Andrew Biggs
Encyclopedia
Andrew Biggs is an Australia
n journalist
and author
and television personality in Thailand
. He has written several books, appears daily on Thai television's Channel 3, and runs his own language school.
talk-back radio program in 1995. Two years later he had the best-selling book in Thailand (Thailand In My Eyes; เมืองไทยในสายตาผม) and followed it up with a book called How To Speak English Like A Farang
(Westerner) (วิธีพูดภาษาอังกฤษเหมือนฝรั่ง) which has sold 200,000 copies.
For nine years he hosted the morning TV program Talk Of The Town and for three years he hosted Weekend News (เรื่องเล่าเสาร์อาทิตย์) on the weekends on Channel 3. He often co-hosts programs with conservative, wheelchair-using Thai journalist Krissana Chaiyarat, in which they both argue with each other.
Biggs completed a bachelor's degree in the Thai language at Ramkhamhaeng University
in 2002.
In 2004 he appeared in the movie SARS Wars
, portraying himself. In 2005 he received the prestigious Phetch Siam Award for excellence in using the Thai language
– the first Westerner
to receive the award.
In July 2007 on Thai Language Day, the Thai Government's Ministry of Culture awarded him Excellent User of the Thai Language. It was the first time the award had been given to a foreigner, and it attracted a lot of attention.
In 2008 Thais voted him one of the "coolest" bald men, alongside actor Bruce Willis and Thai journalist Sutthichai Yoon. In November 2008 he ran the Bangkok Marathon and wrote about it in the Bangkok Post.
He currently hosts the daily "English Minute" TV program on Channel 3 as well as a radio show on FM 106. As of January 2009 he is writing regular columns for the Bangkok Post newspaper, Filmax magazine and Kom Chad Leuk newspaper.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and television personality in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. He has written several books, appears daily on Thai television's Channel 3, and runs his own language school.
Biography
Biggs first came to Thailand in 1989. With Nation Multimedia Group, he created Nation Junior Magazine for high-schoolers. He hosted the country's first EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
talk-back radio program in 1995. Two years later he had the best-selling book in Thailand (Thailand In My Eyes; เมืองไทยในสายตาผม) and followed it up with a book called How To Speak English Like A Farang
Farang
Farang , also spelled falang, is the generic Thai word for a Westerner. A general term for foreigners is khon tang prathet . There is no expressly negative or positive implication in the word itself. However when it is used along with other words, it can bring a negative meaning depending on...
(Westerner) (วิธีพูดภาษาอังกฤษเหมือนฝรั่ง) which has sold 200,000 copies.
For nine years he hosted the morning TV program Talk Of The Town and for three years he hosted Weekend News (เรื่องเล่าเสาร์อาทิตย์) on the weekends on Channel 3. He often co-hosts programs with conservative, wheelchair-using Thai journalist Krissana Chaiyarat, in which they both argue with each other.
Biggs completed a bachelor's degree in the Thai language at Ramkhamhaeng University
Ramkhamhaeng University
Ramkhamhaeng University is one of two open universities in Thailand. The university was named in honor of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great of Sukhothai, who traditionally is credited for creating the Thai alphabet....
in 2002.
In 2004 he appeared in the movie SARS Wars
SARS Wars
SARS Wars is a 2004 Thai horror-comedy directed and co-written by Taweewat Wantha....
, portraying himself. In 2005 he received the prestigious Phetch Siam Award for excellence in using the Thai language
Thai language
Thai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
– the first Westerner
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
to receive the award.
In July 2007 on Thai Language Day, the Thai Government's Ministry of Culture awarded him Excellent User of the Thai Language. It was the first time the award had been given to a foreigner, and it attracted a lot of attention.
In 2008 Thais voted him one of the "coolest" bald men, alongside actor Bruce Willis and Thai journalist Sutthichai Yoon. In November 2008 he ran the Bangkok Marathon and wrote about it in the Bangkok Post.
He currently hosts the daily "English Minute" TV program on Channel 3 as well as a radio show on FM 106. As of January 2009 he is writing regular columns for the Bangkok Post newspaper, Filmax magazine and Kom Chad Leuk newspaper.