Announcement: A better look and design for FILIPINO TEFL BLOG

There will be some major changes in this blog. Filipinotefl.wordpress.com will move to www.filipinotefl.blogspot.com

Happy Summer

I want to ask an apology to the readers for not updating this blog. Last month was a busy month for me. I wasn’t able to post anything, that’s why I feel guilty. I make it sure that this month of April will be full of topics and issues for our Filipino TEFL teachers. By the way, summer has started and many of our kababayans are going for a summer vacation in Philippines. I wish them a safe trip. About me, I will stay  home with my family and enjoy the summer heat in Thailand.

American TESOL Institute is Calling all Non Native / Asian teachers to teach in Thailand

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2nd Filipino Teacher’s Conference in Bangkok

I recieved an email from Ajarn Hedda,one of the organizers of the said event. Below is the content of her email and the information of 2nd Filipino Teacher’s Conference in Bangkok.

Ajarn Alfred,

Hi! This is Hedda.

We want to invite you on March 16 for a teacher’s conference in Bangkok. The objective of which is to explore the idea of starting an organization of Pinoy teachers in Thailand for the purpose of representation as well as empowering teachers by way of professional development activities/projects.

The first conference will be in Chiang Mai this weekend, to be attended by Master J and I from BKK and teacher reps from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

For the BKK conference, we are gathering reps from different provinces and districts around BKK, but would very much welcome you and 3-4 more, if it is at all possible for you.

This project has already been given blessings and support by the ambassador himself. SiamPinoy,together with the Association of Cordillerans in Thailand and the Filipinos and Friends in ChiangRai met with him a few weeks back and he is happy that this is finally underway. He said it should even have started along time ago.

Well, better late than never.

Really look forward to your joining us on March 16. Any other teachers/districts,etc you recommend we reach and invite to this event?

Thank you!
Hedda (aka Madam H)

Att: Filipino teachers in Thailand -Teacher’s education course to be offered by CLSU

For those who are interested in
studying the courses required on
application for teacher’s license:
Here is the good news. The Central
Luzon State University (CLSU) can
offer the courses required starting
this summer. The details are below:

Warm greetings from the CLSU Open
University!

The education courses you are required
to take, 3 are exactly the same as
those we currently offer under our MS
in Education program. These are
Course nos. 2, 4, & 7. Course no. 5 is
offered under our Certificate in
Teaching program. Course nos. 1, 3, 6
& 8 are not offered by CLSU and
no modules have been developed for
these courses so far.

The good news is that we can offer
course nos. 2 and 4 starting summer
2008 and course nos. 5 & 7 First Sem
2008-2009, while we are developing
the modules for course nos. 1, 3, 6
and 8. By second semester, SY
2008-2009, we will be ready with
modules for the other courses.

Ok, we will offer MS in Education
online focusing on the 8 courses you
need. The students/enrollees may stop
schooling after finishing
these courses or continue to finish
the degree. However, we need your
assurance that there will be enough
enrollees. Otherwise, the modules
will be of no use. It’s expensive to
develop Learning Modules. The
development cost per module is about
Php20, 000, excluding cost of
materials.

In your case, you will shell out
PhP800 per module for course Nos. 1,
3, 6 and 8 only. The cost is a bit
higher than what we normally charge for
modules that have been developed and
are currently in use. The amount
applies only to the courses that are
not yet offered but will be developed
for you.

If you agree to these conditions, then
put them into writing. I wish to
review the things you will do. Write a
letter requesting us to offer
online the 8 courses you need
indicating the justifications for
the request. State that you agree to
pay Php800 on its equivalent in
Baht
or Dollars per learning module for the
courses the learning modules of
which will still be developed.
Furthermore, state that there will be
at least 20 enrollees from your group.
The names and signatures and complete
addresses of the enrollees should
appear in the letter-request.

Then add up Php1,000.00 LM
Development Fee to the sub-total.

