Thailand’s English proficiency plummets: Survey

[jacknorman]

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2017/01/12/rao-tum-dai-thai-could-be-world-new-english-prayuth-says/?fbclid=IwAR3JEh1wpuekkIyXNF6Luyd2xfvCVh-CRPvj5jf6WD_FEYuJsVZSjCC2KYU

[StayinThailand2much]

On 11/27/2021 at 12:49 PM, Sir Dude said:

They weren't doing very well 10 years ago and since then, they have done their level best to get rid of as many foreigners as possible... including teachers.

But they have many Filipino teachers now, who teach their students how to spell 'hellow' (i.e. with a 'w')...

Edited November 28, 2021 by StayinThailand2much

[cjinchiangrai]

At almost every level in society, English skills are worth 30% more money or more for a lifetime. Particularly foreign owned businesses where it is required to get  the higher paid jobs at all.

 

If they are serious about teaching English, they should consider revising the visa limitations regarding expat volunteers. I would be happy to work with students on their English, no charge. I have nothing else to do and it could be fun.

 

We could discuss Trigonometry and Calculus while we were at it. I would think that a significant portion of expats are engineers that can help with STEM skills as well. They could up their game a lot by utilizing the expat community better.

[Srikcir]

A confused effort to improve English among Thais.

Government seeks 10,000 fluent English speakers to teach Thai schools in major reversal.

Sept. 2020

htpps://thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2020/09/13/government-seeks-10000-fluent-speakers-to-teach

 

"The announcement is a volte-face from the policy of the previous junta government (still led now by junta leader Prayut) which emphasized teaching Thai teachers the language and reducing the number of foreign teachers in the system."

 

"The unique strength of tradition and the Thai language within the Kingdom makes it difficult for the population to learn and adapt to a second language."

 

It is also in my opinion that it is also the strength of the Thai military that seeks to preserve the traditions of the kingdom to preserve 'Thianess" of the nation. English speaking Thais might otherwise begin to read/view foreign English news and begin to think beyond national boundaries set by the government.

[Harveyboy]

yes I've listened to my 4 year old sons conversation with his teacher from the Philippines on-line learning i just shake my head in disbelief  plus the written homework he is given is terrible..

[Scott Tracy]

23 hours ago, Mango Bob said:

I bet we are worst then the Thais.

Certainly, are you sure you speak English...

[David T Pike]

23 hours ago, overherebc said:

Not many of the expats here speak latin either.

English, whether you like it or not, is useful all over the world. Thai is useful in one country only, 

We are living in Bangkok, not Ancient Rome! ????

 

[Scott Tracy]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Yeah, I'm sure an American from Alabama trying to teach English would go down well.

Ooh, bitchy...

[newnative]

     Soon to likely be dead last--despite the PM demanding improvement.  Another one of his useless demands, to be filed with all the others.  Wasn't the only English speaker among the rescued cave boys a Cambodian?   Pretty much says it all.

[Scott Tracy]

I have to say. I don't care.

[Dont confuse me]

On 11/27/2021 at 8:34 AM, overherebc said:

Not many of the expats here speak latin either.

English, whether you like it or not, is useful all over the world. Thai is useful in one country only, 

Yes the same as Russian, German and Romanian ????

[sawadee1947]

On 11/27/2021 at 6:25 AM, ThomasThBKK said:

Portugal? I never met anyone speaking english there except expats... 

Maybe your English is too bad to understand????

 

[Chongalulu]

2 hours ago, dallen52 said:

My partner has an 18 year old girl.

I have tried many times to get her speaking English a little bit.

Not in the least interested...

Would rather sit with her smart phone.

At least her phone is smart… ???? 

[vandeventer]

On 11/27/2021 at 1:21 PM, Tropicalevo said:

"Thailand’s English proficiency plummets"

 

However, Thailand's proficiency in Mandarin is improving.

So is their Korean proficiency as many young girls want to move there. Just ask your Tesco checkout girls as they tell me every week.

[thaibook]

On 11/27/2021 at 2:20 PM, Mango Bob said:

Maybe we English speaking countries who live in Thailand should try speaking some Thai.  I bet we are worst then the Thais.

Not sure about you but I am not a country.  I am sure that our Thai would be worse than that of Thais but the article was comparing the proficiency of Thai people taking English exams with that of other foreigners.  

[vandeventer]

22 hours ago, Thunglom said:

Every year it is the same single source and a company involved in selling English Education.

We really need a better analysis.

I don't know what they are going on about, I teach all my Thai friends good English so I don't have to learn Thai. Too hard at my old age, but I do know all the Thai food by heart. 

[apetryxx]

There’s a very good reason for this. I don’t speak or understand Vietnamese but I can read their road signs. Why is that? The Roman alphabet. Get it?

[Thunglom]

one has to question the validity of this single survey.

However I have noticed in industry a Brexit affect. Many companies use their language courses as part of their ISO programs.

Since Brexit many have reviewed their need for English and have looked to broader horizons for their language needs

as they are dealing with and Asia the EU rather than UK.

