Damning English survey ranking leaves Thailand almost rock bottom in the World - Singapore and Philippines lead way in Asia

[proton]

6 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

Maybe it's because Thais believe they can speak better English than native English speakers?

 

In many cases they are brought up to believe that they are perfect in every way.

And woe betide anyone who dares to correct or criticize their English skills, particularly an actual native English speaker!

Had a row with a ladyboy on the bus once, he turned round when the conductor could not understand Parkland- our stop and started kicking off. Said I was showing her up by saying it wrong, apparently the correct way to pronounce it according to him was Barkland, he might have been right due to all the dogs there! 

[newnative]

   Dismal.  Thailand should be rightly embarrassed by the lowest of the low ranking.  Seems to get worse each year instead of improving.  Maybe this big black eye will spur some movement in English education but likely not.  Instead, there will be a splashy announcement that Thailand is the new hub of something or other.    But, not English learning.

[proton]

6 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Please demonstrate your Thai language skills.

we do not get many years at school learning Thai, unlike Thai kids who get years of English lessons, but can only say a few words.

[Freed1948]

7 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Please demonstrate your Thai language skills.

Not the topic of the OP.

[thailand49]

No brainer if you live here particularly if there is something at stake.  Government school just a babysitting service one teacher for entire school and that is their extensive program. 

First lesson " Good Morning how are you I'm fine " 10 Years later as they say Same!  Deviate  " this is Thailand "

[proton]

To be fair Scootland is not that good either????

 

 

[Bigstef]

This is total bulls..t Japan before Mexico?? 

[owl sees all]

7 hours ago, Old Croc said:

India is the biggest English-speaking country in the world.

 

What!! Bigger than Australia?

 

That place is huge.

[Purdey]

44 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

3. Many Thai people pretend they can't understand a white guy speaking Thai.

4. Thai people don't have anything worth the listening (this depends on how relatively stupid you are).

Amazing attitude to Thai people. Not surprised no one wants to talk to you. 

[Freed1948]

7 hours ago, Sato said:

The same applies to English people, Americans and Australiens.

Take spelling lessens.

[Olav Seglem]

Whats really sad about ut is they have several years of "english teaching" in school and dont do better.

And: i belive if british people got same amount of thai teaching in school, they would do better ????

Being norwegian, had english, german and little french in school, 50 years ago.

And have still fun trying german conversation here in buriram 50 years later with thais or europeans.

[owl sees all]

 

Bit unfair on Laos. Half the people there speak French.

[owl sees all]

17 minutes ago, proton said:

Had a row with a ladyboy on the bus once, he turned round when the conductor could not understand Parkland- our stop and started kicking off. Said I was showing her up by saying it wrong, apparently the correct way to pronounce it according to him was Barkland, he might have been right due to all the dogs there! 

 

Good to see you got the he/she pronouns correct.

 

As far as I'm aware 'B' as in Book is interchangeable with 'P' as in Pook.

[Tom89]

I don't understand what this ranking was based on, but I don't believe it's anccurate. I lived in Japan for over 30 years and I think Thais speak far better English than the Japanese.

[Surasak]

7 hours ago, roo860 said:

Where was the USA?

Just above Mexico!

[mrfill]

7 hours ago, Old Croc said:

India is the biggest English-speaking country in the world.

Slight language problem there...

The biggest English speaking country is Canada.

The most populous English speaking country is India.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

55 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The list refers to non-native speakers. In England they speak English so England doesn't qualify for the list. Several people who have commented about England and the USA not being on the list, not just you, need to brush up on their comprehension of the opening paragraph.

I realize it was referring to non native English speaking countries as I am sure everyone did?

Having said that it appears you do not have a sense of humor, as that is what was being conveyed, I guess the laughing emoji's didn't give it away?????

[kingstonkid]

2 hours ago, kuzmabruk said:

My friend’s 7-year old son is getting straight A’s in napping and pretending to be asleep.  He is also doing pretty good in snacking. But he does not know how to count to 100, has no idea what plus and minus are, and cannot write his name in Thai.  But since he is rated second highest in his class of 26 other farmer children, by his teacher.   My comments are dismissed.  

