Language Learning Narrative

Language Learning Narrative

I will talk about my learning language narrative in 5 periods; English in primary school, English in Secondary School, English in the University, English at Works, English for Graduate Studies.

I was born in Chiang Rai, the northern most province of Thailand, where the borders meet 3 countries; Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. I am now 32 years old and married. I started to learn English at the similar age to normal Thai children (in my days; today, English is mandatory course for Thai children since Prathom 1), when I was about 11 years old or at Prathom 5 (equivalent to Grade 5). I couldn’t remember much about those days, however there was a recognized event that I was once sent as a representative to compete with other schools in the topic related to English competitions, and among those contests, I got one certificate, which I already forgot how I did it.

While in the secondary school, it was a more competitive school environment among students, because I’d just moved from a small primary school in the village area where I came from and joined the bigger school which is a famous public school in the province. English again was the only subject that I got good grades. The learning experience at that time was studying English text with Thai teacher and grammatical rules recitation. No English speaking environment occurred. All students in my years were at the same level of English competency, which was almost zero at understanding English in all skills i.e. listening, speaking, reading and writing. What I could retain were those grammatical rules. However, during this period, it was my first experience with the PCs; I got a chance to learn about computer and word processing in the DOS-mode. The small word processing program designed by Chula which is called Word Chula was the magnificent innovation that had made the paper work printed out nicely.

The jump-start point for my English learning experience was when I graduated high school and I could not further the study to the university level due to no financial support. So, I started to work with a bit of my English proficiency had helped me get a job at Rimkok Resort Hotel in Chiang Rai. I started hotel career in the Food & Beverage Department, as the Bus-Boy, where I only had to carry food from the kitchen to the guests’ table and waited for the Waiter or Waitress to place the food on the table. I would say that it was an invaluable experience for me, and I had made a lot of good friends there. Welcome to the world of English, I had a chance to get the real contact with foreigners who speak natural English and other foreign languages; however English is an important role in the hotel business. Bit by bit, I had more confidence in dealing with the hotel’ guests, even though my English proficiency was still quite at the beginning level. I tried to work harder with language improvement by reading English newspaper; I also tried to speak to the hotel’s guests for longer conversation than just the normal routine jobs. I had picked up some degrees of improvement, but I was not satisfied. I thought that I should study more.

After 4 years at this hotel, I moved from one department to others in order to get more experiences; and then the chance had come, when I got accepted to study at Rajabhat Institute Chiang Rai (now upgraded to Rajabhat University Chiang Rai). I had to choose to work and study; it was not easy to leave the job to study while I had to give some support to the family.
At that time, I was a Front Office staff working in the morning, so I had asked the colleagues who would like to exchange the position with me from the night shift to morning shift; fortunately, one of my colleagues, he was just married and preferred to work in a day time. After talking with him, I then brought the discussion to seek for permission from the department head that there was the switch of my position and one of the staff, and he was kind enough to let me work and study.

I chose to study English Education; at that time I thought that I should study this field in becoming an English teacher, and at the same time, there was a chance also to advance in the hotel career. It was the hardest time in my life and it took me another 4 years in the hotel to work a night shift staff and studied in the day. My English learning had gained significantly to another level; when it was more than just grammar, but the world of English and Linguistics through the courses like Phonetics, Syntax. And, I had made many friends who share the same experience in becoming English teachers. Most of my friends from Rajabhat Chaing Rai, they are now English teachers; some are working in the mountain areas throughout the North of Thailand, and some are English teachers in primary and secondary schools in the northern region as well.

It was during the era of Communicative Approach, where fluency was a key to achieve successful communication. And, I had the first time learning English with foreign teachers i.e. Americans, Australians, and British as well as a Thai teacher recently graduated from Chulalongkorn who has become my mentor until today. He is my role model in this field. Moreover, my time at Rajabhat had made me a more familiar with the computer and the introduction to the Internet which had given me a chance to get my very first e-mail account with Hotmail with which I’m still using it until today i.e. ceinueng@hotmail.com by which the first 3 letters; CEI, are derived from the airline code for my hometown Chiang Rai, and in combination with my nickname NUENG which denotes number 1 in Thai, and it is also a common nickname for a boy who is the 1st son in the family. I then started to exchange my e-mail address with foreign friends, and of course, English is predominantly my e-mail language ever since.

