Achievement

report

15th November 2014
GVI Conservation project helping improve English language abilities of the Mu
Koh Similan National Park Staff: English Lesson Test Results
Objective
To teach basic English language skills to all national park staff: to further their abilities as well to continue to build on our good partner relationship.
Summary
GVI Phang Nga Conservation staff and volunteers have taught a total of 12 National
Park staff members English over the course of a term: the vast majority of whom did
very well in the final exam. We are very excited to continue with the classes to further the excellent work that all students have produced.
Report
Mu Koh Similan National Park is located in the Andaman Sea, on southern
Thailand's west coast. Within its protective boundaries are 11 islands which are a
very popular snorkeling destination for tourists.
The GVI Phang Nga conservation project has been assisting the mainland office in
Tablamu, by teaching staff members English from a curriculum which has a strong
emphasis towards tourism.
GVI have been in partnership with Mu Koh Similan National Park since the beginning
of 2014. Our work consists of weekly English classes - the curriculum of which is
loosely based on that of the Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course
which we offer to the local people. At the end of each terms lessons which carry out
an oral exam which tests: understanding, meaning and form.
This term 12 female students participated in the English lessons. Of these students,
five were available to complete both the pre-test - an overview of the upcoming curriculum to gage their abilities, and end of term test.
Figure 1 is a simple bar-chart which displays the comparative results from these five
students: it is clear that with continued attendance and commitment, their abilities
have increased. Particularly students Khun Jim and Khun Bea whos results increased by over 45%!
Three students who were unable to participate in the pre-testing did successfully
complete the end of term exam (figure 2) and happily all passed with over 60%.
The remaining four students were unfortunately unavailable for the end of term test
as they had to drop out due to work commitments. They all participated in the pretest and their results indicate great potential for the future: we are hopefully that they
will be able to return for future classes.

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Figure 1: Student performance: Pre-testing vs End of Term Test results indicate that
all students results improved with continuing lessons.
Figure 2: Student Performance: E.O.T. Test compares the results of the students
who were available to complete the pre-testing.

Student performance: End of Term

test only
112.5
86.30

87.50

Mak Blang

Leyla

90.
67.5

61.30

45.
22.5
0.
Deng

E.O.T Test % (Oct 2014)

These lessons have the potential to be very beneficial as the majority of the students
spend considerable time out on the islands. A large proportion of the tourists which

visit the islands are European and have a basic understanding of the English language.

Student Performance: Pre-testing vs

E.O.T Test Results.
112.5

90.

71.30
59.70

67.5
45.

87.50 88.80

82.50

73.80
43.80
23.60

26.40

36.10

22.5
0.
Ooh

Bea
Pre test % (June 2014)

Jim

Iss

E.O.T test % (Oct 2014)

Thanks to these fantastic results, our volunteers are now able to proceed to teach
level two curriculum for the upcoming term. We hope that the students continue to
develop their English skills with these lessons.
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Som

GVI Conservation project will continue to work towards its long-term objectives supporting English education in the Phang Nga region, in line with the UN Millennium
Development Goal (MDG) to support universal Primary Education. We will continue
to work towards the MDG promoting gender equality and women empowerment with
the aid of these English lessons.
You can get firsthand experience in this project, or read more about the amazing
work our volunteers are doing within the local community by visiting our website.
Please like our facebook page, check out our blog and follow us on twitter for the latest information straight from the field.

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