HISTORY

The Department of Thai Language has been established at Yangon University of Foreign Languages with the guidance of 2 faculty members in November, 1989.

The overall courses offered include intensive Thai speaking and listening skills, reading and writing skills, translation and interpretation, language through literature, culture, and linguistics in Thai. For the learners, the opportunities in practicing their language skills with native Thai people in authentic contexts. The graduates are engaged in teaching and translation work of Thai literature and culture in respective foreign colleges, universities and companies. Most of them have got the positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thai Company and Thai Embassy.

The department of Thai has an aim to become a center of Thai language learning recognized nationally and internationally for its efficient faculty members, quality research, highly skilled and ethically conscious students trained in Thai language, literature and cultures to meet the local as well as international needs.

MISSION

In keeping with the missions of the Yangon University of Foreign Languages, the Department of Thai will draw on its multicultural strengths and values by:

  • offering courses of study leading to the BA, MA, and PhD degrees in Thai languages based on the environmental needs
  • training undergraduate and graduate students, who go on to use their knowledge of and proficiency in Thai language, literature and culture in various professions and enterprises, including business, government service, and academia
  • expanding knowledge, through research in different areas, concerning the language, literature, and culture of Thailand
  • promoting educational and cultural exchange between the University and other institutions which offer Thai language courses in Asia

collaborating with other ministries in interdisciplinary curricular and doing research.

VISION

The Department of Thai seeks to become a centre of Thai language learning recognized nationally and internationally for its efficient faculty members, quality research, highly skilled and ethically conscious students trained in Thai language, literature and cultures to meet the local as well as international needs.

Heads of the Thai Department

No. Name Period
1 Prof. Daw Nwe Ni Wai 1989 – 2010
2 Assoc. Prof. Daw Su Su Khin 2010 – 2013
3 Assoc. Prof. Daw Me Me Tin 2013 – 2014
4 Prof. Dr Su Su Khin 2014 – Up-to-now

The Department offers the bachelor’s degree in Thai, the post-graduate Thai diploma and the master’s degree in Thai.

BA degree programme

As a milestone, the Bachelor degree in Thai language was officially started in 2010-2011 academic year.

Master degree programme

Thai department officially launched Master degree two years programme for those who had MA (qualified) for attending MA courses in 2017.

Thai diploma programme

It started introducing major courses at a post-graduate full time diploma level programme in 1996 and part-time in 2000 which provides the developments of four languages skills for students.

Customized Thai programmes for scholars from government officials

In conducting the courses, as the very first courses, in 1990, Basic Thai Language 4-month-Courses for government staffs and officers from various ministries were initially offered. Since then, the department has been continually conducting Thai Language Proficiency Courses for State Scholars from various Ministries till today.

HRD programme

In 1999, under the human resource development programme, the department started to offer Thai language proficiency 6-month Courses for those who have an interests in Thai language and whose education level is matriculated as a basis.

Daw New Ni Wai was the first Head of the Thai Department of YUFL who work from 1989 to 2010. She started her career on 16th January 1978. She got MA (Myanmar) in 1984. She went to attend Thai Language Course at Chulalongkorn University from 1987 to 1989. And she attended Seminar Cum Workshop on Teachers for the Thai language in Neighboring Countries on 24th July 2000 in Bangkok. She knows that language is like a very useful tool and necessary to practice forever. But it will never end.

Work Profile

University Position Start End
Yangon University Tutor 16.1.1974 14.12.1978
Yangon University Tutor 15.12.1978 4.12.1986
Yangon University AL 4.12.1986 23.12.1986
Pago Degree College AL 24.12.1986 7.6.1989
Yangon University of Foreign Languages AL & Head 8.6.1989 9.4.1993
Yangon University of Foreign Languages L & Head 9.4.1993 21.9.1999
Yangon University of Foreign Languages AP & Head 21.9.1999 11.12.2001
Yangon University of Foreign Languages P & Head 11.12.2001 16.9.2010

Prominent Scholars

The Prominent Scholars of the Thai department are Prof. Daw Nwe Ni Wai and Daw Nang Sai Shwe as the local scholars; and Assoc. Prof. Wirat Niyomtam and Assoc. Prof. Oranut Niyomtam, Naresuan University, Thailand who are giving the supports for the department in terms of every aspects of Thai Language, Literary arts and Cultural studies.

