My Philosophy of Education

 

It is no doubt that different people have different perceptions, even on the same thing. Likewise, in the field of education, philosophy of education varies markedly from individual to individual.  For me, I believe that children can reach their highest potential if they are enthusiastic in and have a clear, concrete goal of their learning.  Based on my own experience involving in teaching English as a foreign language, my belief is that students can learn best by (1) involving in the first-hand activities, (2) focusing on their need and interest, and (3) exposing to a conducive and inspiring, learning environment.

 As educators, we need to scrutinize closely what the purpose of education is.  According to an American journalist and author Harris (2010), the sole purpose of education is to turn a mirror into a window. In this sense, I will try to assist students in experiencing things themselves. By allowing them to do so, they will be able to form a set of knowledge about how to face and deal with the real-world problems in a practical way.  Children, on one hand, do not need their teacher to tell hem what to do all the time, and they, on the other one,  just need a guidance so as to feel secure that they are going in the right direction.  In his book Democracy and Education, John Dewey (2008) believed that the development of human mind was a communal process and a person only became truly meaningful when they fully engaged within his or her society.  Dewey strongly believed that children should not be taught by rote nor should they learn simply by having a teacher go to take fact. He believed in a process we know as learning by doing.  His belief is quite similar to what I have observed while teaching my students at Institute of Technology of Cambodia. My students learned well when they were asked to find the solution to deal with the problems they faced, and practiced with their friends.  Thus, I strongly believe that if students are exposed to authentic, hand-on activities they will learn more and will consequently become efficient, autonomous learners.           

Another major factor that can help children learn faster is to allow them freedom of choice to seek for their need and interest.  It is generally believe that one can master their area of expertise as long as they choose what they love to do and love what they choose to do.  In the article titled Crowdfunding Program that Aims to Help Students Follow their Dreams Will Pilot at U-M, Moore (2012) wrote a speech form Zurbuchen who said "You have to follow your passion because you're more successful when you do. Very often, things you're passionate about are, in the long run, things that have more impact in this world." Moreover, according to the educational philosophy I have learnt in class, “Existentialism”, students are empowered so that they can choose what they want to learn based on their own interest.  I, therefore, believe that children should be provided with choices in learning in order that they will learn faster and more effectively.

Last but not least, it is critically important to create a conducive and inspiring, learning environment in order that children will be unhesitant to participate in class activities. It is highly unlikely that children, as well as students, will zealously join in the classroom activities if they are not interested, or even bored to joining, in those activities. By contrast, in my opinion, educators should instill in their students with a sense of responsibility, community, and direction. Through my own observation while teaching English to second and third year university students at Institute of Technology of Cambodia, I could draw a conclusion that without encouraging students to participate in classroom activities and creating a teacher-student-friendly-learning environment, students do not feel secure of learning language, which means that students will still keep an I-feel-bored-whenever-the-class-starts-and-I-do-not-want-the-teacher-to-blame-me-on-my-mistakes-I-make idea. Our role as a teacher does not mean that we only pass on knowledge to students, but we also need to facilitate them how to learn. Moreover, in his article titled “The Motivation of L2 Learners: Does It Decrease with Age?”, Ghenghes (2010) wrote about a student who said:

 “I think my motivation is low when I ask question that I don’t know and the teacher just totally just look at 

 me as if I’m stupid or something for not knowing that thing, but the teacher is there to teach you and you’re trying to learn and they are trying to bring you down, so I feel very low about herself when like they just brought you down like that.”

Therefore, as educators, we should not ignore this problem because it will make our students feel demotivated, and consequently the classroom atmosphere will become so boring that students do not want to learn anything.

         To sum up, over and over again, I would like to emphasize on the three aforementioned key factors if teachers want to help students learn a second or a foreign language effectively and successfully. 

Bibliography

Dewey, J. (2008). Democracy and Education. The United States of America: Wilder Publications, LLC.

