SYNOPSIS: 1st Chiangmai-Chiangrai Filipino Educators’ Conference

Filipinos and Friends in Chiangrai SiamPinoy Association of Cordillerans in Thailand

Chiangrai, Thailand Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok, Thailand

pinoychiangrai@yahoo.com www.siampinoy.com cordillerans_th@yahoogroups.com

1^st CHIANGMAI-CHIANGRAI FILIPINO EDUCATORS CONFERENCE

“Empowering the Community of Filipino Educators in Thailand through Renewed Commitment, Courage and Competence”

February 23, 2008 / 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Anuban Chiangmai School, Chiangmai, Thailand

1^st CHIANGMAI-CHIANGRAI FILIPINO EDUCATORS CONFERENCE

“Empowering the Community of Filipino Educators in Thailand through Renewed Commitment, Courage and Competence”

February 23, 2008 / 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Anuban Chiangmai School, Chiangmai, Thailand

SYNOPSIS

I. Goal and Objectives

The goal of the conference which is to establish a federation of Filipino educators in Thailand is basically on its first stage. The organizers of these series of conferences want to ensure that they are equipped with accurate information on the general needs, issues and resolutions of the Filipino educators all over Thailand. Nevertheless, the establishment of commitment of a few Filipino teachers in Chiangrai and Chiangmai in support to the cause is an accomplishment.

Below were the objectives of the conference:

1. Discuss the pressing issues on employment and classroom instruction faced by Filipino educators in Chiangmai and Chiangrai.

2. Come up with a resolution of the concerns and issues related to the foreign teaching industry.

3. Share effective teaching strategies and resources, desirable school management relations, and other valuable information to enhance the Filipino educators’ community.

The three objectives were successfully met. All participants and facilitators focused on the accomplishment of the objectives.

II. Activities and Summary of Inputs

Participants: 20 teachers from Chiangrai and Chiangmai

Facilitators: 4 from Bangkok; 2 from Chiangmai; 1 from Chiangrai

Activities:

A. Group Brainstorming 1

Topic: Introductions, Survey on Needs and Issues

Resolutions

Highlights:

The following highlights are based on the discussions of the participants:

1. That there is a need to share teacher-made teaching resources specifically materials, handouts, worksheets and activities.
2. That teachers without access to the Internet for searching teaching materials need to plan for task-based activities from low cost materials.
3. That there is a need to set a standard salary scale, list of benefits and other contract-related matter to protect the Filipino teachers, and to achieve a sense of commonality on anything related to the hiring of a Filipino teacher.
4. That there is a need to establish an effective English information dissemination linking the Filipino teachers to the Ministry of Education, the Labor Office and the Immigration Office.
5. That there is a need for legal representation to tackle any job-related concerns of the Filipino teachers.
6. That there is a need for In-service professional development program that tackles the issues on education, Thai culture, and the like.
7. That there is a need to consider proper timing on holding conferences such as the Filipino Educators’ Conference in order to get more participants.
8. That the SiamPinoy website can be maximized as the Filipino teachers’ access to any pertinent information and links.
9. That the Filipino teachers themselves need to find ways in order to excel in their chosen career in their respective schools.
10. That idea of holding this conference is not to compete nor demand but to share information, ideas and experiences to one another.

The tabulated data from the survey questionnaires is found in the Appendices.

B. Group Brainstorming 2

Topic: Vision, Mission, Objectives, Activities of a Federation of Educators in Thailand

Highlights:

The following highlights are based on the discussions of the participants:

1. That there is a need to consider Thai local customs in anything related to the organizing of a federation of Filipino educators in Thailand; and to the planning and implementation of its activities.
2. That Filipino teachers need to be given opportunities to attend any career or job fairs.
3. That there is a need to send snail mails to other Filipino teachers who don’t have any access to the Internet.
4. That there is a need to organize an Interim group of officers to ensure the accomplishment of the goal of the conferences.
5. That there is a need to concentrate on attending to Filipino teachers who are interested to the cause rather than inviting Filipino teachers as many as we can to attend the conference.

