6.10.06

Of interest

This is from the BC website - might be interesting for some of you...


News
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The Princess and the pc
Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
is the first royal to launch a blog in Thailand, and she's making use of the British Council website to host it In a country where the royal family rarely communicates directly with the public, Thai Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has become something of a technological trailblazer.The 51-year-old princess launched the country's first royal blog on Saturday, which she says is aimed at persuading her fellow Thais to embrace English. 'We have witnessed in this past century that English has become a global language without much understanding of the process,' she wrote. 'Nor can we say that we really know the extent of its influence and status as the global language. But we can be sure of one thing: English can be used as a key to better understanding.'The blog appears on the British Council's website. Peter Upton, Director Thailand, said colleagues were honoured that the Princess had agreed to report on their 'Future Perfect' conference with the first ever royal blog. 'We are delighted to have a blog by such an eminent contributor', he said. 'This reflects Her Royal Highness’s commitment to scholarship and understanding using the latest technology to develop dialogue between peoples. For the British Council it is an excellent example of long-term partnership between the UK and Thailand.'
The blog is a continuation of our efforts to improve the teaching of English in Thailand. Earlier this week the Princess presided over the two-day 'Future Perfect’ conference on English language policy for global transition, jointly hosted by the British Council and the Thai Ministry of Education. (You can read more in last week's BC World.) The conference, attended by 450 policy makers and educators in Thailand, stirred public interest and alerted Thai education policy makers on the significance of transforming their ELT policy over the next few decades. The agenda was inspired by David Graddol’s ‘English Next’ report and David himself flew to Bangkok to take part as the keynote speaker for the conference. Thanks to the high level of coverage for this special blog, the number of visitors to the British Council website has increased from 2,000 to over 10,000 in just a few days.
Meanwihle in Thailand, royal watchers said the Thai princess's blog was not that surprising, given that she is known to be technology-savvy and routinely e-mails intellectuals in the region.
Take a look at Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s blog: http://access.britishcouncil.or.th
For more information please contact Nuttaa Mahattana

3.10.06

Listening Links

100 POSTS!!!!
FANTASTIC.
WELL DONE ALL

here are some. celebratory links if you want to practise your listening.

http://www.englishlistening.com/
http://www.esl-lab.com/

all the best,

Ed

1.10.06

100 th Post.

Jeab,
Your post are the 100 th. You are the lucky person. Please receive a lucky coupon trip to Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon at our counter. Our trip is one way ticket ( no return).

About next class I may be bored because some beautiful girls do not continue to next class. My heartbeat maybe slow down.

Last week I've read a political webblog and found a news about some Korean people protested against Thailand's coup at Thailand's embassy in South Korea. Some Thai people wrote on that blog about "This is my country, it is not your business." But I think the Burma's government may think like this when all the world told them to release Ong San Soo Chee.
This week we will have the new PM. Hope everything will be fine. Hope all the world will accept.

Pank.

OUR LAST CLASS

Hello all,

We finished a last class for level 3.1 yesterday.I knew somebody discontinues to study english language at BC at Pinklao branch but we can contact by post.

I forgot to ask somethink with Edward because we had a time not enough. I started learn english language from you at 2B.That about 5 months ago.I have no idea Did you remember our first class for level 2B? I feft you speaked english every fast I didn't understand a lot of sentenses you said but now I think I understand more than the first class I'm not sure about my english skill,it's better than the first class or you speak slower than.

I don't have a plan for holiday because I have to work on Saturday.And you?,Do you have a plan for holiday?

I think my problem about english language is I know vocabulary not much and there are easy vocabulary and I can't understand if someone says too fast.

see you the next 2 weeks.

Jeab.