Asian U welcomes Nurse Trainers from Nonthaburi

Nurse Trainers from Nonthaburi improve their English at Asian U.

For the past five weeks a group of eleven Trainers from Borommarajonani College of Nursing in Nonthaburi have been studying hard at Asian University to improve their English language skills.

They were very motivated students, partly because are off to a conference in Perth, Australia next week, to put their new knowledge into practice, and. They have been in class for 25 hours each week, and have also had to complete homework assignments and project work.

The ladies have enjoyed their time at Asian U, and on their last day there, they put on three very entertaining plays to show off their new skills.

Everyone at Asian U is looking forward to welcoming another group of twenty-two nurse trainers from the same college next month. These courses form part of the English Immersion Programme, more details of which are on the website at www.asianust.ac.th














The photos show the ladies, made-up and dressed-up for the parts they played. Faculty members and other staff from the university provided an enthusiastic audience.

Asian U hosts Chiang Mai School for Life youngsters

Nearly fifty youngsters from the Chiang Mai School for Life visited Asian U from 22 to 27 March. They stayed on the campus, and travelled around the area from there. On Friday and Saturday afternoons they put on very entertaining shows of dancing, singing and art. Students from the Asian U summer camp were joined by pupils from the International School of the Regents, as well as individuals and supporters from other organisations around Pattaya. On Saturday, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Pattaya City Hall, Khun Apichart Puetpan, was a very welcome guest, as well as a group of children from the Pattaya Orphanage and many local residents.

The show started with a traditional Thai welcome dance with a superb display of drumming, performed by the boys from the school, then the girls danced an elegant “finger-nail” dance. The group were then welcomed by Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya and Khun Panit Nilubol, the president and vice president respectively of Asian University. After singing both traditional and modern songs, the children came into the audience and persuaded staff and other youngsters to join them on stage to sing “Am I only dreaming?”


Arguably, the highlight of the show was a performance of two songs from the musical Cats: Jellicle Cats and The Old Gumbie Cat. Dressed is their cat costumes, and with whiskers and tails, the youngsters put on a very professional performance.

After the show, some of the youngsters showed off their paintings, and these were on sale to help to raise funds to support the school.

The School for Life was founded in 2002 as the “House for Aids Orphans”, but later children from hill tribe villages, street children and some orphaned by the tsunami joined. By acknowledging their right to happiness, offering them a new home, and providing them a first-class education, the School for Life gives them hope. Last week, the children enthusiastically gave their show to say “Thank you” to the people in and around the Pattaya area who have welcomed them here.

Pattaya Mail: Pattaya People

Susan Joyce by Dr. Iain Corness

One of the Faculty of Liberal Arts lecturers at Asian University is a most interesting English lady, Susan Joyce. She was a rather unique young girl when she first entered Leeds University to study Civil Engineering some years ago. She was the only female in a class intake of 120, and upon graduation was only the 11th female member of the Institute of Civil Engineers.Not only is Susan an interesting person, she also has a very interesting background, with both her grandfather and uncle being engineers, and although both her parents were dentists, her mother was the first female dentist in the Army Dental Corps.Despite having been born in London within earshot of Bow bells, making her a Cockney, she is very polished, perhaps showing the results of British private school education. It was also at school that she began to show her very different direction. Home economics were not for young Susan. Her favorite subjects were Pure Maths, Applied Maths and Physics. When I asked her what was the attraction to these subjects, she said, “I enjoyed maths. I found it interesting. I enjoyed proving things.”Initially she thought that she might like to study computers and went to Leeds University on one of their open days to see what this would entail. “I took one look at the computers and decided it would be boring, but the Civil Engineering lab interested me.” The other draw-card for Civil Engineering was that it was a career which would allow her to use mathematics.

During her university years she found that she was drawn to water, so when she graduated she ended up taking a position relating to the civil engineering of - sewage! It would be difficult to imagine anything less lady-like for a young woman! However Susan said that she was not really standing knee deep in wellies, but involved mainly on design. She even quoted the (previous) definition of Civil Engineering, being that of “Harnessing the force of nature for the benefit of mankind.” Anyone who has had to experience life without a sewage system would definitely agree with that definition! Mankind has certainly benefited.Her civil engineering expertise grew and soon she was involved in projects both in the UK and in the Middle East. This ignited a love of travel and experiencing different lifestyles, and she began to plan an overseas career for herself.

