Meet the Heart
Behind
Awsyde
Who
I Am
Kamolwan Kenaon - Founder of Awsyde
Hi :) I’m Kate
I was born and raised in Thailand, originally from Nakhon Phanom in the northeast of the country. With an Isan background, I speak Isan dialect, Central Thai, and English, and I’m now living in Bangkok, where I now teach in-person Thai to learners at all levels.
​
My academic background is in law with a Bachelor’s degree from Thammasat University, completed through an accelerated program in 3.5 years. Later on, I moved to the UK for my Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Oxford Brookes University, where I graduated with Merit. Living and studying abroad also gave me a deeper understanding of what it’s like to learn in a new culture and language.
For the past 3+ years, teaching Thai to foreigners has been something I truly enjoy. Time spent living and working in the UK, in a very diverse, multicultural environment, has helped me connect easily with learners from different backgrounds and adjust lessons to suit each person.
A Little More
About Me
Outside of teaching, I enjoy expressing myself through everyday details. I’m drawn to fashion, makeup, skincare, and perfume, especially how small choices can quietly shape how a day feels.
In my free time, I often watch movies, mostly horror and thriller films, play badminton, or relax with music. I also enjoy reading self-help books and exploring ideas around personal growth and mindset.
I appreciate thoughtful conversations and sharing perspectives beyond surface-level topics.
I’m a big foodie too. Thai food will always be my favourite, especially spicy dishes like papaya salad. Thai tea, matcha, and bubble tea are small comforts I never get tired of. At home, there’s Afa, my adventurous dog, who brings a lot of energy and joy into my everyday life.
How We’ll
Learn Together
Friends often describe me as talkative, friendly, and kind, and that’s exactly how lessons feel. Classes are calm, patient, energetic, and easy-going, more like learning Thai with a friend than sitting in a traditional classroom.
​
What matters most to me is understanding. Everyone learns differently, so each session is shaped around what works best for you. There’s no pressure and no fear of making mistakes, just a comfortable space to practice, ask questions, and build confidence step by step.
Why Learn Thai With Me?
Learning Thai doesn’t have to be stressful or intimidating. The goal is to help you feel comfortable, confident, and excited to use Thai in real life, whether that’s ordering food, chatting with locals, or living and working in Thailand. If you’re looking for someone patient, supportive, easy to talk to, who genuinely cares about your progress, I’d love to learn with you.
​
What really matters to me is that students feel more confident after learning together. Feeling comfortable speaking Thai, even if it’s not perfect, is so important. Whether Thai is needed for daily life, work, or a deeper connection with the culture, I’ll support you and guide you every step of the way.
How Living
the Language
Changed Everything
Growing up in Thailand, English was learned the same way many of us learned it. Textbooks, grammar, vocabulary lists. In class, English existed. Outside of class, life was completely Thai. So even after studying English for years, there were very few chances to actually use it. Speaking fluently still felt really far away.
​
Everything changed after I moved to the UK and took an English course in Oxford. That’s where something shifted. No one in my class spoke Thai. At first, it felt scary and uncomfortable, but in a good way. It pushed me to try. I made a promise to myself to spend more time with people who didn’t speak my language, even if mistakes happened.
​
Little by little, English became part of everyday life. Soon, English was being spoken almost all the time. There was even a moment during a video call with my mom when I paused and couldn’t find the Thai word right away. That moment still makes me smile.
That was when it really clicked. Fluency doesn’t come from memorizing more words or grammar rules. It comes from using the language in real life, again and again.​
And that’s why I truly understand how my students feel. The nerves, the hesitation, the fear of making mistakes. I’ve been there. Learning a language is not just about studying. It’s about feeling safe enough to try.
That’s exactly the experience
I want to create for you.
From a Side Hustle
to Something
That Lights Me Up
While doing my Master’s degree in the UK, something I had been thinking about for a long time finally happened. Teaching Thai. It had been on my mind for years, but I kept putting it off while waiting for the “right time.” Then one day, I realized something. The perfect time doesn’t really exist. So I decided to just go for it.
​
It started with teaching Thai online, and very quickly, it became something I genuinely enjoyed. Even after moving back to Thailand, I kept teaching Thai to foreigners online. At the same time, I was also teaching English to students in my hometown, Nakhon Phanom, both in group classes and private lessons, and helping them prepare for exams.​
Over time, a very clear pattern started to show. Students improve the most when they actually use the language in real life, not just in lessons.​
This became obvious when one of my English students came to visit Bangkok for a month. We spent time together chatting, ordering food, and exploring the city. Once she started using Thai more in her daily life here, there was a clear shift. Honestly, her Thai improved more during that time than it had in months of online lessons.
That was a real lightbulb moment.​ That experience felt too important to keep to myself. It needed to be shared.
