Popular Post BestB Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 5 hours ago, Yinn said: Jingthing live in Thailand right? many years. How your thai language skill? Is difficult learn second language yes? You know about how ask for something polite thai language right? Can read thai? When I work the hotel Phuket before have very angry Aussie scream at taxi driver. They said the place want to go wrong way, so he take them wrong place. They so impolite, refuse pay him. They say to me “F idiot, why he not speak English??” I answer that if he can know second language he will get high wage job more than be taxi driver. Ask them “taxi driver in Australia study all the language for help tourist? Or not?” IMO eglish speaker never learn second language is most impolite. (USA, Aussie, NZ, England). And speak to quickly. Usually German, Italy, Holland, Korean, Chinese very polite about language misunderstanding. Because they understand it difficult. Have experience. You may not be able to understand this but English is an international language , Australian taxi driver does not need to learn second language as there is no international second language, Thai taxi driver who has chosen to work as a taxi exclusively driving and ripping off tourists must speak English and must know names of hotels and where located . If he does not wish to bother to learn English. He can always work in thai market, without tourist prices . Can not sit on 2 chairs with 1 ass. 2 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Yinn Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 2 minutes ago, BestB said: You may not be able to understand this but English is an international language , This is thailand. We speak thai. Not England. Some people try to speak english for help you. But you complain. 2 minutes ago, BestB said: Australian taxi driver does not need to learn second language as there is no international second language, Thai taxi driver who has chosen to work as a taxi exclusively driving and ripping off tourists Another complainer. Most taxi customer in Thailand is thai people. 2 minutes ago, BestB said: 2 minutes ago, BestB said: must speak English and must know names of hotels and where located . If he does not wish to bother to learn English. He can always work in thai market, without tourist prices . Not must. Up to him. Not up to you. i am learn English. Up to me. If you want to complain about the English in restaurant, not go there, they not want you go. Up to them. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ThomasThBKK Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 22 minutes ago, P100 said: I other countries, like China, locals use every opportunityto learn from foreigners whenever they meet them !! What a load of <deleted>, as a foreigner you can't even hire a taxi in china. You can't pay anything without having wechat pay, and you need a local bank account to do that. Most shops don't accept cash anymore, you are royally skrewed and they don't give a damn. You aren't allowed to buy a train ticket without a passport check at a chinese trainstation. As a foreigner you aren't allowed to travel freely either, many hotels aren't serving to foreigners. Maybe not make complete <deleted> up here all the time? Have fun in china. 1 1 2 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DrTuner Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 4 minutes ago, Yinn said: This is thailand. We speak thai. Not England. Thank you Yinn for representing Thailand on this forum. I will recommend everybody to read your comments so they can get the feel of Real Thailand. 5 1 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) I have seen an American complaining about the bank staff's English before so this phenomena is quite true. He even lost his temper because the staff couldn't understand his English. Edited January 20, 2020 by EricTh 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post kingofthemountain Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 1 hour ago, AJS150654 said: if you owned a restaurant in your home country, would you expect your staff to be multi lingual. Yes of course if most of the customers are foreign tourists the staff (The ones in contact with the customers) needs to have at least decent english skills it's the most basic economic logic 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kensisaket Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 Having a menu in English; or, even better with pictures might be a worthwhile endeavor. Pointing to a number/picture will solve pretty much any language barrier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post kingofthemountain Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 1 hour ago, Thian said: I'm not a native english speaker and i SURE complain about the Thai not speaking english. In places like IKEA, Mac Donalds, BTS-skytrain, Suwarnabhumi airport, Immigration office, Burger King they should hire people who can speak english! In EVERY country they can so why not in Thailand? Because of the greed of the owmers in Thailand they perfectly know the ''cultur'' here for the customers is to not complain and skilled people need to be well paid, so they just take advantage of the situation and hire low class people with low skills, letting them and the customers deal with it while the owners are busy filling their bank accounts 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IvorLott Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 It's an odd one. I have a rule that when in a place catering to tourists, where the staff are expected to have a certain standard of English, I'll use English unless I'm not getting through, then I'll use Thai in a discreet way. If I'm in the back of beyond, I'll use Thai by default, though the amount of times I have to deal with staff too afraid of looking daft until they know I can speak Thai is unreal. A very common occurrence. It also fairly common to start using Thai in a place, then to be replied to in English by a staff member who them acts all offended. In my formative days of speaking Thai (I'm sure many have experienced this) I have been in a place, using Thai with the staff member 'expecting' me, as a Westerner, to be using English and have been totally flummoxed until the penny drops and they recognise their own language. