ร่วมยินดี "ครูในดวงใจ" (Award for teachers)

I just wanted to share my success with others. It was a ceremonial event for those teachers who were awarded a certificate of merit for teaching (or idol award for teachers)given by the Princess. It is in Thai since I have adopted the information from SPU websit (www.spu.ac.th). The English version will be translated soon!

ดร.รัชนีพร พุคยาภรณ์ พุกกะมาน อธิการบดีมหาวิทยาลัยศรีปทุม ร่วมแสดงความยินดีและเลี้ยงอาหารกลางวันแก่อาจารย์มหาวิทยาลัยศรีปทุม หลังได้เข้ารับพระราชทานเกียรติบัตร "ครูในดวงใจ" ประจำปี 2552 จำนวน 10 คน จาก ทูลกระหม่อมหญิงอุบลรัตนราชกัญญา สิริวัฒนาพรรณวดี จากจำนวนผู้เข้ารับพระราชทานทั้งหมดจำนวน 355 คน ณ ห้องบุษกร อาคาร ดร.สุข พุคยาภรณ์ มหาวิทยาลัยศรีปทุม เมื่อวันที่ 13 กุมภาพันธ์ 2552 ที่ผ่านมา

สำหรับอาจารย์มหาวิทยาลัยศรีปทุมที่ได้รับคัดเลือกเข้ารับพระราชทานกียรติบัตร "ครูในดวงใจ" ประจำ 2552 จำนวน 10 คน ประกอบด้วย...

1 อ.เจียมจิต สุวรรณน้อย อาจารย์ประจำคณะนิติศาสตร์
2 อ.ประพาฬรัตน์ อำประเสริฐ อาจารย์ประจำคณะนิเทศศาสตร์
3 อ.ชลลดา สัจจานิตย์ อาจารย์ประจำคณะบริหารธุรกิจ
4 อ.ณัฐกมล ถุงสุวรรณ อาจารย์ประจำคณดิจิทัลมีเดีย
5 อ.ประนิธศรี สาริกัลยะ อาจารย์ประจำคณะบัญชี
6 อ.วันชัย จันไกรผล อาจารย์ประจำคณะวิศวกรรมศาสตร์
7 อ.ไพบูลย์ สุขวิจิตร อาจารย์ประจำคณะศิลปศาสตร์
8 อ.อนพัทย์ หนองคู อาจารย์ประจำคณะเศรษฐศาสตร์
9 อ.กนกวรรณ อุสันโน อาจารย์ประจำคณะสถาปัตยกรรมศาสตร์
10 อ.จีระวรรณ วิสายอน อาจารย์ประจำคณะสารสนเทศศาสตร์

You are as you are!

Here are the great saying and thought from Kempis and Eknath! After reading it, I could not help, but wanted to share with others of how true it is.

Do not let your peace depend on the hearts of others; whatever they say about you, good or bad, you are not because of it another, for as you are, you are.
– Thomas a Kempis


Even if you have ninety-nine people cheering you, there will always be a hundredth to boo. That is the nature of life, and to deal with it, we need simply to learn not to be always on the lookout for appreciation and applause. If people say, “Oh, there is nobody like you,” don’t get elated. Don’t pick up your telephone and call your friends to tell them what is being broadcast about you. That’s what most of us do, you know; that’s why telephones are so busy. It is also why so many people get dejected when fortune seems to frown.

My spiritual teacher – a simple, straightforward woman who didn’t mince words – used to tell me, “You can’t shut other people’s mouths.” It took me years to understand that. This unlettered lady knew that we don’t have any control over other people’s minds. You can control only your own mind. When you understand this, you know you needn’t be concerned about what people say about you: it doesn’t affect you, because your mind cannot be upset. You may feel hurt, but you will have an inner security that cannot be shaken.

Second Language Learners: Thought and Language by Vygotsky

I have to admit that I was and am mesmarised by Vygotsky's doctine concerning second language and learners. Here, I decided to share my thoughts about his statement from the book I read once many years ago, Thought and Language I will certainly spare some time to read his work, as well as Piaget and Health, again and try to read more throughly about their works. This is just a small segment of my reflection.

In the book, it states at the beginning that "Vygotsky made it a point to argue that scientific concepts, far from being assimilated in a ready-made form,actuaslly undergo substantial development, which essentially depends on the existing level of a child's general ability to comprehend concept" (p. xxxiv)

I kind of agree with Vygotsky about understanding the concepts. It is true that scientific concepts (or any concepts that students learn) actually undergo substantial development, which essentially depends on the existing level of a child's general ability. This also reminds me of ESL students who learn second languages. These students would certainly undergo or face a difficulty in developing their second language skills if their own language ability or proficiency is poor.

From my experience as an assistant teacher at IELP, Temple University, I found that one student from Tibet was going through a very hard time learning English. She hardly gained or absurbed anything after 6 months of living in the U.S. I was very curious about why she did not understand any concept we taught in class. Eventially, I found out that she was illiterate in her mother tongue. As a result, she could not transfer her exising knowledge to English. This might perhaps help prove Vygotsky's theory.

Action truly speaks louder than Word!

My post today is the Eknath's Thought for the Day! I truly agree with the saying from Sri Ramakrishna as well as Eknath's contribution. One action or initiative is more powerful than million words people say....

A devotee who can call on God while living a householder’s life is a hero indeed. God thinks: “They are blessed indeed who pray to Me in the midst of their worldly duties. They are trying to find Me, overcoming a great obstacle, pushing away, as it were, a huge block of stone weighing a ton. Such a one is a real hero.”
– Sri Ramakrishna


To find a spiritual path, it is not necessary to give up our job, leave our family, change our religion, or travel to distant lands. We start wherever we are, not running away from society, but right in the midst of life. Whatever context we find ourselves in is a suitable one in which to overcome our problems and grow to our full height. We tend to look upon the other home as peaceful, the other couple as perfect, the other parent-child relationship as ideal, but this is not very likely. Everyone has certain liabilities as well as assets.

Everyone has done some good, and made some mistakes as well. This is part of the human condition. Saints and sages are loving realists. “Don’t wait for ideal conditions. You’ll never find them,” they admonish. “Begin! And the conditions you need will come to you.”