RENOWNED WRITER SPEAKS TO IB ENGLISH STUDENTS
On March 20, 2025, students in RIS’s IB English Literature HL class were treated to a unique learning experience when acclaimed Thai writer Prabda Yoon visited campus for an in-class conversation. Organized by Dr. Éamonn Dunne, the visit gave students the rare opportunity to engage directly with the author whose short stories they had just finished studying. All participating students were members of the Class of 2026.
“Seeing a writer whose work I had read and analyzed made literature feel more alive and personal,” said Udaishanker “Saanvi” Misra, who especially appreciated Prabda’s thoughts on writer’s block and the evolution of Thailand’s literary scene. “Seeing the mind behind the words was truly fascinating,” she added, noting how casual post-talk moments—like sharing pizza—helped humanize the author beyond his pages.
For Pannavit “Xavier” Chalermkittichai, meeting an author in person was a first. “I enjoyed reading The Sad Part Was and Moving Parts. The surrealism stood out to me the most—it motivated me to do a psychoanalysis on each of the characters,” he said. While initially hesitant to speak on camera, Xavier eventually worked up the nerve to ask Prabda a more personal question: “Are you a dog or a cat person?” (He’s a dog person, for the record.) Xavier added, “It made me realize that writing often requires financial stability first. He never said that directly, but when he told us, ‘Don’t think of writing as a profession, think of it as a hobby,’ it hit me.”
Other students were struck by Prabda’s presence and authenticity. “He seemed to genuinely care about his time here,” said Akarin “Khem” Poolsawat. “He didn’t just give one-word answers—his insights were thoughtful and engaging.” Khem recalled noticing the author taking pictures of the classroom posters, seeing it as a glimpse into how writers stay inspired by their surroundings.
Amira “Amy” Wongsrisupakul reflected on one of Prabda’s philosophical takeaways. “He said people can never understand the full meaning of happiness, so we can give it meaning. That resonated with me,” she shared. “It didn’t just inspire us to write more, but to better understand the emotions behind his work.”
For Saura Kumar, a simple question opened the door to a profound answer. “I asked why his stories end in cliffhangers. He replied, ‘You cannot know the whole thing, only capture moments in time.’ That concept really stayed with me.” Saura was particularly drawn to the author’s reflections on The Disappearance of a She-Vampire in Pattaya, noting how fascinating it was to see a writer revisit and interpret his own work years later.
Prim Satithamajit appreciated how the encounter helped readers and writer connect on a deeper level. “It’s especially interesting to psychoanalyze parts of Prabda’s identity as it shines through in his writing—and was perceptible in person,” she said. “We asked him everything from what inspired his translations to how communist he is on a scale of 1 to 10!”
Voranan “Bene” Puengchanchaikul summed it up simply: “It’s not every day you get to ask questions to the author of the book you’re reading in class.” She described the experience as “memorable” and a valuable extension of their literature studies.
Varit “JJ” Vongkusolkit echoed that sentiment: “I had never met an author before. It was interesting to hear him answer questions and learn more about him.”
The visit was a meaningful moment not just for students, but also for faculty. “One of the highlights of the year at RIS has certainly been a visit from the acclaimed local Bangkok author Prabda Yoon,” said Dr. Éamonn Dunne, who teaches both AP and IB Literature. “As an internationally minded syllabus, the IB English Literature program affords us an opportunity to read authors from all around the world… This year we decided to look locally for inspiration.”
Prabda Yoon’s career spans fiction, translation, screenwriting, and filmmaking. His translations have introduced Thai readers to literary giants like Nabokov, Burgess, and Salinger—writers also studied at RIS. His recent six-part miniseries, Dalah: Death and the Flowers, is currently streaming on Netflix.
Students and teachers alike were inspired by the openness and insight Prabda brought to the discussion. “It has been an exciting episode in our students’ education and a wonderful opportunity to discuss writing with an expert in the field,” Dr. Dunne reflected. “What a treat for our students. An honor and a privilege.”
Watch the full session below:
WORKS OF PRABDA YOON