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DrTuner Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 2 minutes ago, IvorLott said: In my formative days of speaking Thai (I'm sure many have experienced this) I have been in a place, using Thai with the staff member 'expecting' me, as a Westerner, to be using English and have been totally flummoxed until the penny drops and they recognise their own language. I remember one fun occurrence. I think it was in Krabi at the entrance to the national park where the emerald lake is. The service was desperately trying to speak in bad English to me until I asked them in Thai if they can speak Thai (phoodphaasaathaidaimai). He completely froze for at least 20secs until his brain finally computed I was asking him if he can speak his native language. Finally he laughed out loud and I was able to order my moothood. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofthemountain Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said: Do not mistake poor education with low IQ please sorry for the misunderstanding my ''\'' was a ''or'' . not an ''and'' of course you are right in most of the cases, even if sometimes it's cumulative Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enki Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 31 minutes ago, BestB said: You may not be able to understand this but English is an international language No it is not. There are more spanish speakers than english. There are more Mandarin speakers than spanish and english together. There are plenty of countries where the lingua franca is: french. And there are plenty of countries where the first second language you learn in school: is not english. And on top of that there are countries, were except for the reception in a hotel: no one speaks english, e.g. Spain or Italy (yes, I'm exaggerating, but you get the point, right?) And regardless: for a Thai it is quite difficult to learn english, as english as in relation to Thai, a super complicated language. Thai on the other hand is a super simple language. Complaining that one who speaks naturally a simple language makes mistakes in a complex language, is not very smart/intelligent or polite. Especially if it is a street food restaurant. In Thai it is: "go bathroom". Why would a Thai not literally translate that to english, and say in english: "go bathroom"? You don't know anything about languages, but you think your language is "the world language"? ROFL. 1 2 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post monkfish Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 30 minutes ago, Yinn said: This is thailand. We speak thai. Not England. Some people try to speak english for help you. But you complain. Another complainer. Most taxi customer in Thailand is thai people. Not must. Up to him. Not up to you. i am learn English. Up to me. If you want to complain about the English in restaurant, not go there, they not want you go. Up to them. Why do you always complain about the complainer isn't that a bit hypocritical? Oh sorry I forgot only Thai allowed to complan. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowgard Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said: Now you actually offend 3 more countries of which most do speak basic English. That aside, English is the world language for Tourism & Hospitality, as well for ASEAN. Nobody ever said Thais should be speaking more than English language either. The next stupid comment. I not offend someone. English is not the onliest world language for Tourism & Hospitality. French, Spanish and Russian also. It depends where you travel. And this is the real point "TRAVEL"!!! The most Thais not speak english because the don't must do it. It's their home country, the most friends are Thai, TV is Thai, News are in Thai, .... A lot of Thais have learned english but they are to child to speak it because maybe they speak it wrong. The most people who speak english as second language learned it really when they travelled in the world. You learn it by doing and this you must when you travel. But the most Thais never come out of the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post miskanotaji Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) 9 times out of 10, when I say a phrase, the 1st part will go one ear in, the other out. no matter what I ask, 90% of the time I get an answer to different question. "which coffee is stronger: this or that?" - "you want this coffee?" --> I asked "which one is stronger!" "how much are bananas?" - they'll take bananas and begin packing them --> I didn't ask to sell them to me, I asked only "how much!" "what is coffee mocachino"?" - "you want mocachino? 50 baht" and she'll begin to prepare it --> I asked "what is it!" I haven't asked to give it to me yet. Edited January 20, 2020 by miskanotaji 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roo860 Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) 19 minutes ago, Yinn said: Another complainer. Not at all, I can converse adequately in Thai, so this doesn't affect me, with all the Gala Dinners, acceptance speeches etc that you go to, I hoped for some improvement. ???? Edited January 20, 2020 by roo860 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miskanotaji Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 in a bank "what's required to open an account?" -- "give me your passport" --> "I asked only "what's required!" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airalee Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 The only person I heard of berating a Thai person for their choice of language was a Chinese national. When the manager of the guesthouse I was staying in spoke to them in fluent Mandarin (She had worked in Taiwan for years), they yelled at her to “Speak English!” Crazy world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miskanotaji Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 after a little while, they'll say "Ooooooo" which is similar to "got it, finally". Now I assume that've understood me. No -- they still haven't understood. