Thailand falls further behind in English language skills

[MaxYakov]

6 hours ago, Thian said:

Yes and i also don't care cause i have the money...if i don't like a place/shop/person i go elsewhere.

 

In a bakery today i put for 1500 baht of breads on the counter and wanted to pay...the employee asked something in thai (i do speak a littun thai) but i didn't understand what she asked. She had 5 collegues who also couldn't help.

 

I pointed at the breads and showed my wallet but she asked it again...(whatever it was). i showed her some thousands to make sure she understood it...then she started packing.

I guess she asked in thai if i wanted to buy all of that...yes of course, why else would i bring all that to the counter???

 

It's so frustrating if they can't speak english and i can't speak enough thai.

 

 

That's when one gets out the pencil and paper and goes graphical (start drawing diagrams).

 

I'll often photograph something I want to buy atHomePro (for example) or even take the container the item came in from a previous purchase with Thai writing on it. I'm relying on their ability to recognize a product from its container and/or be able to, at least, read Thai. ????

[MaxYakov]

6 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

As good as it gets...

Not really.

 

I've met two Thai women who speak nearly flawless English, one of them without even a Thai accent and could not be easily discerned from an American, first-language English speaker. In many discussions with her I heard her mispronounce only one word: she placed the accent on the first syllable of "safari" rather than on the second syllable (like "sapphire"). She was the manager of my apartment in Din Daeng and a pleasure to work with (and much more attractive than YS ????).

 

I asked her one day how she learned English and she really couldn't give a definitive answer (stated to the effect of here and there, movies, TV) but she didn't state that she had formal training. However, she had worked for some length of time for a Western company in market research and she was extremely intelligent. Her Thai husband also spoke flawless English. He had spent some of his high-school years in the US and is a Captain for a Thai airline and I'm sure is English skills are in demand when communicating with ATC.

[GinBoy2]

Well these threads seem to be coming thick and fast don't they? 

 

I'm convinced it's the actual education they receive that ensures they can't speak English. 

 

My wife went to live with her Uncle in the US when she was 15, dumped into a US High School without speaking a word of English, yet learnt English through osmosis, went to College, and today she sounds as American as me. 

 

When we moved from Singapore to Thailand when my son was half way through Middle School, and he went to school in Thailand....I totally understand after looking at his school books why their English is so awful!

 

You'd probably have more luck firing all the 'English' teachers and sit them down to watch English language movies for a couple of hours a day

[GinBoy2]

8 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

Better than the 4,327 military Napoleons now running Rice Paddy Paradise.

I seem to remember during the Yingluck reign a whole bunch of the rabid anti-red brigade (you know who you are) ridiculing her English.

 

I don't see them criticizing El Generalissimo, who speaks not one damn word!

 

Funny old world, ain't it!

[zzaa09]

13 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

I seem to remember during the Yingluck reign a whole bunch of the rabid anti-red brigade (you know who you are) ridiculing her English.

 

I don't see them criticizing El Generalissimo, who speaks not one damn word!

 

Funny old world, ain't it!

Never could see any problem with the good lady's comprehension. 

But remember where she comes from, wealth and high education.

Much more complete language skills than a number of heads-of-state the world over. 

 

Field Marshall Prayut does speak a very embarrassing mangled/broken version of English and surely doesn't comprehend English speaking company, as you'll notice he always requires a translator at overseas state functions and whatnot....

 

What might be noted is his highly uncouth and country low-brow gruff style of Thai. That's even more embarrassing.....for those who might recognize slang styles and dialects. Almost comes across ignorant and might be more reflective of his true character.

 

 

[PatOngo]

When the majority of the population are destined to a life of mediocrity in the provinces, I guess English is irrelevant to most!

[HalfLight]

10 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

 

 

Farang Fall Further Behind in Thai Language Skills.

To be expected.

 

Agreed. I'm falling behind, ot at least not forging ahead as I once did. There are 2 reasons; the first reason is that I think Thai as a language is dead already, and the rise of Emnglish as a global language will continue. In this, Thai will fade and die as will so many other languages..

