December's feast...

It's become cool again in Thailand after a serious flooding crisis. What is expected of many people in Thailand is that we step forwards to the new year peacefully. Many people've decided to stay with their family, some take this opportunity to get out with their family and some turn to a peaceful praying moment during new year. For me, mingling with friends somewhere out of Thailand is a good idea. So, I take this moment to celebrate the new year festival in Malaysia and Singapore with my friends, one is my boss and another is my colleague. We plan to roam around important places in both countries and get to enjoy ourselves with lots of eating and people watching. Is it going to be fun? I don't know yet...

What about you? What's your plan during the new year festival?

Have you ever felt this way?

Being single for more than 10 years, well, I think I'm getting used to doing things alone. It's just like you have more time to understand yourself, to realize who you are, and to appreciate the value of yourself. That kind of feeling is always with me and I really enjoy being alone. However, when seeing couples walking and enjoying their moment together, I come to see myself and start asking "why am I still single?" Definitely, I've asked such a question on my facebook and there were so many people responding, "it might be because I am too good." My reaction was, "well... that might be right." You know.. being single for a long time might throw yourself an idea of "wanting someone". But, after realizing such a fact, I can now conclude that what I really want is happy me. So, appreciating yourself with high respect in you is my answer for the moment. What about you? What's your feeling lately?

Yummy Green Tea

Hello all again! It's been a while I haven't written anything much on my blog. Today, I'll simply want to share my experience gained when I visited Taiwan (last month), and it is "TEA"!

You know... everyone in Taiwan loves tea a lot. It can be any kind of tea at all, such as black tea, U-long tea, green tea, etc. As you might know, Taiwanese is the first to produce tea with bubbles and that might be an amazing experience when drinking tea with yummy bubbles (or jelly). Of course, I do love the taste of black tea (and bubbles). So, when I returned Thailand, the taste of bubble tea forced me to try my best to find a bubble tea shop. I know that it was once very popular in Thailand, but where can I find it? 

I walked around Silom, a business and gay-friendly place, to search for a bubble tea shop. I happened to find the first and most popular shop, "Mr.Shake" and I tried "green tea with bubbles" there. Well, the taste itself was okay, just only it was so sweet for me. ^^''' So, I walked around Silom and finally found a strange but nice look shop. Its name is "Koguma" Well... I don't know what the shop is about, but the pictures around the keios are all about tea. Yes, I tried the same green tea with bubbles there, but the bubbles are out of stock (because of the flooding effect!). So, I tried the green tea with mix-fruit jelly. ......... ummm....... At first taste, I fell in love with the drink. It was so wonderful, mild and full of happiness in it. It might seem exaggerating, but you've got to try it and you'll know it's TRUE!!!

I happened to find out that the shop is in "Attitude Thailand," a gay-friendly magazine in Thailand. Well, there might be something about the shop. I don't know, but I believe I will be a big fan of this shop because of the lovely tea!!!

(Credit: Attitude Thailand, November 2011, p.116)

What about you? What drink or food do you fall in love lately?

Flooding in Thailand

It's been a very sad story in Thailand in that there are currently many places under a high level of water. Even though the Thai people are suffering from the high water and a big pure of rain, we can still see high level of supports from all sectors flowing into the affected places. Not only that, we can also see an alliance between the two opporsite political parties joining hands in trying as many ways to solve the flooding problems as possible. Well... that's not enough. All of the royal familty members also give their big hands in helping the Thai (and foreign) innocent people. Do you know why all walks of life are joining hands in Thailand to relieve the severe situation? I speculate that it's because of the news about our beloved king. Spreading on Facebook and Twitter, the news has it that we, Thai, are very honored to have our beloved king with us. The king, although he is presently resting in the hospital, cannot sleep well because he is so worried about the Thai citizen suffering from the overflow of water and rain. He simply says a touching word, "How can I sleep well if my darling Thai people are still suffering from floods?" Right now, the water is flowing from the north to Bangkok. Even worse, there are still high depression storms attacking along with the overlow of sea water in fluxing Bangkok. What do you think is going to happen next? Will Bangkok be underwater?

RIP Steve Jobs

As you might be aware of the bad news today (Oct 6, 2011), an imaginary and amazing person of the world, Steve Jobs - co-founder of Apple, passed away to the heaven. This might shock all of the world because we have just learned from the WWDC conference that the iPhone 4s is about to be released soon just before the announcement of the lost the following day. We can now call the iPhone 4s, "iPhone for Steve" as the legend. The world just lost an innovative person... but his inspiration will still impose in his iPod, iPhone, iPad and iMac. What might be of our expectation in the future is that of the legend he left, Apple. What do you think will happen to the Apple company? RIP - Steve Jobs..

Lunar Day

The Chinese mid-year, or lunar day, is full of energy for everyone, especially those who was born on monday.

