Brandon Hays
2023 WISLI Thai Student
Why did you choose to study at WISLI? What motivated you to choose our program?I heard about WISLI from another graduate student doing her field work in Thailand and she said SEASSI was the best place to learn Thai in the US!
How has learning a less commonly taught languages enriched your personal and professional life?
I am pursuing a PhD in ecology with plans to work in Thailand on the ecology and conservation of elephants. So studying Thai will be essential for the success of my PhD and hopefully my long term career in conservation.
What about WISLI/UW-Madison stands out to you?
I enjoyed the friendly atmosphere in SEASSI and was impressed by the range of languages being taught through WISLI. At the WISLI student research conference, I got to meet people from all over studying languages from several countries and doing research in so many fields.
How do you plan to apply proficiency of your target language and cultural skills to your personal/professional journey?
I’ll be going to Thailand to do field work for my PhD and will be using the Thai I learned to speak with collaborators and with people living near elephants.
What were some of the highlights of your program? What events did you particularly enjoy?
Learning Thai was intense, but I really appreciated the generosity and humor the teachers brought to the classroom. Beyond the everyday, I enjoyed being introduced to cinema from many SE Asian countries through the SEASSI movie night. And I particularly enjoyed getting to learn about other students’ interests and research projects through the WISLI conference.
What role did the WISLI Tuition Scholarship play when you were making decisions? How would you encourage other students who might be interested in the scholarship to apply?
I didn’t have any external funding to come study Thai, so I wouldn’t have been able to afford to come without the scholarship from WISLI. Other students should definitely apply!
What advice would you give to students who want to study the same language as you?
Listen to as much Thai as you can. The class materials are great for helping you learn how to read and write Thai, but there isn’t as much opportunity to hear Thai spoken in class. So go to external resources and listen to dramas or music in Thai.
What is your favorite expression in the language you studied this summer?
อ้อยเข้าปากช้าง = sugar cane in the mouth of an elephant, which is the equivalent of ‘that ship has sailed’ or ‘fait accompli’ in English (because elephants love sugarcane and you’re not getting it back once they’ve gotten it in their mouth).