The funny thing is that this is not just farm kids.  I have a friend whose daughter goes to a Prestigious Thai school.  She got excited because she was one of the top 5 in Chinese and asked her score, but she would not tell me.  Could not tell me how she did in other subjects either.

 

The funny thing is that the U.S. seems also to be having an education problem.

 

The solution is easy.  get back to the basics, get away from Multiple choice tests and make students really think.

 

 

 

 

[Smokey and the Bandit]

20 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

 

What!! Bigger than Australia?

 

That place is huge.

Actually  America is the biggest native English speaking country!

Edited November 26, 2022 by Smokey and the Bandit

[HappyExpat57]

Here's the setting:  Nasty ancient Thai woman, head of the English department at the school where I'm currently teaching, interrupted one of my classes a few weeks ago and started dictating how I was going to teach. She wanted some old school rote cr@p. I started to politely explain how that wouldn't work for my lesson. It escalated within two minutes of me telling this <&#^%*#%!!> to find another teacher. I finished my lesson then started packing the few things I had to take home.

 

The vice director heard about it and immediately came to see me, explaining how she realized this prehistoric woman could be problematic and promised me I would never be bothered by her again if I stayed. This vice director is young and was educated in London - she understands how things need to change if Thailand is every going to get out of this atavistic approach to educating its youth.

 

There is hope, but the hubris among most Thais when confronting changing their attitudes will continue to hobble progress, and not just in education.

 

 

Edited November 26, 2022 by HappyExpat57
speling [sic]

[geisha]

This is where education comes in. The Thai kids I know are a catastrophic. Daughters of my best friend went to uni ,, and still can only manage a few words. The boys I see coming home from school all have bottles of beer in their hands  There is no getting away with it, Thailand will never become important internationally , high end jobs will not be filled, until they have mastered English. It’s important the world over. 
My take on Indians and Burmese, I find their English very good ! Before Covid I visited Myanmar regularly and find they are very proficient in English, and even in India where I’ve spent a long time in the past . 
Most Thai kids will actually ignore you if you ask them a question in English. 

[tonbridgebrit]

So Thailand's (actually, Thais) ability to speak English is poor.  But does it really matter ?  Thailand's GDP per person is far greater than Vietnam's and Philipinnes.  And even though most Thais have poor ability in English, Thailand still rakes in lots of tourism revenue.

[wwest5829]

8 hours ago, roo860 said:

Where was the USA?

Hey! We have a 6-8the grade English reading level! Not sure about comprehension level.

[tomazbodner]

It is actually quite funny how many people pick up a bone thrown at them ????

[anchadian]

 I remember many years ago whilst traveling on a long distance bus, I got into a conversation with a beautiful Thai girl who could speak fluent English.  As time went on, all I could think of was don't get an erection.

 

But she did.

 

I should have asked him where he studied the English language.

[bradiston]

8 minutes ago, anchadian said:

 I remember many years ago whilst traveling on a long distance bus, I got into a conversation with a beautiful Thai girl who could speak fluent English.  As time went on, all I could think of was don't get an erection.

 

But she did.

 

I should have asked him where he studied the English language.

Funny you should mention that. I've met a number of trans people in Thailand whose English was really impressive. And many Thai women. Getting talking to them they will often have an amazing story to tell. Married a foreigner, lived in eg Florida/Norway for 15 years, or wherever/whatever. Similar in Philippines. We really don't know the half of it.

[fusion58]

8 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Please demonstrate your Thai language skills.

How would that have any relevance to the thread topic?

[Puccini]

8 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

I'd like to rank British on their Thai proficiency.

 

Though just a thought... I read somewhere that over 750k Brits can't speak English... Lemme find it... Here:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/mar/14/sajid-javid-770000-people-in-england-not-able-to-speak-english

What's the difference between the "750k Brits" in your post and the "770,000 people living in England" in the news srticle to which you have given a link?

[mrfill]

1 hour ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Actually  America is the biggest native English speaking country!

Actually, actually, Canada is much greater in area.

[3NUMBAS]

you cant carry on with a long term junta and get good results