Burma Study Center

Migrant Education and Empowerment. Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Notices

Term 1 of 2024 is now underway. BSC is not accepting new students for our English program at this time. Registration for our next term will be in mid-July 2024.

Burma Study Center follows Thai government regulations for COVID-19 protocols and precautions. All students are encouraged to receive vaccination.

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Calendar

Important dates

Details

Library hours

Our library is currently open for browsing/borrowing by appointment only. Please contact us to schedule an appointment.

Contact

We Study Together

We take pride in offering quality education and community-building initiatives specifically tailored for young migrants and refugees of different backgrounds from Burma/Myanmar. Additionally, we extend our support to members of the international community by providing them with access to valuable information and research materials about the country.

In doing so, we aim to create a safe and welcoming environment where individuals of all backgrounds can come together, share their unique experiences, and learn from one another. Through education and community engagement, we strive to foster empathy, understanding, and appreciation for the richness of cultural diversity that enriches the human experience.

We Study Actively

At BSC, we cultivate an active learning environment that encourages student participation, active engagement in and out of the classroom, and individuality in every class. We are dedicated to supporting young individuals from Myanmar on their journey to enhancing their English language skills and elevating their educational pursuits to new heights.

Through interactive teaching methods, we strive to make learning both enjoyable and effective. Our skilled educators are committed to helping students develop their skills with not only English language, but also critical thinking and social-emotional learning. We believe that active engagement in the classroom not only accelerates language acquisition, but also helps nurture students to become active and influential citizens in their communities.

We Study Happily

We prioritize the promotion of well-being among our students. We firmly believe that a positive and joyful learning environment enhances the overall educational experience and contributes to students’ personal growth and academic success.

To achieve this, we organize a range of activities and events that cater to the interests and passions of our students. These events are designed to foster the cultivation of lasting friendships and ignite a passion for life-long learning.

Incorporating fun into the learning process helps students feel more motivated, curious, and open to exploring new subjects. We utilize interactive teaching methods that stimulate curiosity and creativity, making learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Vision, Mission, and Values

Vision

BSC envisions healthy, thriving, inclusive communities for the people of Myanmar in which every diverse individual is respected and enjoys opportunities to develop their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.

Mission & Core Values

BSC empowers migrants and refugees from Myanmar to achieve their full potential by providing access to quality education and community-building programs.

Together, we value learning, community, altruism, self-empowerment, and social justice.

Notices

Term1-2024 has commenced

Our Staff

Garrett Kostin, LICSW

Garrett Kostin is the founder and director of Burma Study Center. Originally from Seattle, Washington, USA, Garrett has nearly 20 years of teaching experience and has been working closely with marginalized communities of Myanmar/Burma since 2009. Garrett earned his Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Washington and holds certificates in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from both Seattle Pacific University and Chiang Mai University. Garrett currently teaches Level 3 at BSC. In his free time, Garrett enjoys exercise, nature, and cooking.‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎

Sai Sailern (Beam)

Sai Sailern (Beam) is a full-time teacher at Burma Study Center. Born in Hsipaw, northern Shan State, Beam migrated to Thailand in 2012 after five years of teaching displaced students on the Thai-Burma border. Beam teaches Level 2 in the evening, as well as individual students in the afternoons. In his free time, Beam enjoys singing, playing piano and guitar, and gardening. Beam says: "I see the importance of English for migrant students because English can help them create new opportunities in their personal and professional lives."

Sai Hpee (Mike)

Sai Hpee (Mike) is the manager and online teacher at Burma Study Center. From Mong Pawn, northern Shan State, Mike moved to Chiang Mai in 2017. He first joined BSC as a student, and later received a scholarship to study his bachelor degree in International Business Management at Rajamangala University. Mike’s future dream is to help villagers in his hometown by developing regional markets for organic coffee beans and avocados. “I like to share the education I have with other young people from Burma and help them in any way that I can”, Mike says.

Sai Naw Loa

Sai Naw Loa is a passionate educator and language enthusiast from Kali, eastern Shan State. He moved to Chiang Mai and began teaching English to migrants from Burma/Myanmar in 2019. He graduated with his bachelor degree from Maha Chulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University in Chiang Mai in 2023. He is currently teaching Level 1 at Burma Study Center. He enjoys journaling and listening to podcasts and music in his free time. Sai Naw Loa believes that English language is like a key that can open doors to the world, allowing us access to knowledge and up-to-date information.