 

The second reason is that I get so very little from engaging Thais in Thai, I can no longer see the value in doing it. Not exactly thje sharpest tools in the box... better to have the wife do it.

[Fex Bluse]

10 hours ago, YetAnother said:

the issue isnt just language; you might say 'thailand falls further behind in {any/everything}';

this place is not progressing ; how can progress be achieved under military governments ?

Good morning. Agree with much of what you say. 

 

But I don't think government plays into any of this. Our ideas of Democracy don't really apply to much of Asia. 

 

Anyway, this problem has been getting worse ever since I can remember. Way back in the 80s... The country/culture is not progressing toward anything good in any meaningful way. That includes language and many other metrics. 

[Fex Bluse]

1 minute ago, HalfLight said:

 

Agreed. I'm falling behind, ot at least not forging ahead as I once did. There are 2 reasons; the first reason is that I think Thai as a language is dead already, and the rise of Emnglish as a global language will continue. In this, Thai will fade and die as will so many other languages..

 

The second reason is that I get so very little from engaging Thais in Thai, I can no longer see the value in doing it. Not exactly thje sharpest tools in the box... better to have the wife do it.

Exactly! The principal benefit is keeping them at bay, actually. Farang who speak even some rudimentary Thai will remove themselves from a large percentage of situations where they are targeted for scams and such. 

 

There is almost no other benefit.

 

Maybe other than access to some better quality, normal Thai girls/women. Saw a tall blonde Swede yesterday at Paragon. Early 20s. Good looking chap. Speaking Thai in a group of Thai uni girls and a couple Thai guys. Girls were falling over themselves for him. 

[graemeaylward]

Until the Thai education system recognises that learning can be fun if it actually involves student participation, nothing will change! At my daughter's school they employed a UK teacher who wasn't afraid of the system and taught English by creating a!experiential learning and conversation. The students loved him as he treated them as young adults and their English speaking ability improved incredibly. He lasted 1 term before the school released him as they had insufficient funds to pay him.

Sent from my Lenovo A3000-H using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Fex Bluse]

1 hour ago, GinBoy2 said:

I seem to remember during the Yingluck reign a whole bunch of the rabid anti-red brigade (you know who you are) ridiculing her English.

 

I don't see them criticizing El Generalissimo, who speaks not one damn word!

 

Funny old world, ain't it!

Agree. Also find the whole idea of importing our Western politics and overlaying them on a country where they are irrelevant and can't explain anything very funny 

 

There is no two party system here. It is a clan/patronage system. The clans ALL share the same fundamental principles and culture. They fight for power, wealth and influence. Full stop. 

 

But plenty of farang think is Democrats vs Republicans or Labor vs Liberal. Funny

[HalfLight]

25 minutes ago, Fex Bluse said:

Exactly! The principal benefit is keeping them at bay, actually. Farang who speak even some rudimentary Thai will remove themselves from a large percentage of situations where they are targeted for scams and such. 

 

There is almost no other benefit.

 

Maybe other than access to some better quality, normal Thai girls/women. Saw a tall blonde Swede yesterday at Paragon. Early 20s. Good looking chap. Speaking Thai in a group of Thai uni girls and a couple Thai guys. Girls were falling over themselves for him. 

 

I believe you, though I'm well past the age when I would chase after Thai girls or women.

 

In my village, every woman I know (mainly through my wife it has to be said), they're all terrified of speaking to a foreigner and revealing their non-existent language skills), would jump at the chance to marry a foreigner, because Thai men are generally a waste of protein. Only when there is no foreign alternative, will a Thai woman accept a Thai man to slake their evolutionary thirst.

 

I have no doubt this is not the same for all, but it seems to be the same for a goodly number. None of my step-daughters are interested in Thai men, and there has to be a good reason for that.

[Longcut]

10 hours ago, Thian said:

Yes and i also don't care cause i have the money...if i don't like a place/shop/person i go elsewhere.

