July 2010


UEC hosts six Buffalo State, SUNY Art Education graduate students with their professor for a three week Thai education tour. The group of seven US teachers started their Thailand cultural experience with the UEC Teacher Council Thailand licensed 20 hour Thai Culture and Ethics course before taking a picturesque three day river journey to meet with Thai teachers at their school. The group spent a week at the school observing, co-teaching and runnnig a workshop regarding different teaching methodologies. Before returning to Bangkok, the group visited our volunteer teacher at the Lopburi Thai Welfare Education School and posed with the resident buffalo.

June 2010


UEC sends its third teaching volunteer to Nong Muang, Lopburi. Nina, originally from South Africa, is taking the place of Brian, the recent SUNY Master degree graduate, to continue the English language teaching of 82 HIV infected children at at Baan Gerda. A hearty welcome to our new volunteer!!
UEC had previously arranged the general language learning aptitude testing at Baan Gerda. UEC's Dr. Marina arranged for the ten Srinakarinwirot University professors to conduct broad spectrum testing, and all teaching objectives are being carefully adjusted to the individual needs of the learners.

May 2010


UEC at NIST (New International School Thailand) graduated its third cohort of the Buffalo State, State University of New York (SUNY), Master degree program at the end of this month. Congratulations to Yanping, Tessa, Soyoung, Brian, Michael, Nathan, John and Eki! Master Projects were presented and the day concluded with a small ceremony and a great homecooked meal right here on the premises. Among the proud graduates was Brian, who has been volunteering at Baan Gerda since October. The next SUNY cohort will start in August of 2010. Pictures

April 2010


UEC successfully launched Ekamai International School’s First Annual International Educators Professional Development Conference: Inspiring Change Through Educational Excellence. Attended by 160 international educators from six international schools, conference workshop topics ranged from "How to make Student Centered Instruction happen" to "Thinking outside the Box when making a difference". The two day conference participants had the option of earning 1 graduate degree credit for particpating in the workshops and completing assignments. This is the first intrenational education conference of its kind held by Ekamai International School, and plans are underway to make this an annual event and open this event to more attendees and workshop presenters. Pictures

March 2010


It is the start of summer break for school children in Thailand. Most of the Welfare boarding school students get picked up by guardians to spend the hot summer days at home. This summer, sixty children did not have anyone to pick them up, so they are bound to stay at school for the holidays. The UEC TEFL trainers and students put together an English camp for these children, and despite soaring temperatures and oversize spiders in the sleeping facilities, all participants had a great time! Thank you Kim, Radhika, Gary, Neil and Ramon! Pictures

February 2010


UEC has been asked to organize a two day professional development conference for educators in Bangkok, to take place at the end of March. Held at Ekamai International School in Bangkok, this 2 day conference focusing on Excellence in Education will offer twelve 2 hour sessions, presented by multi national speakers who are experts in their respective fields. More details to follow soon.

January 2010


Jill, with us since having graduated from our TEFL course eight months ago, has been busy volunteering at the Welfare Education Boarding School in Nong Mueang, close to Lopburi. She has taken some great pictures, and the experience continues to change her life and that of the one thousand children and adolescents at the school. In Jill's words: "To be part of the lives of these most disadantaged yet joyful, loving and respectful children is an honor and quite overwhelming for me. I feel blessed with the opportnity to be in the position of teacher, friend, mother and confidante to these individuals and be a positive influence in their lives and hope to always be there for them, even after they graduate. I would recommend this life changing work to anyone!" Pictures

December 2009


UEC is happy to report that both Jill and Brian, the two TEFL graduates who are volunteering as English teachers at the Lopburi Welfare boarding school and Baan Gerda (see Oct ’09 news) have decided to extend their contract through 2010 as they realize the tremendous beneficial impact they have on the children at the school and center. Their comments and impressions in words and pictures will be posted in January 2010. From all of us here at UEC: Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

November 2009


Current UEC TEFL course participants organize and conduct an English language camp for more than 250 Thai Government school students. In cooperation with the Thai teachers of English at Thepsatri Rajabhat High School in Lopburi, UEC TEFL trainees and trainers put together the latest English camp with a focus on the practice of critical, creative and caring thinking skills. Students enjoyed the various activities and interaction with the native English speakers, while TEFL trainees appreciated the experience and additional exposure.

