"Thai Poetry for Creative & Critical Thinking Skills by Ajarn David doesn’t just boost English skills; it cultivates critical thinking, creativity, and a deep tie to Thai culture."
A Uniquely Thai Thinking Skills Resource
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s an English teacher for over 10 years in Thailand, teaching students from the Matthayom to University level, I’ve seen my share of textbooks promising to blend language learning with engagement.
Few have struck me as profoundly as "Thai Poetry for Creative & Critical Thinking Skills" by Ajarn David, published by Ysaan Books in 2025. This work, encompassing both a Student Edition and a Teacher’s Edition—the latter distinguished by its inclusion of hints and sample answers—is a standout resource.
It doesn’t just boost English skills; it cultivates critical thinking, creativity, and a deep tie to Thai culture. Here’s why it’s exceptional for educators and learners alike.
A Fusion of English Language and Thai Culture
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hai Poetry weaves English instruction into the fabric of Thai life. Ajarn David, with 20+ years at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, brings an insider’s lens to the 40 free verse poems drawn from "Poems from Sakon Nakhon" (Ysaan Books, 2025).
These pieces—capturing indigo hues, temple drums, and the “sanook” of daily life—mirror Thailand for students, fostering pride and ownership. For teachers, it’s a culturally rich base that makes language tangible.
Both editions feature bilingual support—Thai translations for vocabulary, glossary terms, and, in the Teacher’s Edition, sample analyses—making it accessible for low-intermediate learners (M4 to university).
Poem #1, “When the rains come,” pairs alliteration (“scorpions appear with cobras and crabs”) with questions like “Is rain more helpful or harmful in your life?”—a rare blend of comprehension and personal connection.
Read sample pages from the Teacher's Edition. Click the square in the upper right corner to enlarge.
Beyond Drills: Fostering Critical and Creative Thinking
T his book ditches rote grammar for something deeper, aiming to “move beyond traditional drills to foster critical thinking, creativity, and pride in the Thai way of life.”
It delivers. Each poem in both editions offers eight questions and tasks, guiding students from understanding to reflection to creation. Poem #7 (“The most beautiful Thai women”) explores “khwan,” asking students to define it and draw their own—a mix of analysis and art.
The Teacher’s Edition adds hints and sample answers, like nudging “What parts of your mind need care?” for Poem #29 (“The careful mind”), supporting instructors without stifling student thought. Having seen Thai students shy away from open-ended tasks due to exam-focused systems, I appreciate this gradual push.
The Student Edition, sans hints, encourages independent exploration, while the Teacher’s Edition equips educators—especially poetry novices—with confidence.
Creative tasks—writing poems with alliteration (Poem #32) or designing ads with Mae Yai (Poem #2)—ignite imagination across both editions. In my classes, rural students have blossomed, crafting proverbs and sketching “khwan,” proving this work taps dormant potential.
Versatility Across Contexts for Thai Students
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hai Poetry for Creative & Critical Thinking Skills is a book that suits EP students, Academic English majors, and Business English learners in urban universities or rural Matthayom schools. Themes like the noodle seller as an “angel in disguise” (Poem #5) or durian’s love-hate duality (Poem #31) are universal yet Thai-rooted.
The Teacher’s Edition’s ten tips—group work, Thai-first drafting, celebrating student work—reflect classroom realities, while both editions benefit from simple black-and-white illustrations and a 900-baht PDF with lifetime school printing rights.
In other words, teachers and schools don't need to buy hard copies of the book. They only need to purchase the PDF and are given permission to print as many copies as they like. This affordability lets departments print locally, raising funds—a practical edge. In tech-savvy settings, integrating AI (comparing ChatGPT answers) keeps it fresh.
A Thai Teacher’s Companion and Student’s Journey
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he Teacher’s Edition is a lifeline—bilingual glossary terms like “alliteration” (“การเล่นเสียงพยัญชนะซ้ำ”) and analyses (caterpillar-to-butterfly as Buddhist enlightenment) demystify the Thai poetry in English, with hints tailoring support. The Student Edition, without these, fosters self-reliance.
Both guide students through questions like “Can you forgive a fake apology?” (Poem #30) or tasks like “Write a poem about your hometown,” building skills and identity. Students emerge more confident, articulate, and rooted.
Both guide students through questions like “Can you forgive a fake apology?” (Poem #30) or tasks like “Write a poem about your hometown,” building skills and identity. Students emerge more confident, articulate, and rooted.
"Thai Poetry for Creative & Critical Thinking Skills"—in both editions—celebrates Thai identity, sparks thought, and fuels creativity. It’s a resource I’d adopt, knowing it inspires while building skills. For teachers seeking more than instruction, it’s invaluable. Kudos to Ajarn David and Ysaan Books—may it reach every classroom.
- Ajarn Matt, Chiang Mai
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