I
admit that I never aware of the importance of the AEC until I attended the
seminar which was held at our university last year and NOW I have a better
understanding that the AEC is
meant to be united the ASEAN countries as one community and transform
it into a single market and production base. However,
more than half of my friends don’t know about this and some of them even never
heard of it. This is a bad sign. Time is running out because it’s only 2 years
and 10 months left before the AEC begins in 2015.
That
brings us to the Question that “Are we ready for the upcoming AEC?” In my
opinion, we’re not ready yet.” But I think if we prepare ourselves thoroughly,
the AEC would not affect us that badly and we may even find good opportunities
from it.
I’ve
been preparing myself since I’ve known what the impacts of the AEC on my life
will be. For me, I see the AEC as a new challenge and experience. If I want to
get benefits from the AEC, firstly, I have to change my point of view. I have to
aware that only a bachelor’s diploma is not enough because when the AEC has
come, the competitions will
not be just in Thailand anymore. Citizens from other ASEAN countries
will come to work here.
Jobs may be harder to find in Thailand and easier elsewhere. If I don’t want to
get left behind, I have
to find a way to increase my job opportunities. I also have to accept and
respect cultural diversity, learning about other ASEAN countries’ cultures,
histories and languages because I will be working with
and for people from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds. I also have to forget all of Thai’s
working styles and behave in a way that shows respect for
other people’s cultural practices and beliefs.
By
the way, foreign languages are still the 1st first thing that we need to consider, particularly English, because
it will be the language for communication and business in the AEC.
Except for Thailand,
citizens in ASEAN countries can speak fluent English and citizens
in CLMV countries which include Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam can also
speak France and Thai. This
makes us being in a disadvantage position. This is our huge
problem. If we want to catch up with them, there are 2 certain things that we
must do.
1. We
should improve our English skills immediately. I think that in the next few
years every
field of work needs persons with mastering English. That means the better
skills in English we have, the more opportunities we’ll get and…
2. We should learn about ASEAN languages. I think I’m lucky that I’ve learned
some of Bahasa Melayu or that will benefit me to have an opportunity to work in
Malaysia and Brunei because they use the same language and here are some
examples of common conversation in Bahasa Melayu.
Awak berasal dari mana? - Where are you come from?
Saya berasal dari Thailand- I come from Thailand.
How’s that? You see it’s not that hard to learn. I can do it and so do you.
Now I’ve come to the conclusion, with the fast approaching
AEC, I may encounter both opportunities
and crises. If
I have a high flexibility to adjust, the AEC is certainly my opportunities. But
if I won’t step outside of my comfort zone and do something, I’ll be left behind
and my opportunities will turn into crises. I won’t wait until I experience the
impacts of it because it may be too late.
So
don’t wait for the government to push this to a national agenda.
Don’t be unconcerned about this.
Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do
today.
Prepare yourselves first and Start it
now. I already start it. Now it’s your turn.
-end-
picture: http://www.thaibusinesspr.com
