Saturday, June 30, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Test your vocabulary!
Money and debt are big issues in today's business world. Well... how do you know if the two words are similar or different?
Choose the correct words to complete the text below. You can refer to the given link on each word/phrase to understand its meaning.
I started my own business - a small clothes shop - about five years ago. At first the (1) costs / debt were very high - finding the right place and decorating it and buying the clothes - but i managed to keep within the (2) budget / interest I had in mind. I'd hoped to make a profit fairly quickly and (3) credit limit / invest that in the business, as well as paying back the bank. But I've actually had to use up all of my (4) savings / expenses and borrow money from my brother to keep the business going, and now I find myself in (5) broke / financial difficulties. If things don't get better in the next three months, I'm going to have to declare myself (6) bankrupt / in the red and close the shop. In the meantime, I'm really going to have to (7) economize / overdraft - I'll have to get rid of my assistant and work in the shop myself all the time. Otherwise, there's no way I'll be able to (8) cut back / make ends meet.
(Adapted from Driscoll (2005). Vocabulary in Practice 6: Upper-Intermediate. Cambridge: CUP, p.30)
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Makha Bucha Day
Today (Makha Bucha Day) marks as the Buddhist's Valentines Day. It was the day where 1,250 monks gathered together to visit the Lord Buddha and, on that day, the Lord Buddha preached all of his ordained monks, oh-waa-tá-bpaa-dtì-môhk, or the principle teaching.
Althought it was more than 2,000 years ago that all of the monks came to meet for just the same purpose, i.e. to pay respect to the Lord Buddha, today, a lot of Thai people gather together to pay respect to the Lord Buddha. I can see that the number of people gathering to do merit making, to walk 3 round with holy sticks, a candle and flowers around the main pagoda, and to pray has increased dramatically.
With this scenario in mind, I still doubt if the purpose of gathering is to pay respect to the Lord Buddha or just to find a way to get out stress in today's society. But, whatever the case it is, I am still impressed to see more people visiting temples.
Anyway, did you go anywhere during Makha Bucha Day? Did you go to the temple as most Thai people do?
Althought it was more than 2,000 years ago that all of the monks came to meet for just the same purpose, i.e. to pay respect to the Lord Buddha, today, a lot of Thai people gather together to pay respect to the Lord Buddha. I can see that the number of people gathering to do merit making, to walk 3 round with holy sticks, a candle and flowers around the main pagoda, and to pray has increased dramatically.
With this scenario in mind, I still doubt if the purpose of gathering is to pay respect to the Lord Buddha or just to find a way to get out stress in today's society. But, whatever the case it is, I am still impressed to see more people visiting temples.
Anyway, did you go anywhere during Makha Bucha Day? Did you go to the temple as most Thai people do?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Myth of the Valentine's Festival
It might not be too late to say, "Happy Valentine's Day" to all of you.
Since you might have now known, in Thailand, the Valentine's Day is considered, "a lost-vergin day", especially for teenagers. As a result, many people have stepped forward to announce to the people of Thailand that teenagers should carry condoms when going out with their partners. Some authorities even announced a curfew to ground teenagers, not allowing teenagers to go out after 10 p.m. Well, for me, these are just end protection, not first prevention.
There are so many ways to prevent the Valentine's mindset in Thailand, but I just want to point out one solution: family. If parents understand their child's nature and try to nurture them with love and support, the child will definitely understand the meaning of pure love. S/he will, therefore, learn how to show their love to their friends or partners more appropriately. Also, showing children what it is to be like if they have premature or unsafe sex can also teach them what is right or wrong. This should also come from family.
For me, the Valentine's day is not quite important at all if you are still with your family. You can make every day a Valentine's day, though.
What about you? What do you think about the Valentine's day?
Since you might have now known, in Thailand, the Valentine's Day is considered, "a lost-vergin day", especially for teenagers. As a result, many people have stepped forward to announce to the people of Thailand that teenagers should carry condoms when going out with their partners. Some authorities even announced a curfew to ground teenagers, not allowing teenagers to go out after 10 p.m. Well, for me, these are just end protection, not first prevention.
There are so many ways to prevent the Valentine's mindset in Thailand, but I just want to point out one solution: family. If parents understand their child's nature and try to nurture them with love and support, the child will definitely understand the meaning of pure love. S/he will, therefore, learn how to show their love to their friends or partners more appropriately. Also, showing children what it is to be like if they have premature or unsafe sex can also teach them what is right or wrong. This should also come from family.
For me, the Valentine's day is not quite important at all if you are still with your family. You can make every day a Valentine's day, though.
What about you? What do you think about the Valentine's day?
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Similarities and differences between males and females
Please write your first paragraph on the topic "Similarities and differences between males and females" here...
Thursday, February 9, 2012
21st century skills in the Thai context
We are now stepping towards another era, which is called Gen 'D'; in other words, the digital age of the 21st century. One of the skills required to live in this era is 'computer literacy.' Well... I believe that many people are capable of sending emails, writing their documents on word processing and using social networking media. Also, they can use their smart phones to snap photos or shoot videos, and then they show their snapshots or clips on te Internet.
In the Thai context, teenagers are also using smart phones and tablets on every occasion. In my writing class, they use their dictionary apps to find unknown words, or google for more factual information on wiki. However, when it comes to assignments, I could not find my students on my Facebook or blogger at all. Well...what happened? Are they hopping somewhere on their social networking media or are they playing online games with their friends?
Can anyone find my students to respond to my blogs, please?
In the Thai context, teenagers are also using smart phones and tablets on every occasion. In my writing class, they use their dictionary apps to find unknown words, or google for more factual information on wiki. However, when it comes to assignments, I could not find my students on my Facebook or blogger at all. Well...what happened? Are they hopping somewhere on their social networking media or are they playing online games with their friends?
Can anyone find my students to respond to my blogs, please?
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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