NIDA Internship Report, Chombongkoch (Fai)

Introduction
During my study at Nida, I register LA801 Internship. I select SEAMEO Secretariat (SEAMES) to be my first prestigious organization. At SEAMES, I assist Dr. Kantatip Sinhaneti, Information Officer, on her duties. My Internship begins 8:30 – 16:30 hrs. weekday.
Organizational Profile
The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) was established in November 1965 as a chartered international organization whose purpose is to promote cooperation in education, science and culture in the Southeast Asian region. The name was chosen to reflect the need for a regional grouping, the purpose of which is to share and maximize the use of resource, with collective leadership to be provided by the Ministers of Education of the Member Countries.
The policy making body of SEAMEO is the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Council (SEAMEC) composed of the Ministers of Education of the Member Countries. The Council meets annually to formulate policies, approve programmes and budgets, and decide pertinent issues on the operation of the Organization.
SEAMEO at present consists of ten (10) Member Countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and Union of Myanmar; and six (6) Associate Member Countries that include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands and New Zealand. The Organization has one Secretariat Office, the SEAMEO Secretariat (SEAMES). SEAMEO is a multifaceted organization with 14 Centres located in countries throughout the region namely BIOTROP, INNOTECH, RECSAM, RELC, RIHED, SEARCA, SPAFA, TROPMED Network namely TROPMED Indonesia, TROPMED Malaysia, TROPMED Philippines, TROPMED Thailand, VOCTECH, RETRAC, and SEAMOLEC. These SEAMEO units serve as the empowered arm of the organization through the diverse range of expertise they offer : tropical biology, agriculture, tropical medicine, science and mathematics education, educational innovation and technology, education management, language education, higher education development, archaeology and fine arts, history and tradition, vocational and technical education, open learning and distance education. The SEAMEO Secretariat (SEAMES), located in Bangkok, is the executing agency of the organization which ensures the implementation of the policies and programmes adopted by the SEAMEO Council.
The functions of the SEAMEO Secretariat include obtaining financial support from interested donors planning and studying the feasibility of regional educational project proposals and other activities for the decision of the Council., convening conferences; seminars and prepare agenda and working papers for Council meetings, promoting the utilization of academic facilities and professional competence within the region through exchange of students, faculty members, professional personnel and instructional materials and disseminating, disseminating public information materials through SEAMEO publications and mass media and cooperating with other organizations and agencies in matter of common interest.
Objectives
My objectives toward internship programme are to broaden my horizon by applying my accumulated knowledge and skills in accomplishing my tasks. When entering in the real working environment, I have developed my socializing skills with organizational personnel especially my supervisor. Also, I can observe my strength and weakness while working. Importantly, I expect my first internship could gain my experience and is a firm step for my future career. Moreover, it is a time for me to learn and appreciate the organization.
Job Description
My duties can be classified into two areas. First, in general secretarial tasks, I assist Dr. Kantatip Sinhaneti, an Information Officer, in communicating with SEAMEO Regional Centres by means of letter writing, faxing, and e-mailing. Also, I do filing News Clippings and Press Release. Periodically, I am informed with SEAMEO achievement through Organization programmes and activities. My task also includes proofreading the High Officials Meeting (HOM) and Final Report while writing up the Table of Contents for further typing process. Second, in Publication fields, I am assigned to compiling brief information on 14 SEAMEO Regional Centres. The complete version of all SEAMEO Centres will be appeared in the World Education Market (WEM) website and published in forms of brochures. Since SEAMEO key personnel and delegations will attend the WEM Conference, held in Vancouver, Canada. This gives me full responsibility to ensure correct writing and up-to date information on website.
Other activities with SEAMEO
Apart from my daily tasks, I was invited to participate in a Workshop " Computer Based Instruction for English Second Language Learning" which I can develop my reading and vocabulary skills through guided internet use. From this workshop, I have gain knowledge of World Wide Web (WWW) and browser capabilities. Also, I am fascinated with this New Learning Paradigm that knowledge is not restricted in the classroom but through the top-notch computer. This workshop was instructed by Ms. Linda Proffitt, a SEAMES IT officer. And the classroom atmosphere filled with warm and friendliness. The instructor did motivate each student to actively participating while having fun. At the end of the workshop, it was individuals’ research time editing the topic of their own. I learnt searching through the key engines and found many interesting websites of kickboxing which I chose to present to other student and the instructor. Then I learnt utilizing the outlook express to attach my document to them.
