A group of 17 teen students from Thailand rounded off their 3-week visit to Central Queensland with fun and games in the classroom. They entertained 2 youngsters, grandchildren of a staff member, with a Thai version of 'Drop the Hankie', the Thai name for which escaped your reporter....

LINK here for The Race That Stopped the Language Centre

Two of the group, Susita Phonsab (Kwan) and Varith Chuthapruttikorn (Titi) said their compatriots had thoroughly enjoyed their stay here. Amongst the activities undertaken, when they could escape the classroom, were visits to Glenmore State High School, where they met with locals as well as students from other lands...
Connecting with littlies

Kangaroos, koalas and other native fauna were favourites on a visit to Cooberrie Park, and they were suitably impressed by the securely penned saurian residents of Koorana Crocodile Farm.

The students were billeted with local homestay families, more of which are needed when the new 2010 intake of visitors commences.

Director of the English Language Centre, Mike Connon said young people from Thailand regularly visit the Centre, usually in the April to September period. He said, "Meeting young Australians in local high schools is an important factor in their short stay with us, in addition to the visits to local tourist facilities, including Great Keppel Island."...
Titi and Kwan

On the topic of the homestays, Mike said, "They get a pretty good view of Australian life, and that marries in well with what they learn in class." He pointed out that the homestay benefited the students greatly in that they worked harder to understand spoken English, and to use it to communicate with their homestay parents and children, "Our homestay parents are marvellous. They teach them probably more that we can teach in the classroom. When you're in a face to face situation they really learn the language, and a language is best learned by talking."

Kwan said she found it particularly helpful to come to Australia to learn English, rather than staying at home. Mike Connon reinforced that point stating, "In the homestay situation the student is surrounded by constant English whereas,  back home,  English is delivered in school for an hour or so, and then the student doesn't hear it again until the next day."...
Thai class

Titi said they were not looking forward to the rail journey to Brisbane to catch their flight home, principally because it was "a bit boring", referring to the many hours the trip takes. He and Kwan agreed, "Australia is a very big place!"