Buriram Expats
Buriram Province - General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: daleph on May 09, 2012, 09:02:17 PM
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Has anyone any up to date advice on what schools in the Buriram area , close enough to Lahan Sai to be viable , that would be suitable for a 9Yr english girl, for the short term.
In the long term, as and when money arrives , then other options would be available with regards to international / private schools
Thanks in advance
Dale
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I am guessing that as you said "English girl" that she does not speak any Thai. If that is the case then there will most probably not be any suitable schools around Lahansai.
I teach in a large private school just outside of the main town of Buriram. Even here the only subject that is taught using English, some of the time, is English.
As a non Thai speaker, if that is the case, she will have big problems.
Let me know if I have got the wrong end of the stick and I will advise again.
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A 9 year old, alert girl should be speaking adequate Thai inside of 6 months judging by my own experience in Switzerland.
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Quite possibly she will be speaking Thai well enough to communicate. Not to forget that there are also different ways to speak Thai depending on who you are talking to. She will find it very difficult to keep up. She will also have problems with the reading and writing side of things.
9 years old is a young age to change schools full stop. Let alone changing culture and language too.
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Starman, you have the stick the right way round ;-)
OK, so my best option, as this is not happening straight away, get her Thai lessons here in the UK pronto, so when we do de decide the move, she can speak thai.
Are the 'international' schools all situated around BKK then?
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hmmm, we moved to an area with completely different language, instead of panicking about our kids not understanding French and forgetting their English/ German, we just sent them off to school. Painless process. The Thais themselves have problems with reading and writing things, so join the club. I would be more concerned about the quality of local schools, the kids never learn to ask 'why' and turn out completely intellectually lazy. I am going for home schooling with our 4 year old soon, maybe you want to go that way?
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Davu, out of interest, what is the approx cost of the home schooling, for the first year, finances will need to be 'balanced' after that, there will be no problems.
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The difference between moving kids from an English and German environment to a French environment is totally different. They are, after all, all part of the Indo-European languages group of which Germanic was part of. They also use the same symbols when writing and counting. Linguistics and phonetics are also similar.
If you moved a Thai child to Laos or Cambodia to study the process would be equally as painless. To move a German, French or English child, who has never come across any South East Asian languages before, will create problems for the child.
To say that Thai people have problems writing and reading things shows ignorance.
I agree that home schooling is a good idea but only in part. Nationality aside, I myself as a teacher and parent, think it would be best to split between schooling and home schooling. Children also need to learn social skills.
My ten year old daughter attends a government school here in Buriram. When we all get home we go through what she has learnt. I deal with the English and Maths and my wife deals with Thai and social science. Things are going very well.
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Daleph........Most of the International schools are usually around the big cities. Bangkok has a lot and I believe Chon Buri and Pattaya have a few.
As far as I know there is one in Khon Kean.There is also St Stephens in Korat. This obviously would involve boarding.
These schools are not cheap though.
If your daughter is outgoing then I would consider bringing her here to Thailand for the English school summer holiday to see how she gets on. If she picks up a bit of conversation around the village then she could go on to learning the Thai alphabet.(76 symbols in total.) It is, after all, easier to start learning to read a language if you can speak a bit first. This would be better than just sitting her in a classroom with no idea of what is going on. If she does not do so well with the language then you will know.
Thai schools are just due to start a new school year, my first day is actually today. The second term starts at end October beginning of November. Some schools may accept her in the middle of a term others will ask you to wait until the start of the second term. Some schools may even ask you to wait until next May(2013).
Looks like you have a while to choose.
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this is a thread for itself.
Mr Starman, I don't actually feel ignorant, I beg to differ. Ignorance is a word I might use in extreme circumstances, I at least am still able to learn. How many Thais do you know that have a library? They can read but don't want to. Book buying and reading is much higher in Vietnam for instance, maybe thanks to their having adopted the Latin alphabet. One of the strongest instincts in a child is the ability to learn languages. Maybe you, like me, have problems learning Thai, but I know plenty of kids that are 100% bilingual, it's an age thing. Obviously a professional teacher has an invested interest in having kids to teach so this kind of argument always comes from teachers. They are capable of much more than you give them credit for.
