Pinthira Wankarem, a third-year student in the ASEAN Studies Program at the School of Political Science and Laws, wrote an Indonesian language article titled “Snorkeling di Pulau Phi Phi Thailand” (Snorkeling at Phi Phi Islands, Thailand) that was chosen for publication in Surya, the leading newspaper in East Java, Indonesia, on February 21, 2021.

Pinthira writes about snorkeling in the southern Thai islands in her article. She highlighted the beauty of the underwater and the appeal of the location, as well as the expense of traveling there. The article also provided directions to Maya Bay on Phi Phi Island, which is a stunning world-famous tourist attraction and a great site to snorkel, particularly in April.

Pinthira composed this essay while taking an Indonesian language course with an Indonesian instructor from the State University of Malang during the second and third semesters of the 2020 academic year. The Covid-19 outbreak has prevented ASEAN students from studying in Indonesia, but ongoing rigorous online teaching with native-speaking instructors from the State University of Malang has significantly improved students’ Indonesian language abilities.