Taxi drivers to be given English-speaking crash course

[rooster59]

Taxi drivers to be given English-speaking crash course

 

 

Taxi drivers at Suvarnabhumi international airport will be the first group of cabbies to be given a crash course in English conversation and basic writing free of charge.

 

The training courses would be provided by the Thailand Professional Qualification Institute under a cooperation agreement signed Friday (April 20) with the Skill Development Department and Airports of Thailand.

 

Suthi Sukoson, director-general of Skill Development Department, said after the agreement signing ceremony that taxi drivers at Suvarnabhumi international airport were the first group of people giving service to foreign tourists or travelers.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/taxi-drivers-given-english-speaking-crash-course/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-04-22

[JAG]

Taxi drivers - crash course - an unfortunate choice of words...

[ezzra]

It will take much than a 'crush course' to give these guys the very basics

of the english language, although it's a commendable idea, in reality

it will will not matter of change much, a crunch course in honesty, good

driving ability and providing the service for which they were paid for

will suffice for now... 

 

[terryp]

does that mean they will drive full speed into objects while screaming the classics (in English) "shift finished I go home taxi no more " "brakes no good" "Meter broke"

[Darcula]

Quote

The programme covers basic English conversation that is normally used such as self introduction, greetings, and giving basic information about tourist destinations.  

 

Because not being able to communicate those things is the biggest problem between tourists and taxi drivers.

 

[Thaiwrath]

So, after the course, they will be able to say in English more than "Solly, no meetur ?"   

[mikebell]

Awfully sorry, old man.  Having a spot of bother with the old meter; I could venture down your neck of the woods for an extra couple of hundreds.

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

"The programme covers basic English conversation that is normally used such as self introduction, greetings, and giving basic information about tourist destinations."

That could introduce a conflict with the TAT, as the taxi driver might be reported as an unlicensed tour guide.

 

I would suggest that basic map-reading might be a good idea. In the past I've seen tourists showing a map to a non-English-speaking taxi driver, in the hope he might take them to the destination they were indicating.

The taxi driver's eyes invariably glazed over when being shown such a piece of paper with so many lines on it.

 

[Somtamnication]

They know enough English to rip you off. What is the new English course, then? To say sorry? 

[tifino]

 

a crash course, to offset their slipping up

 

not a wheel smart bunch

[klauskunkel]

I think they are able to crash without speaking English

[anon467848]

So they will now be able to clearly say  "sorry sir but the meter does not work".... what's the next ploy,  have taxi drivers wearing white gloves like they do in Japan...

[Sonhia]

Positive move.

 

Beneficial to all.

[ratcatcher]

Here's a crash course brought to you by Thai taxi drivers. 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=thai+taxi+crashed&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDzq_c68zaAhWJLY8KHSblATUQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=637#imgrc=Ahyh66R0Cy0NrM:

[BEVUP]

I think they know the basics

Cabbie : Is this your first time to Thailand ? 

Tourist : Yes

Cabbie : Aahh, ok sorry meter broken, but it will cost 500 bht

Tourist : Eeerrr OK

 

[rkidlad]

Yes, I had one the other day inform me, “Hey, you. You farang”. I looked in the rear view mirror, and lo and behold, he was right. He couldn’t speak anymore English, but I wish he could have. I needed more of his incredible insight.

Edited April 22, 2018 by rkidlad

[Orton Rd]

The usual standard is:

where you come from

where you go

Thai lady very beautiful

Man U very good

falang have big money

sorry no small baht

 

[leeneeds]

Out of all the attendees  

it would be wishful thinking that 40%

retain what they have learnt,

like myself, as I get older  I struggle to retain my Thai learning, 

its dam hard, but I have no culture about losing face when I stuff it up, 

that being said,

 if the drivers can get over that fact and practise,

good on them for trying.

 

 

[Lupatria]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Suthi Sukoson, director-general of Skill Development Department

Which of his family members run the school forking in on the crash courses?

[KKr]

" Taxi drivers to be given English-speaking crash course "

and I thought that a lot of Thai drivers are sufficiently capable to Crash without an English speaking Instructor.

[toybits]

4 hours ago, terryp said:

does that mean they will drive full speed into objects while screaming the classics (in English) "shift finished I go home taxi no more " "brakes no good" "Meter broke"

buffalo sick,

[RichardColeman]

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Taxi drivers to be given English-speaking crash course

'We're about to hit something"

"We've hit something"

"Meter does not work"

 

[peperobi]

That is the biggest joke I read/hear in the last few years, the children in the school are able maybe to say good morning after years of English lessons, the Taxi drivers don't like to speak or understand the language. Save the money is better. 

[peperobi]

2 hours ago, Lupatria said:

Which of his family members run the school forking in on the crash courses?

Do you suspect a hide corruption???

[Jonnapat]

Still won't make them turn on their meters and accept all customers 

[NutsMango]

Too much traffic

 

No meter

 

No change

 

Five hundred baht

 

I can not read map

 

.... Khun Somchai, you just graduated!

Edited April 22, 2018 by NutsMango

[KiwiKiwi]

"Taxi drivers to be given English-speaking crash course".

 

Yep, that'll work...

[kevc]

Repeat after me...meter broke 500 baht.

Sent from my SM-P901 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Dap]

[Dap]

Better to just give em' all an index card with English responses that they can "staple" to their dashboards 

(for those of you who think it's part of your computer display, I'm talking about that part of the car in front of the steering wheel) 

Edited April 22, 2018 by Dap