|
Ms
Jurairat Supawattana
Graduate student pursuing a Master's Degree in
Languge and Communication
Faculty of Language and Communication
National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA)
|
Name: |
Jurairat
Supawattana |
| Organization: |
Southeast
Asian Ministers of Education Organization
Secretariat (SEAMEO Secretariat) |
| Period
of Internship: |
22
March - 29 May 2004 |
| Mentor: |
Dr
Kantatip Sinhaneti, Information Officer
|
Purposes
of internship
The purposes of my internship programme are as follows: |
•
|
To
observe how to work in international organization in order to be guideline
in working in international organization in the future. |
•
|
To
apply knowledge and skills in language and communication to the work |
•
|
To
learn how to solve problems that occur in real work atmosphere
|
• |
To learn and exchange new culture with foreign colleagues
|
Job
descriptions
During the internship programme, I work as an assistant to Dr. Kantatip
Sinhaneti, Information Officer, Ms.Piyapa Su-angvatin, Marketing
Officer and Mr. Wifredo O. Pascual, Jr., Publication Officer.
The nature of work includes:
|
| 1. |
Coordination
Assist in coordination with relevant organization such as universities,
Ministries, and Embassies.
Second is working as translator. |
| 2. |
Working
as Translator
Be translator for Sikka Foundation’s representatives in meeting
on Congress Welcome Reception Performance. |
| 3. |
Translation
Translate many kinds of document both from English into Thai and
Thai into English such as conference session, abstract of congress
speakers, and advertisement about education expo. |
| 4. |
Proofreading
and Editing
Assist in proofreading and editing both Thai and English documents
such as journals, advertisement, and topic seminar of Education
Expo. |
| 5. |
Drafting
Letter
Draft many kinds of letter both in Thai and in English such as official
letter of invitation, letter of sympathy, and letter of informing.
|
| 6. |
Working
as guest relation officer and information provider
Assist in working as guest relation officer in press conference,
and information provider as well as award-giving assistant in SEMEO-UNESCO
Education Congress and Expo held at Queen Sirikit National Convention
Center during 27-29 May 04.
|
Problems and Solution
During
the internship programme, I faced some problems in my work. The
first problem is writing official letters. I had to write many kinds
of official letter both in Thai and in English which I have never
written before; for example, the official letter of invitation,
the official letter of informing and the official letter of sympathy.
These letters had been sent to national and international institute,
ministry as well as embassy; therefore, it needed exquisiteness.
I tried my best to cope with this problem by trying to study the
previous letter and consulted with my mentor, Dr. Kantatip Sinhaneti
and Ms.Piyapa Suangvatin, Marketing Officer including my Canadian
colleague. However, this kind of problem taught me to learn new
vocabularies and idioms used in business world. For me it is very
beneficial.
Besides writing official letter, I had some difficulties in translating
documents. I was assigned to translate the documents both from English
into Thai and Thai into English. This was my first time to translate
official documents. For translating English into Thai, my heavy-hearted
thing was that there are several technical terms that I have never
seen before. Moreover any dictionaries couldn’t help me. The
best way to solve this problem was “don’t hold on form”
but had to interpret and translate them from the context. In addition,
I didn’t forget to consult my mentor, Dr. Kantatip Sinhaneti
in order to make mistake least. And for translating Thai into English,
I was assigned from marketing officer to translate advertisement.
I haven’t been accustomed to using advertising language, so
it was quite difficult for me. I coped with this by learning advertising
language and idiom used in Internet, magazine and newspaper in order
to be guideline in using advertising language appropriately and
accurately.
|
| 1. |
Practice
every of English skill
During working at SEAMEO, I had a chance to use every of English
skill.
First is writing. I was assigned to write many kinds of
letter such as official letter of invitation, letter of sympathy
and letter of informing. This not only made me improve my writing
skill, but I also learned how to write business letter in the real
situation.
Second is reading. Since most documents are English, reading
skill is necessary.
Reading English documents everyday helped me have a better reading
skill. I can read faster and can find out main point easier. Moreover
reading made me familiar with good writing language used in working.
Third is listening and speaking. Since I worked with foreigners,
listening and speaking skill were unavoidably used. Throughout two
months in SEAMEO, I had to communicate with supervisor and colleagues
in English. Of course, my listening skill is improved and had more
confidence in speaking English.
|
| 2. |
Learn
and exchange new culture with foreign colleagues
As I said earlier, I had to deal with foreigners. Working with foreigners
from different countries and different background made me learn
and exchange new culture which helped me know their working style
and learn how to adjusted myself in working with foreigners.
|
3.
4.
5.
|
Learn
the process of organizing big conference and exhibition
Although I was a very small part of SEAMEO, I was considered to
the important part to assist in organizing big conference and exhibition
from the beginning to the last process. And this made me get much
knowledge in organizing big conference and exhibition.
Learn how to coordinate with regional, national and international
organization.
Learn how to deal with problems which occur in working life.
|
Receiving
Certificate of Appreciation from SEAMEO Secretariat Director
for assisting with the 2004 SEAMEO-UNESCO Congress and Expo |
|
Conclusion
The
internship program is very beneficial. It provides me good opportunity
to learn new things. Moreover it teaches me to know that world of
study and world of work are completely different. Unlike studying,
working life is not smooth. Often, I faced many problems during
working. I found that there are two valued things that help me to
solve problems are “braveness and patience”. Brave to
face and be patient to solve them.
|
Future
Plan
I
plan to work in international organization because I love English
and need to utilize it as mush as possible. Then, internship programme
at SEAMES is very useful because it provides me the good opportunity
to learn the nature of work in international organization. Hopefully,
all knowledge from my university and the valued experiences from
internship programme at SEAMES can effectively fulfil my future
career expectation.
|
Self-
Evaluation
In my opinion, I believe that I should evaluate myself from all
of the entire tasks that I successfully accomplished such as writing
business letter or translating several documents from English into
Thai and Thai into English including working as information provider
and award-giving assistant in SEAMEO-UNESCO Education Congress and
Expo held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center during 27-29
May 04. Above-all is my intention in working. During internship
programme, every of my task was carried out intently.
|
Impression
on the internship program at SEAMEO
The
first thing that impresses me is kindness of every staff and beautiful
friendship of Thai and Canadian colleagues. SEAMEO provide me experiences
and knowledge that I cannot get from any textbook. I had a great
chance to be a part of very big international conference which few
people can get this honorable chance. In addition, working with
people who come from different countries and different background
can make me learn how to adjust myself and learn their working style
automatically. Of course it help broaden my vision. |
|
