Didn’t take a lot of photos as there was not much of interest happening.

Police gear at the back of Central World.

The Main Stage

A fitting metaphor for the current situation, haha.

I did get asked to do an interview for a European News Channel, but when they found out I was a BKK resident they didn’t want me anymore. They “only wanted tourists” LOL go figure.

So things are still relatively calm compared to last year, but I have a feeling they won’t stay that way much longer. How long can Abhisit babysit these red shirts?

The Office of the Higher Education Commission would like to promote the “2010 Yonsei International School” which is a summer program at Yonsei University, South Korea, where international students can take classes in Social Sciences, East Asia Studies, Business Administration, Economics, International Law, and Korean Language. All courses are instructed in English (except Korean Language).

The applicants must be the undergraduate students and the credits are transferable to other universities outside Korea. The application deadline is May 14, 2010.

For more information, please visit www.inter.mua.go.th or http://summer.yonsei.ac.krs

In Thailand, Christopher Wright initially came to media attention with his unprecedented lineup of English learning - Thai language friendly-learning philosophy books.  His cutting edge curriculum was reinforced with a hit prime time television show, Chris Delivery, which continues to [after atleast] air new fourty minute episodes  every Friday nights, Channel 5 scheduled  21.20 to 22.00.

With a solid philosophy foundation, backed  by innovative edutainment showcase, a revolutionary bilingual approach has sealed national spotlight as a modern language and  culture professional and authority.

Implementing comic theatrical tactics to relay common daily scenarios , Chris backed by his cast consisting of co host, Tui Tui ตุ๊ยตุ๋ย, and featured guest stars, along with a team of instructors in representing his own language School effectively advise a primarily Thai student audience the ‘correct’ and ‘incorrect’ methods of learning, speaking, and learning to speak (English).

Unlike most contemporary and traditional ESL methodologies focused primarily on young children–which tends to oppress the native language (in this case, Thai) from the learning process–Chris and company’s bi lingual, cross cultural approach proves to be more considerably pratical in the sphere of Andragogy,  realisticqally contrasting and interpreting observations and experiences through a a multi cultural platform scope.

For example, Chris identifies and addresses particular syndromes’ and ‘bad habits’  Thai learners of English are often faced with, such as overusing, underusing, and misusing of ending ’s’ consonants.

[video example to be updated soon]

Thai WikiPedia “Page of Christopher Wright

For more pictures, see this forum:

The pictures were taken at the Sukhumvit and Wireless Rd. intersection at about 10 AM on Saturday.  I would assume there were about 20,000 protesters.

Everyone was in good spirits, and there was no hostility to be seen. It was quite a sight to behold. Let’s hope that the protesters can continue to be nonviolent and jovial, as seen here.

The thunder was roaring overhead as I arrived to the University bus stop near Kluay Naam Thai intersection. Skipping hurriedly into the University Soi, past food stalls, premature pellets of rain smashed towards my cheeks.
The problem with these split lecture – lab one hour class sessions is there’s not much tardy leeway an instructor can give you. It was comfortably past 10.20 by the time I summated the fourth flight of stairs of building three. Few students lounged outside the two classrooms.

A recognizable Thai Japanese male student in my major was lighting up a cigarette in halfway between the two doors of the first classroom.

“Hey you [what’s his name again?…blank], how’s the classs?”
He pointed to the back door which was not fully shut.

“I made it.” So I thought to myself as I entered the back door of the classroom.

To my sudden dismay, “You’re late. You cannot come in.”
Ignorant to the predicament I inhibited, I stepped forward, raising my good arm in protest of innocence.

Mimicking my gesture, he firmly restated his superior stance. “I am sorry, but you cannot take seat. If you don’t like it, go complain to the dean.” He pointed the direction to the Dean’s International College office.
Resisting the rational to rupture in rage, restraining any irresponsible retorts, I was powerless and left with choice to listen to his advice. Foul mood was I.

