Long before he became a lecturer at an Ivy League university, Maytee Pakdiponpong was a Thai student sitting in local classrooms and studying English as a foreign language himself.
Years later, he would go on to earn a Master’s degree in TESOL from the University of Pennsylvania, teach English language courses at U Penn and Rider University in the United States, become a Chartered Linguist recognised by the Chartered Institute of Linguists in the UK, and build a career spanning international higher education, curriculum leadership, and applied linguistics.
Maytee’s background and his incredible journey from beginner to expert shapes the way he teaches. He understands what it feels like to search for the right word in English, to worry about making mistakes, and to work toward communicating with confidence in international academic and professional environments.
At AIHM, he now brings that perspective into the English for Business and Academic Studies (EBAS) programme, helping students strengthen the language skills they need for hospitality, business, and university-level study.
Maytee Pakdiponpong – Lecturer, English for Business and Academic Studies
Alongside Maytee’s work in the classroom, his academic research has explored topics ranging from authentic learning methodologies to the ways language can shape social perception.
His classes combine active communication, critical thinking, and practical language use, supported by years of experience teaching learners from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Get to know him in the Q&A below, where he describes:
- his own university journeys
- the value of education that his parents instilled in him
- his teaching approach
- his advice for students who are starting college
Q&A with Maytee Pakdiponpong
What would your students be surprised to find out about you?
I believe they would be surprised to learn that I began my career as a university lecturer teaching English in the United States. As a Thai person who attended Thai schools for both secondary school and undergraduate studies, I always thought it would be incredibly exciting to become an English teacher in an English-speaking country. After completing my degree in English language teaching at the University of Pennsylvania, I worked as an English instructor at the English Language Institute at Rider University in New Jersey. In addition, I also taught English and Thai as foreign languages to undergraduate students at Penn for a couple of years. Of course, it felt remarkable to be teaching not only in the U.S. but also at an Ivy League institution such as Penn.
I could easily write an essay about how I got there, but what I want to share is that I am proof of the saying, “You are capable of making anything happen.” Therefore, always believe in yourself and always give more than 100% in whatever you do. Eventually, you can turn your dreams into reality.
Why do you teach?
I teach for two important reasons:
1) I teach because I believe education improves people’s lives.
Both of my parents came from underprivileged backgrounds and did not have university degrees. In fact, one of them barely completed Primary 4. Nevertheless, they worked tirelessly to support my brother and me so that we could receive the highest level of education possible. They always told us that education would allow us to avoid many of the hardships and struggles they had experienced themselves.
And they were right. The fact that I am now a faculty member at AIHM is proof of how education can transform a person’s life. Education has given me opportunities to see parts of the world that many members of my family could only dream of. I am now living the life my parents hoped I would have, and I am proud not only of myself but also of making them proud.
Because I have personally experienced the positive impact of education, I want to pass this belief on to others. Education may not always change a person’s social class, but it can certainly transform lives in meaningful ways. It develops determination, resilience, discipline, and a broader global outlook. As the saying goes, “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”
2) I teach because I want to continue learning.
According to Edgar Dale’s Pyramid of Learning, one of the most effective ways to learn is by teaching others. Once I became a teacher, I realised that I could never stop learning. I must continually keep pace not only with developments in my field but also with new teaching methodologies, technologies, and current events.
What I enjoy most is that teaching allows me to engage in meaningful discussions with like-minded people every day. My colleagues and I exchange ideas, share teaching practices, and learn from one another’s experiences. My students are also an essential part of this learning community. Many people underestimate how much teachers learn from their students, but I have learned a tremendous amount from mine. Every class I teach becomes a learning experience for me as well.
Because teaching allows me to pursue the two things I care about most — educating others and learning continuously — it has been my career from the very beginning.
Could you give us four adjectives you would use to describe your teaching style? How did you develop this style?
I developed my approach through both formal pedagogical training and over fifteen years of teaching experience working with students from diverse linguistic, cultural, and academic backgrounds.
The four adjective that best describe my teaching style:
Objective-driven: Every class I teach has clear learning objectives that are explicitly communicated so that both my students and I understand what the lesson is designed to achieve and whether those goals have been met.
Communicative: Because those objectives focus not only on knowledge but also on practical language use, my classes are highly communicative, as I believe students develop English proficiency through speaking, writing, interacting, and actively using the language in meaningful contexts.
Active: Since communication skills cannot be developed passively, my students are expected to think critically, collaborate with classmates, discuss ideas, and create meaningful outcomes through active participation rather than simply sitting and taking notes.
Flexible: While this active learning environment can be demanding, I remain flexible by adapting my teaching materials, activities, and strategies to accommodate different learning styles and create a safe environment where all students feel comfortable expressing their ideas.
What inspires you both professionally and personally?
What inspires me most is being surrounded by passionate people. You can immediately recognise passion through the way people speak and the expression in their eyes. They speak with sincerity, confidence, and genuine enthusiasm. They share stories with the hope that you will enjoy the conversation, gain something valuable from it, and leave feeling better informed or inspired.
People with passion often become role models because they genuinely support the dreams and aspirations of others. Simply listening to them can teach you something meaningful and useful for life.
If you could share any piece of wisdom with your students, what would it be?
Make sure you perform to the best of your ability and achieve the highest grades possible during your undergraduate studies.
Many lecturers say, “Grades are just numbers, and they do not define you.” I do not disagree with that at all. In fact, I completely agree that people should not be judged solely on their academic achievements. However, the reality is that we often evaluate people through numerical measurements and rankings in many aspects of life. Grades are not necessarily viewed as indicators of intelligence or personal worth, but they are often interpreted as indicators of responsibility, discipline, and the ability to complete tasks successfully.
Unfortunately, for people deciding whether you are suitable for a job, a place on a graduate programme, or a competitive scholarship, your grades may become the most convenient indicator of your potential for future success.
From my own experience, I have missed many valuable opportunities because of my undergraduate grades. I was the only student in my master’s cohort who did not receive any form of financial support. I was also one of only four candidates out of twenty who were not selected for a fully funded scholarship at a Korean university. The same situation occurred again during the scholarship consideration process for my PhD studies, despite the fact that I had no competition for the position. They simply could not offer me the scholarship because of that one number on my transcript.
Yes, undergraduate grades do not define who I am as a person, but they have unquestionably affected opportunities I could otherwise have had. Therefore, do your best while you still have the chance.
An English Course for Future Business Leaders
If you have big dreams for your future and need a course that unlocks the full potential of your English skills, AIHM’s EBAS Course could be for you.
English for Business and Academic Studies is a fun and interactive 9- to 18-week IELTS prep course designed to raise your test scores to the levels needed to enter English-language programmes like AIHM’s Bachelor of Business Administration.
If you’ve studied English for years, you probably know a lot more than you’re able to express. EBAS helps you put all of that knowledge into practice. Build confidence in speaking, writing, and presenting. Prepare yourself for university-level study.
Learn more about English prep courses at AIHM.
