Should Expats Be Able to Speak Thai

[NickyLouie]

I think if you are an expat you should be able to communicate in Thai.

Shocked at how many people tell me they have been here over 10 years

but cannot count from 1 to 10 in Thai.

 

Is this a reflection of people's IQ

[transam]

I have been here way longer than 10 years and don't speak Thai, because I am Langlexic........????

 

PS. Even if I wasn't, I still wouldn't learn Thai, much better not knowing what the locals are or who they are talking about.....????

[MJCM]

They just have other priorities and most people they meet can converse in English, so them not speaking Thai helps the Thai speak better Angkrit ????

Edited August 29, 2022 by MJCM

[HappyExpat57]

4 minutes ago, transam said:

I have been here way longer than 10 years and don't speak Thai, because I am Langlexic........????

 

PS. Even if I wasn't, I still wouldn't learn Thai, much better not knowing what the locals are or who they are talking about.....????

I knew a black teacher, very much a gentleman, who learned to speak Thai. Once he realized what they were saying about him being a "chocolate man" and other much nastier things, he confronted them in their native tongue. Didn't slow them down one bit.

[Crossy]

13 minutes ago, MJCM said:

They just have other priorities and most people they meet can converse in English, so them not speaking Thai helps the Thai speak better Angkrit ????

 

This is my problem, Madam wants to speak English (or Italiano - she's fluent, we courted in Italian), the grandkids want to practice English, all the project communications is in English leaving me precious little time to use any Thai ???? 

[HappyExpat57]

Some of us just don't have the ability. Lord knows I've tried, and not just Thai but Spanish while living in Mexico and "Spanglish" while in Puerto Rico. Some people just fall into understanding, and then there is the rest of us. Sure, I can count up to 9,999 in Thai and can get a general message across when negotiating a business deal, but conversational Thai? Fuggedaboudit.

[transam]

2 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

I knew a black teacher, very much a gentleman, who learned to speak Thai. Once he realized what they were saying about him being a "chocolate man" and other much nastier things, he confronted them in their native tongue. Didn't slow them down one bit.

It's true, when I am at my watering hole, of about 12 years, I sit there minding my own business doodling on my phone, I am oblivious to all the chat going on, until I hear that word...."Farang", I sit up, look in the direction it came from, so they can see I know they are talking about me, it shut's them up, they think I understand/speak Thai. 

But to be fair, I know most folk who go there, and many try out their English on me.....????

[KannikaP]

I am sure that the 'hard drive' in my head is almost full because it will not save any further information.

However Thai cannot be so difficult as my 22 month old grandson can speak & understand it very well.

[proton]

Been with the Mrs 20 years, she is a Thai language teacher but I still can't speak it- can't afford the lessons! Seriously I find it impossible to tell one tone from another and what always made me not want to bother is hardly ever being understood by people when saying the simplest of things- people don't understand. Eg last week at post office told him where to and how, did not understand so he asked the wife, she said I had said it correctly. Happens all the time even with numbers. Mrs has taught some to speak, read and write to a high standard, I know when to give up.

Edited August 29, 2022 by proton

[BritManToo]

30 minutes ago, NickyLouie said:

Is this a reflection of people's IQ

More a reflection of the worthlessness of the multitude of Thai languages.

Nobody in my family speaks central Thai in normal conversation.

More useful to learn Spanish, Mandarin or Urdu if you want to know more languages.

 

PS. I can speak, read and write central Thai for normal commercial transactions. Almost worthless IMHO.

Edited August 29, 2022 by BritManToo

[transam]

1 minute ago, KannikaP said:

I am sure that the 'hard drive' in my head is almost full because it will not save any further information.

However Thai cannot be so difficult as my 22 month old grandson can speak & understand it very well.

A babes brain at that age is taking everything in at a colossal rate, they can learn more than one language at the same time, but, that learning curve seems to have a life span, mine stopped at a very early age......????

[peterfranks]

To be honest, I'm here almost 30 years, and I can make myself understandable by using the Thai I know, but I can't by far have a conversation in Thai.

 

Then again, I always see those posts on here from people who demand that immigrants in their home country should be fluent in the language or be sent back

[KannikaP]

1 minute ago, transam said:

A babes brain at that age is taking everything in at a colossal rate, they can learn more than one language at the same time, but, that learning curve seems to have a life span, mine stopped at a very early age......????

Yes that's true. Little Billi can also get by in English...........so why do I need to bother? 555

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, peterfranks said:

Then again, I always see those posts on here from people who demand that immigrants in their home country should be fluent in the language or be sent back

Would point out immigrants are not expats.

Give me Thai nationality and I'll learn the language better.

Edited August 29, 2022 by BritManToo

[connda]

25 minutes ago, NickyLouie said:

I think if you are an expat you should be able to communicate in Thai.

Most of us have no path to permanent residency or citizenship.  And over and over again, even if we have family here, we are referred to as "guests."

Well - "guests" are guests.  Therefore - No.  They shouldn't need to learn Thai if they don't wish to.

Also, ageing retirees are generally past the point in their lives where they can easily assimilate a new language.
That's a skill-set for the young.  And retirees are "just temporary guests."  Your stay can be revoked at any time.