It’s in/for the requested courses
where you will have to shell out an
LM
development fee. These courses are
Language and Technology, Learning
Management, Classroom Management and
Educational Innovation and
Information Technology. We are
proposing an LM Writing/Development Fee
of
Php1,000.00 per student for every LM
to be developed for the courses
herein abovestated. But the LM
Development Fee will be paid on a
staggered/semestral/term basis and not
on lump sum basis. This, in
order
not to make the payment of fees too
burdensome on the part of
enrollees.

That your fellow teachers graduated
non-education degrees is immaterial
for as long as they finished at least
four-year degrees. Anyway, there
are
pre-requisite courses that would
qualify you/them for the MSEd
curriculum.
And, these pre-requisite courses are
and will also be credited as
regular
subjects. So, every course is
recognized and no subject is wasted.

Summer Term begins April 1 and the
enrollment is scheduled during the
last
2 weeks of March. As early as now,
you/they can start collecting and
sending the admission requirements,
namely:

1. Application letter (OU Form
No. 1, available at OU website:
openuni-clsu.edu.ph)
2. Two recommendation letters (OU
website)
3. Original or authenticated
official Transcript of Records of
(OTR) of
BS/BA degree; and
4. Non-refundable application fee
of Php 50.00. Send all fees including
application fee to: CLSU Open
University, Acct. No. 002962-1006-89 at
the
Land Bank of the Philippines, Muñoz,
Nueva Ecija Branch. Then, fax
every
receipt/ all receipts to 044-456-5242.

For your group, the course offerings
for Summer are:
1. ED 701 (Statistics I) – 3
units;
2. ED 720 (Psychology of
Learning) – 3 units; and
3. ED 740 (Curriculum
Development) – 3 units.

The LM for these courses will be
available at the OU website:
openuni-clsu.edu.ph and may be
downloaded upon full payment of the
fees.

You/they have to send us the
credentials and other admission
requirements
early to avoid processing delays.

FOR BREAKDOWN OF TUITION FEES EMAIL ME
AT lovieponce@yahoo.com

Teacher’s license exemption in Thailand

Below are two pictures of scanned documents handed to me. This is to avoid confusion among Filipino educators in Thailand about the issue of teachers license exemption.

Below is an excerpt from the scanned document:

No one shall practice a licensed Profession without a License under this Act, except in any of the following cases:

(1) Those occasionally providing knowledge to learners in any Educational Institution as guest educational lecturers;

(2) Those whose primary Profession does not relate to the teaching and learning process, but has the occasional duty to teach;

(3) Students, trainees or those with a practical training license apprenticing or training under the supervision of Professional Educators, subject to the criteria, procedures and conditions set forth by the Teachers Council of Thailand Board;

(4) Those arbitrarily offering educational courses;

(5) Those teaching in any learning center under the law governing national education or learning establishments arbitrarily operated by nonformal educational agencies, individuals, families, communities, community organizations, local administrative organizations, private organizations, Professional organizations, religious institutions, business establishments, hospitals, medical institutions, charitable shelters and other social institutions;

(6) Public and private instructors, Educational Institution Administrators and Education Administrators at the higher education level;

(7) Education Administrators of a level higher than educational districts;

(8) Other persons as designated by the Teachers Council of Thailand Board.”

Open Universities and Distance Learning Schools in Philippines

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1st CHIANGMAI-CHIANGRAI FILIPINO EDUCATORS CONFERENCE

1st 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 pmAnuban Chiangmai School, Chiangmai, Thailand 

Goal:  Establish a federation of Filipino educators in Thailand. 

Objectives: 

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.

