Bee, the winner of the drawing competition. Photo By C.Conti
 

Environmental Education in THAILAND

In 2006, IOSEA, Indian Ocean and South-East Asia an international organization declared the year 2006 'Year of the Turtle'. They sponsored many activities through out south East Asia to celebrate all sea turtle conservation actions.

In March 2006, Naucrates conducted a turtle drawing competition at Tapayoi and Thung Dap schools. Children participated with enthusiasm.

They were very curious to find out the name of the winner. Bee, a 12 year old from Tapayoi won! The winning picture was printed on t-shirts which were handed out for free to all the school children.

The programme has consisted of teaching conservation issues from January to March 2006 in the two schools of the island (Tapayoi and Thung Dap villages). Together with the lessons, some side projects were conducted and English lessons for the village were given.
The program was conducted by the following teaching team:

  Teacher:  Pamela Benjasirichai, John Boylan
   Project supervisor:  Monica Aureggi
Teaching assistant:  Lesley Russel, Kate Sandel

Volunteers from Naucrates Conservation Project took part in the program during the lesson as well.
Pamela Benjasirichai was employed by Naucrates for the second season as a teacher and speaker of both two (Thai and English), the rest of the team worked on volunteer basis.

1.      To have some understanding of ecology, biodiversity, and conservation; and how these can affect the lives of students.
2.      To appreciate the value of and respect natural resources in and around Koh Phra Thong.
3.      To appreciate the local environment and improve its aspect.
4.      Learn to use the local environment to produce food for local communities Students participated in classroom lessons, keeping a record of their work and do homework. 

Students took part in projects that were designed to meet the aims and objectives as set out and also to challenge them intellectually.
English lessons focused on listening and speaking skills.

The students were separated into 3 groups [Patum 1, 2, and 3,] [Patum 4, 5, and 6], [Muttayom 1, and 2.]  Each group participated in two hours of conservation lessons, and an hour of English weekly.

At 16:30 twice a week Naucrates team taught English to children and to whomever from the village that want to attend lessons.
The English classes were set up to revise and improve the basic English lessons already taught at school.
Furthermore the lessons were orientated toward usual activities taking place in the village.
The goal was for the students to be able to follow instructions and direct themselves and others around the different locations present in the village.

The adult English classes were organized for the villagers who wanted to learn English. They were also given twice a week and followed the lesson plan of the student English program.