New Program Announced

LIFE has decided to provide yoga instruction for anyone interested on Saturdays around 4 pm @ LIFE school

99/154 Pimuk1, Sansainol

Sansal, ChiangMai  50210

Phone&Fax:  053-397965 / Mobile:  08-64617315 

LIFE teacher Bryn Oliver will be instructor and asks that anyone interested should bring personal yoga mat for participation and indicates that cost will be voluntary.  More details will be announced shortly.  Please contact lifeinfo11@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

ASEAN Community Event

LIFE Team participated in ASEAN Community Event sponsored by Library Services in Chiang Mai.  Dr. Dave Evans spoke to more than 100 guests who were treated to beauty pageant and ASEAN Community representatives who proudly displayed food, culture and specialties of each country in ASEAN Community.

I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
― Dr. Seuss

Can LIFE Help?

We must all look for new opportunities for self-development, growth, and success.  Perhaps LIFE can help -- contact us now @ lifeinfo11@gmail.com

Meeting the Challenge

Access to higher education and employment opportunities through English has become essential for young people today. Around the world, English has undergone a dramatic change, divesting itself of its political connotations and becoming a neutral vehicle for international communication. English has thus become an essential element in promoting communication for business, popular culture, and higher education around the globe. 


Putting this into context and developing a better undertanding of social policies, LIFE was established to meet the challenges of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.  As a center for training purposes, LIFE intends to be a significant partner in building the professionals needed to support these goals. 

English as a Global Commodity

In an age in which knowledge of English has become a globally valued commodity, teaching and learning the English language in Thailand can no longer be seen simply as an academic activity but as a potential way of enabling access to social and economic power.  To have a competent knowledge of the English language is seen as a useful key to open many doors as the need for understanding and speaking English in the domains of power, both public and private, has grown significantly during the past twenty years as a result of an unprecedented rise in global communication, international education, and multi-national business.  


LIFE seeks to help their students develop personal excellence through training and interaction, and to provide new skills for those who complete LIFE programs that will enhance their opportunities to find gainful employment and better positions in business and service industries or simply bring more confidence to their daily lives.

LIFE Presented @Thonburi University

Today, 25th January we held an event at Thonburi University for benefit of 400 students (basic greetings and  job interview skills demonstrated) and participated in a major careers' fair.  LIFE met with students and business representatives to engage in principles of EFL. Both Tabtim and Sunisa, among others, were recognized and presented to student body for their work with LIFE and commitment to excellence. 

LIFE team was also photographed for news article on event and hope to post or include soon.

English Language Teaching in Thailand

In order to understand the teaching and learning of English, one must understand the basic tenets of the culture. From this perspective, we can then understand some of the new initiatives that are presently being taken in English Language Teaching (ELT) in Thailand.   With the increasingly significant role that ELT is playing in Asian contexts, it is important to gain a better understanding of the use of English as a medium of intercultural communication in Asia. In doing so, ELT practices may be able to adapt themselves which can lead to the development of better teaching practices.  Engaging learners in inter-cultural reflection will result in language users who are better able to manage communication through English.

Source:  Excerpts from A Critical Examination of ELT in Thailand: The Role of Cultural Awareness written by Will Baker, Southampton University, United Kingdom w.baker@soton.ac.uk


LIFE believes that focusing on personal excellence of the individual adapted to his specific needs, whether it is improving English skills and more effective communication for business or basic learning processes, will reflect positively on the role each student will have to offer after completion.  Improving cultural understanding and language skills will present better opportunities in business and daily life for each student and provide self confidence to better serve future needs.

Teachers -- Our Favorite Subject

LIFE teachers are one of our biggest assets.  They come from all over the world and have chosen Thailand as their home, bringing with them a vast knowledge of English language and culture.  Our teachers make learning a fun and happy experience and offer many opportunities to bring English to LIFE through activities and adventure both in and out of classroom.  Let's have a picnic and learn about nature or visit a restaurant and learn how to interact with co-workers and customers -- programs and classes can be customized to make your experience the best ever, while providing time to practice and get comfortable with your new skills.

Objectives in English Training

There are three objectives in either core or elective English courses.  These are knowledge, skill, and positive attitude towards English.  Knowledge involves how to use English language in communication, learning and understanding the culture of native speakers, knowing the differences between Thai and the English language, being able to use English to gain information in other subjects, being able to use English to do lifelong learning, to find pleasure and to use it for work.  Skill involves communication strategies, thinking skills, critical and creative thinking, self-evaluation, learning skills, knowledge seeking skills, technology skills and how to work with others.  A positive attitude includes appreciating the English language and its culture.

Thai Learners

Tourism is  the main source of income in Thailand, yet many Thai learners who are in tourism/service industry have a poor command of English language.  This has sometimes contributed to misunderstandings and a negative attitude toward Thailand by visitors. As for Thai learners, they would like to speak English fluently but many think English is too challenging for them because of these difficulties: 

- interference from mother tongue (Thai) i.e., pronunciation, syntax,and idiomatic usage.
- lack of opportunity to use English daily.
- unchallenging English lessons.
- being passive learners.
- being too shy to speak English with classmates.
- inability to take responsibility for their own education. 

However, it is not only the level of English competence that challenges Thai learners from being able to keep pace with the rapid changes that are taking place.  Until recently, Thai education did not encourage Thais to cope with this fast changing world.  Thailand’s new constitution adopted in 1997, therefore, established the National Education Act which created the most radical education reform in Thai history. This education reform involves four main areas: school, curriculum, teacher and administrative reform.  Its main concern is that students have the ability to learn and develop.  Learners are the most important component, and lifelong learning must be encouraged.*


LIFE intends to offer a unique environment to encourage learning English in a safe, happy and practical way which will benefit Thai learners and provide new skills to cope with business and daily life in the 21st century.  


*Source:  Excerpts from http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/teaching.html

English Language Needs in Thailand

The importance of English as a world  language, the advance  of technology and education reform envisaged by the new Thai Constitution are key determinants for new developments for English language teaching and learning in Thailand in this decade.  The role of English in Thailand is quite important as it is in many other developing countries.  New technology and the adoption of the internet have resulted in a major transition in terms of business, education, science, and technological progress, all of which demand high proficiency in English.  With the economic downturn in Thailand a few years ago, a large number of Thai companies  have embraced cooperation regionally and internationally.  Mergers, associations, and takeovers are common and English is used as the means to communicate, negotiate and execute transactions by participants.


Up to now English language teaching in Thailand has not prepared Thais for the changing world.  Thailand will lag behind in the competitive world of business, education, science and technology if the teaching and learning of English is not improved.  

Studying Overseas

There is an increasing number of Thai students studying abroad each year in the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.  If you are one of those students who is planning such a move, now is the time to seek to improve your English skills before you go.