Terry Fredrickson

The Mentor

Terry Fredrickson is an American from Northfield, Minnesota. He was a 22 year-old Peace Corps volunteer stationed at a teacher's training school in Southern Thailand when he and Utit first crossed paths.

At 16 years-old, Utit had earned a place at the school and immediately embraced Terry's then (and still today) unconventional philosophy on teaching English.  That being English is the universal language and speaking it is what makes one confident & inspired. 

Terry realized that Utit the curios jungle rat had too many questions about the USA so he wrote to his mom and together they decided to send him to America for one year.

Terry put the little mouse on a plane alone with a sign around his neck: "This person does not speak English, he might need your help" which he proudly wore all 40 over-excited sleepless hours to Minnesota.

Terry's wonderful Mother Margit and Dad Siguad  welcomed the exhausted man cub at the gate and brought the wide-eyed jungle boy to his new home,  in a new world half way around the planet.

Now more than 40 years later, Utit credits Terry as the inspiration behind UTIOPIA.  And to this day, Terry still makes himself available to his now not so young apprentice. Not surprisingly, Utit speaks of Terry in glowing terms, especially the gratitude for lessons learned and the friendship they have.

Terry has written and published many books on how to learn English. He currently lives in Bangkok with his wife and son Kevin. Most recently, the father-son team of Terry and Kevin has launched a unique, online platform  named Real English For Gamers.  where they learn proper English while they play.