Ghenhesh, P. (2010, November 01). The motivation of L2 learners: Does it decrease with age? Retrieved November 28, 2012, from English Language Teaching: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/elt/article/view/5244

Harris, S. J. (2011, April 05). English Language Arts Blog. Retrieved November 28, 2012, from English Language Arts Blog: http://elateachermrsthall.blogspot.com/2011/04/whole-purpose-of-education-is-to-turn.html

Moore, N. C. (2012). Crowdfunding program that aims to help students follow their dreams will pilot at U-M. The UniversityRecor Monthly.

 

10-Days Meaningful Journey o10-Days Meaningful Journey of World Youth Meeting 2012

10-Days Meaningful Journey of

                                                   World Youth Meeting 2012

Acknowledgements

Before starting my feedback of World Youth Meeting 2012, I and on behalf of Royal University of Phnom Penh would like to show my deep gratitude to Nihon Fukushi University and WYM Student Steering Committee that made this unforgettable event possible for me and for every participant and made my dream came true. I really appreciated their hard work and sincere effort. Thank to all professors for pushing me to the next level. Thank to my host family that gave me warmth and hospitality. I still keep in touch with them even we are apart. Thank to all oversea participants and Nihon Fukushi University students for giving me so much memory that I will never forget. Especially, wholeheartedly thank to my lovely correspondences who comforted me all the time, since I arrived until I left Japan, and gave me true friendship. And thank to everyone else that I have not mentioned here.

Introduction

The opportunity to meet people across Asia is very rare. World Youth Meeting makes this possible.​ World Youth Meeting is an annual event organized mainly by Nihon Fukushi University in cooperation with many other universities and high schools from different countries in Asia. As the name imply, WYM creates meeting environment for students and remarkable people from famous institutions to connect with one another for cultural exchange and international cooperation. World Youth Meeting 2012 event took place at Nihon Fukushi University, Japan, on 7^th and 8^th August 2012. It was so big and the greatest event I have ever participated. WYM2012 was more extraordinary than I had expected. This was the best event in my life that I had chance to know many people, especially professors and international students.

Welcomed by Risa, Chika, Akane, and Yasu

(Risa and Chika were Cambodia correspondences)

Arrival Day

My excitement had erupted even before the plane landed. I was amazed by how wonderful Japan was at night from the sky. I arrived at Nagoya airport with great surprise. There was my name beautifully written on a signboard and a group of very cheerful and kind students of Nihon Fukushi University warmly welcomed me. To be honest, it was my first time to be greeted with such comforting manner. They were so lovely. We got to know each other so well within just a short time. At the end of the day, I met my host family. I was actually a bit nervous, but my host family’s friendly attitude erased all those feeling and gave me cheerfulness. I felt so warm because we had sweet time together. The homestay program was excellent. I love my host family so much. Surprisingly, I adapted to the way of living in Japan so quick.

Unforgettable Time We were Together

Nihon Fukushi University had already perfectly prepared the upcoming schedule for oversea participants. First of all, oversea participants had an honorable chance to meet the President of Nihon Fukushi University at the courtesy call. Later on, we all were introduced around the university campus. The campus gave me a jaw-drop because of beautiful buildings, canteens, classrooms, libraries and labs. The environment was really fresh. It was very refreshing during the walk that I did not feel tired at all. After the campus tour, everyone gathered for exchange view activity. That was where everyone got to know one another and had so much fun together. Besides the university’s beauty and joyful activity, I had an impression about Japanese students that I continuously admired. From the first moment I met them, they were really kind, friendly, cheerful, communicative and interestingly conversational although their English were limited. They tried to talk although they found themselves in hard situation in using English. They are interesting and admirable. I was really inspired by them because of their kindness, helpfulness, hard works, activeness, and never-give up spirit. 100/100 score for them!

On the next day, it was Ise Tour. Ise Shrine was very astonishing. Beautiful scenery made me felt so relaxed and energetic. Everyone learnt so much about Japanese tradition and culture through this sightseeing. Personally, Japanese tradition is absolutely interesting and simply amazing. At that moment, I realized that I was really lucky of having a chance to experience culture in Japan which I cannot learn anywhere else. During this event, everyone was getting closer, and for me, I felt like I was with the best friends in the world that I ever had. I love them so much.

