Thailand has fared poorly in the English Proficiency Index 2023 from EF, the global English teaching institute.

 

The index is compiled by testing 2.2 million adults across 113 countries and regions. There are five levels of English proficiency according to the EF rankings – very high, high, moderate, low and very low.

 

Guess where Thailand ranked…

 

The test examined English proficiency across ASEAN nations and worldwide, and Thailand has been ranked “very low”, faring the worst of all ASEAN countries included in the test.

 

By Peter Roche

Caption: PHOTO: Reddit

 

Full story: Phuket GO 2023-11-27

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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Pattaya should be on any list of places to retire abroad where English is spoken

Surprise, surprise, with unmotivated students because they always pass, non English speaking English Thai teachers.. as my boss was a master in English but could not conversate with me,  English camps in Thai Language and a Government that only speaks of important to learn English, but nowhere in Thailand you can find an English movie on TV, and everything should be in Thai..... A bit of big change is needed... Maybe the former backpackers were better to teach than the average level of a Thai English teacher... 

everything starts from the ground up.

 

until you root out the rotten education system in this country nothing will ever change.

5 minutes ago, bob smith said:

everything starts from the ground up.

 

until you root out the rotten education system in this country nothing will ever change.

Bob is alive!

3rd world education systems do not produce many successful people or a bright future for its people.  

Well, quelle surprise!

34 minutes ago, bignok said:

Bob is alive!

indeed I am big bird,

 

made a cool 17.5k usd today,.

 

how was your day ?

6 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The test examined English proficiency across ASEAN nations and worldwide, and Thailand has been ranked “very low”, faring the worst of all ASEAN countries included in the test.

 

Some people at the top of society must be thrilled. Thailand at the bottom of the barrel, thanks to keeping the masses uneducated and ignorant... 

The problem is all the focus in schools is written English and very little to none on verbal English.

Have a good friend who is a school district administrator. When I get the glassy eyed look on a word, just pull out the notepad and pen and write it down. It always works.  
Is there a fix to the system, probably not. Would take a top down change in the system. To focus on verbal English would require teachers who can communicate in English. That would cost way too much. 

11 hours ago, bob smith said:

everything starts from the ground up.

 

until you root out the rotten education system in this country nothing will ever change.

The UK education system has declined to abysmal levels and they all speak English .. throwing the correlation into doubt me thinks.

4 minutes ago, IamNoone88 said:

The UK education system has declined to abysmal levels and they all speak English .. throwing the correlation into doubt me thinks.

Learn a language in a country where everyone speaks that language and uses it every day is one thing. Learning a language and not using it very much is something else.

How about employing the Native English Teachers again?

I do not understand most of the Philippine English Teachers (I am British) so how can the Thailand people?

It needs to change.

8 minutes ago, IamNoone88 said:

The UK education system has declined to abysmal levels and they all speak English .. throwing the correlation into doubt me thinks.

"until you root out the rotten education system in this country nothing will ever change."

 

Totally agree. Band Aids a waste of time.

 

IMHO the best approach/strategy would be to copy, in every aspect, the Singapore education system. It has excellent foundations and it works and it strongly incorporates student centered learning. 

 

My Thai son, for years my Thai son attended a  'bilingual' high school in Bkk (which promised many things: Qualified /experienced western teachers / student centered learning which continuously prompts the students to get involved. Plus Qualified /experienced Thai teachers who speak good English student centered learning which continuously prompts the students to get involved (but in reality never ever seen)).

 

Then he transferred to a good high school in SIngapore. After 3 months he came back to Bkk (thanks budget airlines for cheap fares), got in the car at Swampy airport and started talking at length about human rights and the international court in the hague. And many other advanced subjects. A new son had arrived. All prompted by the Singapore education system.

 

But of course changin Thailand to the S'pore Ed system would be a major undertaking and would take time. So let's get started.

 

And there's proof, Vietnam has made major changes to it's education system, all copied from the S'pore Ed system. It works. 

 

14 minutes ago, NobbyClarke said:

How about employing the Native English Teachers again?

I do not understand most of the Philippine English Teachers (I am British) so how can the Thailand people?

It needs to change.

 

And many Thai and western folks don't understand hte brod accents of many UK people. 

Where's the full list of 'scores'?

7 minutes ago, scorecard said:

"until you root out the rotten education system in this country nothing will ever change."

 

Totally agree. Band Aids a waste of time.

 

IMHO the best approach/strategy would be to copy, in every aspect, the Singapore education system. It has excellent foundations and it works and it strongly incorporates student centered learning. 

 

My Thai son, for years my Thai son attended a  'bilingual' high school in Bkk (which promised many things: Qualified /experienced western teachers / student centered learning which continuously prompts the students to get involved. Plus Qualified /experienced Thai teachers who speak good English student centered learning which continuously prompts the students to get involved (but in reality never ever seen)).

