Don Daniele: KANGAROO

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 3 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2556

KANGAROO

KANGAROO

Opening Speech of the English Camp

Thursday, October 3, 2013

My dear teachers and beloved children,

Today is a special day for our school which we begin the English Camp 2013, I am very happy to preside over the English Camp this year. I hope everyone will be happy also and gets benefit during these two days and one night.

I have one word to say with you, that is “Kangaroo”. What is kangaroo? In Thai we call Jingjo (จิงโจ้) which is a symbol of Australia. Kangaroos have large, powerful hind legs, big feet adapted for leaping, a long muscular tail for balance, and a small head. For female kangaroos have bags in front their stomach in order to keep their babies.

Does anyone know the real meaning of the word “Kangaroo”? In 1770 when Captain James Cook, the British explorer, navigator, and mapmaker, discovered Australia and saw Kangaroos for the first time. He was amaze and wanted to know this kind of animals. So he asked the local people “what are these animals”?

The local people said “Kangaroo”. The word Kangaroo is the local language, means “I don’t understand you”. The local people did not understand what Captain Cook asked. But Captain Cook thought that it was the name of that animal, so he called it “Kangaroo” from that time.

I tell you this story to let you know that the language is important. We cannot understand each other, if we do not know their own language. Especially, English is very important in our time, it is the universal language. We are going to open AEC, we cannot understand the ASEAN people, if we do not know English.

I hope it is a great opportunity for you all to improve your English. So you have to open your minds and hearts to all activities and try to do your best during this camp. Don’t be shy to speak English and don’t speak Thai anymore, even in minimart and dining hall.