Post published:December 3, 2025

Theatre Professor Leads English Program in Thailand Through the U.S. Department of State

Deric McNish, Associate Professor of Theatre at Michigan State University, led a four-week U.S. Department of State English Language Specialist Program at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University (SSRU) in Bangkok, Thailand. Dr. Sasiporn Phongploenpis, SSRU Assistant Professor and Deputy Dean of the Graduate School, hosted and facilitated the drama-based English education program with McNish during October 2025.

McNish brought his expertise as a leading scholar and practitioner of interdisciplinary and drama-based approaches in teaching and learning to the program. His project in Thailand was one of roughly 250 projects that the English Language Specialist Program supports annually.

Two men sit across from each other at a table. — MSU Associate Professor Deric McNish with Sundarā Linkāra, an English language teacher from Burma, Thailand. Right: McNish leading the workshop “Classroom Action Research, Drama-Based Instruction, and Academic Publishing” for English language teachers in Thailand.

A teacher talks with four adult students who are sitting at two rows of tables. — MSU Associate Professor Deric McNish with Sundarā Linkāra, an English language teacher from Burma, Thailand. Right: McNish leading the workshop “Classroom Action Research, Drama-Based Instruction, and Academic Publishing” for English language teachers in Thailand.

The English Language Specialist Program is the premier opportunity for leaders in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages to enact meaningful and sustainable changes in the way that English is taught abroad.

“Dr. Deric McNish has made a profound impact on my teaching and on our students at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University. His contribution affirmed my long-held belief that drama-based instruction can truly transform English language learning,” Phongploenpis said. “Most importantly, he helped dismantle the wall of fear that had held many Thai students back. Under his mentorship, they stepped out of the shadows and began using English with confidence and joy.”

“[Deric McNish’s] contribution affirmed my long-held belief that drama-based instruction can truly transform English language learning.”
Sasiporn Phongploenpis, Assistant Professor and Deputy Dean of the Graduate School, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University

Through projects developed by U.S. Embassies, English Language Specialists collaborate directly with local teacher trainers, educational leaders, and ministry of education officials to exchange knowledge, build capacity, and establish partnerships benefiting participants and communities in the United States and overseas.

“English Language Specialist Programs build deep relationships through teaching and collaboration,” McNish said. “Local participants gain practical teaching and English skills that open academic and economic pathways, and the networks formed between U.S. educators and local partners create opportunities long after the project ends.”

Seven students form a line with their hands on each other's shoulders. — Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University students and teachers in training participate in drama games.

Students interact with each other smiling and making faces. — Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University students and teachers in training participate in drama games.

This is McNish’s second English Language Specialist project. In 2022, he was part of a U.S. Department of State project in Russia, Estonia, Belarus, Latvia, and Lithuania. During July 2025, he also helped lead the U.S. Department of State project “Multimodal Approaches to Content-Based Instruction: Creative Pathways to English Proficiency” that brought English educators from around the world to MSU’s campus.

Additionally, McNish received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award and will be traveling to Israel in spring 2026 to work on his project, “Global Voices: Theatre, Disability, and Cross-Cultural Connection.” The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program.

While in Thailand, McNish used drama games, improvisation, role play, scriptwriting, and mini performances to foster deeper engagement with English language learning. During four separate sessions, he worked with SSRU alumni, undergraduate students, and faculty, as well as English language teachers and teachers in training from across Thailand.

“English teaching in Thailand is built on grammar drills and memorization, so students often struggle with confidence, speaking, and engagement,” McNish said. “Drama-based instruction gave a large number of English teachers a practical way to help their students break that pattern by using creativity, collaboration, and performance.”

Eleven people on a theatre stage. In the background is a cathedral setting with a stained glass window and an arch made of flowers. — Deric McNish (fourth from the right) on stage with SSRU undergraduate students after their final performance of “Titanic” meets the Thai tale of Wanthong.

The workshops and drama-based frameworks provided creative opportunities that will help current and future educators in Thailand integrate student-centered, experiential methods into their teaching practices and classrooms.

“Being in a room of experienced teachers is always a learning experience for me. They came with open minds, ready to experiment and explore,” McNish said. “I watched them take drama-based tools and apply them in creative, innovative, and practical ways that fit their unique teaching contexts.”

“Projects like the English Language Specialist Program don’t just build language skills. They build confidence, agency, and a sense of global responsibility.”
Deric McNish, Associate Professor of Theatre, Michigan State University

McNish’s work with Thai university students at SSRU supported an existing project led by Phongploenpis around adapting local and global folktales into short plays that addressed United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. These UN goals serve as a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and improve the lives of people worldwide.

“I learned a lot from watching how naturally these students connected creative storytelling to real-world issues,” McNish said. “It left me convinced that projects like the English Language Specialist Program don’t just build language skills. They build confidence, agency, and a sense of global responsibility.”

A man in a navy blazer sits in a chair. He's holding a bouquet of roses and holds puang mali flower garlands. — Thai students showed appreciation to Deric McNish by giving him flowers at the closing ceremony. McNish holds puang mali – flower garlands.

Close up of hands holding puang mali flower garlands. — Thai students showed appreciation to Deric McNish by giving him flowers at the closing ceremony. McNish holds puang mali – flower garlands.

Following the project, McNish and Phongploenpis will co-author an article in the “English Language Teaching Forum” magazine about their partnership modeling interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration in educational development.

McNish’s international work and research as an English Language Specialist and Fulbright Scholar supports MSU’s reputation as a global leader in English language teaching and learning.

“I’m bringing back future collaborators and strong networks, but also a sharper sense of direction in my own teaching,” he said. “The work with Thai students reminded me how much we can accomplish when we set ambitious goals and trust our students to rise to the challenge.”

By Beth Bonsall