For me, I had a lot of things to complete today, such as meeting for the Thailand's TQF, writing proposals for the government's urgent budget plan, running to class to teach with little preparation and running to collect my new glasses at CTW. It seems that I have exerted lots of my energy in this year's lunar day.

Astrologically, I believe that people who were born on Monday will get affected by the power of the moon. Plus, Monday people are charming because of the lunar light. ^^ But, since I have been single for ages, I'm now inclined not to exercise my charming anymore. Well... new glasses of mine can change me to be a more fierce-looking person (Plz check my FB for the proof @ http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150300531011247&set=a.8478751246.17884.564701246&type=1)

What about you? What did you do on this lunar day?

Let's practice writing a story with "Relative Clauses"

Let's try to complete the following story (excerpted from Face2Face Upperintermediate Student’s Book by Christ Redston & Gillie Cunningham)

Olivia's favourite novel was called Second Chance. She'd read the book, (1), over a dozen times. One day she went into town to meet her boyfriend, Graham, (2). When she got there she realised that she'd left the book on the bus. Olivia, (3), was really upset because the book had been signed by the author. The next day Graham wrote to the author, (4), and explained what had happened. Three weeks later it was Olivia's birthday. Graham gave Olivia her present, (5). It was a hardback copy of Second Chance. When she opened the book ...

What are your sentences in (1) - (5)?
What is the end of the story?

If I could change something in the course, ...

It's been a confusing semester this year, isn't it?

Personally, I have found that the contents of most EL courses are very confusing. Sometimes the focus is on skills development. Sometimes the assignments are confusing.

If you could change something in the course you are taking, what would you change? Why?

Mother's Day...

This week is very important for the Thai people. It's Thailand national Mother's Day!!!!

For me, it is a shame that I can be with my parents this year because I have to be abroad. But, I've prepared some presents for my mom (and dad, too!). I can't tell what they are.

Well... some people buy presents for their moms. Some bring their moms to a good restaurant for dinner. Some even go abroad with their moms. What about you? What's your plan for the Mother's Day? Write your comments  below.

Once upon the time ... (Story Writing)

This is for you to practice writing a story. Let's try to finish the following story.

One day, Ying-hung was playing with her pets near her house. Suddenly, something flew down from the sky. It was a small spaceship. It flew under a bush, and a little man came out.

One of her puppies ran towards the little man. It knocked him down. Ying-hung qickly rescued him from the puppy. She put him on a table. She looked after the little man. She brought him some food and water.

Then she went to tell her parents about the little man. But they laughed at her. They thought she was making up a story.
"But it's true," she said. "Come outside and I'll show you."
"That's enough!" said her father. "You must not argue with your parents. Now eat your dinner."

But Mr Chu was listening to the conversation outside the window. He decided to go and look. He went to the table behind the house. When he saw the little man, he picked him up in his hand, and took him back to his house.
"Now you belong to me!" said Mr Chu to the little man.

Ying-hung watched, but she could not do anything. She was very frightened of her cruel neighbour.

....... What's going to happen next? Complete the story below.

What's your dream?

When I was just a little boy, I asked my mother what would I be.

Well... I always dreamed of becoming a successful business person. I thought I would make a lot of money and be happy spending most of my money for stuffs I wanted. Well ... thing doesn't always go the way we wanted. 30 years later, I realize that having lots of money doesn't mean anything. It's just moderation, or in the Lord Buddha's word, 'the middle path', which leads me to be a happy teacher.

What about you? What is your dream and is it true in today's reality?

What's your plan for a long holiday?

Hooray.... there will be a series of long holidays in Thailand during July and August, and it is quite certain for most Thai people to plan for a trip. Well... for me, I have no plan yet 'coz I have so many stuffs to clear up.

Even so, I still need a creative, fun and enjoyable activity somewhere. Can anybody suggest any ideas on what to do or where to go during the long holiday?

Real world... Real English

Recent news in Thailand is on the new political election and also the new government. Sure... the new prime minister will also be interviewed by international news agencies, and that requires English. Many people believe that one of the powerful tools in connecting to the world is the ability to use English well enough to communicate, and that is unavoidable for our new female prime minister.

Do you think English is an important factor for our new prime minister? And, do you think if it is important for the new government to improve the quality of English teaching and learning in Thailand? Please share your views here.

New Thai Government and the Future of Thailand's Economy

The recent election has already been done and now we will have a new government soon. So, if you remember from the to-be first female incumbent prime minister, she has made big promises to improve the shrinking economy for the Thai citizen such as increasing minimum labor costs, providing free education for children with free iPad, providing eldery with better and free care. But to do so, the government might need an additional 1.5 - 7.5 trillion baht budget, the amount that Thailand cannot afford, according to Khun Supong Limtanakoolis from Bangkok University Center for Strategic Studies.

