mbkudu

One big difference between Thai and Chinese students; Chinese students WANT to learn English. On the same show I watched, an eighty-six year old Chinese tour guide was shown studying English in his spare time to better serve the growing numbers of English speaking tourists. All this activity may have a lot to do with the Olympics, but it shows that they have a lot of motivation to study English.

I was watching television last night and saw one of the most amazing things. It was about an American linguist who is employed by the Chinese government to travel around the country and document and photograph any public signs, notices or menus written in English that are incorrect or linguistically flawed. Most of the authorities and merchants that get his feedback are grateful and make the necessary corrections. Most of his work is around the sites for the Olympics. To me it is unbelievable that a country the size of China is able to undertake such an endeavor, yet a country such as Thailand chooses to totally ignore inaccuracies for decades on end.

Exactly. If you were a Ukrainian mail order bride getting ready to marry a Greek business tycoon, Greek would be the order of the day. It's all about money.

There has to be a motivating factor strong enough to urge them on; usually more money at a job. There are Thai tour guides in Pataya who can speak Russian. I could not think of any other good reason to learn Russian.

There is a foreign teacher's association, Thailand Educators Network, that meets at the Roadhouse Barbecue restaurant on Suriwong and Rama 4 Roads in Bangkok on the 10th of each month at 6 pm.

I thought that trade unions were illegal in Thailand?

I'd really like to know if I need to do a Kuwaiti culture course if I decide to work in Kuwait for a one year contract, or if I will need

to do Laotian culture course if I work in Laos, or if I need to have post grad education courses along with my degree if I want to

work in China or Korea. Something tells me I don't, but I'll look into it regardless. Wow, Thailand has some tough standards.

I must admit that Joseph Conrad was somehow able to take a firm grasp of the English language and run with it. He rarely worried of such trifling little bits of fluff, so why should we.

"What is the next country where I will teach"?

This is a question on many people's minds I'd guess; including my own. No other countries in this region nor in the Middle East

are requiring tests or culture courses like Thailand is. A majority of the jobs available in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East

are asking for experience, at least a bachelor's degree and a celta. That's it, and they're offering quite a bit more than Thailand

is. I find it all very bizarre.

I have been researching Mexico, where I already speak high intermediate Spanish. Other than needing to get my TEFL cert, University diploma, and divorce papers apostilled, it seems easy to become legal, even as a self employed maestro. Mexico has a tinge of xenophobia, but nothing like Thailand. They also have a quirky bureaucracy, but nothing like the newest requirements here. I am tempted to utter Arnold's remark, "Hasta la vista, baby!"

I'd like to know what is so extraordinary about Thai culture that has pushed the government to require teachers to take a

culture course. If someone could name one other country, just one, that is requiring this to become a legal foreign teacher,

I'd be interested to know which country it is. I'm not taking a jab at the nation; I love this country and always have, but I'm

finding it difficult to understand what their ultimate goal is from all of this.

"What is the next country where I will teach"?

This is a question on many people's minds I'd guess; including my own. No other countries in this region nor in the Middle East

are requiring tests or culture courses like Thailand is. A majority of the jobs available in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East

are asking for experience, at least a bachelor's degree and a celta. That's it, and they're offering quite a bit more than Thailand

is. I find it all very bizarre.

Sorry to be a pain, but I'll ask again: Which types of schools fall under these requirements; all schools? government schools?

language schools? universities? Anybody know?

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know which kinds of schools are exempt from these tests. It seems fairly clear that teachers who want to work from primary up to the last year of high school in Thai curriculum government schools are the ones required

to do these tests and culture course. What about teachers in commercial language schools, private schools, international schools and universities?

I think it's ridiculous that this has gone on this long.

Absofukinlutely. I'll drink to that.

B!tch bedduh have my money! The noun that always gets them is 'money'. Money is uncountable. Yeah right.

What is the date today?

Teach communication rather than losing the focus of the students in detail at a level that is wasted on them.

This is the important message that a lot of teachers miss because they are too focused on teaching grammar.

Time and cultural acceptance can change any language.

I'll have a tea. I'll have a water. There, I said it. Never say never.

When teaching and writing, I try to be careful to use 'a cup of... a bottle of.... a can of...." It's easiest and best to teach the correct form. People seem to be quite adept at learning the shortcuts on their own.

I'd agree with that, but they should also be aware that in the real world they will be hearing much shorter, chopped off discourse.

"Would you like some coffee?" is the right way to say it.

Sounds good to me. I'm sticking with PB though on this. 'Would you like some beer?' Or, 'Would you like a bottle of beer?' Or,

'Would you like a beer? Or, 'Beer?' It's all queer my dear.

Q: What's the most used line on US commercial aircraft?

A: "Coffee, tea?"

There are only two articles in English 'the - definite article and 'a' - indefinite

Actually there are four: a, an, the, and zero article could be counted as the fourth.

As I said two - definite and indefinite. we use 'an' as an indefinite article when the next word starts with a vowel. As for the 'zero article', are you joking? I know it's April 1st but if there is no article there, how can you count it?

No, I'm not joking and I am aware that 'an' comes before 'a vowel sound', not necessarily a vowel: 'A European national',

'A union', 'An honest day's work'. When there is no article, it has a meaning, and I did say it 'could' be counted as such.

There are only two articles in English 'the - definite article and 'a' - indefinite

Actually there are four: a, an, the, and zero article could be counted as the fourth.

'some' used in questions with uncountable nouns when you expect the answer 'yes'. For example, in a restaurant: 'Would you like some water, kinok?' The waiter is standing over you with a jug but won't pour until you give him permission.

This isn't truly a question, but a function used for offering, is it not?

Yet, we also ask, "would you like a beer, or a Coke?" Both my simple American and my big proper Brrritish dictionaries say that it can be countable or uncountable. The Brrritish book uses as an example, "two coffees, please." Maybe it tweren't the Yanks who went and bastardized the American language. Would the last native-born UK citizen still in Blighty, who speaks RP, please turn down the lights?

Also the poster who said English is a living, evolving language has his head screwed on straight.

tons of Thais speaking broken english to tourists trying to sell them stuff

kids coming up to you with flowers when they should be in school

an above average number of beggars missing limbs, etc, since its a tourist area the begging mafia sets up all the hard cases and the women who has a different baby every other week who has a new puppy every other week

the smell of urine

unattractive, abrasive young women yelling at you.

one tout after another offering you sex

too many tourists walking around drunk talking about what they did last night, or what they are going to do shortly when the BTS security guard interrupts them to say that they have to throw away their beer leo before boarding the train.

too many tourists stumbling around with girls who look miserable next to them.

All the Thais in this area are there to make money off of tourists. it makes for a nauseating experience.

You forgot to mention the survey idiots that are relentless. Just put your phone up to your ear when you pass them and pretend you have a call. They won't say a word. works for me every time.