Another activities was my presence to listen to Dr. Rene D Somera, the 1999 Jasper–fellowship Awardee, it was my pleasure listening his research "The elderly stroke survivors and the caretakers, Stroke as a critical life event. Especially, I was delighted with his eloquence and well versed in conducting research.
Experience Gained
I have gained my knowledge in Computer Literacy and have applied my ability I learnt from the Computer Based Instruction for ESL learning. This comprehensive workshop has increased my browser capabilities. All in all, I feel proud and more confident for accomplishing my assigned tasks.
Summary and Recommendations
First of all, I feel honorable and grateful to SEAMEO Secretariat where I have learnt several things in both secretarial tasks and publication matters. Also, I am able to exploit my accumulated knowledge under Dr. Kantatip Sinhaneti’s supervision. In my opinion, SEAMEO Secretariat is the Organization that truly contributes to the personnel career achievement. Significantly, SEAMEO has implemented Internship Programme to meet the needs of individuals, institutions and Organization. Since my internship with SEAMES has already ended, I have continually cultivated my knowledge. I am very much delighted being interviewed with a Director of SEAMES and Administrative Officers on the Intern Evaluation Day, which was held for the first time.
There are two views; I would like to express for further development for both SEAMEO Internship Programme and Nida Internship Course. First, I think the internship duration is rather short. Moreover, its duration begins in an improper time as a result of long holidays. Second, the Introductory Session of Organization should be implemented prior to Intern’s decision.
Self - evaluation
I can describe myself as a responsible and diligent person. Being punctual, I arrive SEAMES early and ahead of time. Usually, I am eager to learn new things by asking my supervisor for more assignments. While my supervisor was on sick leave, I asked a Marketing Officer if I could be her assistance. Thank her, she responds my enthusiastic to assist. At work, I rarely spoke English with Non-Thai Officers. Probably, I am not an icebreaker. I only grinned and smiled.
Weekly Report
	20 March 2000 PRESS RELEASE/English-Thai translation
	This is my first English-Thai translation. I usually appreciate my first assignment. My first draft submitted to my supervisor appeared much of redundancy. However, I keep this assignment to compare with my next assignment and see how improvement it will be.
	23 March 2000 English-Thai translation/ Declaration in Education Fair 2000
	I did this work with Aree. With our collaborative effort, we came up with many beautiful and alternative Thai Phases and words. Therefore, there are few mistakes.
	28 March 2000 Letter to All SEAMEO Directors
	In assisting my supervisor on her duty, I am assigned to inform all SEAMEO Centres’ Directors. Being misunderstood with my supervisor, I wrote to inform them in Memorandum. (you can see it in my weekly report). However my drafting was on the right track with few unnecessary details. I have practiced writing inform letter with short, clear and concise.
	12 April 2000 Website writing
	Today, I collect brief details on 14 SEAMEO regional centres through SEAMEO booklets. This assignment gives me a broad understanding of SEAMEO’s contribution to the wealth of education, science and culture in the Southeast Asia Region. Feeling impressed with this assignment, I also give internet viewers with the highlights of specific products, services and expertise of all 14 SEAMEO clusters on the website.
	30 March , 10 April 2000 Assisting in the Publication process
	Today, I prepare the table of contents of both SEAMEO 22^nd High Officials Meeting(HOM) and the 35^th SEAMEO Council Conference, Final Report during 16-17 February 2000. Prior to the last error-checked by Dr. Kantatip, I have to check every single letter and messages addressed by key hosts and participants. I have gain reading capability. Frankly, I am periodically suppressed with my boredom and eyesore, I have to take a quick break to resume my energy and proofread efficiency. I apologize for not having the complete duplicate of my work. Still, I enclosed an example of Welcome Remarks of SEAMEO Secretariat Director in 22^nd HOM, Final Report which I have practiced my proofreading. From this assignment. I think I am familiar with elaborate and heartfelt messages that I can express with people. For the 35^th SEAMEO Council Conference, Final Report, it is under typing process.
	12 April 2000 Writing Press Release
	From this assignment, I have learnt to acquire information through the internet. In writing a Press release, I incorporate of what, when, where, how to publicize to interested individuals to participate in the World Education Market (WEM), the world ‘s only event dedicated to the international business of education. I have practiced my internet capability together with editing skill in the word document for accuracy and time efficiency. Anyhow, I face limitation in updated WEM information. I realize every information appearing on the internet are unlikely an updated one. I find out the recent news about the event is already faxed to my supervisor. Then she can add the up-to-recent news. You can see my first draft in my weekly report with a short description of what is the WEM, who will be expected in this event and the highlight of the programme. I am glad that I have done this assignment. Finally, the press release is ready to fax to Regional and International News Sources.