What do think the government should do in order to implement what they have promised to the Thai citizen?

EL241 English for Economists - Class Discussion

It's been almost a month that we have been studying and learning economic concepts in English. Most of the activities are listening and speaking with some boring reading and intensive writing.

Well... what do you think about language learning activities that we have done in class? Do you like them or not? Please share what you think in this webblog. Don't worry - your strong comments will surely not be counted as point reduction, but they will help improve our class activities.

A Man with 4 Wives

I have been taught from a monk with this story... So, I want to share it with you.

Once upon a time, there was a rich man who was just acknowledged that he had very serious illness and he was about to die soon. With his great sadness, he wanted to ask for moral support from his beloved 3 wives. So, he went to see the first, and most loved, wife. When he told her that he was about to die soon, his wife said to him, "If you are dying, I'll definite break up with you." Shocked with such an answer, the man was in very great sorrow. He never expected that his most loved wife would say something so painful like that. Then, he went to his second wife for a better answer. Once the second wife was told that he would die soon, she simply replied, "Well... if you are about to die soon, I will find another husband." Again, he was so sad with the answer. He realized by then that his two loved wives never loved him at all. Afer that, he went to see his third wife, thinking that she might give him a loving answer. When he told his third wife that he would die soon, his wife answered, "I'll go and send you off to heaven." With such an answer, he was still sad because he thought that she would have said something better.

Suddenly, he realized that he had another wife who became his wife becuase he was drunk and raped her. Even more, he never visited her once after he married her. Being shameful, but with his determination to say the last goodbye to her, he went to see her. When the fourth wife saw the rich man, she was so delightful. The man was even sadder because he had abandoned her for a long time. However, he decided to tell his abandoned wife about his death. After hearing the story, the wife was in great sorrow and replied the man, "Oh my dear, I am so sad that you are leaving this beautiful world. I will definitely feel so horrible to live without your presence. May I die and follow you to heaven? I can't live without you." After hearing such an answer, the man was very surprised. He never expected that his abandoned wife would say something so touching with brave decision. How could she love him so much that she would die beside him when he die?

What do you think about this story?

In this world, according to preaching of the Lord Buddha, there are 4 things or presences that are always connected to Man. What do you think the four wives represent the four presences in this world?

Hot Summer

The cooling season has just passed and the hot summer is approaching. I don't understand why the weather changes so suddenly that I myself cannot prepare my clothing appropriately for a day. For example, I wore a short-sleeve shirt for a chilly day, and a jacket with scarf on a hot day. How embarrassing!

What about you? Do you have any difficulties adjusting yourself for the quick-changing season in Thailand?

Intensive Summer...!!!

I have been a second week of the summer session of this academic year and there have been quite a lot of intensive lessons for me to teach my students.

I don't think it's good enough to for me to cover a lot of lessons within 7 days for the midterm exam. Even more, (low-intermediate) students might find the heavy lessons challenging. Also, if the students are lazy to review the lessons intensively, how could they possibly pass the course?

I don't know what to do with this.... Just simply following the schedule might be good enough for me. What do you think, my dear students? What should be done with the heavy lessons within the summer session?

What happened to people in Thailand?

Yesterday (Sun, March 27, 2011), I watched a TV show, "The Star 7" and was very upset with the result of the vote. It was the most talented and lovely girl who was out of the training house! How come? What criteria is used to judge this?

What on earth are Thai people thinking about? Do you need a talented person to be in the entertainment business or simply a good-looking guy who cannot sing or dance, but a good body shape?

Cool Summer in Thailand

When I first woke up this morning, I found that the weather was freezing, like that in Europe. I personally don't like this kind of weather at all because it would definitely make me sick again. And of course, it finally did! Even worse, I had to go teach in this kind of weather at the university. I wish I could have more time to relax in my bed under the blanket.

What about you guys? How did you find the summer weather in Thailand these days?

New year... New learning experience!

It might be a little bit late to say "Happy New Year" to all of you, but it is worth noting some new experience I've faced during the new year festival.

When the new year arrived on January 1, as some of you might notice from my facebook, a woman in pink just cut in line at a counter in McDonalds, Silom. On the second day of te year, there came a news article reporting bought grades, bought degrees, or even acceptance of cheating and misconduct in the Thai society. Even a worse situation, an underaged girl caused a huge lost in a car accident with no news of the consequences 'till now.

What is the sinario for this? Well... personally, I think the Thai society is lacking its own justice and integrity. Don't even ask for "the land of smiles"! It seems that the Thai society , and of course the Thai education, is getting worse and worse. Why don't we help each other to promote a better society by stopping being selffish, cheating and being indifferent?

Please share what you think is possible to help soothe the Thai society...