BALANCED DEVELOPMENT by Nanut Kemasophot (on The Nation)

NaNut Kemasophot, manager of education franchise Global Art, believes that kids need entertaining exercises to stimulate both spheres of the brain.

Nanut Kemmasophot, general manager of Global Art & Creative (Thailand) Co, has attracted thousands of Thai kids aged 4-13 to Global Art’s local outlets for drawing and coloring lessons over the past six years.

But the kids are taught more than just the basics of drawing and coloring, says Nanut. “Creativity is the goal, so we train kids step by step to use their hand muscles while using drawing and coloring as the means to help stimulate their creativity.

“Our studies have shown that kids will learn better when it’s fun and they’re engaged. For example, melody and memory are complementary, so we use a lot of songs in our training.

“We also promote a balanced approach on music and art learning, as we don’t believe that it’s only the right brain at work,” he says.

“According to Nobel Prize winning American psycho-biologist Roger W Sperry, the human brain has two very different ways of thinking, with one (the right brain) being more visual and processing information in an intuitive and simultaneous way.

It’s like looking first at the whole picture, then the details, whereas the other (left brain) is verbal and processes information in and analytical and sequential way, looking first at the pieces then putting them together to get the whole

In Nanut’s opinion, the learning process should take into account both sides of the brain.

“For example, we believe that kids from 4 to 7 years old should be taught the basics of drawing and coloring within certain parameters.

“There should be some conformity and uniformity until they get older. In the 4-7 age groups, we need to help them think logically age as they draw and color.

“In China, there are reports that a kid was killed after watching a popular animated movie featuring supernatural characters and then copying one of its lethal acts- so we have to be careful.

“In our classes, if the kids are going to draw elephants that can fly the creatures ought to have wings, or if the kittens are going to be submerged, they should have oxygen tanks.

“In other word, we don’t advocate outlandish drawing and coloring as a means to unleash energies at this stage. Yet, our system is flexible for older kids who are mature and want to explore further,” he says.

Besides the basics, Global Art, a Malaysian-based franchise with branches in 20 countries, also offers advanced classes in painting, drawing, sketching and illustration.

According to Global Art Thailand), the local franchisee, which has 55 branches, the Thai market for supplementary and weekend schooling is worth in excess of Bt8 billion per year.

“In this business, we aim to fill the gap left by formal public and private schools, Today, maths is the biggest market, accounting for more than half of the total
supplementary and weekend schooling.

“The second biggest market is English followed by sports, music and art classes. In fact, Global Art (Thailand) is part of a larger business group which also operates the Enconcept Academy, a local franchise of English tutorial schools

“Maths is now the most popular subject because many Thai parents want their kids to study science, medicine or engineering in universities, so secondary-school students need to have extra classes after formal school hours.

“English used to be the biggest market, but it’s now smaller because there are more international and bilingual schools in the country.

“Music and art are quickly catching up, but they’re still behind sports and physical education classes such as swimming and taekwondo etc.

“After all, we believe in a balanced approach in education, using both sides of the brain,” he says.

WEEKEND BRUNCH

by... NOPHAKHUN LIMSAMARNPHUN