	21 April 2000 Writing inform letter to Universities
	In this letter, I have to inform many Universities in Thailand to actively participate in this Conference with SEAMEO INNOTECH. I begin with what, when, where will SEAMEO INNOTECH organize the event. It clearly communicates to the readers if they are interested or not with the attached brochure. I think I use rather simple writing skill.
	25 April 2000 Writing request letter to SEAMEO SEARCA
	Prior to my internship period, SEAMEO organized the Education Fair 2000 in Bangkok. I was given a thick Guest Book. I look through different purposes of their visits. Most of whose are to broaden their horizons in contributing to their own academic institutions, organization and human resource development. This time, I act as a facilitator to respond the visitors’ request for academic research and books which were displayed at that time. I draft request letter to SEAMEO Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research (SEARCA). In the letter, I attach the recipient’s mailing address in Thai Characters for their convenience in sending mails. Consequently, I receive an e-mail from SEARCA with a request for mailing lists of clients who ordered their publications in english characters. Therefore, I have to consult a technical-term dictionary to translate the mailing lists in English and e-mail them back.
	25 April 2000 Thai-English translation/ The principal of Ban Prue Wai School’s opinion
	Today, I do some Thai-English translation on Ban Prue Wai, SEAMEO ‘s adopted school. I have acknowledged how successful SEAMEO supports can be achieved through their fruitful utilization of scientific, english and mathematics medium that truly inspired pupil’s learning process and their intelligent emotion (IE). At the very beginning of my assignment, I visited a Bookstore finding a Scientific Dictionary to translating scientific medium. Unluckily, I found nothing to assist me. Coming back home, I tried combining English words that can be understood. When my assignment was done, I submitted to my supervisor. She replied "There seems no mistake". Then I felt delighted.
	2 May 2000 The complete brochure of SEAMEO packets
	I feel proud that my collaborative effort with Aree in compiling all 14 SEAMEO Centres are printed in the SEAMEO packets which will be distributed to the participants during WEM Conference. This assignment is not difficult but my friend and I have to select necessary details to be published in a very comprehensive overview of all SEAMEO Regional Centres.
OBJECTIVES
1.	To broaden my horizon and be able to enter the real working environment.
2.	To exploit the experience gain in my future career.
3.	To develop my working competence, knowledge under professional supervisor
4.	To appreciate and learn about working people and Organization.
Job Description
1.	Secretarial tasks
	-	Communicating with SEAMEO Centres by means of letter writing, faxing, e-mail.
	-	Translating documents.
2.	Publication Field
	-	Assisting in editing Press Release.
	-	Preparing the Table of Contents in Final Report and High Officials Meeting (HOM) for further publication process.
	-	Compiling the key information on 14 SEAMEO Centres to be appeared in Website and brochure.
SEAMEO
	-	Established in November 1965.
	-	A Chartered international Organization.
	-	Consists of 10 Member Countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and 6 Associated Member Countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands and New Zealand.
	-	14 Regional Centres in fields of: Education: INNOTECH, RECSAM, RIHED, RELC, RETRAC, SEAMOLEC, VOCTEC Health: TROPMED NETWORKS in Indo, Malay, Phili,Thai Biology & Culture: BIOTROP, SEARCA Culture: SPAFA
Task list
		Communicating with SEAMEO Regional Centres by means of letter writing, faxing, e-mailing.
		Filing News Clippings, Press Release, books and documents.
		Proofreading the Contents in the High Official Meetings (HOM) and Final Report.
		Writing up the Table of Contents of HOM and Final Report.
		Compiling brief information on 14 SEAMEO Centres.
		Typing SEAMEO Centres’ information in Website.
		Editing Press Release.
SEAMES
		Located in Bangkok
		Implements policies & executes programmes adopted by the Council
		Obtains financial support from interested donors
		Plans and studies the feasibility educational project proposals
		Convenes Conferences: seminars and prepare agenda & working papers for Council meetings
		Promotes utilization of acadamic facilities and professional competence within the region
Experience Gained
		Computer literacy and internet utilization
		Secretarial skills
		Proof reading capability
Summary
	-	Completely fulfill my tasks
	-	Feel grateful
Recommendations
	-	Time extention
	-	Introductory session of organization should be conducted prior to intern's decision