Chatchai "Gai" Krongyut

B.A. English and Communication, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand

Guy was born and raised in a farming family in Ubon Ratchathani, the so-called “Isaan” or northeast region of Thailand. Growing up on the farm, Guy learned to get his hands dirty at a very young age – helping his family to plant and harvest rice, herding and caring for the family buffalo, making and playing with toys built from natural materials – Guy’s childhood shaped his worldview, teaching him to be humble and to appreciate the simple things in life.

Guy’s passion for teaching started when he was a teenager at school. Pretending to be a teacher, Guy used to lead the younger students on educational walks around his local village and encouraged every student to attend school (instead of skipping class to play in the forest). Guy’s approach to teaching is to make it as fun and enjoyable as possible. At university, Guy volunteered with a students club called “English Crazy Club,” which allowed him to organize English camps for students in rural schools in northeast Thailand.

For the past ten years, Guy has been working as a translator for Australian and Singapore-based university research groups. Being fluent in English, Thai, and Lao, Guy has helped translate needs and questions about a myriad of topics. From discussing how the water quality in a village has changed to arranging vegan meals for his students, Guy has helped students and academic staff and local villagers to better understand each other. With a deep understanding of Thai and Isaan cultures, as well as an awareness of western culture, Guy hopes to act as a bridge of understanding between the east and west.

Guy is currently based in the city of Ubon Ratchathani. When he’s not working for Dragons, he teaches preschool and kindergarten students at a local Waldorf-inspired school. Guy is currently studying Mandarin and Japanese. He is an active learner and is eager to learn new things because he believes the more he learns the greater wisdom he gains.