Inquiry Based Learning

“Shift Happens” in Inquiry Based Learning – Have a look at the Shift Happens video, and it becomes clear that the job market of the 21st Century is drastically different from what we were used to in the 1900s.

More than ever, individuals need to learn how to collect, synthesize, and analyze information. Learners need to be technologically savvy to communicate as well as work cooperatively with others to respond to the rapidly changing social and economic challenges.

Thai Students Project to Speak English

The concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy is certainly true in teaching. When teachers believe their students are incapable of independent thinking, lack creativity and have no interest in anything education related, then students may well start exhibiting these “qualities”.

SUNY Master Degree Survey Results

Below feedback from our UEC at NIST SUNY cohort alumni! We were happy to hear back from our graduates, and they are doing well. We submitted a survey for our students to complete and provide feedback on how they thought the SUNY Master Degree was.

Review the results of the education survey and see what they are doing and thinking about the program they completed with us:

Best Foods For Mental Health

Health Foods for Peak Mental Health

It’s almost become common knowledge that 5 servings of fruit or vegetable each day are required to maintain a healthy diet, however a new study suggests that eating 7 servings can help improve mental health and make people happier.

The new study, conducted by Dartmouth University and The University of Warwick in England, analyzed the eating habits of 80,000 people and found that metal well-being increased with the number of fruits and vegetables eaten each day, peaking at 7 servings. The study defined one serving as 2.8oz (80grams).

Donation for Clean Drinking Water Filteration

Water Filter Donation Project

The Fatima Centre, run by the Good Shepherd Sisters n Bangkok, Thailand, is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing the quality of life of all those in need regardless of their religious affiliation. Under the expert direction of those whose sole concern is the welfare of others, the Fatima Centre provides education and employment opportunities for women and young girls at risk in the community and enables them to break out of the unending cycle of poverty.

Pink and Blue Color Myth

Pink is for Girls; Blue is for Boys

Despite myths and stereotypes, gender differences are not hard wired and the root cause of children gender identity according to recent brain studies.

It is interesting to note that the march toward gender-specific clothes was not a quick transition. Pink and blue arrived, along with other pastels, as colors for babies in the mid-19th century. However, the two colors were not promoted as specific for each gender until just before the onset of World War I.

Illegal Logging Deforestation

Illegal Logging on Thai-Burma Border

During a project to provide education and basic needs to Karen refugee located at a UN camp along the Thai-Burma border we walked across a startling discovery. Once we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the Thai military contingent stationed on top of the hill, in stone’s throw distance from the first village stilt houses. Since there is no telephone reception and electricity is only available via solar power, with inferior batteries holding the charge for a maximum of two days, communication with the outside world is scarce. We had our cameras ready for pictures and video of the warm people, however we saw more than we thought we would.

Influence Your Students to Improve

Improve Student Behavior

Two mistakes too many teachers in Thailand (and else where for that matter) make, or the power of good teaching as proven by brain research.

No matter where we are in the world, we teachers like to talk about our students: Those with great grades, who are simply outstanding, those who are “true characters”, and then those who simply have a bad attitude. We tell their stories to friends or family, and often times shrug our shoulders when asked if we can not reach these “bad” kids and make them understand their potential to be brilliant.

Education and Training Year Review

 As the Christmas holidays are drawing near, we want to take a couple of moments to reflect on some of the highlights of 2012 for us at UEC and the TESOL Institute. In brief summary, our TESOL and TEFL courses have been well frequented, with more graduates joining the Buffalo State, State University of New York Master degree program, UEC has again been providing more international school professional development sessions this year, Thai schools have been requesting English language lessons for their English and general teaching population from UEC as well as been calling repeatedly for UEC to send our best 120 hour TESOL course graduates as teachers.

Karen Refugee Camp Village

Karen Hill Tribe Village

The interest in teaching English or how we have ended up working as community advisers.

 We first had set out to explore options to provide educational assistance in one of the large UN run Karen refugee camps along the Thai Burmese border, until we were advised by the Thai military contacts who had provided us access to one of the camps that the major NGOs had the situation and educational needs pretty well under control, and we could do more and better at one of the numerous villages within the restricted military zone along the border.

Teaching Teachers

Who Teaches Teachers to Teach?

Where do teachers turn if they want to improve their teaching skills? In other words, where can teachers continue their training? 

As a teacher or educator it is important that we do not fall into a complacent state but continually motivate ourselves to know more and learn to be more effective in our role as instructors. It is easy to settle by “just doing enough“.


However, it is more rewarding both personally and monetarily if we ensure we are providing our students with the most full- filling learning environment possible. If we are not motivated while teaching or enthusiastic regarding our subject matter as we have taught it the same way so many times already, the students will not be motivated to learn.

So what can you do to improve your teaching in Thailand? For serious international teachers who are interested in pursuing a successful long-term and well-paying teaching career at international schools worldwide, here is what you can and should do: