Should Expats Be Able to Speak Thai

[peterfranks]

4 minutes ago, transam said:

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.... 

Having Thai kids is not a requirement.

 

Having an income of a certain amount and paying tax is one.

 

Even a pensioner can come to Thailand, get the right visa he needs to get a work permit, get a job and pay taxes on it.

 

He can even start a company and make himself director with a paid salary and pay income taxes.

 

Because you are over 50, you have no obligation to apply for a retirement extension, you can still work if you want.

 

So please explain again why it never can happen for you

[richard_smith237]

I won’t judge other expats and foreigners here for not being able to speak Thai. 

 

But, I will judge other expats and foreigners who live here if their attitude is ‘why bother?  and they refuse to even try the basics’ ....

 

There are so many dismissive excuses people will use to avoid admitting there is an underlying laziness or lack of intelligence or combination of both... 

 

 

For me, the reason I’m not better at Thai than I am is that I’m lazy and not smart enough with languages...   I should be wholly fluent by now and I’m not.

The reason I’m not is that I’ve never had any formal training. 

The reason I’ve never had any formal training is that I travel too much, but thats just an excuse....  the reality is that when I here I want to enjoy my time here not attend class or lessons etc.. 

 

I’ve been very fortunate that I have picked up Thai to a level whereby I can get by in most situations, hold conversations etc.... but I struggle when conversations become more advanced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[transam]

3 minutes ago, peterfranks said:

Having Thai kids is not a requirement.

 

Having an income of a certain amount and paying tax is one.

 

Even a pensioner can come to Thailand, get the right visa he needs to get a work permit, get a job and pay taxes on it.

 

He can even start a company and make himself director with a paid salary and pay income taxes.

 

Because you are over 50, you have no obligation to apply for a retirement extension, you can still work if you want.

 

So please explain again why it never can happen for you

In my 8th decade, I have no intension of working, let alone being taken on by anyone.

I haven't the wonga to start a business or even want to start a business or be a director.

Anything else......????

[Dmaxdan]

Just for the record I've lived here for 13 years and I can count from 1 to 10 in Thai.

And because my IQ isn't much higher than that, I've never felt the need to learn any more...

 

 

 

[Doctor Tom]

While the visa and extension requirements mean that the maximum guaranteed stay for the majority of expats  is no more than 12 months, then no. If you have PR, then of course it makes sense, but if in any one year, you can be refused another 12 month extension, then why would you make any effort to learn Thai. 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, NickyLouie said:

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

It has nothing to do with the IQ.

 

I think mostly it has to do with having a reason to learn Thai.

I live here since over two decades and my Thai is far away from good. But it's good enough for what I need it. I.e. I can order food in Thai, tell the taxi driver where to go, and I can say a few polite words to Thai people.

I am not able to have a proper business conversation in Thai. Why not? Because I don't need that. Because option one I do business with farangs or option two I do business with educated Thais who often studied outside of Thailand. My Thai will never be as good as their English. So we will anyhow talk in English.

 

I knew a foreigner who only lived about 3 years in Thailand. His Thai was very good, and he could read and write Thai. Why? Because he lived up country with Thais all around him and no foreigners. He needed to be able to speak Thai to communicate. So he had a good reason to learn it.

 

[transam]

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I won’t judge other expats and foreigners here for not being able to speak Thai. 

 

But, I will judge other expats and foreigners who live here if their attitude is ‘why bother?  and they refuse to even try the basics’ ....

 

There are so many dismissive excuses people will use to avoid admitting there is an underlying laziness or lack of intelligence or combination of both... 

 

 

For me, the reason I’m not better at Thai than I am is that I’m lazy and not smart enough with languages...   I should be wholly fluent by now and I’m not.

The reason I’m not is that I’ve never had any formal training. 

The reason I’ve never had any formal training is that I travel too much, but thats just an excuse....  the reality is that when I here I want to enjoy my time here not attend class or lessons etc.. 

 

I’ve been very fortunate that I have picked up Thai to a level whereby I can get by in most situations, hold conversations etc.... but I struggle when conversations become more advanced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am English, I failed my English exams as a kid, get the picture.... 

[peterfranks]

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

And yet I had enough money to retire at age 45 and be fully funded for the rest of my life, while you need to work in Thailand for 3rd world wages.

 

I also speak central Thai, French, Spanish and some German.

I have never worked in Thailand, retired at 32, don;t eat with 4 from 128gr tin of Tuna, or feed my kid Tulip chocolate with 12% cocoa and 64 % sugar, and tell him it tasted the same as cote d'or

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I knew a foreigner who only lived about 3 years in Thailand. His Thai was very good, and he could read and write Thai. Why? Because he lived up country with Thais all around him and no foreigners. He needed to be able to speak Thai to communicate. So he had a good reason to learn it.

I knew a Brit drug dealer that had spent a year or so in the Bangkok Hilton.

His Thai was perfect.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour 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.

Is it bad to be a chocolate man? 

Some people call me "wan", the guy with glasses. Fair enough, I wear glasses. And if I would be green then probably they would call me green man, or maybe apple or something like that. No problem! 

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, peterfranks said:

I have never worked in Thailand, retired at 32, don;t eat with 4 from 128gr tin of Tuna, or feed my kid Tulip chocolate with 12% cocoa and 64 % sugar, and tell him it tasted the same as cote d'or

I like canned tuna.

Oddly enough I have 1Kg of Cadbury's Dairy milk arriving today.

[Sparktrader]

1 hour ago, NickyLouie said:

this a reflection of people's IQ

Rudeness and arrogance. If you live anywhere learn the language. I bet they whinge foreigners cannot speak English back home.

Edited August 29, 2022 by Sparktrader

[Denim]

I've always found it useful. Don't need to drag the wife around translating for me. Can talk on the phone if I have a query with utilities etc. Besides which , it is a dead easy language to learn compared to German or Manderin.

 

Since this is Thailand there is no denying that it is useful here. To argue otherwise is just churlish. 

 

If you don't want to learn it fine ....your business and if you are comfortable with it great.

 

As for the argument that Thais are less intelligent than expats !!

 

Well the way the money flows here I don't think that statement holds water. 

[richard_smith237]

16 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

21 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I’ve been very fortunate that I have picked up Thai to a level whereby I can get by in most situations, hold conversations etc.... but I struggle when conversations become more advanced.

Why would you want to converse with a Thai that probably left school at age 12.

They don't know anything, they've never been anywhere, their IQ is 10 points below ours ........

'this food is very spicy' is about as interesting as a conversation with a Thai can get.

Thats your projection and perhaps a facet of the life you live and the circles within which you mix (or rather don’t mix). 

 

There are plenty of people to speak Thai with, from the very simple conversations with the local noodle seller or taxi driver... yes, about spicy food or the weather etc.... to more in-depth conversations about family life, friends, visiting places, to football debates etc with guys I play football with, or guys in other teams I play against in tournaments etc (football usually ends up with a few beers after).... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sparktrader]

1 minute ago, Denim said:

I've always found it useful. Don't need to drag the wife around translating for me. Can talk on the phone if I have a query with utilities etc. Besides which , it is a dead easy language to learn compared to German or Manderin.

 

Since this is Thailand there is no denying that it is useful here. To argue otherwise is just churlish. 

 

If you don't want to learn it fine ....your business and if you are comfortable with it great.

 

As for the argument that Thais are less intelligent than expats !!

 

Well the way the money flows here I don't think that statement holds water. 

Thais appreciate it. Some farangs just hang out in farang ghettos watching soccer though.

[Sparktrader]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

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).

Get a sex change then

[richard_smith237]

19 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think mostly it has to do with having a reason to learn Thai.

I live here since over two decades and my Thai is far away from good. But it's good enough for what I need it. I.e. I can order food in Thai, tell the taxi driver where to go, and I can say a few polite words to Thai people.

I am not able to have a proper business conversation in Thai. Why not? Because I don't need that. Because option one I do business with farangs or option two I do business with educated Thais who often studied outside of Thailand. My Thai will never be as good as their English. So we will anyhow talk in English.

Some valid points here.... 

 

With anything I consider wholly important.... i.e. seeking a medical opinion etc I will only converse with a doctor whose English is excellent, my Thai may never be good enough for that.... 

 

A plateau has been reached whereby significant effort needs to be made to step beyond 'conversation-casual’ to ‘professional business’...  and when dealing with anything or anyone at a ‘professional business’ level their English is usually fluent.