Things had changed, as well as my life. I started to think about Bangkok with which I had never thought of moving from Chiang Rai to Bangkok before. I decided to move to Bangkok in 2000, when I got accepted a position at one of the leading newspaper in Thailand, Bangkok Post. I had made many good friends here, and the working environment was completely different from my previous experiences, but I had made a successful transition.

I would have to say that 7 years in Bangkok have given me significant and fruitful learning curves. This is because I have had chances in getting into different working sectors, meeting with many good people and learning language in different environments. For example, my short time working with 11-Infotech Co., Ltd., was also productive and invaluable experience when I had an opportunity to travel to visit the clients not only in Bangkok but also in provinces as well as to a country like Myanmar, where I have to use English as a medium of communication and while doing the software training for the clients.

Also, when working at Orientours Co., Ltd. I also used English as a tool for communication in both oral and written forms, for example with the business owner who holds Italian origin as well as e-mailing clients in Italy is a vital part of daily communication routine.

I have always applied all my experiences in combination with using technology to both work and study. I started to learn how to create the website while I was working with Orientours. It was my personal interest and as a contribution to the company. I created the very first basic HTML website for this company. I have gradually gained knowledge about the website thing, and today this knowledge is getting stronger. I believe that I could learn this fast because I know English which helps me get access to the World Wide Web resources easily.

The last episode, I’ve learned a lot more advanced English when I got into the EIL program in 2005. With all the hard works and high expectation from the professors, it has made my years with the EIL productive and worthwhile. I was shocked at the beginning, since I came from another world with a more relaxed manner, while at Chulalongkorn, it was a more academically oriented atmosphere with which I needed to adapt with the environment. Today, I’ve made another successful transition with this program; however I’m still learning English everyday, from work, study and by myself. It is absolutely a life long learning process.

Thank you for reading my story.
Songkran Santhi
5087866020
November 12, 2007 at 11.35 PM

The Internet or a Trash

Recently, the young woman was lured and eventually got killed by a guy whom she had known via the Internet chatting. Not very long after that, another unfavorable thing has happened again with vocational school girls who got in fighting and the scene was recorded with the hi-tech mobile phone, later on the video was spread through the Internet. Surprisingly, not only one school but there were about 3-4 schools.

It has become talk of the town during the past a couple of weeks e.g. a morning talk on the Nation Channel also raised one of the topics about the school girls fighting and a video clip. Moreover, an article on Matichon Weekly (http://www.matichon.co.th/weekly/), the writer wrote again his reflection on the influx of the new culture in which he called "Video Clips Culture: Crisis in Thai Society". He said the video clips available on the internet would have a chance to develop in becoming a fashion for young school students to have their own video clips published on the Internet for both favorable to unfavorable ones via the video clips resources like YouTube.com

The Internet where it seems to have no boundary between good and bad, what it should or should not be published. It also seems like the Internet is the garbage bin or a trash where we can throw everything in it and later on we don't know anymore what is in there, there are too many things. It has become my idea to compare the Internet as a trash. Why? While I am on the way to work I see an old man, a garbage collector who paddles his tricycle along the Ekamai Road (Sukhumvit 63), he moves from one trash to another and picks only things that he can later trade for the money. Those things that we don't want but actually some of them could be useful for someone elses. Those things could be recycled and some could also be used as a second hand items.

Like I said in the beginning, there is bad things happened everyday on the news and the Internet is consequentially a part of it. On the other side, the Internet even though looks like a trash we will be able to find useful things as well in which it depends on individual justification and awareness of what is useful and what is not. One of many things in the trash I have found, there are still many useful and resourceful websites and I would like to recommend for a bookmark especially about computer and software. For example http://www.com-th.net/ the website features the Webboard or Forums where people join and share their computer knowledge.

Among these websites, not only something about computer, online music is also interesting. Sometimes working too much on computer is not good for your eyes. It seems as a good combination of learning about IT, which is quite complicated for someone. After reading about computer and software problems, let the songs pamper the headache IT atmosphere with one of many songs I would like to share with you today, Live and Learn by Khunying Kamala Sukosol. The sound quality is not high since it is compressed to meet negotiable internet speed; the meaning of the song is full of encouragement. Click on http://www.365jukebox.com/script/play.cgi?songid=1840 the website also features other easy listening songs. However, the copyright privacy is also another topic for a second thought when using these online media.