The old refrain about social skills keeps coming up all the time. It just isn't true, home schooled kids are used to talking to all sorts of people, not just people in their own age group (if the parent is doing his job properly). I went to a classic grammar school and came out antisocial as did many of my colleagues. there are plenty of studies confirming this.
In the end it is up to everyone to decide if they will really be able to invest the time needed to get the kids educated.
Costs: there are so many different possibilities out there that this is up to you. Many of the organisations of hard line Christian based, they don't want to have kids growing up with an open mind, which for me negates the whole point of home schooling.
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Thank you for all the useful info, given that i do have some time on my side, first steps i will take will be to get her some thai language skills over here in the UK.
I will also look into home schooling, not keen to board her....
Any other thoughts gratefully received
thanks
Dale
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Mr Davu....On the contrary. I can speak, read and write Thai. I started learning when I was 28. Hardly an age thing really.
I have been teaching English here for over 14 years. My vested interest, not invested interest, is in the students learning to communicate in English.
Thailand, Issan especially, is full of bilingual kids. I actually know many tri lingual kids. The point is that English and Thai are miles apart.
You mention Viet Nam as an example.You mention the use of the script. Well I can tell you now there is absolutely no way that Thai language could ever be written in Latin script.
Buriram does no say what it should. Surin, Muang, Nong Ki, Ban Kruat just to name a few cannot be written in the Latin script, and why should they be anyway?
By the way......once the 76 symbols of the Thai language have been learnt it is by far easier to learn to read Thai than it is any European Language.
Perhaps the world languages should adopt Thai script.
In a previous post you said that Thais have problems reading. Then you ask how many Thais have a library. If one has a problem reading it means that they are unable to read.
If that is hat you meant then that is showing ignorance to the bigger picture.
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I don't generally swap insults on forums but the word arrogance comes to mind. Another word beginning with A comes to mind also.
I didn't say you couldn't speak Thai, did I?
You sound like a school teacher for sure, it is in their vested interests to assume that people are ignorant if they disagree with them. That or to accuse them of being ignorant.
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Interesting little thread.
Do get them on here sometimes.
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I don't generally swap insults on forums but the word arrogance comes to mind. Another word beginning with A comes to mind also.
I didn't say you couldn't speak Thai, did I?
You sound like a school teacher for sure, it is in their vested interests to assume that people are ignorant if they disagree with them. That or to accuse them of being ignorant.
I can see why you chose your signature.
Are you trolling on this thread for a reason ? You have added no value whatsoever to the OP's thread of "schools in the Buriram area".
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Well this was a good introduction tom the forum for me
Only one person has actually bothered to answer my question!
Why do people need to hijack other peoples posts, just to start an argument?
Now, BACK ON TOPIC, does ANYONE else have any SENSIBLE advice?
Regards
Dale
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? My signature? Well, I didn't know you understood Swiss Bernese dialect, maybe you would like to explain what it means to everyone? Sorry Daleph, I feel I was provoked into going off topic. I responded to Starman's remark about children having problems with learning languages and was accused of ignorance.
At least this is a thread that is not about football as most of them seem to be. Ok so the thread stone is dead as far as I'm concerned, at least I tried to help a little.
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Well this was a good introduction tom the forum for me
Only one person has actually bothered to answer my question!
Why do people need to hijack other peoples posts, just to start an argument?
Now, BACK ON TOPIC, does ANYONE else have any SENSIBLE advice?
Regards
Dale
Daleph, you will find sensible advice on this forum - but you may need to wade through the occasional bits of crap to get there.
I am not qualified to comment but I do know that Starman is. I am not saying that because he is a teacher but I do believe that his teaching experience, together with his parental experience, qualify him to deal with your initial questions.
I would suggest that you PM him and start a dialogue. This thread is, of course, there for those who want to offer additional advice.
