“Don’t complain about our English, If you can’t speak Thai” - sign at restaurant goes viral - again

[Enki]

2 minutes ago, monkfish said:

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 to communicate with the rest of World and not just to help us. lol.

IFTFY: English is one of the official languageS of Asean.

 

And completely irrelevant for 90% of the people living here. Most people in ASEAN speak already 2 or 4 languages, as in Thai, Lao, or Lao and Vietnamese, or Thai, Lao, Chinese and Japanese. The "natural pressure" to learn english is for most asians super low, as they never ever are in a situation their they need it or where it is "useful". E.g.: if you go to Lao or Vietnam, and even parts of Isaan: they speak French. Do you speak French?

An exception is for historical reasons - and the number of local languages: India.

It is somewhat funny that people who most likely speak only _one_single_language_ complain about people who speak several from childhood ...

[Jim walker]

When in Rome

[Enki]

12 minutes ago, Airalee said:

*She* was fluent in Mandarin.

My reading comprehension is quite good.

But you did not indicate you are fluent in Mandarin, too.

So, are you?

 

The other option is: the other guy simply did not understand Mandarin. Of course there is the option that you are completely right .... so no need to be upset ????

Edited January 20, 2020 by Enki

[miskanotaji]

4 minutes ago, Shouldhaveknownbetter said:

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.

Even better. How many of the native americans know 2 languages? They're white gringos who are unable to communicate simple stuff when in Mexico, for instance.

 

Let alone british, ozzies and others.

Edited January 20, 2020 by miskanotaji

[JAG]

6 hours ago, Jingthing said:

It's a very rude sign.

Sure some customers are A-holes but a restaurant is a service business.

Decent service means taking a certain amount of <deleted> with a polite smile.

If I saw that sign I would think the place is run by xenophobes not interested in giving good service and walk away. 

I have to say, if I saw that sign, in the surroundings the picture sets it in, I would think:"Interesting, obviously composed and written by someone who speaks excellent colloquial English, and who understands how to use coloured chalks to get it noticed!"

 

If anything it might cause me to stop by for elevenses or something, to find out what their English is actually like!

[A1Str8]

Never mind the sign at the eatery.

You should all donate to the owners, since they gave you something to talk about.

[Bigz]

7 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I speak only a few Thai words but I agree with the sign.

Only because I have witnessed too many Falang get upset or even yell at staff at various places because they cannot understand English.  Calling them stupid and the such.

It can be frustrating but not really their fault. Blame the government for not making them learn English in school.

If you want good English interaction with mostly polite people, go to the Philippines 90% there speak.

And usually those complain who can speak English only. The retarded ones.

[BestB]

1 hour 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.

 

 

As I said.  You may not be able to

understand being a thai and you clearly do not.

 

yes good for you you are thai and you speak thai. Tourists that feed you are not thai and if you want their money, get off the ass and learn some basic English , which is an international language.

 

nothing to do with being superior or other <deleted> you like to carry on, it is an international language . 
 

in 160 countries in the world , airport has signs in English and native language of the county. Most certainly not In Thai or chinese or Korean or Russian 

[Artisi]

22 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.

not all Chinese speak Mandarin. 

[kingofthemountain]

7 minutes ago, Enki said:

if you go to Lao or Vietnam, and even parts of Isaan: they speak French. Do you speak French?

Are you sure of this statement?

I have traveled all over the Vietnam 30 years ago and hardly find

few people able to speak french, usualy old ones, All the young generations

was more than happy to speak some english.

[Shouldhaveknownbetter]

6 minutes ago, miskanotaji said:

Even better. How many of the native americans know 2 languages? They're white gringos who are unable to communicate simple stuff when in Mexico, for instance.

What is your racist point.  Are spaniards so called gringos, how about Italians.  What nationality qualifies for white gringo in your opinion.

[emptypockets]

5 hours ago, Woolsgibb60 said:

So if they been to university and have a degree in english and they can speak fluent english did they buy the degree how can u be a english and u cant speak english how did they get a degree in english plus over the years how many tourist be visiting this country and thai still  cant speak english so it show u how lazy the tourist can only speak 1 language they are only here for say 2 weeks holiday 

Pot kettle black methinks.

