Kota Kinabalu EARCOS 2009

I was at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia to attend the East Asia Regional Conference of Oversea School (EARCOS Teachers' conference) from March 26 to 28, 2009.

What I like:
1. The venue - Sutera Harbor - Love it!
2. Accommodation - Beverly Hotel - Nice room, service - Recommended
3. Keynote Speakers - Superb (Alan AtKisson, William Lishman and John Liu)
4. Presenters - Superb

Not so good:
1. Taxi at Kota Kinabalu - They charged us RM 10 for a short distance ride (fare starts at RM 10.00 or Bath 100.00) - Too expensive compared to the Taxi fare in Bangkok (starts at Baht 35.00 or RM 3.50) plus they don't go by meter but one has to bargain and most of the Taxis are quite old and out of shape.
2. My stay was too short… sad


Looking forward for the 8th Annual Teachers' Conference 2010
Where : Manila, Philippines
When : March 25-27, 2010

Ho Chi Minh City

Ch Chi Tunnel










Water Puppet show

Busy

Been too buys for the past few weeks. Visited Ho Chi Minh city and stayed there for 1 whole week, this week is exam week and there are papers to grade and scores to record. Huhh.. will be back with pictures taken during my Vietnam trip sometime soon... till then...

Busy

I'll be back soon... as soon as I am done giving exams and grading.


Oh... I need to be careful when writing on my blog as "an elderly Makcik-wannaBe - well... no need to be wannaBe coz already like Makcik lah" warned us or rather lectured one of my colleague on how to write good blogs and avoid problems... lol.. hehe.. as if I am very important blogger that they will put me in jail or do something to me.. hehe. "Don't want to be 'perasan' like that Auntie lah."

Good day all.

Science & Math Discovery Summer Camp 2008

Thank God that 2 weeks with the little ones (K-3 kids) went well without any major disaster. I still couldn't believe that I actually survived teaching the little ones. I couldn't have done it without the help of Teacher Amy (She's an expert when comes to teaching the little ones- in fact, she did most of the teaching) and 5 wonderful students assistants (Sam, New, Mil, Sea and Steffy).

I was enjoying the time spent with the little ones but then again its time for them to move to another class (Math). Friday (June 27) was the last day for the little ones in our class. In the next 2 weeks we will have the older kids in our science class. I'm gonna miss the K-3 students. sob.. sob.. lol

Rayong

I am in the reading room of the hotel (Kantary Bay, Rayong-Hotel and Serviced Apartments)... its quiet and there are only 3 or us in the room busy sending, reading, blogging and so on. No words said.. eyes fixed to the laptop, fingers busy moving... NICE! Love it when the hotel provides free wireless service!

So far the leadership training + retreat went on well and we bonded quite well with the new student council officers and sponsors-old and new (at least for now). Its our free time till 5:30 p.m. before we will go out for our dinner to.. forgot the name but I shall say something about it later.. if I can remember lol.

My room? very specious-front room, kitchen, huge bedroom, lovely bathroom and a very nice study room. I don't mind staying here for days.

View-just nice.

Food-just like the other Thai hotel.

MISC - worth the $$ (Not very expensive)- Happy coz Its FREE for me... yaa its FREE!



Will post the pictures once I am back in Bangkok.

Weekend Retreat

Friday morning to Sunday evening I'll be away from Bangkok.. yeppiii!

Where to?

RAYONG.

I will go with the newly elected EIS Student Council (SC) and the outgoing officers as well as sponsors from every sections for the leadership retreat.
(if things work out as planned)





Kantary Bay

Anger

Father, teach me to recognize anger in a student and to be able to defuse anger that may bring that child to harm. Amen

Work at Hand

Father, Keep my mind and my heart centered on the work at hand-teaching others how to learn. Amen

One step at a time...

Help me learn patience, remembering that learning takes place one step at a time. Thank You for each small step. Amen

April Calendar of Events

EARCOS Kuala Lumpur 2008

Will be away for a few days to attend the EARCOS Teachers' conference at KL.

Jr-Sr Prom

Have you ever come across a situation where adults trying hard to look young again and teenagers trying to appear as mature as they possibly can?

Students arrived with their prom dates while ‘Educators’ arrived either with their official better-half, rented partner, with friends or alone. I chose to be alone!

I was having hard time recognizing each and every students especially the girls-hmm… they were ladies (for the night).

My beautiful ladies colleagues came dressed either like an artist or ‘Hi-So’. After all ‘prom nite’ is the only night when they can actually spend hours in front for their huge mirror transforming their already pretty face to ‘happily ever after’ fairy tale beauty. I even heard that they spent quite a fortune just to look great. Sure enough, they were able to minus a few years of their actual age! Gentleman, we are just like ‘wine’ as years go by, the better we’ll become ( we do have men trying hard to look younger but its rather hard to actually hide the wrinkles on our faces.. hehe).

I am just thankful I am alive and to be able to enjoy life to the fullest. I am ready to be an ‘old wine’.

Teachers' Grading Day

Its Teachers' Grading Day! Yahooooo NO SCHOOL but then again..

Today was supposed to be ‘sabai sabai’ day but it turned out to be another busy day as I have to grade exam papers. Last night (rather early morning today) I slept quite early-at around 3 a.m. and forced myself to open my eyes at around 7 am. I was able to do a little bit of work here and there before I ‘hit the sack’ again. I finally got myself out of my cradle at around 11 a.m.

I went to the office with the intention to get my newspapers only to find my self stuck chitchatting with friends. Since I was already in the school campus, I ended up going to the teachers’ IT room to enter grades. I am glad I went to the IT room-I was able to complete 80% of my grading work (I still need to grade 142 students' exam papers-will do it on Saturday evening or Sunday).

TCT

April 5, 6 and 7 would be the 'D day' for teachers wishing (it's more like no choice) to sit for the test. Since April 5 falls on Saturday, the School Admin. decided not to let us take it this time + when the school called the office of TCT requesting for details, they were not able to provide the needed details (its more like they don't really know what they are doing).

I was also informed by 'so' and 'so' (source from web board) that teachers are thinking of taking this matter to the court as this affects not only foreign teachers but Thai teachers as well. Could this be $$$ (Baht) driven? Is this one way how the TCT collects money (instant $ - Baht 4000 per test). Imagine how much will the TCT earns if all teachers in Thailand sit for the test. I am pretty sure there will be many teachers who will have to take the test again and again.


I am not sure what kind of license will this be as currently we also hold teaching license from the MOE (no teaching permit, not work permit). Haaa... let it be...let it be.. let it be...



* Any instant way(s) how to read, write, and speak Thai? Its part of the test too...... haya.... 'matai lah this!' oh + the history of Thai education.

The Teachers' council of Thailand

I've just registered online for the teachers' exam (Teachers' council of Thailand). Apparently foreign teachers need to pass this exam in order to have their teaching license(new rules from MOE- I guess). I am not quite sure if I really need to take the exam as earlier it was announced to us that if one has education degree, he/she will only need to take the culture classes. Hmm... since the school decided to pick 17 teachers for the first batch (sponsored by the school), I will just wait and see what will be the outcome.


When I am dealing with problems inside the classroom, Lord, give me wisdom. Give me courage. Help me to be kind. Amen