Khin Cho Myint (Zulu)

Originally from Yangon, Zulu has more than 10 years of language teaching experience and has been working at Burma Study Center as a part-time English and Burmese language instructor since 2016. After earning her bachelor degree in physics at the University of Yangon, she started teaching English at NuPo Refugee Camp on the Thai-Burma border in 2012. She also taught beginner-level English at a private school in Yangon for two years. In her free time, she enjoys participating in Thai cultural events and introducing Chiang Mai to visiting friends and family from Yangon.

Yoom One

Yoom One is from Namsang in southern Shan State and has been living in Chiang Mai since 2010. She graduated from Meiktila University in economics before relocating to Thailand and continuing her education in social science at Chiang Mai University. She has worked as a medical social worker at Chiang Mai Ram Hospital for over 10 years. Yoom One is passionate about helping young migrants improve their education opportunities. She has been a part-time teacher at BSC since 2014, teaching beginner-level English. In her free time, Yoom One enjoys volunteering, singing, and nature.

Bob Nanthakorn, PhD

Dr. Bob is of German-British nationality and has been a lecturer and research associate at Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University in Bangkok since 2021. He completed his PhD at Linköping University in Sweden in 2021. Dr. Bob has been providing weekly online English conversation classes for Burma Study Center students since 2022. He values BSC’s assistance with his research on education on the Thai-Burma border and in Myanmar, and looks forward to future collaborations.

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Fiona Boyle

Fiona is a CELTA-certified English teacher from Ireland. She lived in Thailand for two years and was based in Chiang Mai in 2019 when she began volunteering with advanced students at Burma Study Center. During COVID, she was pleased to be able to reconnect with her students online from Ireland, where she spent more than one year in lockdown. Since then, she has moved to Australia and has continued teaching weekly online classes, providing valuable instruction in research, public speaking, presentation skills, and professional writing for BSC students.

Jim Richardson

Jim is a retired teacher-librarian from Australia. He first stopped by to visit Burma Study Center in 2010 and has been assisting ever since. Jim provided essential expert support in professionalizing BSC’s library of materials on Burma/Myanmar and creating BSC’s Online Catalog. He is passionate about supporting education programs for marginalized communities, particularly the Shan community. Jim says: “BSC is about real education: grounded in need, enthusiasm, and fun. I’ve also seen how empowering and transformative BSC can be in the lives of students.”

Kaeng Kham

Kaeng Kham, originally from Mong Yai in southern Shan State, Myanmar, embarked on a journey to further her education in 2022 after graduating from Yang Boo School in Kengtung. Her pursuit of knowledge led her to Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she is pursuing her bachelor degree in humanities at Maha Chulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University. In August 2023, Kaeng Kham joined the BSC team as our Level 1 English teacher, furthering her commitment to education and sharing her knowledge with others. Apart from her studies and teaching, Kaeng Kham finds joy in her free time through cooking and music.

Simon Dalexy

Simon was born on the Island of Dominica, West Indies and immigrated to the United States when he was very young. After graduating from the University of Washington in Seattle, he became a teacher and school administrator working in middle schools. Two years ago, Simon retired and relocated to Thailand seeking ways to assist children, families, and their communities. He began assisting Burma Study Center in 2022, helping university-bound students develop their math and reading comprehension skills. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and engaging in Chiang Mai's wonderful music scene.

Programs and Policies

We provide the following programs

English Program

Scholarship Program

Community Activities Program

Library Program

Burmese & Shan Program

Current policies

Student Policies (English)

Student Policies (Shan)

Calendar


	23-24 January 2024	New Student Registration for Term 1/2024

	Monday 5 February 2024	First Day of Term 1/2024

	Monday 26 February 2024	Makha Bucha Holiday (NO CLASSES)

	13–21 April 2024	Songkran Holiday/Term Break (NO CLASSES)

	Wednesday 22 May 2024	Visakha Bucha Holiday (NO CLASSES)

	Friday 28 June 2024	Last Day of Term 1/2024

	Late July 2024	New Student Registration for Term 2/2024

	August 2024	Start of Term 2/2024