 

In a bakery today i put for 1500 baht of breads on the counter and wanted to pay...the employee asked something in thai (i do speak a littun thai) but i didn't understand what she asked. She had 5 collegues who also couldn't help.

 

I pointed at the breads and showed my wallet but she asked it again...(whatever it was). i showed her some thousands to make sure she understood it...then she started packing.

I guess she asked in thai if i wanted to buy all of that...yes of course, why else would i bring all that to the counter???

 

It's so frustrating if they can't speak english and i can't speak enough thai.

 

 

How "rude" of them to only speak Thai in their own country. It would be like if you only spoke English in yours.

[HalfLight]

1 hour ago, GinBoy2 said:

I seem to remember during the Yingluck reign a whole bunch of the rabid anti-red brigade (you know who you are) ridiculing her English.

 

I don't see them criticizing El Generalissimo, who speaks not one damn word!

 

Funny old world, ain't it!

 

The Generalissimo seems to believe that Thai can be a lingua franca in 50 years. My own belief is he is delusional and in 50 years, nobody will even remember there uised to be a primitive language called Thai that a few under-educated layabouts used to speak once upon a time.

 

As for not critizing the guy, very few Thais will do so out loud, and tht's a fear thing, not a language thing, because despite the predictable bluster and BS, the average Thai is a timid soul, trying for all he's worth to prove to himself that he's worthwhile and as good as anyone else (though it only seems to be Thais who think they aren't).

 

 

[HalfLight]

3 minutes ago, Longcut said:

How "rude" of them to only speak Thai in their own country. It would be like if you only spoke English in yours.

 

Methinks in your effort to defend insularism, you miss the wider point(s).

 

Probably better to stay with stuff you know about.

 

[Longcut]

4 minutes ago, HalfLight said:

 

Methinks in your effort to defend insularism, you miss the wider point(s).

 

Probably better to stay with stuff you know abou

Really? What part of my message is wrong? Better to not show your own ignorance. The world is watching.

[HalfLight]

5 minutes ago, Longcut said:

Ok, Halfwit. Your right.

 

I know. The trick is to understand that *before* you make a <deleted> of yourself and then place the matter beyond debate with some juvenile cutting comment.

 

It's really easy to see why so many people are misanthropic these days.

[HalfLight]

40 minutes ago, Longcut said:

Really? What part of my message is wrong? Better to not show your own ignorance. The world is watching.

 

Right. Thanks for the useful interaction. Have a nice day.

[MaxYakov]

31 minutes ago, HalfLight said:

 

I know. The trick is to understand that *before* you make a <deleted> of yourself and then place the matter beyond debate with some juvenile cutting comment.

 

It's really easy to see why so many people are misanthropic these days.

And a "juvenile cutting comment" in unacceptable English on an English language forum in a thread regarding Thai English language proficiency! Maybe the replier was Thai?

[mok199]

11 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

All goes wrong in the brainwashing machine called Mathyom. By the time these students reach university they have supposedly studied "English" for 12 years in a class room but can't speak a word and if you say something to 80% of them the best they can do is "A-rai-wah"...pathetic, and they still can't reform high school education. Universities aren't the problem really...it's high school.

Correct but even deeper than that is the lack of ambition to learn English...mabey its fear of failure(as most kids and their parents have us believe) or mabey its just plain lazy...but if a child really wants to learn English...they have the tools ....

[PatOngo]

24 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

My lovely boss (who is Thai with limited English skills) said the following almost word for word:

 

Thai no need talk.

 

Thai have certificate is ok.

 

In Thai certificate important na more of experience. 

 

Not same farang.

Never a truer word spoken!

[PatOngo]

1 hour ago, Fex Bluse said:

Agree. Also find the whole idea of importing our Western politics and overlaying them on a country where they are irrelevant and can't explain anything very funny 

 

There is no two party system here. It is a clan/patronage system. The clans ALL share the same fundamental principles and culture. They fight for power, wealth and influence. Full stop. 