 Rationale: The need for a strong representation of the Filipino educators in Thailand is seen necessary and beneficial. Teaching is one of the main job opportunities which Thailand could offer to the world.  Filipinos and other non-Asian nationalities grab this opportunity from reasons of supporting their families to simply enjoying the pleasures of life in Thailand.      The community of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Thailand is comprised by a growing number of educators.   It is believed that there are more than 3,000 Filipino educators throughout Thailand.  They are, in fact, the active members of most if not all of the other Filipino organizations in Thailand.  Their participation in civic-oriented programs, social functions and other projects in their respective organizations proved that they too can form a strong institute that would directly benefit themselves. One of the major concerns of a Filipino educator working in Thailand is the unfair treatment and comparison they are getting from local school administrators and the community as a whole; specifically, monthly salary and other benefits based on one’s nationality instead of qualifications and skills, parents’ low confidence to Filipino educators teaching English as a second language, and the community’s notion that ESL/EFL is best taught by a native speaker of English.  However, there are also some major teaching and personality flaws that a Filipino educator possesses that need special attention like strong interference of his/her first language in using the English language  which affect comprehensibility;  the need for trainings on how to  contemplate their teaching techniques and strategies to Thai culture for effective teaching and learning; and the lack of encouragement and support they are getting from the Filipino community as a whole to bring out the necessary confidence they need in the workplace.  Moreover, there are few sensitive issues that needed to be dealt politically with the help of the Philippine government in order to protect the interest of these Filipino educators; for instance, reasonable and just compensation, their participation in Thailand’s Ministry of Education in addressing foreign teaching concerns and among others.   These pressing issues could not be properly tackled without proper representation and recognition; thus, it is high time for all Filipino educators in Thailand to get organized.  Despite of these problems, there are also many inspiring and educational inputs we can learn from the success, dedication and principles of many Filipino educators.  It is equally important to recognize these individuals and highlight their accomplishments in their endeavors so that others will do the same.   This one-day conference enables Filipino educators to finally sit together in planning appropriate activities in handling both professional and labor related concerns for the betterment of the Filipino community in Thailand as a whole.

 

Program:Morning Session 

8:30 – 9:00                   

Arrival & Registration………….. Janice Lunzaga

9:00 – 9:30                  

Opening Program:

National Anthem………… Delilah Meneses

Invocation…………………  Jean Bayacal

Welcome Remarks…….. Gigi Narrido

Introduction of facilitators/ participants

Leveling of Expectations

Briefing and Orientation

9: 30 – 10:30                

Introduction of the Keynote Speaker

TALK 1:  “Empowering the Community of Filipino Educators in Thailand through Renewed Commitment, Courage and Competence”

Speaker: Ms. Hedda Tan 

Group Brainstorming 1

Topics: Introductions, Survey on Needs and Issues Resolutions 

10:30 – 11:00               

Intermission & BREAK 

11:00 – 12:00               

Group Brainstorming 2

Topics: Survey on Needs and Issues Resolutions (continuation) 

12:00-1:00                   

LUNCH     

Afternoon Session

1:00 – 2:00                  

Group Presentation 1:

Needs, Issues and Resolutions                

2:00 – 2:30                  

Group Brainstorming 3

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

2:30 – 3:30    

Group Presentations 2:

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

3:30 – 4:30                  

Inspirational Message Speaker: Ms. Lorna Coral

Teacher Testimonials on Working in Thailand

4:30 – 5:00                    

Closing Program:Awarding of CertificatesClosing Remarks

Invocation

Evaluatio

Pictorials

Departure  

 

Filipino English Teachers Take Language Proficiency Examinations

MANILA, 4 February 2007 — Some 14,503 English teachers in the elementary and high school levels took the language proficiency exam in testing centers nationwide as part of a campaign to make the English language proficiency as the “flagship program” of the Department of Education.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently told her officials to pay particular attention to teachers in English, science and mathematics in low performing schools culled from the 2007 National Achievement Test (NAT).

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said that the government wants to make Filipinos experts in the English language as it is the “”building block” to learning.

President Arroyo earlier expressed her fears over the deterioration of the use of this foreign language in public elementary and secondary schools, even among teachers.

The test is expected to measure the teachers’ aptitude on the structure of English. It mainly includes reading comprehension, written expression as well as grammar. An estimated 12,794 teachers from 1,898 elementary schools and 1,709 teachers from 265 secondary schools took the test.