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I have only lived in Buriram for a short while, since we came back to my wife's village, some 7 years ago, however I do have some knowledge of the local education system.
There are no international schools in Buriram, the closest you got was a bi-lingual school (Northeastern College) which has now become Westin University.
There is the Thai/Chinese school in the city, which from all reports is excellent.
Irrespective of that I have chosen to send my boy elsewhere, Anuban Buriram.
I wish you luck in finding a suitable environment for you child.
If you want/need an International School, sorry to say you are in the wrong Changwat, as my boy who is now 8 years old can only 4 languages, read 2 languages, but still thinks Thai Soap Opera is real, what can you do?
Bye the way Starman, loved your post.
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Hi
I am returning to Buriram with my 11 yrs old stepson, he has been educated in the Channel Islands (UK curriculum) for the past 5 yrs and can read and write perfectly fluent English.
He can also speak fluent Thai and has a basic knowledge of the Thai alphabet.
I am looking for a good secondary school or college for him to attend, before possibly on to university to study architecture and design which are his natural talents.
He may not even get there but I want to give him the opportunity to try and reach his dreams.
Any good advice much appreciated
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I think star man and candy are both Teachers, so maybe they will know the best schools in the area.
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I think star man and candy are both Teachers, so maybe they will know the best schools in the area.
Not forgetting 'Thrush' aka 'Millionaire' in Nong Ki!
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I think star man and candy are both Teachers, so maybe they will know the best schools in the area.
Not forgetting 'Thrush' aka 'Millionaire' in Nong Ki!
What are you then Nookie, the bloody riddler?
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Has anyone any up to date advice on what schools in the Buriram area , close enough to Lahan Sai to be viable , that would be suitable for a 9Yr english girl, for the short term.
In the long term, as and when money arrives , then other options would be available with regards to international / private schools
Thanks in advance
Dale
So how did you go with an english school?
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Hi im new to Thailand but have twin girls 8 years old (thai), looking at schooling in buriram, does anyone have information/help on comparison between govt school and private school. my twins have been in private schools and I really am not that impressed with what they are teaching them. im not saying the twins are dumb just average students and I have read a lot about govt schools being just as good if not better, any help or suggestions would be great thanks
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I will doubtless be accused of being ignorant by a certain person on this forum, but as nobody else has answered up to now, I'll give it a go. Some government schools are not TOO bad, but we are in the provinces here. A typical village school is almost worse than useless, for instance I don't understand the English teacher here and he doesn't understand me. It will be a little better in the town of Buriram I suppose.
I take our 8 year old into Buriram every day, that makes about 100 Km a day, to go to a private school. You get used to a lot of their ways of doing things, like for instance not bothering to tell you when holidays start or finish, but on the whole we are happy enough with the the Hiaou Kiaou school where our brat learns English, Thai and Chinese as well as the usual time wasting rubbish that they sit through. No sport, no music, a lot of staying inside the box. We compensate at home by insisting that English be spoken (and I have to speak Pidgin Thai) and a certain amount of home schooling. The best school is supposed to be the Maree Anusorn school, I don't know anything about that.
If I had my way (I have to live with the family here) I would:
1. Go for home schooling.
2. Go for the Mechai Pattana school in Lamplaimat which is run on anthroposophic principals,
3. go for one of these private schools.
The teachers in these schools may offer extra instruction after/before hours or during the holidays, I am a bit worried about this as parents that don't pay for extra tuition may find their children disadvantaged by disgruntled teachers. All right up to now, our brat loves school and is happy and well adjusted. However we are thinking about taking a year out and getting her into a school in Europe, which would mean that she would have to retake the missing year here and probably be bored witless with the English lessons.
You really do have to take an active interest in what is being taught and what is not being taught, and accordingly react.