Many schools are finding it is profitable to offer courses in Chinese. Korean and Japanese French and German as these are being asked for by industry.

Whereas English will always be needed in business and commerce, companies are now looking at speaking the languages of their markets and managers as well.

Edited November 28, 2021 by Thunglom

[paul1804]

If Prayut and his bunch of merry men had their way they would all be speaking Chinese, I guess that would prepare them well for the invasion and finally the occupation! 

[rosst]

Ha ha ha ha ha, hilarious, thousands of native English speakers willing to teach but too many barriers from ignorance and arrogance. 

Richly deserved 

[Thunglom]

8 minutes ago, rosst said:

Ha ha ha ha ha, hilarious, thousands of native English speakers willing to teach but too many barriers from ignorance and arrogance. 

Richly deserved 

Most native Eng;ish speakers can't teach... they don't know how.

[Thunglom]

1 hour ago, David T Pike said:

We are living in Bangkok, not Ancient Rome! ????

 

I don't think you fully understand the significance of Latin in today's world.

almost half of the English language is derived from Latin-based words. This means that people from Latin-based languages have a distinct advantage when it comes to learning English as they will recognise a lot of the vocabulary - and of course the script.

Edited November 28, 2021 by Thunglom

[metisdead]

Off topic posts have been removed.  A post with an unknown link has been removed. 

 

 

[Thunglom]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Of course there are several nations in Africa where Engish is the primary language. 

see my list of English speaking countries.

[Thunglom]

4 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Would you disagree with the conclusion that overall Thais have very poor English skills? I don't, but I noted that all at the top of the list have been British or American colonies. 

No I don't agree .. I think the survey is looking in the wrong places. I think also that persob=nal experience is anecdotal and very misleading.

Many ex-colonies have vey good English because it is often still used in various ways in those countries - such as law, contract etc. However this is not a yardstick for English learning  across the board.

Thailand has serious problems with its education system, but language learning in Thailand is often outside that system. EF - are a business and promoting air own interests.

[Thunglom]

2 hours ago, Longwood50 said:

mystified by the simplest foreign phrases

Why are you mystified by a simple foreign phrase? 

You use of an idiom would show how little you understand about language acquisition.

I have noticed how many native speakers ae incredibly arrogant wen it comes to the ability of others to lear their language.

 

I think "ngoo ngoo pla pla " is an appropriate Thai idiom for you.

 

 

Edited November 28, 2021 by Thunglom

[tweedledee2]

    It seems that in every topic about Thailand's lack of English or proficiency, there are always posters having a go at America and our English. I can generally judge posters level of English deficiency from reading their posts. If they're not misusing break for brake or there, their or they're, then they are typing long continuous content without  correct punctuation or sentence structure.

    As an example, posting 22 lines of text within 5 paragraphs using multiple commas, while having only 5 periods, should maybe conceal the fact he had 15 years of  teaching experience. 

      

     

     

[off road pat]

On 11/27/2021 at 8:20 AM, Mango Bob said:

Maybe we English speaking countries who live in Thailand should try speaking some Thai.  I bet we are worst then the Thais.

Speak for yourself,....lot's of Farangs speak rather good Thai !

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, Hanuman2547 said:

In Thailand, many Thai teachers know a lot about the English language.  They know all the grammar exceptionally well.  They have a fairly good vocabulary.  However, they are unable to put it all together and communicate verbally in the English language.  Then you take the local Issarn lady working in a bar in Pattaya or elsewhere.  Doesn't know <deleted> all about verbs, plurals, or the present perfect tense.  Limited vocabulary yet can converse in verbal English quite well.  

What you say is true. My wife spent seven years studying English to teach (she was already fine as an English speaker). But what she was taught was way, way too technical. I'm English, and a journalist for over 40 years, and I had absolutely no idea what they were teaching her to teach others. Most of it was totally irrelevant.

 

She was also given a test paper, and I found around 100 errors in its 10 pages, corrected them, she gave to it her professor, who then threw it in the bin.

Now, we have a nephew living with us. He has been learning English in a private school, albeit in a small provincial town rather than an expensive international school in a city, and after being taught English for seven years he still cannot put a sentence together. All I've seen him do is recite a word and spell it, which he does well. But that's it. My wife, since he came to live with us 20 months ago after his mother went to Hungary 'for three months' where her Dutch husband has a house, is trying to help him catch up now.

 

But, as I said, he still cannot put a sentence together. She says he's just stupid. He is, though, very talented at drawing and I've suggested that he should be pointed in that direction as he gets older (he's 12 now). That also appears to be falling on deaf ears.

[thecyclist]

On 11/27/2021 at 2:34 PM, overherebc said:

Not many of the expats here speak latin either.

English, whether you like it or not, is useful all over the world. Thai is useful in one country only, 

2 countries :people in Laos have no problems with Thai. Useful in Cambodia too, especially along the border. Some would consider Isan a separate country. So usefulness of Thai established in 4 entities :Thailand, Isan, Laos, Cambodia. ????????????????????☺️????