The suggestion of an international course in Thailand is the main goal of this essay. Most of the American students in this class, as well as students from other nations, will be able to learn and respect Thai culture and language thanks to it (Barmé, p. 76). Most American students have been hesitant to leave the nation, according to research that has been done. The students' sense of contentment in their home country has clouded their judgment, making it impossible for them to understand the struggles that other students in other countries are going through.
This proposal comes at a time when most of the major universities and colleges all over the world are starting to appreciate the value that students get from global engagements (Jarayabhand, Pp. 154).
According to the research that has been done by various scholars, it has been found that studying overseas and learning a foreign language does not only make students to get higher grades but also enables them to develop most of the skills that are crucial in the interconnected world. Abrams in the year 1960 stated that "goals of higher education include intellectual and professional development, general education, personal growth, and the furtherance of the international understanding."
Studying overseas will help the students to break down the ethnocentricity that they have towards their nation.
It is essential as it poses a challenge to the students against viewing their only best way and place to live. The study of a foreign language and culture gives a student an opportunity to develop some positive feelings towards the other people and students in other nations. This will also enhance the feeling of wanting to know more about particular areas. Carlson and Widaman (1987) maintain that "International understanding involves knowledge of and awareness about issues and events of national and international significance as well as general attitudes that reflect heightened sensibility to international issues, people, and culture."
In the current world, one of the critical practices that have been developed is multilingualism.The knowledge in foreign languages has faced evolutions to an extent it has become one of the most beneficial aspects not only to students but also to the entire world population (Lin, Pp 53). Irrespective of the reason for multilingualism, be it for social or financial issues, the ability to communicate in a foreign language helps in bridging the gap that exists in different regions of the world. It helps in the creation of a real connection between the people as well as providing an opportunity for the better understanding of a person's language.
Knowing a foreign language and culture is crucial for financial gains and other reasons. It has emerged that those people who have the urge to travel to most parts of the world have a great diversity regarding their lifestyles, places, and even cultures. This gives them the ability to relate freely with people, and it also gives them an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Getting to learn a new language and culture also enhances a student's analytical and cognitive abilities. It also increases the self-worth of a student as well his or her personality. The main reason for the choice of Thailand is because as a third world country, the students will be able to learn and get an experience of the way of life in those developing nations. This will also be essential in ensuring that the students acquire great survival skills in addition to the appreciation of the cultural practices in the respective countries.
Description of the program
Creating of an overseas class in Thailand would be a major development in the learning of students. It will create chances for the interested students to get to appreciate the different Thai culture as well as read the Thai language. The class will be built in the capital city of Thailand and will enroll students from all the countries. The course will not only concentrate on learning the Thai language but also equipping the students with a better understanding of Thai culture (Lin, Pp 53). A professional will teach the course from Thailand who will be able to impart adequate knowledge to the students. The students will be required to attend classes at a designated building where they will be able to get lessons concerning Thailand as a nation, the inhabitants and the various activities taking place in the country. The events that will be given much emphasis include culture, the social setup of the different communities in the nation and the language. The course in Thailand will be able to open greater employment opportunities for the students especially in fields dealing with international relations. This development will extend even to the personal life of the individual besides their career in the future.
The course will also emphasize on providing the students with the crucial information about the background and origin of the various distinct communities leaving in the country. Towards the end of the course, a student will be required to pick one region of the country and identify a Thai family that he or she can be able to comfortable stay with for at least one month (Lin, Pp 53). This will be essential in giving the said students a touch of the livelihood of the people as well as the challenges that the family faces in the society.
Introduction
I would like to give a proposal for the establishment of an overseas class in Thailand. I am a student at Granite State College. I have taken a significant period trying to find ways of ensuring that the American students develop an interest in learning about other cultures. With sufficient research, I have learned about the importance of the engagement and the impact that it can have on the students if it is adopted. Throughout my stay at the college, I have been able to come into contact with people from different cultural diversities which have triggered by the curiosity of learning about them. Throughout the period, I have developed an interest in learning foreign languages and cultures.
I have been able to get in touch with students as well as other people from Thailand. This has contributed to the growing interest I have developed concerning foreign languages and cultures and in particular the Thai language and culture. This group of Thai students that I have met has exhibited a great show of Thai culture, and this has helped me to spot a new perspective to hold and follow regarding my life as a professional (Barmé, Pp. 76). The established class in Thailand will aim at examining several aspects of Thai culture and language. I believe that this overseas class in Thailand will assist in creating awareness in most of the students on the various cultures. This will give them an opportunity to appreciate the kind of lives that the people are living. It will also enlighten them on the challenges that different communities or countries are exposed to in their pursuit of a good life.