At the International office, I met a caring and helpful assistant who heard my case. She could sense my agitation. I pleaded in English to let me make a formal complaint about my instructor.
The dean was busy and couldn’t meet me, which I’m glad to be honest. I didn’t have a pleasant interaction on high emotions in the past and didn’t really want to repeat history.

In that complaint form, I stated my basis as an adult, I pay for my tuition out of my own pocket, I have right to be in class and don’t appreciate being condescended to, the list went on with my focused rage. Beside the fact that I was just tardy, and despite my fortunes, lack thereof, I was pissed off and full of arsenal to fire. Ending the form In Thai, probably sparingly scattered with some mistakes, I revealed that I would report this incident on Thailand University Network.
ถ้ามหาวิทยาลัยคิดที่จะสร้างประชาสำพันที่ดีเหมือนที่เขาสอนเรา ก็ลองมาตอบสนองกันที่เว็บไซท์ ไม่นั้นก็จะปล่อยเป็นเรื่องข้างเดียวของนักศึกษาคนหนึ่ง

And so I must follow through with this statement and report my incident of tardiness here on the Thaiuni.net.

Follow up

Succumbing in temporary defeat to a 10.30 brunch, without an umbrella, the full fledge fury of the storm restrained me, my electronic media companion and mahogany ukulele to the canteen. Looks like I was going to be late for aned evenmiss the early lab slot. That’s okay, I’ve done my damage and need to cool down.
Lab or no lab, either way, I still had to meet my group members to talk about the Public Service Announcement we got to make next week.
By the end of the eleventh hour, lounging in the seating in front of fourth floor elevators of building nine, I was storming up my biased initial report. I was moments away from disseminating my side of the story. The class finished and students poured towards the elevator.

I saw a few of my group members chatting but they slipped out the doorway to stairs before I could collect myself. Bingo. The final group member, Puifai. She’ll know what’s the score.

Nothing worth the unnecessary surge of emotion I let takeover.
I just need to prepare sound effects for our PSA.

The Instructor walked over and politely cut in.
“Sorry to interrupt you,” he looked at me, “Can we talk when we you’re finished.”

I nodded. Moments later, I heard his side of the story. No double standard policy. He explained that if he did bend the standard specifically for me, he’d be in a world of chaos with other students, Thai or foreigner, who would demand equal treatment.

Feeling embarassed albeit sated by the instructors initiative and agknowledgement, I realized it was nothing to have gotten worked up about, to say the least. Promptly, I withdrew – cancled my complaint.

ขอยกเลิกและยกโทษทุกอย่าง เพระเคียร์กับอจารย์เองแล้วครับ

The office was relieved to return my complaint form in tact, affirming they didn’t just put it in a paper shredder.
Case Solved. It’s interesting to add that later I learned from another student that an important student led meeting was be conducted through formal administrative channels that afternoon, courtesy of the determined female German president of the international club.
The question confidently expressed by a meeting advocate to the group of students lounging at BU Café was something like, “If there’s any teachers you want fired, consider going to this meeting with me at 4.30.”
A little strong was the invitation romantically suggesting a teacher witch hunt. Can you blame the zealous disseminator? These days, you need some kind of a hook to catch the interest of common socialites. Sevenral students didn’t hesitate to offer a few names of unfavorable instructors, though it was doubted that any would proceed to the student survey group scheduled.

After some minor chit chat, following the queue of group size that transformed from 15 strong to four, I said goodbye to the Uni for the day and ventured home in a carpooled taxi going in a similar direction. Said goodbye to the familiar stranger. Skytrain, and foot on back to the South Central Bkk.

Lesson in hand: Indeed, the student masses seek a forum to express the power of voice.

If pure knowledge is what you seek, gain unlimited access to free knowledge and information at Thailand Cyber University, with thousands of pages of course and subject  material on everything from Information Technology, Engineering, and Practical Sciences to Language, Culture, and the Arts.

The systemless system promotes the idea of learning at one’s own pace, though without the essence of pressure, there appears a lack of incentive to progress and revise.  The ubiquitous access format is indeed, raw in stage and continuing progress and development.

