"Dr.Suttipong Yangkamol shares his ideas with Montfort staff"

A contingent of Administrators from various educational institutions scattered across the State of California, visited Chiang Mai for 10 days in June this year. All are attending the California State University as they prepare to be awarded their Administrator's Licence. One of the practical tasks assigned to them was to present the Vision, Philosophy, Education and Curriculum goals of the various institutions which they represent and the circumstances such as geographic location, clientele, school goals, parental involvement and community goals which help to define such objectives. Much of the current thinking underpinning educational reforms in Thailand was reflected in these individual presentations: familiar phrases such as Child-centred Learning, Curriculum Objectives, Values, Behavioural Objectives, Mission Statements, Life-long Learners are just some of the phrases and concepts which identified us as clearly being in the same profession.

The administrators were based at the Faculty of Education at Chiang Mai University in conjunction with Montfort College, where much of their "field work" was enacted. The one day Seminar brought together an audience of foreign teachers, native speakers and E.S.L., and Thai speakers of English either involved in classroom teaching, or currently learning English in the TT. Programmes, or already teaching in the E.P. programmes at Mattayom and Prahtom. It was an unprecendented gathering simply because we were sharing together for the first time with a common aim, i.e. what we could learn from these educationists from the U.S.A. that would be relevant to our classroom teaching and Montfort's vision. And learn we did as each presenter gave highly individual accounts of the needs of their various institutions, some primary, some secondary. Much of the American experience, involves multi-cultural concerns with ethnic groups such as those from Mexico, sometimes being the majority rather than minority. This makes for the positive of cultural diversity but also creates the challenge to accommodate different learning aspirations, attitudes and socio-economic backgrounds. The range of curriculum content, strategies and goals arising from situation and circumstance was reflected in the concrete programmes shared with us.

As well as the Seminar Day, the Californians spent two days observing the English Programmes at both Sections of Montfort. In particular they were interested in the Thai teachers teaching in the E.P. programme. Reports indicate they thoroughly enjoyed and were excited by what they witnessed. They shared their observations through external evaluations given to our teachers. It was a very positive experience for the visitors and reinforcement for our teachers, who should be proud of what they are achieving.

As the nascent E.P. classes show their worth and value through the skilful implementation of the aims of this radical programme, and the outcomes already evident in the successes of many students, we can be proud of the contribution of our Thai teachers. The Californian observations confirm this evaluation. As Montfort continues to enlarge the E.P. programme we can always remember a truism from our Seminar offered by a Californian on the difficulty of bringing about change.

"Conflict is essential to any successful change". Change is not easy.

Another quote sounds a warning,

" Do not get stuck in the paralysis of analysis"