Apinun Nilsawaddi

Thai Scholar

Phranakhon Rajabhat University, Bangkok

During a six-week program, the MSU College of Education, Health and Human Development will host Apinun Nilsawaddi. She is this year's recipient of the JEEM Memorial Scholarship, which was established by the family of Dr. James G. Hauwiller to support international educational exchanges. While in Montana, Apinun will experience a home stay with Yvonne Hauwiller in Bozeman.

Brief Narrative Biography

Apinun Nilsawaddi, 46, is a "southern-born girl" from Thailand. She lives with her 13-year old daughter, Nutthanicha, in Bangkok. Apinun is an active woman who enjoys outdoor activities with her daughter. She has been a Girl Scout troop leader, thus is familiar with the outdoors. She enjoys walking, if it is not too hot and going to beaches because she likes to be near the water. Apinun loves nature, flowers, dogs (she has five of her own), reading and traveling. She likes learning about new things from the people she meets along the way. Apinun says, that while she is easy going, sociable, and friendly, she is not overly talkative.

She has been a teacher for 23 years; ten years at the secondary level before coming to Phranakhon Rajabhat University (PRU) in Bangkok. At PRU she has been a teacher, the head of the Department of English Teaching, and is currently the Assistant Director of Graduate Studies. She has been a leading proponent in introducing a more in-depth study of western culture. While in Montana, Apinun is interested in learning about intercultural communication, employing technology in instruction, and learning to be a more efficient administrator and effective teacher trainer.

Upon her return, Apinun will teach a course called Socio-Cultural Backgrounds of English Speaking Countries. She hopes to learn first-hand about American culture and incorporate what she learns into this course. She feels that she will learn a lot by meeting kids at schools, talking to teachers and community members, sightseeing, and experiencing everyday family life in America.