The tabulated data from the survey questionnaires is found in the Appendices.

III. Participants

A. Speakers

Keynote Speech: ““Empowering the Community of Filipino Educators in Thailand through Renewed Commitment, Courage and Competence”

Speaker: Ms. Hedda Tan

Below is a part of Ms. Hedda Tan’s speech during the conference (taken from www.siampinoy.com):

Often in life, we encounter people who attempt to mark us with their stars or their gray dots. And as individuals, each of us has shown colleagues, friends, bosses what different stars we have. Yet, as a collective group of people, I bet my life not many have a clear view of our stars. Sometimes, we ourselves are even at a loss when we have to describe who we are and what is special about the Filipinos.

And so before we ourselves start believing all we deserve as a people are gray dots, why don’t we sit down together and identify what our stars are, and hopefully from there, we will all move towards past caring what others think of us. And once we do, that’s when the marks that others have tried to put on us (a gray dot for being a non-native speaker if you’re a teacher; a golden star for being a hard-working employee) will slowly fall down to the ground.

And all that will remain, is a group of people standing tall, believing and knowing they are special, and thus, deserve to be treated with respect, and be given equal opportunities as anyone else in this world.

Inspirational Message

Speaker: Ms. Lorna Coral

Ms. Lorna Coral’s speech highlighted the importance of developing good attitude

(taken from the copy of her speech):

There are few lessons I’ve learned when I was at the stage of developing my confidence in speaking English, which I also shared to my students: “stay positive as much as you can”, 1) accept problems, (learn from your mistakes) 2) believe the best, (follow your heart) 3) Cast out negatives, (you know, stay positive) and 4 ) be disciplined. (This includes your character or your attitude). Teaching is not really an easy job but indeed a very challenging and a very NOBLE job. It takes a lot of effort and time to teach any age, it’s only the matter on how you make it really fun, motivational and to maintain the positive impact in the classroom. At the end of the day, when you see the result, the feeling is unimaginable and really fulfilling, since you, yourself enjoyed the lesson as well.

To end my long speech, it is so good to have this conference, for us to learn and to add additional information to our knowledge regarding the field of Education or in Teaching, the only thing I would like to say is that, “love your work and grab all positive chances you know it will help you motivate in teaching”.

B. Teacher Testimonials

Ms. Malou Manalang

Chiangrai

2 years teaching in Thailand

Ms. Manalang shared her challenging student-teacher relationship experience to the participants. The lesson of her story focused on being patient to Thai students despite of the difficulty of teaching them, and on learning to make proper adjustments in favor of Thai culture.

Miss Cris Torrecampo

Chiangmai

2 years teaching in Thailand

Miss Torrecampo shared her sentiments on being a neophyte teacher in Thailand by asking other Filipino teachers who worked in Thailand for years to consider each and everyone’s teaching philosophies, and not to undermine the neophytes’ “small” efforts as their contribution to the development of education in Thailand is basically gauge on what they do in the classroom.

Mr. Diego Elaurio

Chiangmai

40 years teaching in Thailand

It is an honor to mingle with Mr. Elaurio even in just a limited time. His presence to the conference alone is considered a big testimonial. He reminded all participants to be very keen at observing the Thai culture wherever they go, whatever they do and whenever they are in any Thai public gathering.

IV. Recommendations

The following are recommended by the participants:

1. Consider proper timing in scheduling for conferences: June and December are the most convenient months.

2. Input gathering can also be done through visitation.

3. Collaborate future activities to other Filipino Community groups.

4. Name the organization of Filipino teachers in Thailand as the “Federation of Filipino Educators in Thailand.”

5. Start organizing the Interim Group by identifying potential leaders at the grassroots level to comprise it.

6. Start making the Federation of Filipino Educators in Thailand’s objectives known to the community by press releases; information dissemination through the Internet and snail mail; and collaboration to concerned Thai agencies.

V. Appendices

1. Sample Filled- Out Survey Questionnaires

B. Sample Photos

Prepared by:

Abel M. Cadias

Organizer

Noted:

Hedda Tan

Organizer

Lorna Coral

Organizer