IAAW Buriram Project
The “IAAW-Buriram_Project@HU-Berlin” was initiated by Benjamin Baumann (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) and Naree Inram (Buriram Technical College). The MoU between the Institute of Asian and African Studies and Buriram’s Technical College grew out of Benjamin’s anthropological fieldwork in Buriram Province. Every summer semester break, the project offers up to six of our students who are learning Thai the chance to do an internship in Thailand. For a period of two months (from mid-July to mid-September) our BA and MA students work at Buriram’s Technical College and assist Thai English teachers with their English classes, engage in extra-curricular activities, and most importantly experience local Thai culture. The students live as a group in their own house on the College campus and will develop their own teaching projects prior to their departure. The project aims at enhancing our students' Thai and inter-cultural communication skills. The partnership of our seminar with a Technical College in Thailand is thought of as a complement to Humboldt's other MoUs with Thai universities.
Until recently, Buriram, located in Thailand’s lower Northeast, was one of the nation’s poorest and least developed provinces and thus remains rather rural in its outlook. However, one should not be misled by this rural image and keep in mind that societal transformations are ocurring in this province at an accelerated pace. The project thus offers a unique opportunity to experience local Thai culture and society beyond touristic tracks. The project is coordinated by Benjamin Baumann and Martin Schalbruch in Berlin as well as Naree Inram in Buriram.
The first batch of IAAW students (August–October 2014)
Naree Inram and Benjamin Baumann explain the program to the students of Buriram's Technical College (June 2014)
Group picture with Martin Schalbruch and the first batch of IAAW students after inaugurating the project (September 2014)
Teaching experiences
Local culture
Having fun
The second batch of IAAW students (July–September 2015)
Teaching English at Buriram's Technical College while practicing Thai
Enjoying Isan food during lunch break with Ajarn Naree
'Dinner party' at Ajarn Naree's house
The third batch of IAAW students (July–September 2016)
1st International Youth Camp at Buriram's Technical College
Visting Phanom Rung Historical Park as a part of the Youth Camp
Last day of teaching
The fourth batch of IAAW students (July–September 2017)
Introducing the new German students to the students of Buriram's Technical College
The first breakfast together with the students
Visting Phanom Rung Historical Park as a Part of the 2nd International Youth Camp at Buriram's Technical College
Morning assembly
Classes