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Thai PM’s odd suggestions cause quite a stir

webfact

By webfact
in Thailand News

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Gottfrid Ruby Member

Gottfrid

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3 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

Learning to swim and speak two languages assumed normal from 5 years old.

 

Yes, but apparently not in Thailand and that´s what it´s all about, right? Then someone has to inform about it, or do you have a better solution to the problem?

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Thaiwrath
Thaiwrath

The day that Thailand  was transformed was 22nd May 2014 , and it has gone downhill ever since !

steven100
steven100

actually he is correct in that every child should learn to swim, it should be mandatory ....  as for the language I have always said schools MUST make english a requirement.  A child that can speak En

Geoffggi
Geoffggi

Unfortunately I think what he really means is - Bangkok is sinking so best learn to swim & secondly learn Chinese as you will in the not too distant future be speaking it ..............

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dallen52 Gold Member

dallen52

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4 hours ago, bankruatsteve said:

One way to nurture stability would be to ease up on trying to squeeze money out of expats.  We have kept this country from imploding.  How about reducing the ridiculous import tax on our cigarettes and wine/spirits.  That is a direct attack on us.

Ah.

But farang has.

Thai has not.

Ok to take...

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KhaoYai Platinum Member

KhaoYai

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5 hours ago, steven100 said:

A child that can speak English has a far better opportunity to travel and advance in life through career prospects, than one that can't. 

Agreed but I thought English was taught in all schools?  All the Thai kids I know have English on their timetables, the problem is the quality of the teaching.  English has been taught in Thai schools for many years but the standard doesn't seem to improve.  Firstly, there seems to be very few real teachers and secondly a significant amount of the existing 'English' teachers are not native English speakers.

 

Then there's the text books - I don't know if its because my stepson's English teacher is Thai but I had a read through his English text book - its  written by a Thai and full of mistakes.  When I told my stepson to point out a glaring mistake to his teacher, of course he said "cannot".  That's another barrier - pupils can't question what they're taught and are often scared to use the language for fear of being laughed at and thus 'losing face'.

 

I would expect an English text book to have been written by a native English speaker or at the very least, a Thai who is 100% fluent.  I've met several Thai's who speak English very well but I can honestly say I've only ever met one who could be classed as 100% fluent in all aspects and he was brought up in the USA.

Edited by KhaoYai
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Cake Monster Ruby Member

Cake Monster

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5 hours ago, webfact said:

and the most important thing is to maintain the country’s stability. Without it there would be chaos and many countries are keeping an eye on Thailand, he added.

Many Countries are keeping an eye on Thailand, as they think the whole Country may become as unstable as those in charge

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superal Platinum Member

superal

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        Stats , every day there are 5 children who drown in Thailand . That has been ongoing for many years . Small towns rarely have swimming pools or sporting facilities . The money is available but is spent on commodities that are not necessary but will yield a pay off to those with the purse .

Thai education needs reformation ( I am told by skilled and qualified English teachers ) .A Thai relative of mine has just taken up a post as an English teacher ( Uni taught ) . However she struggles to hold a simple English conversation with me . The lower classed Thais are a suppressed people . I know a few young Thais who speak English well , having gone to Oz , USA and the UK to study. These young people know how backward the Thai education system is compared to the outside world .

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KhaoYai Platinum Member

KhaoYai

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1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

Crawling under netting seems to have been more important to teach at school rather than swimming or languages

What? As well as:

 

Love Thailand lessons.

 

History lessons (that only involve Thailand and its Kings).

 

Buddha lessons.

 

Very little time left for learning anything beneficial.

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HAPPYNUFF Advanced Member

HAPPYNUFF

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Am I mistaken, or is this the same person who, some time ago,  claimed   eventually the whole world  populace would be speaking Thai.   ?           And as an addendum,    I have never heard  his mightiness speak a word of English.. Can he, anybody know???

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monty1412 Gold Member

monty1412

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I wish all the naysayers here would stop and realise this is a significant step  for the Chief... to state if "you drown you will die" is a real positive step in understanding "action and reaction" and  "causality". Its taken sometime but he is learning.....