Preparation for Big Day

Before WYM2012, everyone temporarily stayed at Mihama seminar house and Japanese inn and had to prepare for the upcoming presentations. It was a whole new experience. Honestly, I had never heard what seminar house was, and I had never seen Japanese inn. Thanks to WYM, I learnt so much about seminar house, stayed at the Japanese inn, and learnt many more customs there. The food looked strange, but it was extremely delicious. This was a rare opportunity that I would never forget. During the stay, everyone was cooperatively made his/her own group presentation. In my group, there are 4 members. Two of them were Nihon Fukushi University students, and the other was a student from Institute of Technology of Cambodia. Actually, our group had already discussed some of the main points in the presentation outline before arriving Japan. We communicated through email, Skype and Facebook. My team members were very active, hard-working and cooperative. However, there was language barrier that each member found it hard to display his or her opinion using the right words to express. Despite the difficulties, the progress was not staggering, and we managed to get over it successfully. Generally, in discussion, there is always conflict of ideas, and so did our group. Nevertheless, we overcame it by learning from the lectures made by professors from famous universities and high schools. We learnt how to collaboratively solve conflicts where everyone is a winner, and my group successfully did it. Moreover, we also learnt how to live in intercultural environment. This was really critically important because participants from different cultures generally cause controversies. The result was incredible. Everyone became intertwined with one another like siblings. We helped one another, laughed together and learnt together. In addition, while we were preparing the presentation, professors actively helped us to prevail any difficulties. I was really grateful to all professors for guiding and improving me so much that I couldn’t forget.

World Youth Meeting 2012 - 7^th and 8^th August 2012

In the early morning of the day, everyone woke up with excitement and nervousness, including me. I finally arrived at the most exciting moment of 10-days Journey of WYM. The hall was incredibly surprising. Big audience made the stage even more exciting. The arrangement was perfect. Many programs followed the opening remark were really interesting. What made the event even greater were presentations made by various groups of different universities and high schools from different countries across Asia. Their contents and performances were informative and amazingly fascinating. I really learnt a lot from those presentation that I thought I could never have another chance to learn such unique lessons ever again. My group presentation did well to what we expected and we got Platinum Award. To my point of view, I would evaluate my group presentation 99 out of 100 because not only that our performance went well, but also tight cooperation and teamwork that my team embraced. Moreover, presentations made by professors were really enlightening. We saw our strengths and weaknesses through their lectures and feedbacks. Furthermore, we were really inspired by them to commit ourselves for improvement in the future, and hopefully, for World Youth Meeting 2013.

World Youth Meeting 2012 theme was “Strengthening Connections to the Future”, and we really did it. During the event, I made a lot of friends from Japanese high schools and universities. We left our memories by exchanging written messages. Each participant tightened their connections and these connections would last not only today but forever. I am still contacting them everyday now. Not only that, sincere thanked to Professor Kageto, I was introduced to many remarkable leaders and professors from big companies and famous universities. I knew a lot of new people in just 2 days. It was extraordinary. World Youth Meeting 2012 ended with joy and memory.

Conclusion

World Youth Meeting taught me a lot. First, in private sphere, I was improved by inspiring lectures and I learnt many new things from the WYM presentations. Second, not only me, but also everyone were able to have a chance to experience intercultural environment. We shared experiences in our cultures, and we learnt so much from one another. Thirdly, everyone learnt how to collaboratively solve any conflicts despite their differences in nature. Fourth is public speaking. This was my first time on stage to do a presentation to a very big audience. I became more confident when speaking on stage. Moreover, I learnt a lot from professor how to make a good presentation and to be a great presenter. Fifth is my understanding about Japanese culture. Participants had chance to explore the beauty of Japanese culture through homestay, seminar house, Japanese inn, and sightseeing that displayed vivid living environment in Japan. They were able to see things that were totally different from their countries. After experiencing them, I felt in love with Japan and Japanese people. Last but not least, the most important one is connection and friendship. Tightening international cooperation between educational systems of different nations was one of a remarkable achievement. I was really glad that I met new people at WYM2012, and especially, my new friends at Nihon Fukushi University. They made me felt like home and gave me so much to remember. I wished our time together were longer.  I love them!