[Per Norstedt]

I am Danish citizen, tourist and speak very little Thai. Off course i understand that Thai people have hard time with foreign language. I don't expect tourists visiting Denmark to speak Danish.  But English is a common language, binding the world together somehow.

[Steve Vincent]

Maybe it’s my sense of humor but this sign makes me laugh probably written by an Englishman as the spelling was correct and the writing very neat. 
my Thai is limited as cannot get the tones correct,. it’s a very difficult language to learn. However on a serious note,Thai schools only learn broken English as the majority of teachers I’ve met are American and of course when you can write and speak English you notice the mistakes being made. I’ve seen this close up when my son brings home his homework from school and it infuriates me as believe if you can speak and write in English You will certainly Have better job prospects and the opportunity to move overseas and earn a good living. 

[Enki]

12 minutes ago, kingofthemountain said:

21 minutes ago, Enki said:

 

Are you sure of this statement?

I have traveled all over the Vietnam 30 years ago and hardly find

few people able to speak french, usualy old ones, All the young generations

was more than happy to speak some english.

Not everyone, but many do. In Isaan it is rare, but sometimes they even have street signs in french, aka Bon Voyage and stuff like that. 

[Traubert]

3 hours ago, ParkerN said:

Sweeping generalisations are, as a rule, not useful.

They are when they're 100% correct. A conversation I witnessed:

 

Tourist ; Jack, rocks!

Barman : I'm sorry, sir, what would you like?

T: Jack, rocks! I told you.

B: I'm afraid we don't have any Jackrocks sir, would you like something else?

T: I can see the damn Jack! There, you stupid?

B Oh, Jack Daniels sir, and.....?

T: Rocks! Rocks! Jesus Christ!

 

Who is speaking the better English there?

 

Edited January 20, 2020 by Traubert

[Bigz]

25 minutes ago, Jim walker said:

When in Rome

When in Sodom..

[Mister Fixit]

4 hours ago, malibukid said:

was in a restaurant many times and Thai not know basics like word for "fork" in English.  i have to ask many times to please bring me a f$##%^ fork.

Fork = som ส้อม

Spoon = chawn ช้อน

Knife = meed  มีด

 

That's really basic stuff that I learnt in my first week here 16 years ago.    So it isn't just Thais who don't know the basics of a language, eh ...?

 

[Thingamabob]

6 hours ago, evadgib said:

If English is a problem i'm curious as to who wrote that sign?

 

 

Me too....

[monkfish]

23 minutes ago, Enki said:

IFTFY: English is one of the official languageS of Asean.

 

And completely irrelevant for 90% of the people living here. Most people in ASEAN speak already 2 or 4 languages, as in Thai, Lao, or Lao and Vietnamese, or Thai, Lao, Chinese and Japanese. The "natural pressure" to learn english is for most asians super low, as they never ever are in a situation their they need it or where it is "useful". E.g.: if you go to Lao or Vietnam, and even parts of Isaan: they speak French. Do you speak French?

An exception is for historical reasons - and the number of local languages: India.

It is somewhat funny that people who most likely speak only _one_single_language_ complain about people who speak several from childhood ...

No I don't speak French I do speak fluent German though does that count?
Anyway of course there are more languages spoken in Asean than just English but English is the prefered language of communication between Asean countries.

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+the+official+language+of+asean&rlz=1C1CHBF_enTH818TH818&oq=what+is+the+official+language+of+asean&aqs=chrome..69i57j33.10247j1j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Currently, English stands as the official language of ASEAN used by foreign ministers in regional
meetings, decision-making agendas and charter agreements. English was selected due to its
widespread utility in several ASEAN countries like Singapore and the Philippines


 

[Susco]

It's pretty simple, if you run a business catering to tourists you speak a language they understand, not the other way around.