If there was a path to permanent residency for most of us - then yeah.  I could see a 'language requirement' to be granted that privilege.  And for citizenship?  Absolutely.

But most of us here are nothing but - "guests."  So?  Nope.

*Caveat - I read, write, and speak basic Thai.  I'll never be fluent at my age. 

[peterfranks]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Would point out immigrants are not expats.

Maybe you can tell me the difference.

 

An expat or expatriate is simply defined as a person who lives outside their native country. Similarly, an immigrant is a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.

Edited August 29, 2022 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[bkk6060]

They should be able to if they can.  But if they can´t, then they won´t.

[Jai Dee]

Topic moved to the Pub.

 

/Moved.

[connda]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Would point out immigrants are not expats.

Give me Thai nationality and I'll learn the language better.

Exactly.  Give me a path to citizenship (like farang gals married to Thai guys) and I'd be motivated to absorb more Thai to the point of gaining fluency.  But?  I'm just a "guest" living here for the last 14+ years with my Thai wife - supporting her - supporting my family.  Just a "guest."  Nothing more to Thailand. 

[peterfranks]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Give me Thai nationality and I'll learn the language better.

As far as I'm aware everyone can get the Thai nationality, IF you comply with the requirements, which is the same everywhere in the world.

 

Very flawed argument

[proton]

4 minutes ago, connda said:

Most of us have no path to permanent residency or citizenship.  And over and over again, even if we have family here, we are referred to as "guests."

Well - "guests" are guests.  Therefore - No.  They shouldn't need to learn Thai if they don't wish to.

Also, ageing retirees are generally past the point in their lives where they can easily assimilate a new language.
That's a skill-set for the young.  And retirees are "just temporary guests."  Your stay can be revoked at any time.

If there was a path to permanent residency for most of us - then yeah.  I could see a 'language requirement' to be granted that privilege.  And for citizenship?  Absolutely.

But most of us here are nothing but - "guests."  So?  Nope.

*Caveat - I read, write, and speak basic Thai.  I'll never be fluent at my age. 

Officially we do not even rate a guests, immigrations calls us Aliens 

[BritManToo]

4 minutes ago, peterfranks said:

As far as I'm aware everyone can get the Thai nationality, IF you comply with the requirements, which is the same everywhere in the world.

 

Very flawed argument

As a foreign man you have to work in Thailand to get nationality.

I've been retired 20 years and I ain't ever working again.

So you made a very flawed post!

 

As a foreign woman all you need is a Thai husband and a joint income of 15kbht/month for Thai citizenship (no language requirements).

Edited August 29, 2022 by BritManToo

[ukrules]

I will only ever learn the languages of the countries which issue me a passport.

[transam]

Just now, peterfranks said:

As far as I'm aware everyone can get the Thai nationality, IF you comply with the requirements, which is the same everywhere in the world.

 

Very flawed argument

Me,

1. Never worked here....Rejected

 

2. Never paid taxes...Rejected

 

3. Married to a Thai and raised Thai kids for many years wiv farang cash..................Rejected.

 

NEXT..........????

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, peterfranks said:

Maybe you can tell me the difference.

 

An expat or expatriate is simply defined as a person who lives outside their native country. Similarly, an immigrant is a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.

Immigrants get nationality, expats don't.

[peterfranks]

1 minute ago, transam said:

Me,

1. Never worked here....Rejected

 

2. Never paid taxes...Rejected

 

3. Married to a Thai and raised Thai kids for many years wiv farang cash..................Rejected.

 

NEXT..........????

Looks like you missed the part from my post that said, if you comply with the requirements.

 

I'm sure your home country also will have requirements for immigrants, although they may be different.

 

I know my country requires they have a paid job and speak the native language. On top of that they have to join some classes organized by the government

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, peterfranks said:

I know my country requires they have a paid job and speak the native language. On top of that they have to join some classes organized by the government

The UK only requires you to be there and be non-white to get nationality.

Pretty much the same in the USA or Europe.

Helps if you're a Muslim.

Edited August 29, 2022 by BritManToo

[ThailandRyan]

Wow, does the OP Author believe that anyone living in the west needs to speak just English or the language of the country......seems a tad racist to me.  However, I speak, Thai and learned it so I could conduct my daily activities in the north of Thailand.....Not needed as much here in BKK as some folks who speak Thai do not understand Thai speakers from other provinces....remember I said some.....

[ThailandRyan]

4 minutes ago, peterfranks said:

Looks like you missed the part from my post that said, if you comply with the requirements.

 

I'm sure your home country also will have requirements for immigrants, although they may be different.

 

I know my country requires they have a paid job and speak the native language. On top of that they have to join some classes organized by the government

That may be true for some places in the EU, UK, but not in the US.  I thought you were from America, my mistake.

[transam]

1 minute ago, peterfranks said:

Looks like you missed the part from my post that said, if you comply with the requirements.

 

I'm sure your home country also will have requirements for immigrants, although they may be different.

 

I know my country requires they have a paid job and speak the native language. On top of that they have to join some classes organized by the government

No I didn't, I am telling you my story of fact....????

 

I cannot ever be given Thai nationality, but if I take Mrs.T to the UK, it is more or less certain she will get a Brit Passport in very little time....