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DrTuner Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) 10 minutes ago, snowgard said: The most people who speak english as second language learned it really when they travelled in the world. I doubt it. English is taught in schools all over the world. Many countries have a high proficiency score because of that. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EF_English_Proficiency_Index Thais simply don't want to learn it, even if it is taught in the schools. Edited January 20, 2020 by DrTuner 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miskanotaji Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Airalee said: The only person I heard of berating a Thai person for their choice of language was a Chinese national. When the manager of the guesthouse I was staying in spoke to them in fluent Mandarin (She had worked in Taiwan for years), they yelled at her to “Speak English!” Crazy world. One person in one isolated situation said something. so what? Edited January 20, 2020 by miskanotaji Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enki Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 4 minutes ago, Airalee said: The only person I heard of berating a Thai person for their choice of language was a Chinese national. When the manager of the guesthouse I was staying in spoke to them in fluent Mandarin (She had worked in Taiwan for years), they yelled at her to “Speak English!” Crazy world. Perhaps his Madarin was not good? E.g. if he was from Hongkong ... Perhaps she did not even speak Mandarin? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Taiwan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Airalee Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 1 minute ago, miskanotaji said: One person in one isolated situation said something. so what? I just found it humorous that it was a Chinese person. Sorry to hear about how troublesome it was for you to buy bananas. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post monkfish Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) 57 minutes ago, Yinn said: This is thailand. We speak thai. Not England. Some people try to speak english for help you. But you complain. Another complainer. Most taxi customer in Thailand is thai people. Not must. Up to him. Not up to you. i am learn English. Up to me. If you want to complain about the English in restaurant, not go there, they not want you go. Up to them. English is the official language of Asean of which Thailand is a member so I assume some people choose to learn English as to be able to communicate with the rest of World and not just to help us. lol. Edited January 20, 2020 by monkfish 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airalee Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 1 minute ago, Enki said: Perhaps his Madarin was not good? E.g. if he was from Hongkong ... Perhaps she did not even speak Mandarin? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Taiwan I can see reading comprehension isn’t your forte. *She* was fluent in Mandarin. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miskanotaji Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) in general, English is a shifftyy language. Spanish is way better. Also, to british and americans - "how many languages, except your native language - English, do you know?" Edited January 20, 2020 by miskanotaji Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enki Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 5 minutes ago, DrTuner said: Thais simply don't want to learn it, even if it is taught in the schools. Thai schools usually don't teach english. They teach how to pass an english test. And those are mostly based on memorising arcane things. E.g. a 6 year old should know how to write Penguin and identify a picture of a Penguin. Albeit: he most likely does not even know what a Penguin is ... you see the problem? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofthemountain Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 8 minutes ago, miskanotaji said: 9 times out of 10, when I say a phrase, the 1st part will go one ear in, the other out. no matter what I ask, 90% of the time I get an answer to different question. "which coffee is stronger: this or that?" - "you want this coffee?" --> I asked "which one is stronger!" "how much are bananas?" - they'll take bananas and begin packing them --> I didn't ask to sell them to me, I asked only "how much!" "what is coffee mocachino"?" - "you want mocachino? 50 baht" and she'll begin to prepare it --> I asked "what is it!" I haven't asked to give it to me yet. Imo you ask too much questions lol they don't understand your questions how do you expect they can explain you something in the answer? On a more serious side if you want ask ''what is it?'' try ''A ni a lay?'' but of course don't expect an answer in english. And if you want ask ''what is the price for this?'' try ''A ni ki bath?'' showing the item with your finger usualy they have a calculator to show you, or they use their fingers. You can also try to learn the numbers, it's not very difficult 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post EVENKEEL Posted January 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2020 6 hours ago, Yinn said: No translation= stop complain like idiot. Agree but...… If your business is based on only tourists would it not make business sense to have some English speaking staff. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shouldhaveknownbetter Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 2 minutes ago, miskanotaji said: in general, English is a shifftyy language. Spanish is way better. Also, to british and americans - "how many languages, expect your native language - English, do you know?" That is a silly question sir. If you did not hear the United States is a country of immigrants. There are more bilingual speaking people in the USA than most countries in this world. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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