Nationality: Thai
Native language: Thai
Location: Lak Si, Bangkok, Thailand
Birthday: October 5th, 1992
Education: Silpakorn University (Thai major)
Sarawittaya school (Math-English program)
Work Experience:
Private Thai teacher | PickupThai
Thai teacher | Thai Language Hut school
Thai teacher | My Thai Language school
Years of Thai Teaching Experience: 2015-Present
Foreign Language Abilities: English (fluent), Chinese (beginner)
Hobbies: Trekking, working out, ceramic painting, reading,
playing the guitar and exploring international cuisines.

Tell me about yourself.
Hello everyone, my name is Jane. I was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand and I’ve been teaching Thai to foreigners since 2015. I first started teaching Thai when I was in college, and now it’s my full-time job. I enjoy talking to people from other countries and learning about their cultures. Outside of teaching, I love spending time in nature—any place with lots of trees and fresh air, particularly trekking and exploring waterfalls. When I’m in the city, I enjoy trying different cuisines, I find it a fun and delicious way to learn about other cultures, traditions and ways of life. I also enjoy taking courses on various topics, especially related to language, teaching methods, and cognitive science. Whenever I find an interesting course that fits my schedule, I sign up. I believe that learning new things keeps life exciting and helps me become a better teacher.

What inspired you to become a Thai teacher?
I have such a deep interest in the Thai language that I chose to major in Thai in college and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Thai Language. My studies included courses in linguistics, poetry, literature, academic writing, and Pali-Sanskrit, all of which I truly enjoyed. Not only am I passionate about the language, but I also truly enjoy teaching it. Teaching Thai to foreigners has been my sole focus and career since graduation, and I am fully dedicated to it. I plan to continue doing this for the rest of my life. My ultimate goal is to become the best teacher I can be and to make learning Thai as simple as possible for my students.

What do you like about the Thai language?
There are many features of the Thai language that I love. One of my favorites is how tones allow for endless wordplay, making it easy to create jokes. The same basic word sound can have up to five different meanings depending on the tone used. I also like the sound of the language. Thai poetry is especially beautiful because of the way it uses the rhyming of consonants, vowels, and tones. Finally, I like how we can express our thoughts and emotions in so many unique ways through the numerous ending particles that Thai has—something that doesn’t exist in most other languages.

What kind of teacher are you?
I’m kind and open-minded. I’m always open to discussing anything you’re interested in or have questions about. I’m also very patient. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fast learner, or you need more time—I’ll support you in learning at your own pace. I’ll explain whatever is confusing you, and give additional examples until you understand. I always encourage my students to speak in Thai as much as possible, as I believe this helps them learn the language. Since I’m a talkative person, our classes together will certainly never be quiet or boring! Lastly, in Thai, it’s very important to communicate using appropriate and suitable language, which is why it’s one of my main focuses in teaching.

How do you continue to develop your teaching skills?
I believe that being a great teacher means continuously learning and evolving. Every year, I set a goal to attend at least three professional development courses to acquire new teaching techniques and enhance my existing knowledge.

I have participated in training programs at renowned universities and language institutes that focus on different aspects of teaching. For example, I completed a course on innovative language teaching, which helped me create more interactive and engaging lessons by incorporating modern teaching strategies. I also trained in brain-based learning, which provided scientifically backed techniques to help students retain vocabulary and transfer knowledge into long-term memory.

To deepen my expertise in Thai linguistics, I have taken courses that explore Thai grammar, language structures, and effective teaching methodologies. One training program specifically focused on helping non-native speakers improve their Thai pronunciation. These tools have been particularly useful for students struggling with Thai tones and challenging consonant sounds, allowing me to give them clear, structured guidance on how to improve.

Additionally, I completed an intensive program on teaching Thai using only Thai, which was both exciting and challenging. This approach is particularly beneficial for students who don’t use English as a bridge language. It has helped me design more immersive lessons and find ways to make Thai comprehensible even for complete beginners.

Beyond formal training, I also engage with other educators to exchange ideas and stay updated on the latest teaching methodologies. These discussions provide valuable insights that help me refine my approach and continue delivering high-quality, student-centered lessons. I believe that by continuously improving myself, I can provide the best learning experience for my students.

What advice would you give to learners who want to start learning Thai?
First, learn Thai with a native teacher. This is particularly important with Thai because you need a native speaker to correct your mistakes with tones and pronunciation, but it’s also useful to learn correct grammatical structures and writing. With a native speaker, you have the advantage of being able to mimic the way they speak—something you won’t get if you learn from a non-native speaker. Studying with a non-native speaker may also prevent you from learning to speak natural-sounding Thai.

Second, you should focus on speaking and listening before writing and reading. From my experience, most students who start learning Thai by speaking tend to progress much faster than those who begin with writing. It’s the same process as when children start learning languages—they listen to what their parents say and learn to speak by imitating them. Lastly, practice as much as you can. There is no shortcut to become good at Thai except to keep practicing it. Do it every day. Collect new words and practice using them and you’ll be speaking Thai fluently before you know it.

Want to learn Thai with Mary Jane?