11/12/2009 - Thai that Binds: Tritown schools make Special Connection with Educators from afar
By KELLY ONANIAN
Contributing writer
South Coast Today
A simple “Good Morning” or someone asking “How was your day?” is not something Chulawan Bualuang is used to.
“It surprises me how dinner is very important here. My host family talks about what they did today and they say ‘Good morning’ and ‘Good night’ to each other. In my country, we don’t do that. It’s very different here,” said Bualuang, an English teacher from Thailand.
Bualuang was one of three Thai teachers who recently spent 12 days touring local schools as part of the Visiting Teacher Program sponsored by AFS (formerly the American Field Service).
In 1972, AFS-USA began the Visiting Teacher Program for people who work in the field of education, to expand their knowledge of other cultures and educational systems and exchange teaching methods. In the process, they gain first-hand knowledge of what it’s like to live in another country
Other teachers visiting Tritown included English, art, and physical education teacher Nantwat “Ding” Tanada and High School Principal Somrak Sinsomros, all from different schools in the southern tip of Thailand.
During their visit they stayed with host families, observed classrooms, met with teachers and school administrators and introduced students in all grades to different aspects of Thai culture.
“We found the Thai teachers very inquisitive about our classes, our students, our teaching methods, and the school’s administration,” said Principal Steve Downes of Tabor Academy in Marion.
“They were very prepared to observe and learn from us, although they were already quite experienced and excellent teachers. They asked interesting questions and accepted what they heard without making any quick judgments. So in this way they were a good example to us to learn from others and not to take what we know for granted,” he said.
Sinsomros explained the levels of Thailand’s education system are similar to that of the U.S., with elementary, middle and high schools.
However, in Thailand, the average student/teacher ratio is 50 students to one teacher and students must wear uniforms.
Bualuang and Tanada said not only were they impressed with the technology in American schools, but also by the discipline of American elementary school students.
“They have very good behavior, they walk in a line to the canteen. They raise their hands. They also are honest,” Bualuang said.
Sippican Elementary School third grade teacher Diane Cook welcomed the Thai teachers into her classroom.
“They watched, chatted, and made notes of teacher/student interactions such as hand raising, active questioning and participation, which they stated is unlike Thai students who are to listen while the teacher instructs,” Cook said. “The teachers stated that American children are much more questioning, active, and self-assured.”
Rochester Memorial Elementary School teacher Paula Meere and her family hosted Bualuang.
Her third grade students enjoyed learning Thai dance and an art lesson where Tanada showed them how to make Thai flowers.
“The people who came to teach us all about Thailand taught us how to make a flower with a plastic cup, a colored piece of paper and tape. They use it in the river to flow away their problems,” said third-grader Noah Massaad.
Meere’s daughter, Natasha Meere, a senior at Old Rochester Regional High School, said learning about Thai schools made her appreciate the education she receives in America.
“I like small classes as opposed to 50 students in high school classes in Thailand,” Meere said.
“And wearing school uniforms shows conformity and control by the government. Wearing your own clothes gives you the freedom of individuality and creativity. I was also fascinated that they enjoyed trees with moss. It was a moment of many photos. They’d never seen moss growing on a tree!” she said.
The visit also gave students an opportunity to compare the role of religion in the different societies.
The majority of students and teachers in Thailand, including Bualuang and Tanada, are Muslim and 10 minutes of prayer is set aside each day during school.
However, other religions are respected, including that of Sinsomros who is Christian.
“I think the multicultural experience gave our students a first hand opportunity to talk with people from another culture perhaps changing prior impressions heard only in the news or on TV,” Cook said.
“Children loved that we had people here from so far away. They had the pleasant experience of meeting a Muslim person who is not a violent terrorist but a gentle, warm teacher from far across the world.”
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