Life is, therefore, depends on how we look at it. Let’s Live and Learn.
Songkran

Note: Live and Learn Lyric Transalation from http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8333&page=2

ชื่อเพลง : ลีฟ แอนด์ เลิร์น (Live and Learn)
ศิลปิน : กมลา สุโกศล แคลป์ โดยบอย โกสิยพงษ์ album Millions

เมื่อวันที่ชีวิต เดินเข้ามาถึงจุดเปลี่ยน
When there comes a day in our life, we reach a turning point

จนบางครั้งคนเราไม่ทันได้ตระเตรียมหัวใจ
Which sometimes we miss to prepare our hearts

ความสุขความทุกข์ ไม่มีใครรู้ว่าจะมาเมื่อไหร่
Happiness and suffering, none of us know when they will come

จะยอมรับความจริงที่เจอได้แค่ไหน
How much will we admit/acknowledge this fact

เพราะชีวิตคือชีวิต เมื่อมีเข้ามาก็มีเลิกไป
Because that is life, whatever has a beginning also has an end

มีสุขสมมีผิดหวัง หัวเราะหรือหวั่นไหว เกิดขึ้นได้ทุกวัน
There are happiness and disappointments, periods of laughter and anxiety, it happens every day

อยู่ที่เรียนรู้ อยู่ที่ยอมรับมัน
It is a matter of understanding life, and learning to accept it

ตามความคิดสติเราให้ทัน
Follow our thoughts and awareness

อยู่กับสิ่งที่มีไม่ใช่สิ่งที่ฝัน และทำสิ่งนั้นให้ดีที่สุด
And combine it with reality, and not with illusions, to make our life the best

สุขก็เตรียมไว้ ว่าความทุกข์คงตามมาอีกไม่ไกล
When you are happy, prepare your heart because suffering may probably follow closely behind

จะได้รับความจริงเมื่อต้องเจ็บปวดไหว
Then you will accept the reality of life when you encounter pain

เพราะชีวิตคือชีวิต เมื่อมีเข้ามาก็มีเลิกไป
Because that is life, whatever has a beginning also has an end

มีสุขสมมีผิดหวัง หัวเราะหรือหวั่นไหว เกิดขึ้นได้ทุกวัน
There is happiness and disappointments, periods of laughter and anxiety, it happens every day

อยู่ที่เรียนรู้ อยู่ที่ยอมรับมัน
It is a matter of understanding life, and learning to accept it

ตามความคิดสติเราให้ทัน
Follow our thoughts and awareness

อยู่กับสิ่งที่มีไม่ใช่สิ่งที่ฝัน และทำสิ่งนั้นให้ดีที่สุด
And combine it with reality, and not with illusions, to make our life the best

อยู่ที่เรียนรู้ อยู่ที่ยอมรับมัน
It is a matter of understanding life, and learning to accept it

ตามความคิดสติเราให้ทัน
Follow our thoughts and awareness

อยู่กับสิ่งที่มีไม่ใช่สิ่งที่ฝัน และทำสิ่งนั้นให้ดีที่สุด
And combine it with reality, and not with illusions, to make our life the best

อยู่ที่เรียนรู้ อยู่ที่ยอมรับมัน
It is a matter of understanding life, and learning to accept it

ตามความคิดสติเราให้ทัน
Follow our thoughts and awareness

อยู่กับสิ่งที่มีไม่ใช่สิ่งที่ฝัน และทำสิ่งนั้นให้ดีที่สุด
And combine it with reality, and not with illusions, to make our life the best

อยู่กับสิ่งที่มีไม่ใช่สิ่งที่ฝัน และทำสิ่งนั้นให้ดีที่สุด
And combine it with reality, and not with illusions, to make our life the best

A trip to San Jose, USA Jun 2006

On the very first days of the week after coming back from San Jose State, USA, I was very drowsy from the effect of different time zone and adjustment is needed within my body which is commonly khown as "jet lag". I'm just understood now what it means by that.

It was a master degree student only chance at Chulalongkorn University, EIL program for an overseas field trip with which normally the trip is organized during May but this year it is quite late. Plan has been changed from one country to another but eventually the US is the most possible destination. The trip was during 23 June to 3 July 2006.

