Introducing: Aron Aldrich Guevarra

We are very proud to announce that Aron Aldrich Guevarra, MA has joined the Department as a lecturer this first semester of A.Y. 2025-2026. He is handling introductory Thai language courses this semester. Get to know our newest lecturer by reading on.

1. Can you tell us more about your background?

I graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2023 with a master’s degree in Asian Studies (Southeast Asia). Prior to that, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Diplomacy and International Relations with a specialization in East and Southeast Asian Studies at the Ateneo de Manila University in 2020, where I also pursued a minor in Japanese Studies.

In 2019, I was fortunate to be selected for two academic exchange programs abroad: from January to May, I was a recipient of the One-Semester Scholarship for ASEAN Countries at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand; and from August to November, I joined the Academic Mobility Exchange for Undergraduate at Airlangga (AMERTA) at Airlangga University in Indonesia.

At present, I am pursuing a Juris Doctor degree at the De La Salle University Tañada-Diokno School of Law.

2. What got you interested in the Thai language, Thai studies, and Thailand?

During my semester at Chulalongkorn University, I took courses under the Bachelor of Arts in Language and Culture (BALAC) Program. One of these courses was Communicative Thai for Beginners 1. At that time, I had no prior knowledge of the Thai language, but I enrolled because I wanted to communicate with locals in everyday situations, such as commuting or buying food.

That experience sparked my interest in learning Thai more deeply. After returning to the Philippines, I joined summer programs offered by the Ateneo Center for Asian Studies under the guidance of Dr. Itsarate Dolphen of Khon Kaen University. Later, I continued my studies through extramural Thai language classes offered by the UP Department of Linguistics under Asst. Prof. Fellow Kritsana Canilao, PhD.

3. What are some of the highlights of your experience teaching Thai thus far and what do you look forward to in teaching at the UP Department of Linguistics?

Although I have only been teaching for a little over a month, I am proud to share that my students in Thai 10 [Elementaring Thai 1 (Elementary Thai 1)] have shown genuine interest in the language. Many of them initially find Thai difficult to learn, especially because of its tonal system and intricate writing script. Yet with consistent practice and motivation, I have seen them gradually develop fluency, one step at a time.

Since Thai is not commonly offered as a foreign language course in most universities in the Philippines, I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to teach it at UP. I look forward to continuing this journey with more Iskos and Iskas!

4. What are your current research interests or what is something that you wish to work on?

My research interests primarily revolve around Thai Studies, with a dual focus on language and politics. As a language teacher, I am particularly interested in Thai language acquisition, pedagogy, and translation studies—especially how Filipino students can effectively learn a tonal language with a unique writing system. I aim to explore innovative and learner-centered approaches to teaching Thai in the Philippine context, where exposure to the language is limited.

5. What is something that you enjoy during your leisure time?

In my leisure time, I enjoy listening to music. I started collecting vinyl records when I was 12 years old and have since curated a wide-ranging collection of both local and international artists from the 1940s to the 1980s. Listening to vinyl feels therapeutic—it’s my way of unwinding, especially since I’m constantly buried in readings as both a student and a teacher.

6. Finally, do you have anything else you would like to share?

Having been fortunate to benefit from various opportunities in language learning, I look forward to giving back by sharing these experiences with students through meaningful collaboration with the Department of Linguistics.

Welcome to the Department, Sir Aron!

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Currently, Sir Aron teaches Thai 10. Access the “Regular Classes” and “Course Catalog” tabs of CRS for more information. 

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This article is part of the “Faculty Spotlight” series of the Department, and is also done in celebration of 103 years of the Department. Click here for more information.