The Visual Representation of Happiness of Learning through the Lens of Teachers, Students and Schools in the 3 Southern Border Provinces as Reflected in the Local Stories in the Grade 1 and 2 Specific Thai Reading Practices

Abstract

          This research article’s purpose is to analyze the visual representation of happiness of learning through the lens of teachers, students and schools in the three southern border provinces in Thailand as reflected in the local stories in the Grade 1 and 2 specific Thai reading practices. The local stories to be analyzed were written by the teachers in the three southern border provinces based on their local contexts. As a qualitative research, this research elicited data mainly from the local stories included in the specific Thai reading practices of the “Grade 1 and 2 Basic Vocabulary List Book”. Hall’s notion of representation was employed as the research framework and descriptive analysis was done in the discussion section. The findings reveal three types of the visual representation of learning in the three southern border provinces as follows: 1) the teachers in the three southern border provinces care for their students, are determined to perform their teaching in these areas of unrest without fear, and provide education and life skills for their students; 2) the students in the three southern border provinces are enthusiastic about studying; and 3) the schools in the three southern border provinces are located amongst the pleasant environment and abundant nature that support the learning of their students. It can thus be stated that the visual representation of happiness of learning at the Grade 1 and 2 level in the three southern border provinces as reflected in these practices aims at disclosing this distinctive specific of happiness of learning in the areas to the outsiders and pointing out to the public that the teaching and learning management done in the areas clearly differs from that of the national core curriculum that does not respond to the actual situation in the areas.