October 2009


Brian, a recent TEFL Institute course graduate, has moved to volunteer at Baan Gerda.  BaanGerda is a children's charity that provides homes and care for HIV infected and affected orphans. The small community is based in Lopburi province in Thailand. Unlike a state orphanage, BaanGerda has a unique family environment with foster parents looking after the children and their daily needs. A medical team is on hand to ensure that they receive the best treatment and medicine, and Brian will organize English language lessons and activities for the children during his time there. Learn more about Baan Gerda and volunteering.

September 2009


UEC has awarded a merit and need based scholarship for the TEFL course and the Master degree program to Mrs. Jatuporn Bunjongkaew. Mrs. Jatuporn has been a teacher in the Thai Welfare Education School system for numerous years and has shown tremendous dedication to her middle years students both academically and personally. Her interest in improving both her English as well as learn more about teaching will enable her to succeed in both programs, we are certain. Congratulations!

August 2009


Jill, one of our recent TEFL Institute course graduates, has moved to Lopburi to volunteer at the Welfare Education Boarding school (Rajaprajanugroh 33 Lopburi School). She has been given a two bedroom apartment on the large school campus and is excited to work with the 1000 children as the only foreign teacher. We will remain in close contact with Jill and support her in her life changing decision. To read more about volunteering..

July 2009


Current TEFL Institute course participants and UEC staff and instructors created and ran a free English camp for 260 youngsters at the Lopburi Welfare Education and Boarding school for HIV afflicted children. The experience was well worth the effort and an unforgettable one for all involved. While the temperatures were soaring, the kids were busy engaging in activities encouraging them to use and practice their English and newly learned vocabulary. All TEFL course participants did a fantastic job and one graduate has even decided to take a volunteer teacher position at the school! (Pics)

June 2009


UEC awards its first 100% need and merit based scholarship for the 120-hour TEFL course to Ms. Pimsiya, a Thai teacher of English who has been teaching at the boarding school for HIV infected children for the last ten years. More information on Ms. Pimsiya's school

May 2009


The TEFL Institute teaches more than thirty foreign teachers in its latest Thai Teacher Council certified and licensed Thai Culture course. Course attendees come from as far as Northeast Thailand to attend this required and expertly taught course at UEC. To sign up or read more

April 2009


UEC attends New York Teacher recruiting fairs to enable US certified teachers to gain an international teaching experience while volunteering their teaching skills at Thai Government and Welfare Education Schools in Bangkok and Northeastern Thailand.

March 2009


The TEFL Institute proudly announces the opening of its own coffee shop and food catering service for a cause, right on the UEC premises. TEFL course participants can choose from an array of Thai or Western breakfast foods, sandwiches and a Thai, US and Italian lunch menu. Beverage choices range from fresh squeezed orange juice and organically grown, homemade Thai tea, to freshly ground coffee, brewed from 100% Arabica beans. All dishes are individually prepared using only the best ingredients, such as cholesterol free rice bran or extra virgin olive oil, whole wheat pasta, or Thai organically grown brown rice. 100% of all proceeds go to support the education of Thai school children.

March 2009


UEC congratulates the Managing Director of UEC and The TEFL Institute, Nikolaus Mische, on the completion of his Doctorate degree in International Education Leadership from Assumption University, Bangkok, Thailand. The completion of this degree means the start of exciting new academic endeavors for UEC, details to be announced soon.

February 2009


TEFL Institute course graduates who are working on the completion of their Buffalo State, State University of New York, graduate degree in Bangkok, have signed up to attend the East Asia Regional Conference for Overseas School Teachers, held in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia. TEFL graduates will attend workshops and seminars, and get introduced to the exciting possibilities and options when working for the best international schools in East Asia. For more information: www.earcos.org.

January 2009


UEC started the new year with a free 2-day English camp for 200 middle and high school students in Takhli, Nakhon Sawan. Six dedicated staff members, friends and graduates went and put on activities for the children who did not have to pay for anything but their food. Everyone had a great time and plans are under way to put on more such camps in the near future. (Pics)