Lapus likewise said that the test results will assess the improvement of 16, 625 English majors and 2, 267 non-English majors who have been teaching the students who scored low in the NAT.

Under the Teachers Mentoring Other Teachers Program, teachers are trained to teach other teachers.

Based on earlier reports, the examinees are teachers in elementary and high schools that fared dismally in the latest NAT conducted nationwide.

About 7,300 public school teachers underwent intensive and hands-on training in English proficiency. The teachers, in turn, echoed what they learned to 95,000 teachers in their respective schools under the Teachers Mentoring Teachers Program.

“We have to determine exactly what we can do to improve English proficiency among our teachers to allow us to come up with more appropriate programs that will address the problem,” Lapus noted.

Director Nelia Benito of the department’s National Educational Testing and Research Center said the test results will also be used in crafting programs that will tackle the teachers’ deficiencies in teaching English. “The test will also provide baseline data for policy and decision makers in formulating effective programs to address the needs of the teachers,” she stressed.

It will pinpoint areas of concern that require immediate attention during the conduct of the program and lead to specific action plans to solve the deficiency and improve school performance.

“Policy and decision makers can promptly formulate lessons, instructions and manuals that directly deal with the areas of concern,” she added.

 Writer: Gloria Esguerra Melencio, Arab News / http://arabnews.com/?page=4&section=0&article=106456&d=4&m=2&y=2008

Latest information of Thailand Teacher license requirements

This is taken directly from a memo that I submitted to my Principal:

I have met with 2 university professors in Bangkok that work directly with Thailand’s Ministry of Education and Teacher’s Council. They explained the current laws regarding Foreign Teachers in Thailand.

1. Once you obtain your Work Permit, you must obtain a Teacher’s License (500 baht) within a reasonable timeframe from your date of hire (takes 1 to 2 years to obtain).

2. In order to obtain a Teacher’s License, you must first attend a 20 hour Thai Culture and Teacher Professional Code of Ethics course. This is a 4 day course carried out by various universities in Bangkok over 2 weekends (costs approximately 4,000-8,000 baht).

3. Please note that in order to attend this 20 hour course, you must have taught at least 1 year in Thailand and possess a University Degree (in any field).

4. If you have a BA degree in Education and a TEFL certificate, you only need to attend this 20 hour Thai Culture and Teacher Professional Code of Ethics course. If you do not have a BA in Education and a TEFL certificate, then all of the following requirements must be met:

a) Attend the 20 hour Thai Culture and Teacher Professional Code of Ethics course (4 days)
b) Attend the 27 credit hours course on Teacher Education (1 year)
c) Successfully pass the Teacher’s Council’s test on Teacher Education (offered approximately 3 times a year)

5. If you do not attend the 27 credit hours course on Teacher Education, you still must apply for, and successfully pass, the Teacher Council’s test on Teacher Education (which they claim is impossible to pass without first attending the course).

6. This course will take 1 year to complete. It will be “distant learning” with lectures on various weekends, but mostly self reading and projects to be carried out on your own time and submitted at interval periods for review by the professors. They are not yet aware of the costs to attend the 1 year course or the fee to take the Teacher Council’s test (first course registration is expected sometime this June).

7. To the best of my knowledge, we have all applied for our Teacher’s License, yet none of us has received the certificate. They explained that this is most likely due to the above requirements not being met. I have asked (omitted) to make the necessary phone calls to clarify.

8. This is a heads-up only for your information.

—end of memo—-

Now, don’t even get me started with my personal opinions on the value I received for my 8,000 baht fee. The only reason I was on Ajarn to begin with was because I need two teachers. It’s becoming ever more impossible to meet the requirements and hire legal teachers. However, please note that the 2 professors also stated that there’s no “quality check” to ensure that school’s are hiring legal teachers. It’s still a free-for-all, who-knows-who, and who’s-paying-who game.
Rebecca

Source: http://www.ajarn.com/postbox.htm