THAI & MANDARIN TEAM

Thayika Wathin

Thai Studies

Bachelor of Elementary Education - Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
 
Sawasdee ka :) I’m Ms. Thayika. I graduated from the Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University. Before moving to Berkeley, I was a trainee teacher at Chulalongkorn University Demonstration Elementary school and Mater Dei Institute a year before graduating. So Berkeley is my first place of work and this year is going to be my fifth year as a Thai teacher here. I’m really proud to be a part of Berkeley. I do love teaching students and always try to create a classroom environment that suits for learning Thai language and cultures. Although the Thai language is hard to learn, I will try my best to let all of my students reach their full potential and have fun in my class. We are Berkeley Lions! Hear us roar!

Yan Wang

Mandarin Studies

​Bachelors Degree in English Language and Literature , Shandong University

Bachelors Degree in Education, Shandong University

Masters Degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, Shandong University

Nihao, my name is Yan Wang and I am the MS & HS school Mandarin teacher. I'm from Jining, China, a famous historical and cultural city, and the hometown of Confucius. I have been living and teaching in Bangkok since 2011, and started to work at Berkeley in the year 2016. Before moving to Berkeley International School, I taught Mandarin at Eastern Asia University for three years and at Kasetsart University for two years. I wanted to be a teacher because it's a lot of fun interacting with the students, learning with them, and open a new perspective on the world around them by learning a new language and culture.

Papawee Setthananon (Best)

Thai Studies

Bachelor of Elementary Education - Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand

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Hello! Sawasdee ka! My name is Papawee Setthananon or you can call me “Best”. I was a trainee teacher at Srinakharinwirot University Demonstration Elementary school and Samsennok Institute a year before I graduated. I worked at  Maepra fatima School for 4 years where I taught Thai to both Thai Native and Non Native students. I had a chance to take exchanges students to Singapore camps too. Berkeley is my second place of work. I’m really excited and proud to be a part of Berkeley.

The Thai language is hard to learn, I will try my best to create my class enjoyable and safe for all of my students to reach their full potential and have fun in my class.  Learning is a lifelong journey. We are the Berkeley Lions! Hear us roar!

Krittika Rupraman (PuiFai)

Thai Studies

Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education - Majoring in Thai language teaching - Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Hello! My name is Pui Fai. This year is my 2nd year at Berkeley. I have had a two-year experience teaching Thai language to Thai secondary students in a British international school and have spent two years and a half abroad in Japan conducting Thai classes for international university students.

Missing spicy food and the international school atmosphere brought me to Berkeley!  

I love the diversity in the classroom where students can share ideas and learn things together with respect. The classroom where full of fun and activities waiting for my students.

When I’m not teaching, I enjoy aerial dance, scuba diving and surfing. I am looking forward to meeting you all this school year. Be ready and let’s enjoy learning Thai together!

Metavadee (Kate) Duangkaew

Thai Studies

Bachelor of Education (Art Education) Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Hello! Sawasdee ka! My name is Metavadee Duangkaew or you can call me “Kate”. I’m pleased to be part of the Berkeley team as a Thai Teacher for Kindergarten. I graduated from the Education Faculty of Chulalongkorn University. Berkeley International School is my first place in Thailand that I choose to start my work life, but here is not my first year of teaching experience. Before I start my job here, I was and a trainee teacher at Chulalongkorn University Demonstration Elementary school and Triam Udom Suksa School a year before graduated. After that, I was an instructor at the Heavenly Children's Adventure Center in California, United States. Until now I have teaching experience 4 years already and most of my teaching experience has been with children ages 3-10 years old. I will try to do my best to create my class enjoyable and safe for all of my students to reach their full potential. Teaching students is not only my job, it's my PASSION. Their smiles are my HAPPINESS. We are Berkeley Lions! Hear us roar!

Amy Liu

Mandarin Chair / Studies

Bachelor of Law, Harbin Engineering University
Master of Law, School of Law, Shandong University

Graduate diploma in Teaching, St. Theresa International College

Hello! I am Amy Liu, Mandarin Chair and Elementary School Mandarin teacher. I am from Qingdao, China and have been working at Berkeley since 2012. Wow 8 years and I love it! I also have 4 years of experience teaching Mandarin in Satit Kaset Thailand along with 2 years of teaching Law in China.

Mandarin equips students to participate more actively in the global community and to be more adaptable in an ever-changing world. The aim of the Berkeley Mandarin Program is to provide opportunities for students to acquire Mandarin language skills, as well as gain knowledge of the Chinese culture. I hope to teach students how a "local" would communicate ideas and practices by creating a fun, engaging and interactive classroom. Looking forward to seeing more students join our Mandarin program! 

Tanchanok Kaewkijja

Thai Studies

Bachelor of Education (major:Thai and French) - Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Co-Master Degree Program student - Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris, France

Master of Arts (French for the business World) -  Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Sawasdee kha! Hello! Bonjour! I am Ms. Niff. I graduated from the Faculty of Education, majoring in teaching Thai and French to secondary students.

I worked at an international school for 4 years where I taught Thai to both Thai Native and Non Native students.

I had a chance to teach Thai language and culture to exchange students in my previous school for many years too. 

In order to improve my teaching skills, I completed a Training course for Instructors of Thai to Foreigners at the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Mahidol University.

I know that Thai language is quite hard, however I will try my best to make Thai class fun!