 

But plenty of farang think is Democrats vs Republicans or Labor vs Liberal. Funny

This farang thinks...trough seekers vs trough seekers! Snout vs snout. Greed vs greed.

[malagateddy]

The English language is hard to learn..just think of all the different verb tenses.

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[GinBoy2]

4 minutes ago, malagateddy said:

The English language is hard to learn..just think of all the different verb tenses.

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

One of the advantages of English however, is that as long as you know vocabulary you can basically string it all together in almost any order.

May sound odd, but unlike a lot of languages where if you get the sentence structure wrong it's unintelligible, English can still be understood.

 

A German friend of mine put it rather well many years ago;

 

"English is an easy language to speak badly"

[Thian]

2 hours ago, Longcut said:

How "rude" of them to only speak Thai in their own country. It would be like if you only spoke English in yours.

Then they shouldn't sell farang food in an american company in BKK...if you don't know what a hamburger or pizza superdeluxe is better go sell somtam in the fields.

[Brunolem]

12 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

Ah yes..the foreign teachers..they're to blame.

 

Terrible lot..bad English-just as all motor vehicle fatalities in thailand are caused by 'farang' and all bananas are bent by Queenslanders..

The SELECTION process of foreign teachers is certainly to blame.

 

Generally, teachers and other professionals are recruited according to their qualifications and experience.

 

Yet, what is considered as "qualifications" here is "not same" as anywhere else.

 

Being a native English or being below 40 are NOT qualifications!

On the other hand, having taught English in a high school for 30 years IS a qualification, never mind if you are German or Swedish, and if you are 60 years old.

 

While in a private school in Pattaya, my son had at some point no less than 3 English teachers, 3 young British women, one for the talking part, one for the writing part and one for the reading part!

And not the 3 of them together in the classroom, mind you...

 

No wonder that you get such disastrous results!

Qualified and experienced teachers would never go for such a boondoggle, but backpackers wanting to settle for a while will accept anything...

[Longcut]

33 minutes ago, Thian said:

Then they shouldn't sell farang food in an american company in BKK...if you don't know what a hamburger or pizza superdeluxe is better go sell somtam in the fields.

The level of ignorance by some is just so overwhelming.

McDonald's in Thailand is not here for the English speaking population. Neither is KFC, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, etc. They are a Thai franchise for the Thai population. They will not fold if you don't go there regardless of what you think. 

[Thian]

1 minute ago, Longcut said:

The level of ignorance by some is just so overwhelming.

McDonald's in Thailand is not here for the English speaking population. Neither is KFC, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, etc. They are a Thai franchise for the Thai population. They will not fold if you don't go there regardless of what you think. 

They give Macdonalds a bad reputation by not being able to speak english and  scamming customers by not giving discounts like they are supposed to (10% discount on the Rabbit card)... 

 

If they want to sell burgers that way they should open their own burgerrestaurant and not ruin the reputation of western companies.

[Brunolem]

3 hours ago, HalfLight said:

 

the first reason is that I think Thai as a language is dead already

 

The second reason is that I get so very little from engaging Thais in Thai, I can no longer see the value in doing it. 

It has been dead for centuries, when grammar, punctuation and word separation were introduced worldwide...yet it somehow managed to survive in a kind of Jurassic Park of language where we happen to live...

 

And yes there is not much of a conversation to have with most of the locals, unless you are into big fat jokes of the Laurel and Hardy kind.

 

Sometimes, I indulge myself, take the mike during some local tambun and start joking, and they are all laughing to their heart content, including the monks!

 

But beyond that, we live in two separate worlds...

[Longcut]

9 minutes ago, Thian said:

They give Macdonalds a bad reputation by not being able to speak english and  scamming customers by not giving discounts like they are supposed to (10% discount on the Rabbit card)... 

 

If they want to sell burgers that way they should open their own burgerrestaurant and not ruin the reputation of western companies.

Hester Chew, Chairman of Executive Committee and CEO of McThai, Thailand's sole McDonald's franchisee.

 Hardly an American owned business.