 

Then he transferred to a good high school in SIngapore. After 3 months he came back to Bkk (thanks budget airlines for cheap fares), got in the car at Swampy airport and started talking at length about human rights and the international court in the hague. And many other advanced subjects. A new son had arrived. All prompted by the Singapore education system.

 

But of course changin Thailand to the S'pore Ed system would be a major undertaking and would take time. So let's get started.

 

And there's proof, Vietnam has made major changes to it's education system, all copied from the S'pore Ed system. It works. 

 

HAHA... I have encountered Singaporeans whose native language is english and they do not speak it very well... much like the british with all that mumbling

I  will most probably obtain some criticism from my submission

I have been to Thailand, for over  30 visits and I was curious at the majority of bar ladies that speak and understand English?   Most of these ladies come from a underprivilege background and have received low quality education only up to Primary School. 

I would go to a bank, post office and most shops and I would have difficulty in communicating in English

My theory about bar  ladies being conversed in English is because they had to learn it to survive amongst the competition.  The rest of the population don't care and don’t put enough effort into learning English..  Put it to the test, if you see a new lady in a bar and not very proficient in English and if she still there after three weeks you’ll be surprised how her English has improved

 

 

 

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The test examined English proficiency across ASEAN nations and worldwide, and Thailand has been ranked “very low”, faring the worst of all ASEAN countries included in the test.

Despite all the money thrown at education?

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Thailand has fared poorly in the English Proficiency Index 2023 from EF, the global English teaching institute.

 

The index is compiled by testing 2.2 million adults across 113 countries and regions. There are five levels of English proficiency according to the EF rankings – very high, high, moderate, low and very low.

 

Guess where Thailand ranked…

 

The test examined English proficiency across ASEAN nations and worldwide, and Thailand has been ranked “very low”, faring the worst of all ASEAN countries included in the test.

 

By Peter Roche

Caption: PHOTO: Reddit

 

Full story: Phuket GO 2023-11-27

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

Who needs English when they master a WORLD language?

THAI is a world language and should be reached everywhere.

Anutin 

1 minute ago, Jack Hammer said:

I  will most probably obtain some criticism from my submission

I have been to Thailand, for over  30 visits and I was curious at the majority of bar ladies that speak and understand English?   Most of these ladies come from a underprivilege background and have received low quality education only up to Primary School. 

I would go to a bank, post office and most shops and I would have difficulty in communicating in English

My theory about bar  ladies being conversed in English is because they had to learn it to survive amongst the competition.  The rest of the population don't care and don’t put enough effort into learning English..  Put it to the test, if you see a new lady in a bar and not very proficient in English and if she still there after three weeks you’ll be surprised how her English has improved

 

 

 

It's about having daily contact with the language... listening and speaking..

bar girls will learn quickly.

Just now, hotchilli said:

It's about having daily contact with the language... listening and speaking..

bar girls will learn quickly.

That sounds like a win/win. Be in the company of a bar girl daily.

Good morning,

 

Being retired in Thailand 🇹🇭 6 years now I see this language gap very much !! With Thailand being a big tourist attraction I’m surprised that I see basic English in schools but it seems to drop off a cliff not just with Thais but even businesses , Example up until about 1+ Year. 7/11 Did not even an English option on there App.

Thailand 🇹🇭 Is big on Tourism so I think people at minimum in that business and businesses should be able to offer and speak English :) English is the International Language of Business globally !! Wake up Thailand 🇹🇭 !! 

I have learned to understand Thai English. Well, a little bit anyway.

Speaking of a 'basement' in a western-style house ...... that's the "earth room".

Scooter tires needing air ...... "I need wind in my tires".

"Lift up my life" ...... Give me financial support (this one might be Filipina).

Best English speakers in Thailand are bar girls. All I get is "you you" and "what's Ur name". And we have a dedicated English teacher at our local school. Make all games on the phone and a computer in English they will soon pick it up. That's all I see kids doing 

That said, I have recently noticed quite a few families with young kids, often have a bit of English in their interaction. The parents are far younger than I am of course, and they may well be middle class. Perhaps it is a status thing?

49 minutes ago, scorecard said:

After 3 months he came back to Bkk (thanks budget airlines for cheap fares), got in the car at Swampy airport and started talking at length about human rights and the international court in the hague. And many other advanced subjects. A new son had arrived. All prompted by the Singapore education system.

I agree with a lot of what you said, however, Singapore are hardly in a position to lecture anybody on 'Human Rights'..

Not too many surprises in the list. Singapore and Malaysia were both British colonies. Philippines had a significant American presence. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia also had years of foreign influence. I'm sure the education system has it's place in the poor rating but is far from the only cause. 

6 minutes ago, alanrchase said:

Not too many surprises in the list. Singapore and Malaysia were both British colonies.

Perhaps Thailand would have been in a better position in 2023, both economically and educationally, if they were colonized by the British. Unpopular opinion but not without some validity. 

I find this hard to believe. I work in Vietnam, and very few speak English outside of major cities. Far less than Thailand IMO