Staff Strength & Student Population

The currently Thai department is working with the collaboration of 12 faculty members. All faculty members hold tertiary qualifications, including 1 PhD thesis candidate, 5 International Master degree holders, 6 MA thesis candidates.

At present there are including 6 students in second year MA, 4 students in first year MA, 6 students in MA Qualifying, 47 students in Diploma, 46 students in fourth year, 54 students in third year, 56 students in second year, 43 students in first year, 200 students in HRD evening classes.

Daw Me Me Tin

Daw Aye Aye Kyin

Daw Wai Yee Khine

Daw Khine Khine Htike

Daw Thinzar Win Hlaing

Daw Su Su Khin (Associate Professor)

  • A Study of the Use of Reduplicated Words in Thai
  • Teaching Thai Language at YUFL
  • A Comparative Study on the 4 – Syllabled Compound word in Thai and Myanmar
  • Superstitions and Beliefs about the Plants in Myanmar and Thai
  • A Study of the Performance of the YUFL First Year B.A Thai Students in Pronouncing Thai Vowels Sounds : with Problem Based Learning Method
  • A Comparative study of thai Reduplicated words in the Thai and Myanmar Language
  • A Study of the Comparism between the types of Thai Legends and Myanmar Legends
  • Tai Yai Identity in Arunothai, Mueang Na, Chiang Dao, Chiang mai
  • A Comparative Study of the Thai and Myanmar Proverbs that are related Proverbs that are related to Animals

Daw Aye Aye Kyin (Associate Professor)

  1. A Study of Problem Analysis in Reading comprehension used by teaching of Buddha in Thai Magazine to Fourth Year BA Thai students at YUFL
  2. A study of the Buddhist Aphorism for Myanmar Householder from Dharma Magazines Published in 2020
  3. The Comparative Study of Thai–Myanmar Society and Cultural Aspects as Reflected through Proverbs

Daw Ohnmar Aung (Associate Professor)

  1. A Linguistic Study of Words of Politeness in Thai
  2. The Development of Electronic Book Entitled Thai Alphabet and Vowels for Myanmar Students in Thai Major in Yangon University of Foreign Languages Myanmar

Daw Than Thar Su (Assistant Lecturer)

  1. Rakhine Folktales : Function of Recording the social and lifestyle aspects of Rakhine People
  2. The comparative study of beliefs on Bodhi tree between Myanmar and Thailand

Daw Wai Yee Khine (Assistant Lecturer)

  1. Categories and Themes in Hla Taw jests,Watlat Township,Shwe Bo District,Sagaing Divison,the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
  2. Hla Taw Jests: Function of Recording the state of Society and Living Standard

Daw Shun Lae Win (Assistant Lecturer)

  1. Teaching Thai with story of related chicken for Myanmar students
  2. The development of a Thai Supplementary Book for Reading Entitled Thai chicken for Myanmar student

Daw Khine Khine Htike (Assistant Lecturer)

  1. Thai language and Myanmar language Combined nouns in a language Comparative study

Daw Phyu Yati Thin (Tutor)

  1. A Comparative study of the Thai and Myanmar Proverbs that are related to animals
  2. A Comparative Study of Animals that describes the characteristics of Human Through Thai and Myanmar proverbs

Daw Htet Htet Win (Tutor)

  1. A Comparative study of the Thai and Myanmar Proverbs that are related to animals

 

– Thai Language Teaching Standard Development in Higher Education in ASEAN+3 Countries (2015)

– Workshop on Thai language Teaching for New Thai Language Tutors from YUFL (2015)

– Workshop for Teaching Methodologies for junior staff (2016)

– Workshop for Research Methodologies for senior staff (2016)

– Workshop on The Development of Teaching and Learning Thai as a Foreign Language (2016)

– Workshop on Instructional Model of Thai Language Teaching as a Foreign Language for Lecturers of the Department of Thai (2018)

– Workshop on staff development and teaching methodology training (2020)

The department also provides services for translation and interpretation at conferences, seminars and meetings hosted by various Ministries and also provides support for the examinations of Ministry of Hotel and Tourism every year.

  1. Wirat Niyomtham (1997-1999)
  2. Auranu Niyomtham (1997-1999)
  3. Keawta Saliphot (2000)
  4. Brapaas Pengpoom (2000)
  5. Kanchana Witchayapakorn (2001)
  6. Rujroad Kaewurai (2013)
  7. Worachet Khieochan (2014,2016)
  8. Pichayapha Yuangsoi (2015)