A passionate linguist

Dr. Titima Suthiwan is Acting Director of the Centre for Language Studies at National University of Singapore (NUS); and she has been in Singapore for the past 11 years. After studying Thai language and literature at the Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, she obtained her PhD in Linguistics at University of Hawaii.

The history and science of languages inspired her to study linguistics as she was eager to analyze the origin of languages. In 1998, she helped to establish the Thai language programme at the Southeast Asian Studies Department in NUS. Prior to joining NUS, she taught in and coordinated the Thai language programme at various universities in the United States, including University of Hawaii, University of Washington, Arizona State University, as well as University of Oregon where she also coordinated the Laos and Khmer language programmes.

As the convenor of Thai language programme at the NUS, Dr. Titima designs the curriculum for each Thai language module, trains professional teachers and constantly improves the teaching materials through her own research and publications. Today, the Thai language programme is the largest and fastest growing foreign language programme in the world.
 

According to American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), languages are divided into four categories according to their difficulty in enquiring. Thai belongs to the second most difficult category. Students often have the impression that Thai script is confusing and the tones are difficult to pronounce. Dr. Titima begs to differ, “Thai is not a difficult language to learn if taught properly.”  Dr. Titima received the NUS Excellent Teacher Award in 2007.

Dr. Titima always reminds her students to learn for the sake of knowledge and not just for good grades. In order to do that she makes her classes fun and encourages her students not to be afraid in making mistakes. True enough, Dr. Titima’s students remember her fondly as a fun-loving “Ajarn”, which literally means professor.

Dr. Titima also places a large emphasis on her relationships with students and colleagues, often inviting them to dinner. Ang Heng Tin, a former student recalled, “Ajarn Titima responds to the interest of her students and develops personal relationships with each of them”. “I enjoy my life at NUS, as well as my personal life”, says the modest ajarn, who enjoys going to the movies and listening to jazz.

To find out more about the Thai language programme at the NUS, please visit the programme at http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/cls/. Non-NUS students who are interested in learning the langauge are recommended to visit the NUS Extension at http://www.nus.edu.sg/nex/ or call +65 6516 6666.

Top 10 Useful Thai words/ phrases for Tourists:

1. Hello: Sawatdii Khrap/ Kha *
2. Thank you: Khorp Khun Khrap/Kha
3. Sorry: Khor Thot Khrap/ Kha
4. Yes: Chai Khrap/ Kha No: Mai Chai Khrap/ Kha
5. Expensive: Phaeng Cheap: Thuuk
6. How much is this: Ra-kha-thao-rai Khrap/Kha
7. Can you make it cheaper: Lot- noi –dai-mai Khrap/ Kha
8. Where is …….? : ……….Yoo thii nai khrap/ Kha
9. I don’t want: Mai Ow Khrap/ Kha
10. May I take a photograph: Thaai Ruup dai mai Khrap/ Kha

* Khrap is used by men ; Kha by women