Thai and Australian school teachers share knowledge through BRIDGE project
Left: Ms Phanit Chaopanit, a Thai participant of the Australia-Thailand BRIDGE project and her Australian partner teacher, Ms Bronwyn Norrie from Canberra Grammar School. Right: Ms Phanit Chaopanit teaching Australian students traditional Thai dance.
Eight Thai school teachers recently visited Australia to link up with Australian schools for a two-week professional development program under the inaugural Australia – Thailand school partnerships BRIDGE project. The program also arranged for each participating Australian teacher from eight designated schools to host their Thai partner teacher and learn from each other.
The BRIDGE (Building Relations through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement) is an innovative education project aimed at establishing pedagogical and cultural exchange partnerships including foreign language acquisition between schools in Australia and in Asia.
Initially discussed between Australian Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, and the Thai Prime Minister, HE Yingluck Shinawatra, during Yingluck’s official visit to Australia last year, a memorandum of understanding on BRIDGE was signed by the Thai Ministry of Education and the University of Melbourne in December 2012.
Ms Phanit Chaopanit, one of the Thai delegates, is a science teacher from Yothinburana School in Bangkok. She partnered with Ms Bronwyn Norrie from Canberra Grammar School. The two teachers made the most of the opportunity to exchange ideas inside and outside the classroom. Ms Chaopanit stayed at Ms Norrie’s house and was able to augment her English language skill.
“Ms Norrie took me to observe Australian classrooms. We shared teaching experiences and exchanged thoughts about learning. I also met with Australian students studying Asian Studies. They were very interested to hear about Thai culture,” Ms Chaopanit said.
The BRIDGE Project supports development of online collaborative curriculum strategy and creates professional networks with partner teachers and schools. Ms Chaopanit is now looking forward to hosting Ms Norrie on her reciprocal visit to Thailand in late June as part of the project.
Australia-Thailand BRIDGE teachers with H.E. Mr Maris Sangiampongsa, Thai Ambassador to Australia; his wife; Australia Thailand Institute board representative Ms Dusadee Coulson; and Asia Education Foundation Executive Director Kathe Kirby at the professional development program held in Melbourne.
The 2013 school partnerships are:
| Thai Schools | Australian Schools |
| Yothinburana (Bangkok) | Canberra Grammar School, ACT |
| Satreephuket (Phuket) | Wooranna Park Primary School, VIC |
| Phothisamphanphitthayakhan (Chonburi) | Bundaberg State High School, QLD |
| Pathumthep Witthayakarn (Nong Khai) | Cressy District High School, TAS |
| Kanthalalakwittaya (Sisaket) | John Paul College (Daisy Hill), QLD |
| Narinukun (Ubon Ratchathani) | Doncaster Secondary College, VIC |
| Maesaiprasitsart (Chiang Rai) | Wanganui Park Secondary College, VIC |
| Sapphawitthayakhom (Tak) | Manor Lakes P-12 College, VIC |
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