tablet, they will have more opportunity to use and to study English.
Furthermore, one-to-one tablet will both help the intelligent and underachieving students to do their academic tasks at their own pace. The smart students can “romp ahead” upon finishing the lesson or activity while the slower students can review the lesson and repeat the activity until they master it.
Arguments as to when a child should have a tablet and what subject activities should be learned from it was also discussed. He cited that English has been introduced to most 3 year old kids in Singapore which has received favorable result.
In conclusion, he left the readers and the children to make a choice as to whether giving the students tablet computers benefit them or not. He also shared his experience of letting his own children learn from technology such as “vocabulary, mathematics and science applications” which are educational and motivational.

MTEIL Students Put Learning into Practice

Over the course of the first semester of 2011, Graduate students of the MTEIL program at SIU were given various opportunities to use what they learned in real classroom settings. Under the guidance of Dr. Kantatip Sinhaneti, MTEIL students stood at the head of various classrooms and taught English to undergraduate students at the SIU Main Campus. The experience proved to be both educational and enjoyable, requiring all the knowledge and skills learned as students to be put to use as teachers.

SIU Educational Field Trips

Last semester, Students enrolled in ED512 Language Teaching: Practice and Observation visited 3 places for classroom observation: Thais Crew Training Center, Udomsuksa School, and Chulalongkorn University Language Institute. The group was led by Dr. Kantatip Sinhaneti. Dr. Sinhaneti’s students had the great opportunity to observe actual class teachings and share their thoughts on current teaching trends and practices with professional teachers and professors at each of the institutions. These educational field trips are vital for widening teaching experience of the SIU graduate students in the Med TEIL Program.

MTEIL Student Presents Research at International Conference

On June 10-11, 2011 Ms Suchada Sanongutha presented her research paper entitled “The Washback Effects of CU-TEP Writing Component on Assumption College Thonburi (ACT) Teachers” at the 1st Thammasat ELT International Conference “Voice in ELT” held at Windsor Suites Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. Ms. Suchada is currently taking her Master’s Degree in Teaching English as an International Language (TEIL) at Shinawatra International University and is expected to graduate in June 2012. Apart from an invitation for her to present her article regarding the CU-TEP washback effects at the Thammasat Conference, her article entitled “The Washback of the IELTS on the Assumption College Thonburi English Program (ACTEP)” is also published in an online peer-review journal Language Testing in Asia Volumn 1, Issue 2 April 2011. Interested readers can log on to http://www.languagetestingasia.com/ to read her full article.

Editors: David Young and Suchada Sanonguthai
Contributors: Apinya Boonmusi, Sirikanya Netrthanon