I left Japan with many unforgettable memories. I was so sad that it ended so quickly, but I hope I will have another chance to join World Youth Meeting, hopefully I have more time, and meet my lovely friends and professors at Nihon Fukushi University again. After arriving in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I shared my exciting experience to my friends and other people, telling them how wonderful World Youth Meeting was. 

I haven’t participated WYM the previous year, but through the archive on the website, I have seen incredible improvement from previous World Youth Meeting. The meaningful memory of World Youth Meeting 2012 had big impact on my life and it lives in me forever. Joining it was a milestone in my history. Next year is going to be more awesome!

Ratanaksamrith YOU
Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia

 

My Heart, a heart of friendship

" Every piece of my heart comprises of love, a love full of friendship."~Empire Nara

A Heart of Friendship

         It has been three months already that I left Japan back to my home country Cambodia. Even though my body is in Cambodia, but my spirit and soul are scattered in the air of the land of Asia, where all of my new-made friends are living. In order to show a hard evidence of how my friendship is so bound with them, I have spent a lot of time designing this heart, the heart full of glorious memories and friendship.

         It is thousands miles way, but I think it's only a short distance because everyday we are closed to each other by the means of social network. We keep in touch with each other on what so called Facebook. Through this way, we are able to hear from each other more often.~~ with Ratanaksamrith YOU

A Dream of an Engineering Student

 "Everyone must dare to dream; everyone has a right to pursue his dream."~ Empire Nara

With only 40 square meters, my house accommodates 5 people.  My parents stay in a small room, and my two younger brothers and I sleep on the floor outside the bedroom.  There is not enough space for each family member to live comfortably as those who live in a big house.  However, I still consider myself as a very lucky boy, since I have known that there are many people who are living in much worse conditions, especially those agrarian peasants living in the rural areas.

In Cambodia, a large number of people in rural areas are farmers.  They depend heavily on farming. They plant rice and grow crops for survival, but the products they produced are not enough for them to support their living.  The problem is that there is a lack of irrigation systems that could enable them to use water for planting their crops, roads they could transport their productions to the markets, and most importantly knowledge of how to use the water resource they have effectively.  As we know, in the rainy season, there is an excessive amount of water, so they are not able to work on their farms whereas in the dry season there is not enough water for planting rice and growing crops.  Seeing the potential in this area, along with my talent and keenness in learning scientific subjects, I have developed my interest in helping my country by trying to study hard and enrolling as a rural engineer at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia, the most prestigious educational institution which provides the field of engineering and where I got a scholarship.

From day to day, my interest in the subject I am studying has been gradually translated into a great passion to be one of the most famous engineers in my country, and that passion has persuaded me to project into the future about how to attain my goal.  I realize that in order to master my area of expertise, it is not enough just to study inside the country.  I have to discover more about the knowledge surrounding this field of study and techniques being used in other countries in order to refine my ability.  Undoubtedly, the country which interests me the most is the United States of America, and I would like to choose Environmental Science Engineering and Water Resource Management Engineering.

Besides being well-known as a multicultural society, the US is a country which is well developed in terms of developing both city and rural areas.  By taking this course, I hope to bring the techniques and experiences that I will learn in the US back to my country and apply them into real practice so that I can help the rural communities, as well as Cambodia as a whole, develop.  Cambodia will be able to cultivate techniques to develop high ability in human resources in this field if more and more Cambodian students are provided chance to learn from and see how US develops its country.

Bearing this clear, long run vision in my mind, I believe that I will accomplish my goal after I am admitted to study in the US and return to Cambodia with new experiences and knowledge.