However, this plan had to go on hold initially – she met the man who was to become her husband. Another engineer, just to keep it all in the family.As a couple, they rethought their individual overseas plans and together they went to Africa, where her husband had a contract in Kenya, and Susan also snared a job, as soon as she had got there. This time it was in water treatment, another necessary ingredient benefiting mankind, especially in hot, dry Africa.However, after eight years there, they decided it was time to leave. There were many factors influencing their decision. “We didn’t want to get stuck in Africa all of our lives, and violence and AIDS were on the rise.”They returned to the UK, and Susan returned to consulting, but after a few years, her career took a different turning. She saw an advertisement for professional training for engineers and joined the group that was running these training sessions. Her job was in organizing the training and finding the necessary resource personnel. It was an interesting deviation and Susan stayed there for another six years.

But on the home front, both she and her husband began to get itchy feet again, and her husband was offered a position in America, and Susan joined him there in Oklahoma. For the first time, Susan had problems finding a position for herself. However, being active and resourceful, she got around the ‘green card’ problem by becoming a volunteer tutor at a technical college there. She also found that she enjoyed teaching, saying, “It’s that moment when the little light comes on (for the student) that makes it all worthwhile.” Being well experienced in life also helped her make the transition. “You have to experience the ‘real’ world before you go teaching,” said Susan, and there would be many people who would agree with that.After the US, they moved to France, but that was not satisfactory, for many reasons, including the fact that schoolgirl French was not enough in the professional arena.

But on Friday the 13th (Black Friday for the superstitious souls) 1998, her life again changed. There was the possibility of something in Thailand. Did she want to go? Or rather, “they” did!After three years in Bangkok, they moved to Pattaya. Asian University was looking for teachers, and a Mathematics teacher in particular. Would Susan be interested? Since Mathematics was still her favorite subject she took the opportunity gladly. Now five years on and she is still enjoying the challenge.Being someone who has not had children herself (by design), I wondered how she felt about this relatively new career in teaching children. “Here (at Asian U) we have young adults. They’re not sticky and they’re potty trained! They are very nice people and that is one of the things that makes the job worthwhile.”

As her first hobby, Susan surprised me by saying dressmaking. Venturing that this seemed a long way from applied maths and engineering, Susan disagreed. “It’s very similar to engineering. You have a pattern, design and construction.” And then smiled sweetly and said, “There’s some great fabrics here too at the Naklua markets!” One of her other hobbies also uses mathematics – that fiendish oriental puzzle called Sudoku. “It’s a terrible time-waster, but I enjoy the challenge.”Despite having been a trailblazer in many ways, Susan is not a women’s libber. “I’m in favor of equal treatments and equal rights, but I still appreciate doors being opened!” When we finished the interview, I made sure this charming lady preceded me as we left!

This article was published in Pattaya Mail dated 5 May 2006

Asian U Bye Nior celebration

On Saturday 6 May, Asian U students turned out in their finery for their annual Bye Nior evening. (Short for good-bye seniors). As usual, this year’s Third year students organized the event for the Fourth years.

About 150 students and staff celebrated at the A-One Cruise hotel. The theme of the evening was a fairy tale evening, and there was an election for the Prince and Princess of the graduands. The winners were Princess Pui (Nattapmon Sartsatit, soon to be BA) and Prince Teang (Adull Kilenthong, soon to be BBA). The university choir entertained everyone and then the third year students gave teddy-bear mementos to all the fourth year students who are leaving, for “the real world”.

The Sports Director, James Saville, presented Sporting Excellence awards to four special students. The awards are for showing and sharing their sporting excellence throughout their time at Asian U. The Football team captain, Land (Pongsakorn Rojkasemsatit) and the Basketball team captain, Teang (Adull Kilenthong) both received awards. These two young men are about to graduate with Business administration degrees after four or five years of hard work and plenty of sporting enthusiasm. The other awards were to two of last year’s graduates: Baz (Jirabhon Sanguanpuak) and Yeen (Thanapati Sriwipat) both of whom were star basketball players at Asian U.

Asian U, a relatively small university, has been able to play against teams from the big universities in Thailand, and, thanks to the enthusiasm of the students, has come away with gold, silver and bronze medals on many occasions. James also took the opportunity to announce that one of our first year business students, Mink (Sinsupa Wannasuth), having already won a bronze medal for sailing at the SEA games, is to go to the Olympics in Beijing in 2008, as a judge. Asian U is very proud of her.

