Got any charitably minded friends? Know anyone who has a company that would like the benefit of good PR and to make a real difference at the same time?

The Stratton ABC Foundation,( registered Charity No; C.M310), in Chiang Mai, is presently looking for Sponsors to ensure the continuation and development of  its work helping disadvantaged children to get a better chance in life.

As well as operating a Childrens Home, with beds for 15 children, (presently caring for 9), the Foundation also has an English Language promotion project which aims to increase the use and standards of English language in local rural schools. Good working knowledge of spoken English can often give someone, who may be short on other academic qualifications, a good chance of a job paying decent money in Thailand.

This project includes a website, www.thaischoolsenglish.org; with sub-sites for separate local schools. The Foundation is currently developing these sites to carry online courses for the children to follow as well as placing volunteer teachers for first hand teaching at schools.

You can see more details of the Stratton ABC Foundations work on its own website, www.thestrattonabcfoundation.com.

The Stratton ABC Foundation is also looking for volunteers who would be prepared to commit to at least one day a week teaching English conversation at local schools in and around Chiang Mai. The Foundation can help with acquiring the necessary visa and work permit.

Also any Schools who may like to link with a rural school in Thailand please also contact the Foundation through their website.

If you can help in anyway, please contact the Foundation through their website.

Share
 

On Wednesday 21st I went for a long overdue meeting with Khruu Khem of Huay Sai School. Huay Sai is one of the schools on www.thaischoolsenglish.org, a project run in association with our Foundation, with a view to promoting English language learning in the local community.

Having been very busy ensuring registration for the Foundation I had been unable to give the thaischoolsenglish project any time over recent months. Now as I consolidate my daily routine I hope to resume my assistance with this worthwhile project.

In return Khruu Khem has agreed to be a regular visitor to the home, by way of offering some independant monitoring of our work.

She will come to visit the Childrens Home and be able to speak freely with the children on all aspects of their life here at Stratton House.

Share
 

Part of whats kept me so busy, and with little time to get to the internet shop, is an exciting new project that I have become involved with, after consultation with Huay Sai school English Teacher, Khruu Khemtong Punyoyai.

In an attempt to support, encourage and promote English language learning and use, within the surrounding communities, we have set up a new website, http://www.thaischoolsenglish.org. Through this site we are setting up individual sites for any local schools who wish to participate.

Already we have started sites for Huay Sai School and Pasak School, Lamphun. Its early days and we are still working on the sites. Eventually both teachers and students will be able to post on the sites. There will be links to useful English language learning sites as well as videos and exercises produced by the myself, Khruu Khemtong and other participating parties.

Share
 

2So when I’m not out and about on the motorbike, or in the gym, I’m still teaching, ably assisted by Somboon. And still loving it.

The best lessons, for both us and the Kids are when they convince me to ‘Play a game’.

Although I need to get them through the stuff in their course books, I am well aware that a lot of it is quite advanced for them and getting outside for a fun learning session is a good way to keep them loving it to.

4The find the picture game is a great mainstay as it can be modified every time.

First times we did it the children just had to match the word to the picture. But then we have progressed through ‘it is a/an’, ‘they are’,  and other variables.

On Wednesday in the first round they had to find the right picture and then bring it back and say…’it is a/an…….’ , or ‘they are…..’ ;

5and then for a second point they had to tell me something about the item in the photo, i.e, ‘it is green’.

Second round , or the extra point they had to tell me what you could do with the item;

i.e..’it is a chair, you can sit on it’.

7I’m very proud of all the children for joining in as well as they do.

Thai children can be very shy about doing something they find difficult in front of their friends. That well known ‘loosing face’ thing in Asian culture is deep seated.

I always try to do my best to let them know that it does not matter if they make a mistake, that the thing is to try and then, if their grammar is a little astray, I will tell them the correct version so they say it right in the end anyway and get used to using the language.

8In this game the boys team were running way ahead of the girls and I had to use some poetic license with the rules to allow the girls to pull back some points. There were lots of good spirited comments from the boys about how Khruu John was cheating, but they still won the game.

Kids! I know I get grumpy when you don’t listen, but overall I’m very proud of you all for how hard you try, most of the time. Keep it up:)

1

Yesterday was another good afternoon with good efforts from the kids.

In the evening we popped into Makro, yes that’s here to, so Boon could restock on meat for his weight adding ambitions, whilst I picked up some vegetables and fruit juice for my continued weight loss and health kick efforts.

Saw our friend Mark there, and this afternoon we are going off to see if we can find his house, which we’ve yet to visit.
for all the photos please visit our photobucket album here.

Share
© 2011 Travel and Life in Thailand

You can find literally hundreds of other photographs in our photobucket album

Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha