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Introducing Ink: Meet the university’s newest Thai instructor

Ink Likitsrikarnchana

October 22, 2024

The Center for Southeast Asia and its Diasporas recently sat down with Ink Likitsrikarnchana, a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) and instructor in Thai for the 2024-25 academic year.


What inspired you to apply to the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program?

As a language teacher, the FLTA program fits perfectly with my career goal and personal interest in cultural exchange. This program allows English teachers from around the world to come to the U.S. and teach their native languages at colleges and universities for nine months. Applying for the FLTA program gives me such a unique opportunity to fulfill my aspirations of teaching Thai, sharing my cultural knowledge and learning from others in a new environment.

You’ve mentioned that this is your first time to the United States; what drew you here, as well as to the University of Washington?

America has always been at the top of my bucket list of places to visit. Many of my good friends in Thailand are from the U.S., and they’ve shared stories about amazing national parks here. As a language teacher and traveler, I’ve always been intrigued by American culture and its educational system.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have been placed at the University of Washington through the final selection and placement process arranged by the Institute of International Education (IIE). In my opinion, UW is one of the most prestigious and beautiful campuses I’ve ever seen. Surrounded by the city and natures, the UW campus really reminds me of Chiang Mai university, where I used to teach at.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as a Fulbright scholar?

During my time here at UW as an FLTA Fulbright scholar, I hope to gain a valuable insight into American culture while building up my teaching skills through a professional development. My goal is to inspire a lifelong interest in learning Thai among my students. Beyond the academic experience, I’m also excited to explore the natural beauty of the state and go hiking in the many national parks around here.

Any advice for people considering applying to the FLTA program?

The application process can feel overwhelming with its many details. There are several essays to complete, and I wouldn’t recommend rushing through them all at once. Give yourself time to process each part, allowing your ideas to flow naturally. Take breaks, and then return to reread your work with fresh eyes. Each time you come back to your essay, you’ll likely gain a new perspective and improve it further.

You discussed having to relearn aspects of Thai before coming to the UW, can you describe what that experience was like?

Before coming here, I took an online Thai teacher training course from Mahidol University, where I learned how to teach Thai to non-native speakers. It was fascinating to see the differences between how Thai is taught in traditional Thai schools versus a Thai language classroom for foreign learners. Beyond the teaching methods, I spent a lot of time reflecting on the essence of Thai culture, why we do certain things, and revisiting the basics of Thai consonants and vowels to ensure I could explain them clearly to my students.

Throughout this process, I’ve been fortunate to have wonderful students who’ve supported me as I relearned and unlearned various aspects of my own language and culture. Their engagement has made this experience even more rewarding.

Anything else you’d like readers to know?

If you ever have a chance to travel to Thailand, make sure to visit Chiang Mai. Seattle actually reminds me of Chiang Mai as they both have a perfect blend of nature and city altogether. Chiang Mai is actually the second largest city in Thailand and one of the most visited, located in a valley surrounded by mountains. This city is rich with over 700 years of Lanna culture and a vibrant art and music scenes. I moved from Bangkok to Chiang Mai about 7 years ago and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.