Thailand Cyber University Home

Learning Management System TCU

Registration is painless and simple. For those who wish to formally gain legit credentials are with limited options at this time.

There are channels to certification courses and degree at the undergraduate and graduate levels formally held at one of the dozen of partner Universities.

Currently, there are only three undergraduate in Thai and one graduate international program, such as:

• Chulalongkorn University Thai program offers a B.Sc. in Software Development. Its Faculty of Pharmacy International program offers a M. Sc. in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.

• Naresuan University in Phitsanulok,Thai program offers a B.B.A. in Management in Tourism

• Kesetsart University Thai program Faculty of Engineering offer a B.Sc. in Automotive Industry

With cameras galore mid afternoon Tuesday, the Reds claimed to have already 30 liters for the ritual–certainly capable of getting more from the estimated 100,000 + protesters, but really, we got read between the lines.

Not exactly the blood shed everyone was initially afraid of, this strange yet symbolic ritual has been initiated by one particular Bhramin Shamin, or witchdoctor for lack of a better word to ’spiritually legitimize the Big Bad Bloods’ cause and demands.

You may have pondered, “what in the world is rhetoric?” and furthermore, “why in this world is it important?” For some, the answer to these questions is quite simple, yet for others, seemingly more complex than at first meets the eye. In common tongue, rhetoric simply outlines the essence of persuasive communications—some will even go as far as to define it as manipulative discourse, giving the concept negative connotations in most modern contexts.

Yet, if we can gain a fundamental grasp of the history and evolution of rhetorical approaches, impacts and implications in society since the dawn of human beings, to the emergence of script and philosophy in the ancient world, contrasting with degradation, segregation and ultimately the unification of diverse demographics about the chaotic state of current affairs, we will find that rhetoric is in fact a powerful tool if not catalyst for revolutionary and evolutionary digresses and progresses of humanity.

On Friday, February 12, 2010, BUIC Seminar in Communications Course (ICA 429, Section 5431) held a seminar in room 762 of Bangkok University’s city campus at Kluay Naam Thai campus. The guest lecturer was Dr. Raymie E. McKerrow, a Doctoral professor in the School of Communication Studies at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

A 2006 Chapter of the Year award winner via National Communication Association (NCA), Dr. McKerrow is distinguished Communications and Rhetoric Scholar with vast experience and accomplishments in his field. As a keystone professor for Bangkok University - Ohio University Doctoral Program collaboration, Dr McKerrow was invited to lecture Junior - Senior undegraduate Communication students at BU International. Following is the introduction to the Seminar report, with a link to the full report.

Seminar Objectives:

1. To create an overall understanding of rhetorical approaches
2. To introduce the issues evolving around rhetoric
3. To create an understanding of rhetorical principles
4. To briefly grasp an understanding of postmodern rhetoric
5. To explore critical rhetoric
6. To understand the impact of rhetoric on popular culture

Potential Advantage:

In this seminar, Doctor Raymie E. McKerrow walks us through the foundations of understanding the rhetoric realities in the modern real world exploring contexts and impacts throughout ancient up to contemporary times. To indulge even deeper into discourse of what rhetoric fully entails for Humanity’s sake, amidst an age of Globalization which has enabled a revolutionary manifestation of information exchanges, the only thing that seems certain and consistent is constant and indefinite change—of you, me, and everyone else in between.

What all this means is that in each unique individual there exist an underlying responsibility to and dependency for the greater collective commonly called society, that alike all things of the known universe, is subject to life cycle. Thus, we have come to consider the next rhetorical inquisition of reality:

What makes you, you? And me, me? In other words, what are the variables and factors which define the nature of contemporary existence and function in-of society? Rhetoric is one scope of communication which will help us to interpret our worlds more objectively and just, which will ultimately enable humanity to correct its imperfections, and thus prosper in equilibrium and harmony.

Download the full Seminar Report - Summary here