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Payap University’s
first international graduates
Congratulations to the Class
of 2007
Linda Ratchai
Payap University held its first-ever international Baccalaureate Ceremony
for its graduating international students on May 18th. This was an historic
moment for Payap’s first class of international students who have now
completed the requirements for their Bachelor’s degrees. Two international
MBA students were among the 26 who proudly accepted their graduation
certificates. (Degrees will be conferred at the commencement ceremony in
November.)
Payap University is a pioneer in international education in Chiang Mai. Long
renown for their Thai programs catering to over 6,000 students in Law,
Nursing, Music, and other fields, included an international curriculum to
capture an unmet need. Their undergraduate international degree programs
taught entirely in English were established in 2003 and have grown in both
numbers and stature. Payap’s multi-cultural student body continues to
expand, with over 27 countries currently represented. Payap’s students hail
from the USA, Germany, Myanmar, China, Japan, Australia, Singapore, France,
Thailand, Turkey and many other nations.
The Bachelor degree programs include Computer Information Systems,
International Business Management, International Hospitality Management and
English Communication and the University also has international Master’s
degree programs in Linguistics, Teaching English to Speakers of Other
Languages (TESOL), Divinity, International Business and starting in 2008,
the international Nursing Program.
Mrs. Beatrice Camp, Consul-General for the United States Consulate in Chiang
Mai, was in attendance and was caught up in the excitement of the moment
saying that “I’m really happy to be here to share this moment with the Payap
students.”
Writing competition brings out talented authors
Jinsil Lee, aka Janny, took first place in the
sixth grade division.
The middle school’s English as a second language (ESL) students of Lanna
International School recently held a competition for future authors.
 Dalen
Achara, aka Vanda, wrote about her life in Norway.
The students were given the task of writing, illustrating and producing a
book. The results were wide ranging from humor to horror to travelogues to
sports instruction.
For Grade 6, the winner was Jinsil Lee, using her pen name Janny. Janny
interviewed each student in all of grade six and created a memory year book
with collages of photos.
For Grade 7, the winner was Dalen Achara, using her pen name of Vanda. Vanda
wrote about Norway where her father comes from. The book told interesting
highlights about Norway and included many family photos showing buildings
and scenery.
For Grade 8, the winner was Minjeong Ko, using her pen name Min. Min wrote
about the holidays and festivals of Korea. She used a scrapbook style of
facts and photos to share with other students her Korean heritage.
All the students’ books are on display in the LIST library. Congratulations
to these young English learners for showing their talents.
Minjeong Ko, aka Min, described Korea’s holidays
and festivals.
Thai Day at the
Christian German School
The young ones on stage performing to celebrate
Thai Day.
Silke-Katrin Kunze
Thai sounds are carried from the Christian German School across the green
rice fields to the nearby city of Chiang Mai. A visitor to the small school
looks into European and partly Asian student faces. These students, age
kindergarten to tenth grade, love to dress in a sportsmanlike manner and
play football in any kind of weather at any time of day.
Today, though, they look different. They have come to school in magnificent
garment or the typical traditional blue costume of the farmers of this
region. Each class is involved in the program, presenting their audience
traditional and modern Thai dances which they rehearsed with the Thai
teachers and some of the Thai mothers.
After the performances Thai games are played and a rich Thai lunch menu
carefully prepared by the parents awaits the hungry players and spectators.
All this helps the CDSC achieve its goal in bringing the Thai culture across
to the young students raised in Thailand. This is the main reason, yet there
are two more to support the celebration of this special day.
Growing up in bicultural homes some students face language problems that
cause unstableness and anxiety. Therefore, this event serves to strengthen
their self-confidence and to revaluate the Thai culture in a school affected
by German values.
Last but not least it is just as well a happening for the new teachers, a
day to learn about the foreign traditions of their host country. That is
also why, in the framework of a short ceremony, the teachers received a
small flower arrangement by students to show their respect to their teachers
and to thank them for their commitment towards the students.
An opportunity
to study in Japan
Scholarships available
The Japanese government is granting scholarships to Thai students who wish
to further their studies at universities in Japan for the 2008 academic year
as part of the “Undergraduate Student” and “Research Student” programs.
The Embassy of Japan will select and recommend 10 candidates for the
Undergraduate Student Program and 50 students for the Research Student
Program to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology in Japan for the final selection.
For information and applications please contact Ms. Naruemon Chanakiat at
the Consulate General of Japan in Chiang Mai at 053-203-367.
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