Ep.5 : B.A. in Language for Careers (International Program) 2021 Edition

***Highlights***

• Courses’ introductions; Program strengths

• Expected learning outcomes of the courses

• Total credits requirements

• Overview of year 1 - 4

• Elective minor language and major courses

• Plan for Major Track

• Tips for studying international programs

• Place to study

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Hello guys! Welcome to Lao Soo Gun Fung Episode 5.

How are you, dear readers? Well, In this fifth article, we will tell you more about some great courses in B.A. Language for Careers (International Program). In the highlights, we’ll give you an overview of the various subject areas to study, including major and minor courses, plus course credits, etc. Don’t wait any longer. Let’s get started!!

LCI or the Bachelor of Arts Program in Language for Careers (International Program), Faculty of Humanities at Srinakharinwirot University

Although the transition from the Thai curriculum to the current international program was not long ago, our program has had 6 batches of students. Some people may be wondering, why did we make such move? The reason why the Thai curriculum was changed to an international one was because the program would like the students to focus on communicating effectively in English and making the most of other professional languages, such as Japanese and German in order to follow the program philosophy: “World-class competence in languages, careers, and integrity”.

For the motto of the Language for Careers

The motto in English

The motto in Thai

We believe that many high school students are interested in our LCI. This is proven by the increasing number of students every year. So, we would like to congratulate all the freshmen who have joined the LCI family this year.

Next, let's talk about ‘The Program Strengths’

Currently, our program offers TWO interesting tracks including Language for Business and Language for Hospitality Management. Students are encouraged to study abroad, and receive transfer credits for any courses taken on study abroad programs. Moreover, students are also encouraged to take courses of the third languages, such as Chinese, Japanese, German, in the target language countries provided through collaborations between Srinakharinwirot University and our MOUs academic partners of well-known Universities in North America and Japan as listed.

1. Juniata College, The United States of America

2. Illinois State University, The United States of America

3. University of Alberta, Canada

4. University of Queensland, Australia

5. University of Canberra, Australia

6. School of Information and Communication, Meiji University, Japan

Pending Future Collaboration: University of British Columbia, other well-known State Universities in California, New York, and Massachusetts.

As an international program, English is taught throughout the curriculum. Every student will be able to communicate directly with native English speakers in almost every subject together with taking some courses with Thai professors. Our Thai professors are also fluent in English and very professional. For those who have studied Thai language programs in high school all along and are afraid that you are not good at English, we can say that you don’t have to worry about it. Before the start of the first semester in the first year, every freshman will learn some basic English courses to familiarize his/herself with the atmosphere in the classroom. You will have an opportunity to interact directly with teachers in class and will absorb the English language from listening every time. Our teachers here are great helpers in learning and improving your English language skills.

For the international environment,

Most of our students are Thais who love English. But there are also some foreigners. The author's friend is a Nigerian. His name is Samson. I had the opportunity to ask him what he thought of the LCI. He told me,

“A new experience, culture, and environment. The International program is fully in-depth and really impressive. I got to explore and push myself to the extreme. Make new friends, get to see a new culture and understand it”. -Samson Olaseni-

And I heard that one of the LCI juniors (the fifth batch) is a Zambian.

The learning style is a combination of lectures and activities. For a lecture, it is fun and very knowledgeable. Our English Phonetics class is a good example. Students will know how to pronounce the correct English language and the organs involved in vocalization. It may sound like a difficult subject, but the instructor will definitely have a teaching method that makes us understand. For a student like me, it's a very important subject for studying in international programs or even majoring in English. All students can express their opinions at any time in the classroom.

Next, we're talking about some activities that happen in the class, for example, debating different topics with classmates. The instructor usually divides students into groups and takes turns teaching the classmates one group per week. The students take turns in leading the class, including doing projects—such as making a simulation guided tour for foreigners, also creating some advertising to sell the products. Sounds fun, isn't it? It looks like you have to join us and try it for yourself.

Expected Learning Outcomes (ELOs) :

1. Communicate in daily life and at work effectively.

2. Acquire knowledge and skills in business and hospitality.

3. Acquire IT skills.

4. Become a good citizen of the country and the world.

Total Credits Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts program in Language for Careers (International Program) requires a minimum of 132 credits for Curriculum 2019: General Education at least 30, Major courses at least 78, Minor courses at least 18, and free elective courses at least 6.

