I once attended an English Camp in Sainoi, Nonthaburi, Thailand. There I was lucky to meet one facilitator who had an interesting personality. He was worthy to be featured in a blog so this time you will read something about him. He was one of the teachers who continually updated his lessons to make his students learn English through the use of modern technology.

Back in the Philippines, he owned a computer shop but when he came to Thailand, he was able to land a teaching job in the Nonthaburi English Teachers' Project for 5 years. He also worked in a Thai company for a year, and now works as a freelancer promoting his smart board, inter-action, electronic flash card setter, multi-purpose conversation board, quizmaster's aid, and newly developed materials.

In my informal chat with him, he was able to tell me his reasons for creating new programs.

He said, as a teacher, he must be updated on finding ways to ease his teaching and to make his students learn English better. In fact, he produced his new material - smart board with camera and pen. He used this one time in his class (while he was still in the project) and his observer gave him an outstanding rating.

He further said that in this century, students have tablets, notebooks, and computers which they can learn better through the program he made. Teachers can share this with their students and the latter can learn English with more fun. 

His students were his inspiration. He would like them to learn English meaningfully using e-learning. Because of his desire to reach out to more Filipino teachers, he opened a site where one could have access as long as the teacher shared a lesson plan in any topic or level. He thought that this would serve as a resource for teachers who would seek new things in their teaching.

His activities had been shared with friends and colleagues in one center situated in a mall in Bangyai City, Thailand. He also regularly shared his new programs in seminars during holidays and would let attendees try his programs for free. 

The most successful presentation he was so proud of was about a show in Impact Muang Thong Thani,Thailand two years ago wherein a person with high position in the Ministry of Education, Nonthaburi Province, Area 2, appreciated his work.

Later on this official sent three computer experts to observe his works in a demonstration. While his most astounding performance was the time when he disposed nearly 30 USBs of his program. Whenever he finished a new program, he invited friends and interested teachers to attend his presentations.

I bought an updated version of his "Inter-action" last month in Nonthaburi Hotel after he presented this program to the teachers of Chulalongkorn Uniserarch during a seminar there. Inter-action has these features:
Fifty-four topics to teach English from personal information, health, food, ASEAN, to many things. Each topic has 5 activities from Vocabulary, Spelling, Games, Structure, to Reading, with 4 different voices of speakers, could be slowed down or made fast applicable to the learner, and the most laudable part of his work, topics can be revised/modified.

I used it in my classes recently and students were like eager beavers to do the spelling, games and vocabulary.

In his updated version, Vocabulary has 4 kinds of activities. Spelling has also four different activities. Structure has 7 kinds of structure on a topic based on student level, and Reading has paragraphs, check-up questions, can maximize one picture, and the teacher can add as many questions possible.

Try the new version of my friend's "Inter-action", and it will be the beginning of a more meaningful and modern way of teaching. By the way, I recently acquired a touch-screen computer so that I can use the material effectively in my class. Interested? Give me your comments.