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dlclark97 Advanced Member

dlclark97

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5 hours ago, steven100 said:

actually he is correct in that every child should learn to swim, it should be mandatory ....  as for the language I have always said schools MUST make english a requirement.  A child that can speak English has a far better opportunity to travel and advance in life through career prospects, than one that can't. 

Amen to a second language.  But from personal experience very few Thai teachers can properly teach it.  So much on the world uses and some occupations are required to know/use the English language.  But will Chinese be the second language here soon?

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dlclark97 Advanced Member

dlclark97

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Just now, dlclark97 said:

Amen to a second language.  But from personal experience very few Thai teachers can properly teach it.  So much on the world uses and some occupations are required to know/use the English language.  But will Chinese be the second language here soon?

Learning to swim is a must!  Aside from the safety aspect, for the young (and some old) it opens up a whole new world of adventure especially if they also learn to snorkel and even SCUBA dive. 

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overt2016 Silver Member

overt2016

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5 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

I'm by no means a fan, but some here could probably find a way to criticize him if he recommended people ate more fruits and vegetables, quit smoking, and looked both ways before crossing the street.

If you looked both ways before crossing the street, you would be hit from behind.

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dlclark97 Advanced Member

dlclark97

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5 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Drowning deaths are a problem globally so yes children should learn how to swim. What of course is needed for this is .... yep you guessed it, water and somewhere big enough to put it. This is called a swimming pool so lots and lots of them. Also needed are people to teach the little ones swimming and from what I've seen from Thais swimming efforts these will be be few and far between. 

Some Thais are very good swimmers.  After I watched my wife swim and dive while on a 3 island snorkeling tour on Koh Chang I convinced her (with little effort) to go on a PADI Discover Scuba trip.  Little did I know I would create a monster.  We have been diving in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.  She dives with the Thai Navy on reef conservation projects and at any other time she can get to go.  My daughter and I also dive but can't go with her everywhere.  She is well on the way to becoming an instructor.  I'm actually pretty proud of her, I know it is something she can do and enjoy long after I'm gone.

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Stevemercer Gold Member

Stevemercer

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It's just an opinion and seems reasonable to me. These basic life skills should be taught from an earliest age at school.

 

It always surprises me that Thailand has such an abundance of rivers and lakes, but with hardly any recreational users.

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Surasak Gold Member

Surasak

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5 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

It´s not an odd comment at all. The fact is that there are too many people that can´t swim in Thailand. He´s perfectly right in saying it could save your life. It is also a fact that Thai people need to learn English as a second language. Both due to better work in the tourism sector as well as the world is moving towards internet and online business, where English is a required language to be successful.

As some poster mentions, that he sounds like a child when explaining to people. That might be true, but that is probably only to come down to a level where everyone can understand.

Coming down to a level everyone can understand isn't really very difficult for him, is it?

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zzaa09 Star Member

zzaa09

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6 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

The day that Thailand  was transformed was 22nd May 2014 , and it has gone downhill ever since !

Actually the truer reflection of the transformation dates back to the late 1950s. 

A better understanding of contemporary Thai history is required to know the bigger picture. 

Part of the long standing theatre that some recognize and others don't.

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zzaa09 Star Member

zzaa09

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42 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

Does he speak two languages, besides Thai? Call me a cynic, but somehow I doubt that very much….

That would be the the English you might be referencing. 

If you've ever heard his attempted struggles, you might understand the rather awkward and embarrassing moments coming from a prominent head of state. 

 

Aside from these vacant qualities, the manner in which he addresses from his native Thai appears to be rather unsophisticated and crude/rough. OK for a street vendor, peasant farmer or everyday labourer, not for a Prime Minister. His native language skills might be a better reflection of where he comes from.

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hansnl Gold Member

hansnl

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6 hours ago, keith101 said:

He is Military and knows nothing about the real people and their lives and just thinks it makes him look good for re election .

Really funny!

You think there are many politicians that know about the common people?

You think Thaksin has any idea, to name but one?

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