[Bigz]

6 minutes ago, Enki said:

Not everyone, but many do. In Isaan it is rare, but sometimes they even have street signs in french, aka Bon Voyage and stuff like that. 

Absolutely nobody speak French in Isaan. Not even in Cambodia or Laos anymore. Yes, they got their street signs and government buildings/post offices in French but the younger generation in Laos/Cambodia/Vietnam learn English now. Still no one should complain if staff at the local restaurant can't speak fluent English. Education is really bad in Thai state schools. Only the bar girls and a few lucky upper class people speak decent English in Thailand.

 

[Traubert]

4 minutes ago, Susco said:

It's pretty simple, if you run a business catering to tourists you speak a language they understand, not the other way around.

Chinese? All the native English speakers are too impoverished to come to Thailand unless they didn't max their credit card yet.

[DrTuner]

12 minutes ago, Traubert said:

They are when they're 100% correct. A conversation I witnessed:

 

Tourist ; Jack, rocks!

Barman : I'm sorry, sir, what would you like?

T: Jack, rocks! I told you.

B: I'm afraid we don't have any Jackrocks sir, would you like something else?

T: I can see the damn Jack! There, you stupid?

B Oh, Jack Daniels sir, and.....?

T: Rocks! Rocks! Jesus Christ!

 

Who is speaking the better English there?

I see what the problem there was. Jack is a murican whiskey. A butler clad in tweed speaking Queen's English would not understand how to make such barbarian drinks. Only gin and tonics as the sun sets down on the empire.

[kingofthemountain]

13 minutes ago, Mister Fixit said:

Fork = som ส้อม

Spoon = chawn ช้อน

Knife = meed  มีด

 

That's really basic stuff that I learnt in my first week here 16 years ago.    So it isn't just Thais who don't know the basics of a language, eh ...?

 

One of the problem is in 50% of the case if you ask a fork in thai they answer you in

Thai ''sorry we don't have oranges'' or they bring you oranges if they have,

Yes i know my pronunciation usually su. ks

Edited January 20, 2020 by kingofthemountain

[Berkshire]

33 minutes ago, BestB said:

As I said.  You may not be able to

understand being a thai and you clearly do not.

 

yes good for you you are thai and you speak thai. Tourists that feed you are not thai and if you want their money, get off the ass and learn some basic English , which is an international language.

 

nothing to do with being superior or other <deleted> you like to carry on, it is an international language . 
 

in 160 countries in the world , airport has signs in English and native language of the county. Most certainly not In Thai or chinese or Korean or Russian 

It's kind of funny (and pathetic) that you're ragging on Ms. Yinn when clearly, English is her second language.  At least she has the courage to engage on an English-only forum.  Do you have the courage to engage on a Thai-language forum?  Rhetorical question because I know you do not. 

[Caldera]

If a business in Thailand focuses on local customers and serves only the occasional foreign visitor - as most businesses in non-touristy areas do - then clearly a foreigner cannot expect any foreign language skills and isn't entitled to complain.

 

Businesses catering primarily to foreigners, on the other hand, should make an effort to hire staff with strong foreign language skills (English or whatever their clientele is). I think that's where Thai businesses often drop the ball, and in that case I don't think it's unreasonable for a foreign customer to complain if language skills are lacking to a degree that makes communicating with the staff difficult.

[Thian]

In the department stores or other large shops i often see the staff running away when they see me coming...Then when one is close to me i say loud, Chai krab, anneee fallang, pai leo....then they always have to laugh...

 

In Power Buy or Homepro my wife goes crazy from the annoying sales...also when she's with me...but when i'm alone they don't speak to me at all....mostly they run away. Perfect!

 

 

[i84teen]

Fair enough. I won't complain.

But keep this in mind: your very existence as a restaurant was made possible ONLY by english speaking foreigners and other farangs.

[HashBrownHarry]

7 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.

 

 

I've had many taxi drivers in Oz who all speak very good english and are the most part polite, unlike here.

 

A high % of taxi drivers here in Thailand are idiots, see many stories about them in daily news, from Thai and farang so it's nothing biased ( before you start ).

 

Thanks.