Eclipse of the sun 4 April for all starmen. (Cryptic remark),
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Not a direct answer to the OP, but I thought I would share our experience. We put our 5 year old with a tutor a couple hours a day in the Prakhon Chai area for a few weeks before the fall Anaban 2 term started. She was then enrolled in the local private school which caters to business people, civil servants, teachers, hospital staff, and other foreign residents. It has a decent English instruction component, including native English speaking teachers and teachers from the Philippines.
By the time she entered class, her Thai, through tutoring and playing with other children in the neighborhood, was pretty good. There were still some tears for the first couple of weeks, but it was the same for her when she started Pre-K in the US. By the end of the term she is quite fluent in Thai and I consciously speak English with her to supplement that part of her education.
So, you may not have an international school near you, but you might look for this type of school. It's a 20 minute drive for us twice a day, but we're happy with it.
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Thanks Guys im starting to get the idea now, I do have my twins in a private school in Khon Kaen at the moment until I move to buriram, and yes they offer before/after school teaching but im at a mind as to why should I pay private school fees and then pay for extra teaching, I would be better off at govt schools and if they need extra then do it, they are currently in a classroom of about 40 kids so I really don't believe they are getting the best and the school is always pushing the extra teachings. Ive been back in Thailand only 3 months now and have been speaking English to twins who now have quite a good grasp on English and also teaching maths and wife is teaching thai etc (well shes trying but her patience is getting the better of her), so after searching did find a lot of people think govt schools are quite good, I thank you for you input it all helps me , tc
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As wrote, I don't know about the Maru Ansorn school, but at age of 7 the brat transferred from a class of thirty to a class of 15, the teachers change classes depending on the subject including an English teacher that hasn't said good morning to me yet. ฿10 000 /semester + clothes and stuff, maybe ฿25 - 30 000.- a year. Huao Kiaou school. Most of the kids are Cambodian or Chinese.
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I haven't answered previously as I have been trying to whittle down my answer. I could write and epic on this subject but I am sure that you wouldn't appreciate a 7000+ word response.
My thoughts here are as someone who has 17 years experience of teaching in Thailand and also as a parent with a 13 year old daughter who is going through the Thai education system.
So......firstly, if you are going to gauge the standard of a school solely by the standard of English teaching then I think you are going to be disappointed.
The comparison between private and government school is probably too general. There are good schools in both categories, although in my experience many private schools seem to want to put as many students in front of the teacher as possible.
The idea that being " in the provinces" is also a bit general. I once spent 18 months teaching in a school in Bangkok that is ranked 5th in Thailand. Out side of the top 2 classes in each grade the standards were pretty much similar to what I have experienced in other places.
Village schools are to be avoided. One should, however, differentiate between village schools and schools out side of the town. A village school will usually carry the name of the major village that it serves. These schools are usually small, about 250 kids, and the teaching is certainly lacking.
Most districts in most provinces will have a school that's name is preceded with the word Anuban. These schools are much better that village schools and most offer a good standard of schooling. My daughter studied nursery upto grade 6 at Anuban Buriram school and I was satisfied with the standards. What is particularly good about Anuban Buriram is that the Thai teachers who teach Englsih speak English quite well. The class sizes are under 40, in the regular teaching program. The English program has smaller classes. Marie Anusorn, a school where I have taught, has regular class sizes of 50. The English program started off small but as the money making machine rolls on the class sizes are increasing. I would expect this to happen at Hua Kieow too. The EP at this school has just started and hence the class size of 15. By the way the students are Thai. They may have some Chinese or Cambdodian ancestry but they are Thai.
In a nutshell.......so long as one does not fall into the Thai trap of thinking that just because your child has good grades then they must be clever things should be OK. The problem is that schools are thinking about their ranking. If they give kids good grades then the ranking,a nd funding, increase. I keep checks on my daughter and how clever she is. Not so much home schooling but offering that "thinking out side the box" way that has been mentioned.
Conclusion.....If you are in Buriram then I would highly recommend Anuban Buriram. If you are outside of the town I would suggest to find the nearest school that carries the word "Anuban". I'm not sure that it is really necessary to travel 100kms to find a good school. Do you know about Lamplaimat Pattana, Davu?
