Languages of Chiang Mai

Standard Thai is used as the official language, but the northern dialect is more widely spoken among the local people. English is understood in business circles and tourist areas.

Languages in Chiang Mai is disneyified due to English being more commonly used by the tourists and the people of Chiang Mai have to take up lessons to learn English instead of their own literature which sometimes do not have a written version.

Mode of Educations in Chiang Mai

Six years of primary education are compulsory and free for all Thai children, although there are certain small expenses for uniforms, books and writing materials.

Chiang Mai is home to five universities, Buddhist and Christian seminaries, technical colleges, four international English language schools and one German one, a large university teaching hospital and several private ones, some with nursing schools. There are also many private language schools as well as the AUA, the British Council, Australian and New Zealand centres and the Alliance Francaise.

Varee Kindergarten Chiang Mai

All this means that there are many opportunities for native English language teachers, especially if they have a university degree and teaching qualifications. Thai schools are desperate to employ English teachers but they do not give enough incentives to attract English teachers. Therefore the native English language teachers would choose to work overseas where the benefits and incentives are more lucrative.

The international schools cater for the children of ex-patriates living in Thailand and are increasingly attracting Thai children and those from neighbouring countries, whose parents want them to be educated in English. As if their children can speak English, they can communicate with the world more smoothly.

This occurs when the world becomes more globalised and English would be the common language between people.

People in Chiang Mai can learn not only in schools and universities but also by interacting with tourists. However, they hardly read or get to watch movies or documentaries. But there are certain forms of education like art exhibits in international schools that certain people of a limited age can . They are not given any choice and this is a huge disadvantage to them. The art exhibition below promotes foreign culture like Spiderman, and this would be of influence to the future generations as they would be more interested in something that is of fantasy and mystery.



References:

http://www.chiangmai-thai.com/education.htm

http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=2571

http://www.moe.go.th/English/

Leisure Programmes

Loi Kra-Thong

One of the most beautiful sights that is very enjoyable due to the movement of lights are the annual festival of Loi Kra-Thong held in November. This festival is to show gratitude to the water for the usage of the river.

As the moon rises in the evening, small lotus-shaped raft of banana leaves filled with flowers, candle, a snip of your nail, a piece of your hair, and a few coins, is set afloat in the ocean or down a waterway begging good luck for the forthcoming year. The best Kra-Thong must be made of banana leaves or bread so that it would become food for the fish and there would be less pollution. In Chiang Mai, there is releasing the large paper hot-air balloons. It is to symbolise casting away your troubles and calling in the hopes of the future.



Songkran

Traditionally it was celebrated by Buddha images being bathed with water and the showing of respect to monks and elders. From the sprinkling of water onto someone’s hands as a sign of respect it has evolved into mass drenching for anyone who decides to venture outdoors. Tourists are attracted to the wild side of Songkran instead of what it traditionally was. Everyone would go for thrill therefore the festival was slowly modified to suit the taste of the tourists.



Spas and Thai massages

Spas in the past were health resorts at natural waters or baths that could be taken by people suffering from rheumatism and kindred complaints, however in recent years, the Lanna tradition of massages and herbal therapies are integrated into spas to create something special.

Spas would often be coupled by Thai massages.



References:

http://www.chiangmai1.com/chiang_mai/festivals.shtml

http://www.openchiangmai.com/chiangmai_festival.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpCSvi0n_6o