The first Gallipeau Harris Foundation sponsored English Training Program for English teachers from our five schools in Thailand was held this August in Korat, Thailand.

The training program was provided in Korat from August 12 through August 14, 2005. A total of 25 teachers took part from our schools in Korat and Lampang. Seven instructors were provided by the VolunThai organization from the USA, Canada, Singapore, and Netherlands and offered their time voluntarily to the Foundation for this program. Foundation representative Corey Gallipeau, who has spent the last three months teaching in Thailand, ably supported the instructors.

The motivation for providing the course has come from our observation during visits to the schools over the past three years that the English teachers are somewhat limited in their use of English. Clearly this has an impact on their ability to teach English well. With this in mind the Foundation decided to offer an intensive training course to the English teachers in the five schools we currently support. Our hope being that we could begin to improve their English language skills and so benefit all the students in our schools.

The program was well received by the teachers and expertly delivered by the Volunthai team. The ratio of 1 trainer to 4 teachers, meant that teachers got close attention from the instructors. Activities included songs, games, skits, etc. Everybody had to speak English during the training.

Foundation Board member, Amara Gumnerdgam also attended the training. Amara remarked after the training “All the teachers worked hard during the training and fully participated. The instructors were very creative and funny, we all had good time and learned a lot.”

Khun Nipapat, English Teacher from Khamtalesor Vittaya School agreed: "It was a great program. It will really help my students and me. Thanks to The Gallipeau Harris Foundation for supporting this program."

The total cost of the program to the Foundation was just over $2000.00. Given the success of the program it was money well spent and we plan to repeat it annually.

If you have any questions about this program or any other Foundation program please contact us at. info@gallipeauharris.org

Teachers become students at the English language course
Intructors and teachers of the first GH Foundation language program
Teachers have fun while practicing their English
Cory Gallipeau addresses the class