The exception here would be dealing with the police - but at a checkpoint etc my Thai is good enough to argue, object to their BS etc !! (although getting stopped is a very rare occasion these days). 

 

That said, there are so many times when speaking with local labourers, the Amphur office staff, the local juristic staff, security guards, delivery staff, etc etc is all useful....  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ChaiyaTH]

Should countries that largely depend on tourism as well new technology, for future economy, know basic English? Yes they do.

Should expats learn basic Thai? Yes as it helps a lot but the priority for Thais to know at least basic English should be higher on the list. 

Edited August 29, 2022 by ChaiyaTH

[Bill97]

Life here is much better for those who speak some Thai.  You can do a lot with a 200 word vocabulary.

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, Bill97 said:

Life here is much better for those who speak some Thai.  You can do a lot with a 200 word vocabulary.

Anyone with a 200 Thai word vocabulary already has a 1000 word vocabulary, they just have to work on the tone !!!! ????

[Photoguy21]

No it is more likely a reflection of their arrogance

[brewsterbudgen]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

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.

Not true.  You need to pass various levels of English Language tests and the Life in the UK Test.

[Dart12]

I thought this is why evil whitey conquered the world 150 years ago for?  So we all speak the same language everywhere:  English. lol

[Jingthing]

They most certainly should not!

 

Expats speaking Thai is a shanda.

 

But I suppose we should be kind hearted and not denigrate the poor dears that do too much.

 

They may give us more dignified expats a bad name but I suppose we can't fault them for outdated notions they likely acquired in early childhood.

Edited August 29, 2022 by Jingthing

[RAZZELL]

1 hour ago, transam said:

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.... 

Mrs got hers in 3 years - I believe it is now 5 years minimum.

 

RAZZ

[Dart12]

I'm relatively new here.  But it's hard for me to pick up any "thai". Part of that is I have aCambodian gf, who goes in and out of thai and cambodian, and I have no clue which is which...

But more so is the advent of internet and video streaming.  I get all news, and movies and TV in English.  all my social media and free phone calls across the world and connection to anyone at any time.

I'm guessing 10 years ago or more, no smartphones, no streaming, 

and all you had was some cable TV in english, of course still had internet, but not at your fingertip and not projected onto your TV...

that it had to be much easier as you simply HAD to listen to more Thai speaking in every facet of your life.

Correct me if I'm wrong?  this is just a hypothesis.   

I mean, I might as well be in my home country until I'm driving by an officer lol.

[DrJoy]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Nobody in my family speaks central Thai in normal conversation

Central Thai is spoken by less than 20 mill people.

[AsianAtHeart]

2 hours ago, transam said:

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.....????

The less educated tend to use that term "farang," but the more clever / intelligent / polite Thai will deliberately avoid that word because it is neither the officially correct word to use for alien visitors ("farang" actually should mean "French") and because most foreigners have picked up on it and will catch it in their conversation.  The word they will use to keep you out of the loop that they are talking about you is "kon tang chat" (คนต่างชาติ) (person of other nation).  An alternate version might be "kon tang dao" (คนต่างด้าว) (person of other land, more often used for Burmese, Lao, etc. or perhaps for illegal immigrants--basically any non-Thai citizen).

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

That said, there are so many times when speaking with local labourers, the Amphur office staff, the local juristic staff, security guards, delivery staff, etc etc is all useful....  

Obviously it's good to use the same language to understand each other. But IMHO even if my Thai would be perfect I would have trouble having a meaning conversation with a local official or a laborer. Because their frame of mind and type of thinking is very different from my kind of thinking.

 

That reminds me of a farang who (pre covid) I saw regularly reading the Thai newspaper. I asked him about it and how difficult it is. He told me the difficult part was not only the language but all the nickname and phrases, etc..

At least my motivation is not high enough to learn all this without a good reason.

[DrJoy]

2 hours ago, NickyLouie said:

 

Is this a reflection of people's IQ

I have seen 100s of Thais living in Aussie since birth, still cannot hold a conversation in English.

 

 

English is the language of Business/tourism globally, same cannot be said about Thai.

 

My Thai wife speaks central language, she is not able to comprehend what an Isaan person speaks..

 

Something to chew on