“As English becomes a turnkey to fundamental education and employment opportunities, more and more disadvantaged people are being locked out.” - British Counsel
With ASEAN identifying English as a common language, it has become a critical factor in obtaining higher education and employment opportunities in Thailand.
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| Everyone introduces themselves at the beginning of the camp, which is always a fun moment |
Interactive games break the ice and energize the students for more serious learning later on |
These pathways are essential to steering youth-at-risk clear of crime, drugs and the sex trade –particularly for impoverished Hill Tribe communities living in the Golden Triangle. While city schools attract skilled teachers and wealthier families can afford English tutoring, these students are being left behind.
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| Activities which make the students think for themselves are so important in a country where rote learning is the norm |
At this two-day camp, the students presented short plays in English, which was quite a challenge for them |
For a typical student, English classes involve merely rewriting lines on a blackboard with teachers poorly trained in the subject who lack the confidence to interact with them. This means that the prospects that basic English language skills can offer are a distant reality to village life.
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| This Drug Awareness performance reinforces the lesson—a crucial topic in this part of the world, infamous as “The Golden Triangle”, a major trade route for illegal substances |
At this government welfare school, 17 and 18 year old students compare notes as they work through an English language work sheet in small groups, to then present to the rest of the class |
Since 2001, FDSC has conducted over 100 English Activity Camps to educate, motivate and engage more than 10,000 high school students.
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| Sports are a firm favorite activity with the children, including learning a new sport: hockey! |
The environment is a topic covered in the program, through creative art |
These two-day camps give students an opportunity to interact with native English speakers in a fun environment. The goal is to convey the relevance and importance of English, build confidence, and show them how they can practice English in daily life.
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| A clapping game teaches these mountain children about rhythm, while at the same time learning English |
The students are in the social welfare system for many different reasons, and heartily enjoy the camps |
The camps, which have upskilled over 500 rural teachers, build confidence through showing teachers how to move away from the blackboard and teach English through fun, interactive and practical activities that work.
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| Laughter and encouragement go a long way in helping the kids to be forthright about difficulties they’ve experienced |
With fun and varied activities, together with acceptance and encouragement, students flourish at the English camps |