More information about Asian U and the courses available, can be found on the website: www/asianust.ac.th

Lego Workshop at Asian U.

As part of the 4-week long English Summer camp, 45 lucky Asian University Campers have spent three days on a Lego robotic workshop. The workshop, led by Mr Rak, from the educational division of Gammaco, and two of his colleagues, has permitted the youngsters to learn about robots and to make their own. They have been using educational Lego kits that include a programmable robot unit, and a set of Lego pieces to enhance their creations.

The students worked in teams of three each with a basic Lego kit and a pc. They were able to programme the base unit to move around in different directions, and at different speeds, and then fit it with wheels and other appendages. By the end of the first morning, the students already had their robots travelling around. They then had to refine the programmes, and solve some small problems. The students all enjoyed the three days, and Asian U is very grateful to Mr Rak and his team for bringing the Robolab equipment and leading the workshop.



Another robotics workshop is planned for the second Asian U Summer Camp that starts on 16 April.




For more about Asian University see our website: www.asianust.ac.th

The College at Asian U is now open to day-pupils

The College at Asian University is about to enter its third year of operation. It is an Upper Secondary High School (Grades 10-12) offering an International Program, taught in English by highly qualified and experienced teachers. It follows the Satit Kaset I.P. curriculum. This successful College is expanding rapidly. From May 2006, it is not only going to accept boarders, but will also be accepting Day Students for the first time. Applications are being accepted now for all three years and term begins on 29 May 2006.

The College provides an ideal education for students (girls and boys) who want to graduate from High School and improve their English at the same time. Students who graduate from the College can go on to study at any Thai university or any International University, either in Thailand or abroad. It is great that students no longer have to travel to Bangkok or even go abroad to receive a truly international education.




The College is located on the campus of Asian University, in beautiful rural surroundings, only 30 minutes from Pattaya. It has wonderful, modern facilities including Science and Computer Laboratories and a well-equipped Sports Center. The maximum class size is 25 and individual tutorials are given as needed. Students can learn not only English and Thai, but also French, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese and German.

Visitors and prospective students are welcome to visit the College at any time.
You can find out more about the College by visiting the university website on www.asianust.ac.th or by phoning 038-754450.

Second Summer Camp at Asian U welcomes 123 youngsters

The largest ever second summer camp at Asian U opened on Sunday 16 April with 123 campers from 12 to 22 years old. Of these, 26 had enjoyed the first camp so much that they were returning for their second camp this year. The campers are a mixture of school children and university students from a number of different prestigious Thai universities. Their English varies from Elementary to Upper Intermediate level.


During the four-week long camp, the youngsters will concentrate on improving their English language skills with classroom activities, as well as writing and performing short plays or skits for the other campers. Campers also study mathematics and IT, and evening activities include Latin dancing and western style cookery classes as well as plenty of games and sports.
Project work is built around visits to places of interest such as the Rayong aquarium and the Sri Racha Tiger Zoo. The campers are encouraged to work independently and in teams and the projects are designed to improve their self-confidence.



Photos show the youngsters on the first camp acting out their own plays, star-gazing at the campus, and having fun with maths.

For more about Asian University see our website: www/asianust.ac.th

First Annual TESOL conference held at Asian U.

The First Annual TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) conference has just finished at Asian U. The conference was organised by TEFL International (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), Bang Phe, Rayong. There were displays of books and teaching material by DK Books, Cambridge University Press, Macmillan, Pearsons and TOIEC; all of whom were supporting the conference.




From 26 to 27 April, over 150 delegates from different parts of Thailand and of many nationalities, attended the two day conference.










The Keynote speaker on the first morning was Dr. David Nunan, an Australian, who is Professor of Applied Linguistics and Director of the English centre at the University of Hong Kong. With plenty of audience participation, he spoke about grammar and the structure of language; with examples and questions for the delegates.



Other presenters included Robert Shrubsall, the Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Asian University, and Mark Starrs, Head of the English for Business Communication Programme also at Asian U. David Hopkins, the director of academics at TEFL International, and Bob Woodhead, the Managing Director of the Education Development Center of Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), Bangkok, gave informative and interesting presentations on other aspects of communicative English teaching.


Apart from the presentations, there were several workshop sessions, where the delegates (mostly English teachers) were able to discuss their experiences in a focused manner. They looked at adapting textbooks to their own situations, using songs and chants, as well as other methods and ideas for teaching English.
The photographs show some of the speakers and delegates.