Approach
The project will accommodate students from all the states who will be required to register with their respective embassies. This will enable the organizers of the project to do a proper planning of the activities and the required personnel. The overseas class in Thailand will collaborate with the other academic institutions to ensure the project meets the required standards stipulated by the education sector. The project will start at the beginning of a new year, and it will have three breaks every academic year. The proposed overseas class in Thailand will source for the services of qualified personnel who must be a holder of a Master's degree in a relevant discipline. He/she should have research experience and the ability to teach a wide variety of students from different backgrounds and cultures at all undergraduate levels. Also, the lecturer should have experience in giving advice, development of programs, and coordination. Other preferred qualifications for the facilitators of the program include a demonstration of commitment to teaching learners as well as experience on the use of technology (Kassim and Ali, Pp. 168-182). The facilitators will be required to come up with better ways of assessing the progress of the students in the class. Instructors may also be required to give a sitting continuance assessment tests (CATs) and the Random assessment tests (RATs) which will consist 30% of the total marks of the course. The lecturers should also try to test the communication skills of each student by organizing oral tests which may comprise 10% of the total marks. At the end of the term, there will be a compulsory end of semester test that will constitute 70% of the total marks.
The proposed overseas class will be offered together with a relevant major to ensure that the students will grasp what they are taught in class. This minor course may apply as filler to the loopholes left behind in the majors by the lecturers. The proposed overseas classes will operate in the summer term (April-August). The rationale behind this is because several of the students have enrolled in the winter classes. This will ensure that the student's classes do not clash with each other. Furthermore, it should be offered from 7:00am-10:00 am to ensure that the syllabus is covered without fail.
This overseas class will be suitable for any student who has completed the secondary education and any person who comes from a related work experience field approved by the registrar. The minimum eligibility for this course is a simple post-secondary study or a certificate in a related field of study.
The proposed program
The proposed overseas class in Thailand will be undertaken in two years. Within this period, the students will be given lessons that will help them in enhancing their cognitive abilities as well as their understanding skills. The goal of teaching the students Thai culture will be achieved through the use of a qualified teaching staff and Thai professional who will devote their time and abilities in doing follow-ups on the progress of the students (Trilokekar, Pp. 78). The lecturers and professionals will use means of discussions, family visits, and lectures to impart the knowledge to the students. They will accompany the students on various visits and educational trips to various regions of the country (Kassim and Ali, Pp. 168-182). This will enable the students to equip themselves with sufficient information about the people of Thailand and how they perform their duties. This will also familiarize them with the different types of family setups in the country as well as the social governance of the community. The establishment of the overseas class in Thailand will ensure that the students will get a chance to freely mix with the field in which they might fall be part of in their respective futures. The minor subject can be applied together with most of the majors that are offered in several other institutions of learning.
Expected outcomes of the project
At the end of a student's stay in the class, there are many expectations that will be required of them. These will enable proper assessments to be done regarding the progress of the program and the impact that it has at the end of the learning process. I have confidence that the introduction of the overseas class in Thailand will succeed (Barmé, Pp. 76). This program will be beneficial to almost all learners across the globe. The benefit of introducing project is that it will be an avenue in which students can come into contact with the careers that they want to pursue in future. The following are the expected impacts of the program;
1-The students will be able to communicate in fluent Thai language. This will include the ability of a student to express him or herself fully in the Thai language. This will also include the ability of the student to understand the several aspects of Thai language. The learner should also have acquired effective communication skills to help in smooth interaction with the other students.
2-The students will able to vividly understand the Thai culture and be able to understand particular aspects of Thai culture. This will go a long way in involving the understanding of the social aspects of the people of Thailand as well as their setup (Barmé, Pp. 76). At this point, the student must be able to acknowledge and point out the differences that exist between the Thai culture and their own culture back in their native languages.
3-The student will be able to outline the various challenges that the people in Thai community are facing. They should be able to categorize the challenges for example as cultural, social or economic challenges. This knowledge of the challenges will be a good show of the affectivity of the project and the positive impacts that it has created for the students.
4-The students will be able to come up with some solutions to the outlined challenges. The students must be able to develop long-term solutions to the problems that the people of Thailand face in their daily lives.
5-The students will be able to exhibit and show appreciation for the cultural diversities that exist in the different parts of the world. This will include the abilities of the students to identify the weaknesses of their native country as far as cultural practices are concerned.
Review of course materials
There are several texts which can be used by the teachers of the subject. The main book that will be required is the Woman, Man, Bangkok: Love, Sex, and Popular Culture in Thailand by Scot Barmé, Textbook, Silkworm Books, 2002, ISBN: 9789749361955. This book contains a wide definition of concepts that are useful in cultural aspects of the Thai community. It will be a beneficial book which will lead a student on the right path to mastery of this wide field. The book will cost around $300.
Works Cited
Barmé, Scot. Woman, man, Bangkok: Love, sex, and popular culture in Thailand. Rowman & Littlefield, 2002.
Jarayabhand, Padermsak, and Nittharatana Paphavasit. "A review of the culture of tropical abalone with special reference to Thailand." Aquaculture 140.1-2 (1996): 159-168.
Kassim, Hafizoah, and Fatimah Ali. "English communicative events and skills needed at the workplace: Feedback from the industry." English for Specific Purposes 29.3 (2010): 168-182.
Lin, C. Kwei. "Progression of intensive marine shrimp culture in Thailand." Swimming Through Troubled Water. Proceedings of the special session on shrimp farming, Aquaculture. Vol. 95. 1995.
Trilokekar, Roopa Desai. Federalism, foreign policy and the internationalization of higher education: A case study of the International Academic Relations Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada. ProQuest, 2007.