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I didn't know that about 'Anuban', interesting. I mentioned the Mechai Pattana school in Lamplaimat in my post. http://www.mechaifoundation.org/school.asp I was most impressed by this school, especially when I saw an unsupervised group practising a Lao sword dance. Lovely surroundings and atmosphere. However this is intended for the children of farmers, which excludes our child, we tried to apply, I was willing to pay but as a 'rich Farang', ha ha, I wasn't even considered. Furthermore it is only a few kilometers nearer than the school we use at present. I also mentioned that the family also is allowed to say something about which school the brat goes to and this was the result of a family council. Also we are not going to change now and the brat doesn't want to go to a school that makes you cut your hair.
You may be right about the Huao Kiao school, they have big posters up outside the school recommending their English program and they even toured the streets with loudspeaker vans recommending.
Sorry about the racist comments, the people around here refer to Thais of Chinese and Cambodian origin as Chinese and Cambodians, the same as they refer to themselves as Lao in this village.
I repeat that a degree of home schooling is necessary, and this should include creativity and independence.
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Thank you for your answer.
Incidentally, Anuban Buriram do not require short hair cuts. Strange really when you think that when students go to high school they will have to.
That is another point to make with the debate about private or government schools.
There are not any private high schools in Buriram. Marie Anusorn does have grades 7 to 9 but these classes should be avoided.
Generally speaking, the students who continue at private schools ,after grade 6, up to grade 9 are doing so because they cannot get in to any government schools.
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Can you please elaborate on the last bit?
I certainly don't claim to know it all and am trying to do my best for our little girl. Adoption or guardianship in order to be able to make decisions about school are slowly becoming alternatives. I moved school three times at around her age and it was very stressful.
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The emphasis on private schools for a better education is generally up to grade 6, unless in a big city with many senior private schools.
Smaller private schools, such as Marie Anusorn, only have senior grades up to grade 9. The students who remain in the school for grades 7,8 and 9 are usually not the best students.
Most parents want their children to move onto Buriram Pittayakhom School (government), which is considered the best senior school in Buriram province.
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@Starman
I don't know if you're familiar with the schools in Prakhon Chai? The local private school here also goes to grade 9, and we we're planning on staying with them before heading south for an international school for the last three years. The government high school (Matayom) here doesn't seem to have a better reputation than the private school. If you know different, I'd appreciate the information.
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@Starman
I don't know if you're familiar with the schools in Prakhon Chai? The local private school here also goes to grade 9, and we we're planning on staying with them before heading south for an international school for the last three years. The government high school (Matayom) here doesn't seem to have a better reputation than the private school. If you know different, I'd appreciate the information.
I know of a couple of kids who have been to that school in Prakhonchai. They left after grade 6.
The government senior school in Prakhonchai has a good reputation.I know of many students who have studied there and they have been very good and all moved on to University. There are, of course, going to be bad students too but that is the same with schools all over the world.
If you are seriously considering an international school you may like to look at Khon Kaen.
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@Starman
I don't know if you're familiar with the schools in Prakhon Chai? The local private school here also goes to grade 9, and we we're planning on staying with them before heading south for an international school for the last three years. The government high school (Matayom) here doesn't seem to have a better reputation than the private school. If you know different, I'd appreciate the information.
I know of a couple of kids who have been to that school in Prakhonchai. They left after grade 6.
The government senior school in Prakhonchai has a good reputation.I know of many students who have studied there and they have been very good and all moved on to University. There are, of course, going to be bad students too but that is the same with schools all over the world.
If you are seriously considering an international school you may like to look at Khon Kaen.
Thank you for your input. Fortunately we have several years to decide (our oldest just finished Anuban 2) and we wan't the best for them.
As far as Khon Kaen goes, I was thinking if we had to move for their high school, and go with an international school, I might want to get close to the ocean. Maybe Rayong. If the Prakhonchai government school is acceptable, maybe we won't have to move.