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With a growing need to offer skills-based training worldwide, seminar leaders need to understand the unique environment created when trainer and trainees have limited time to achieve important learning goals. Based on interviews with Thai-based trainers, key characteristics emerged that reflect qualities expected of an effective trainer in a short course, and in particular, the Thai market. Centered on the role played by trainer knowledge of participants and their culture, the characteristics highlight the need to incorporate underlying aspects of Thai culture when planning and presenting a short course. While content expertise and teaching ability remain vitally important, the key to effectiveness is an ability to acquire and skillfully apply ideas that extend beyond needs analysis to include the social norms that identify Thais as a cultural group. The eight characteristics are discussed in detail, and while some are consistent with conventional wisdom, most originate from insights provided by the interviewees. The book concludes with recommendations and insights that could prove useful in Thai and other cultures for educators involved in short-course events.

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Tim Cornwall PhD (Adult Education) has been teaching EFL since 1979 in Tokyo, Klagenfurt and Bangkok. Managing Consultant with Speech Work Consultancy, Tim is an Executive Language Coach helping clients with work-related assignments, an English Instructor with corporate clients and a full-time lecturer at Shinawatra University, Bangkok.

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