AY 2007-2008 Projects - East Asia and Pacific

Country                       Thailand
City                              Phitsanulok
Host Institution           Naresuan University

Project Description
The EL Fellow will model and provide quality English teaching to Naresuan University; serve as an English teaching resource for universities and local English-language centers throughout northern Thailand; coordinate with Embassy’s Cultural Affairs Office on English-related programs; support Network Training teachers in the lower northern region of Thailand. The EL Fellow will promote American English Language Teaching techniques and practices by incorporating explanations of American culture and values to university English instructors and administrators; serve as a liaison between the University and Ministry of Education (MOE) through local MOE-supported English teaching centers (ERIC centers); strengthen relations between the University and the Embassy in Bangkok and Consulate General in Chiang Mai. The EL Fellow responsibilities will include conducting classroom instruction for English Department students; serving as a guest lecturer on English language topics at other universities in northern Thailand; conducting in and pre-service training for university staff, teachers at local MOE-supported English teaching centers, and Network Teacher Trainers; assisting with setting up and conducting English Camps in the community; coordinating with Embassy CAO and ACAO, as well as the PD Assistant in Chiang Mai, on English language programming in northern Thailand; and  completing other work as assigned.  Host Institution’s Expectations are as follows: the EL Fellow will be expected to teach at least two courses per semester; serve as a guest speaker presenting one workshop or seminar each semester; and assist Thai staff (providing necessary academic and/or research assistance to faculty members). Except when doing other work, the EL Fellow will be expected to hold office hours from 8:30-16:30, Monday through Friday all through the contract period; and assist with other Division responsibilities, including extra curricular activities. Semester breaks in March-May and October are non-teaching periods for marking, lesson preparation and assisting Thai teachers and students as directed.

Time Frame
October 15-31 - arrival at University and settling in
Orientation and Preparation November 2007-early March 2008 --Teach Classes at University --Follow up with Network Trainers and Trainees --Conduct ERIC Ctr. seminars/workshops April and May 2008 --Intensive Network Training --Summer Camps --Special Projects at University June-September 2008 --Teach Classes at University --Follow up with Network Trainers and Trainees --Conduct ERIC Ctr. seminars/workshops Institutional Background: The Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University, was established at the time the Institution was still a College of Education. Its mission is to produce graduates who excel in languages, literature, folklore, music and the performing arts and who strive towards moral and ethical goals. At present the Faculty has an academic staff of 122 lecturers and 30 administrative personnel and has a student enrollment of around 1800. The Faculty is divided into four Departments, one of which, the Department of Western Languages, includes the Division of English. Among the different programs offered are the following: regular BA, MA and PhD in English; Special 4-summer MA in English for in-service teachers; the Faculty also has a units for training and bilingual instruction and for translation.

Project Objectives
The following is a Statement in support of the English Language Fellow Program, drafted and submitted by the HEAD of the English Department at the University: "We would like to begin by stating the areas as well as the scope of our responsibilities: 1. The English Language Department organizes the Foundations of English courses for all first-year students within the university, around 4,500 students in the academic year 2006. In addition, in order to meet the government s policy that requires at least 12 credits of English courses from all university graduates, the department also provides these courses for students at all levels from all faculties, more than 20,000 students in total. 2. The English Language department offers Bachelor, Master s, and Doctoral degrees in English in several different programs (day-time, twilight, weekend, and summer programs). 3. The English Language Department is the center of academic and human resource regarding the English language in the 9 provinces in the lower northern region of Thailand. 4. The English Language Section cooperates with all the 3 ERIC centers in Phitsanulok, providing them with teaching staff for special training courses and language assistance as and when needed. From the above, we are faced with the following obstacles: 1. Considering the number of students under our surveillance, we are significantly understaffed. With only 44 in-service lecturers, some of whom are fresh college graduates, we require specific training and professional consultation in some areas so as to be able to manage some of our classes systematically and effectively. 2. Although we offer courses in American Literature in our undergraduate and postgraduate programs, the lack of American experts in the field reduces our capacity to meet the demand meaning many students have to choose British literature as their elective. To date, literature studied in the English Section has been predominantly British even though many students would prefer to explore more American literature. 3. The 3 ERIC centers in Phitsanulok provide a great opportunity for the promotion of the English language and English language training, yet this has not been fully developed due to the lack of staff, training and professional guidance. All in all, an English Language Fellow would help enhance the quality of education, not only for the 20,000 students at Naresuan University, but also the many people in academic settings and in the general communities in the lower northern region of Thailand." (sic) THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES, THEN, WOULD BE THOSE AS OUTLINED BY THE RELO AND AS RESTATED BY THE HEAD OF THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT