Day 4

The first activity this day was spelling test for entire students of Prathom 1. There were 15 pictures showed in computer, then they had to write their names down by using small whiteboard. Students who could spell more than 9 words correctly passed the game. The game was coordinated by Teacher Bob.

Day 3

In this second day for observing,  Elsa and I observed the same class, Prathom 4. We met a couple of Filipinoes, Teacher Sandy and Teacher Che. Before the first period, Teacher Sandy as the homeroom of that class gave students a spelling test related to the fraction. He mentioned some words and their definitions, then student tried to written the words down. According to Teacher Sandy, spelling test would work much since it could be a preparation for students before learning a new topic.

In the first period, 8.30 a.m., Teacher Che taught student about time. She delivered an interesting learning by starting the class with a song about time.

Afer the class end, Elsa and I with Teacher Sandy walked around the Prathom for looking students' creation. They had mind map books, pop up books, and multiplication games.

Teacher Sandy said that there were many foreigners in this Prathom, and most of them are filipinos. He also told us that actually when he was graduated in a university, he went to Thailand jus for a holiday and walked around in this Prathom. Then there was a long story that make him as a teacher here.

In the forth period, 10.30, we observed an attractive filipino teacher, Christine, we called her Teacher Tine. She started her lesson by giving a hip hop music with the way to read time as the lyric. The song become students' most favorite song.

After breaking period, 11.30-12.30, we observed Teacher Che's class. She told students for making a thinking maps entitle Mathematician. The students had to write all they had learnt in mathematics subject in a year. Making the project nice and colorful was compulsary for them.

In this third day, I really love the term of school.

Day 2

At 8.30 a.m., my friends and I had been ready for going to some schools. We were divided into three schools. Elsa, Nia, Rura, and I would observed in the same school, it was a primary school named Prathom Suksa Thammasat. This prathom is an international prathom. We would teach math, science, and Indonesian culture there.

(Captured by: Elsa D.A)

In this prathom, we were accompanied by Bee, Am, and Oam. They are studying English for Teaching in VRU. We also met a friendly English teacher, we Ajarn Rak. They taught us some words in Thai such as yai-yai for much, phit for spicy, khob khun kaa for thank you, and so on. They also wrote our name in Thai letter. The most important they taught us is the difference between male and female letter in Thai since the toilet sign in this prathom was not in picture. The following picture is the sign for female.

In addition, they served us food for lunch. There were chicken curry, egg, and rice. They said that it was their traditional food, unfortunately I could not remember its name. However the taste of curry was as spicy as Palekko (one of favorite food in South Sulawesi, Indonesia) and the color was also quite similiar. The food was aloiy (delicious).

After ate, we met a Russian Teacher, Bob. Teacher Bob showed us his way in teaching, shared us much important things in teaching, and told some advise for us. He also asked about some unique things in Indonesia.

Teacher Bob showed us one of his special student. The student disliked to sit in a long time, he just liked playing and always move. However, he could speak in English well. Teacher Bob asked him some questions in English and he could answer. Besides that, Teacher Bob pointed a boy who like speaking too much but actually smart.

After teaching, Teacher Bob introduced the Prathom and showed its rooms. He also showed us the canteen preparing halal food, oh yeah, he is a moslem.

Besides observed Teacher Bob teaching in third graders of IEP (Intensive English Program) class, we also saw Oam and Bee teaching in third graders of EP (English Program) class.

(Captured by: Elsa D.A)

At 4 p.m. we with Oam went back to VRU. Firstly, we went to in front of Thammasat University by free bus and then went to VRU by a van by paying 15 baht (approximately 6.000 rupiah).

The second day was really joyful.

Day 1

After spending more than 3 hours in the plane, we arrived at Don Mueang International Airport. Firstly, all was confusing for me, but I was very happy since I saw a group from VRU. They were really pretty and interesting since most of them ware hijab. For addition, I felt comfortable to have a conversation with Muyee, Couch, and Na Na whose English were easy to understand.

They and their kind friends accompanied us to VRU's dormitory, helped us for bringing our briefs, and suprisingly, brought us some delicious food. I really like food containing much vegetables.

Thailand was really cold, I had seen the temperature was until 13 degrees of Celcius. It made me freeze.

Around my dormitory, there were many bicycles since many students of VRU use them for going to campus or the other places.

In the morning, we went to SEAMEO office. We were taught about SEA-Teacher programme, the culture in Thailand, some Thai phrases, and so on.

After that, we had a lunch in a halal restaurant. However, the menu was confusing, so Ajarn helped us by asking what kind of food we would eat. I chose rice and chicken. The taste of rice was as salty as the seasoning of fried rice and the chicken was very soft.

In the noon, we were accompanied by Muyee to pray Zuhur in her Moslem Organization room. I could see the other moslem students in VRU. It was really interesting that most of them could speak in Malay. I felt like finding my family.

After that, we met the president of VRU.

Then Elsa and I travelled around the university. When we were walking in front of a primary school, a man riding a bicycle stopped then asked in Thai. I just said "we were sorry, we cannot speak in Thai". He just asked for forgiveness and went back. It was actually a proof that Thai, Indonesian, and actually also the people of other Southeast Asean countries do not have too many differences. 

In the night, some friends from Indonesia and I with a student of VRU, Baa looked for simcard. The conversation was really long since Baa and the seller could not speak English. Therefore, our questions were translated into Malay by Kikio, then translated into Thai by Baa, and so were the seller's answer. The interesting thing I found was we had to register our passport number for having a simcard. Finally, we got an unlimited quota for internet for 7 days by paying 108 baht (approximately 43.200 rupiah).

In that minimarket I also found that ciggaretes sold did not showed directly. It would be opened only when there was a customer who needs.

My first day in Thailand was totally meaningful.

Sewatdee Krub!!!

Sewatdee Krub!!!

SEAMEO (Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organization) is a regional intergovernmental organization having three main focuses, one of them is education. Therefore, SEAMEO has programme of Exchange of Pre-Service Teacher Education in Southeast Asia for Practicum (SEA-Teacher). The first batch of this programme facilitated the area of teaching mathematics, science, and English. This programme exchanged 12 Thai students of VRU (Valaya Alangkorn Rhajabat University) and 12 Indonesian students of UNM (Universitas Negeri Makassar).

I am Ulfa, student of mathematics education in International Class Program of UNM. I would like to share my daily activity in Thailand. I would also share some unique things I found here.