Overview of year 1 - 4

Year 1: Study general education courses to adjust teaching and learning, such as Careers and Language for Careers, Western Culture and Languages, English for Effective Communication, Life in a Digital World, General Education for Human Development.

Year 2&4: Major courses, elective major courses, minor language courses, and free elective courses.

Summer year 3: 3-month internships domestically or internationally

Minor Language

For elective minor language courses or third language, we offer 3 interesting languages for you to choose, as follows:

• Chinese

• Japanese

• German

Major Track

Elective major courses, we offer 2 major tracks for you to choose, as follows:

• Language for Digital Business (Language for Digital Business Information Management, Language for Finance, Digital Medical Content Writing for Business, etc.)

• Language for Hospitality Management (Language for Airline Business, Language for MICE Management, Language for Public Relation in Service Industry, etc.)

Plan of study for both major courses: Language for Business and Language for Hospitality Management.

Plan for track I: Language For Digital Business

Plan for track II: Language For Hospitality Management

The images above are the study plan of each major course that must be studied from

1st - 4th year. In a rough summary,

Year 1: All students will study general education courses as the basic subjects for learners. It is a subject that is generally studied in general, not specific to any particular major courses.

Year 2: All students will choose a major and a minor (third language) course based on their preferences and aptitudes. While other courses will be slightly more difficult from 1st year.

Year 3: Students must start collecting free elective courses. You can choose the course you want to study. The timing of each subject is important to consider when you choose a free elective course. Because the time of a free elective course must not collide with the main course. Come in the part of volunteer activities.

In the third year, there is a course called Leadership and Effective group. We will study theory and analyze various case studies and this course also includes project and community services. Students must work together to plan the work from start to finish. Instructors will be responsible for consulting and recommending only. In this project, everyone in the team must help prepare everything, coordinate each team and work effectively as teamwork. Because of this project, everyone in the team has to work together to prepare everything for planning, whether fundraising, survey, daily activities, coordinate each team and work effectively as teamwork and be a good team player. Therefore, students will learn to plan and perform practical tasks together with everyone in the team, developing leadership skills in their daily life and profession in the future, and practice students to face and solve problems on their own. The main activities are to bring knowledge of English to teach with a group of people including games, various recreational activities. However, during the preparation period, you may feel tired and stressed, but on the activities day, you will forget those feelings and I can tell you that you’ll find only the fun. Each year's projects are different, but most will involve children and the elderly, which are determined by the instructors. Besides that, the great experience that all students will have to do is an internship or practicum. Students can choose a mode of internships such as an outbound internship, inbound internship, or cooperative education. The internship period will begin in the summer of the third year. After you complete the internship period, you need to submit a practical training report to the instructors. Therefore, LCI does not require a thesis.

Year 4: Most of the time, the rest are minor and major courses, which is the main course that we need to collect all credits.

Tips for studying international programs:

• Before studying any subject, you should review the content first to prepare yourself and we will understand more when the professor explains.

• If you don't understand or don't know any part, you can ask the professor right away in the classroom. The professors here are all very kind and friendly.

• When you have time to spare, read what you have learned before the exam and use a highlighter to highlight important points.

• Practice listening often, reading English articles to remember sentences, phrases, and words also writing the new vocabularies, and speaking in responses to get used to.

• When you see or want to say something, try to think in English.

By doing this regularly, it will definitely improve your English skills.

Let's come together to the place to study.

Our students study at Srinakharinwirot University, Prasarnmit Building 38 (New Building), Faculty of Humanities, for all 4 years as Language for Communication or LCC, which is also another international program.

Map of the FHM building

New building

Ultimately, our graduates are recognized with outstanding English and career skills which equip them for professions in international business sectors, hospitality management, and international media. Some of our LCI alumni careers include news reporters at NBT World, flight attendants at Nokair, and passenger service agents at Emirates Airline for Bangkok Flight Services (BFS). Actually, everyone can take any careers they have their eyes on.

For those who are interested in this program and wish to join the LCI family, please follow us to update the application guidelines for each round.

Lastly, we hope that you will receive more or less information. Thank you all in advance for reading this. If you have any questions about LCI or want to follow the news closely,

you can follow via:

Facebook page: Language for Careers international program, SWU

Twitter: SWU LCI

YouTube channel: SWU LCI

The main website: http://cis.hu.swu.ac.th/

Wish you all stay safe and see you in the next article!

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