So, it seemed not a vacation but study. Therefore, most of the 2-week time in San Jose was 90% attending classes, 10% travel and go shopping. Not that boring though since attending the classes with different professors from different faculties was a valuable opportunity for everyone in this trip. San Jose State (http://www.sanjoseca.gov) is rather a cozy and quiet town. Everything is easy going and relaxed. The weather is also very nice ranging between 12-17 Celsius, a bit cool for Thai people actually. The weather condition reminds me of cool season in my hometown, Chiang Rai during October - February while during the day is quite windy and strong sunshine let's say the wind blows you would feel chilled with cool breeze. Day time is much longer than Thailand, sunset is about 8 pm, my friends who love shopping find it a value-added chance for doing more shopping and a city tour after a long day doing a workshop and listening to a lecture.

San Jose State University (http://www.sjsu.edu) is also a nice place for students who love a peaceful and quiet atmosphere which is comfortable for learning environment. The university itself even though as a State Univerysity but it is fully equipped with all state-of-the-art tools and equipments. Classrooms are all equipped with the internet connection both wired and wireless.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library or the King's library in short is another landmark for the City of San Jose since it is served only for the university but also for public as well. It is newly built and its name commemorating to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At first sight, I thought it is more like a retail office but it is not has its huge space and decoration is more like an office space rather than a library. The university has no fence just the gates identifying that this is the univerysity area.

Early morning, if thinking about breathtaking atmosphere where you can spend the whole morning enjoying a cup of hot coffee ranging from Americano, Cappuccino or Espresso and observe morning life of the local people in San Jose, I would suggest to visit a small coffee place adjacent to the King's library on the 1st floor called "the Tully's" where you can have a seat inside or outside, for me I prefer the one outside facing to the road where the insection packed with nice and clean buildings both old and mordern style.

Although San Jose is a bit quiet town but the transportation within the city and connection to other cities is convenient and easy access. Starting from what is called "Light Rail", run by the private company carrying people throughout the city, from north to south or vice versa. The rail passes the heart of the city and major neighbourhoods as well as many shopping centers and office complex such as Yahoo, e-bay, and other electronics companies where "the Silicon Valley" is derived.

If thinking about city tour with ease, take Light Rail, you will see the different neighbourhoods in San Jose. Even though San Jose is claimed as the most safest city in the Bay Area (including San Franciso and other 20 cities or so), there are some strange people including those homeless people approaching a tourist or an asian stranger like me asking for small changes or even a dollar. Sometimes I give some coins or even ignore them pretending that I cannot speak or understand English.

San Francisco is within reached by road or train. From San Jose, it is very comfortable to take first Light Rail then with the city-to-city rail system called Cal Train in which the train goes direclty to another rail connection within San Francisco City called BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). However I did not have a chance to take a famous San Franciso Cable Car though, only have it as a background for a group photo with my friends.

Not only 2-weeks time studying but the professors allowed us to have 2 days off during the Memorial Day, so a friend of mine who has a cousin in San Franciso arranged a day trip to San Franciso with a travel agency in that area. The company sent a bus to pick us up from San Jose with about 1.5 hours drive to San Francisco. It is another world comparing to San Jose, more crowded, busier and lots of high rise buildings similarly to other big cities around the world. What makes it different is the steep roads throughout the city making San Franciso unique. The guide explained very well in details about the city and the landmarks and different neighbourhoods for example the China Town, Little Italy that we were passing by. A few stops had been made for taking photos and lunch. The highlight was the boat trip to enjoy a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge, on the boat we had a chance to pass also the Alcatraz where it was served as the highest security prison for incorrigible criminal and was used as one of the scene in the movie, the Rock.

The boat went under the Golden Gate Bridge, and made a u-turn to the pier. Another stop to enjoy the view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Franciso City is on top of the hills facing to the city and the bridge is called "the Twin Peaks", the weather is cool and windy, the strong wind makes me chilled even though the bright sky and strong sunshine. "That is San Franciso, you might see fog covering the bridge some of these days even though it is Summer" the local said to me. Most of my friends went back to San Jose after the tour, but I and a couple of friends decided to stay over night in San Francisco. We had a booking at one of the International Hostel in the heart of San Franciso. Wandering around the Union Square during the night, stopping by at one of local restaurant, we have found it interesting and livelier than nightlife in San Jose.

If I have a chance to go to the US again, San Jose is worth for a second visit.

Songkran