Thailand Ranked 106th in English Proficiency Out of 116 Countries

[ikke1959]

13 minutes ago, KireB said:

Thais lovevAmerican movies, English music and Bangkok is the most visited city in the world. One would think there are enough incentives to learn English.On individual level, learning newclanguages could pull people out of poverty.

 

The real reason  of the low efficiency, and that of Math and Science (TIMMS and PISA tests), is that Thais have never learned to take responsibilty for their actions. E.g., the no fail policies in schools. Learning a new language is difficult and takes effort. I learned 4 languages in school, and if I wouldn't study for my tests, I would stay seated. 

I completely agree with you. In my country you have to work en study instead here in Thailand always going to the next grade. It creates lazy people, as nobody ever learned to work to achieve something. I am currently involved in the funeral ceremonies in Thailand and several kids come with the family even M6 students. My family tell them to talk with me, but they refuse,hide,and say they are afraid to make mistakes and many more excuses. How can you evet learn? I had to learn some Thai too and i can help myself, and i make mistakes but without mistakes you never learn

[Jack Hammer]

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.
 

[Jack Hammer]

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.
 

[Jack Hammer]

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.
 

[Jack Hammer]

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.
 

[Jack Hammer]

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.
 

[Jack Hammer]

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.
 

[Jack Hammer]

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.
 

[Jack Hammer]

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.
 

[Yellowtail]

Just now, Jack Hammer said:

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.
 

Do you by chance live in Sydney Australia? 

[Jack Hammer]

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.

[VirgoSG]

4 hours ago, Zaphod Priest said:

 

Tosh. 

 

Abhisit is fluent in English.  He went to Eton and has a degree in Economics from Oxford.

 

Srettha  got a degree in Finance from University of Massachusetts Amherst.

 

Yingluck Shinawatra has a master's degree in public administration from Kentucky State University.

 

 

Very true.  At a quick count, out of the last 9 prime ministers (excluding stand-in PMs), at least 6 spoke English well or fluently.

I.e.:  Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Srettha Thavisin, Yingluck Shinawatra, Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thaksin Shinawatra, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh

[Yellowtail]

Just now, Jack Hammer said:

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.

We get it, enough

[Jack Hammer]

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Do you by chance live in Sydney Australia? 

 

3 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Do you by chance live in Sydney Australia? 

Yes

[Yellowtail]

Just now, Jack Hammer said:

 

Yes

 

Just now, Jack Hammer said:

 

Yes

 

Just now, Jack Hammer said:

 

Yes

I thought as much, thanks! 

[thecyclist]

4 hours ago, khaowong1 said:

But Vietnam, Singapore and the Phillipines seem to handle it rather well. 

 

Singapore  Philippines. Malaysia,are, of course way, way ahead of Thailand (the advantages of having been colonized by an English speaking nation. 

But Vietnam, really? 

They have even greater problems learning English, just like most farangs find Vietnamese even harder than Thai. 

[thailand49]

"prompted reflection" 

No surprise here you got to know the problem to do something about it, expert have told them for years what need to be done but nothing to move the needle forward.

Everything is about tourist, appearances as a world class destination while leaders do little.🤣

[thecyclist]

6 minutes ago, Jack Hammer said:

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.

Yes you can tell how long they have been in the (farang) business by their English proficiency. I stay away from the ones whose English is very good. Too "contaminated". 

[Nid_Noi]

2 hours ago, craighj said:

The unfortunate facts of life are that education, the normal public schools, system here in Thailand is extremely poor.  English in many, many cases is taught by non English speaks who can't actually hold a conversation in English themselves!  It is better than it was 20 years ago, but not a lot better!

One thing Thai is good for is counting in English. It shows where his (or her) necessities of life stand.

If being proficient in English would add a few more baths on the paycheck maybe people would be more inclined to learn English. A good tip also motivate people who try harder.

[Harrisfan]

15 minutes ago, Jack Hammer said:

I live in Sydney Australia. A few years back, I had next-door neighbours  who were from Yorkshire, England and they commented that I spoke “posh” English.   I speak real  ocker Australian 

I could not understand most of their conversation, they seem to have a language of their own. Nice people, friendly neighbours.  
A bar girl  once told me she could not speak a word of English until she came working in a bar. She said it took about three weeks before she could get herself understood and converse a little  and as time progressed she become quite proficient in the English language.  A matter of survival.
 

Where are you from again? I missed it

[RamblingOn]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Thailand's struggle with English proficiency has been highlighted in a global ranking, placing the nation 106th out of 116 countries, according to the EF English Proficiency Index released recently. This result underscores a significant challenge, positioning Thailand in the "very low proficiency" category.

 

The survey, conducted by EF Education First, a leading name in English language education, assesses proficiency levels worldwide. Thailand's score of 415 points highlights its positioning as 21st in Asia and 7th among ASEAN countries, lagging behind neighbours like Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

 

Globally, the top rankings were claimed by the Netherlands (636 points), with Norway (610 points) and Singapore (609 points) closely following. This stark contrast emphasizes the formidable language barriers Thailand faces in comparison to these nations.

 

This ranking has prompted reflection within Thailand’s educational sphere. The Ministry of Education has previously explored efforts to modernise its basic educational curriculum, which has remained unchanged since 2008. The Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) spearheaded this initiative last year, proposing a revision of the curriculum to include more contemporary, technology-centred subjects.

OBEC Secretary-General Thanu Wongjinda mentioned that an appointed revision panel would soon commence work to re-evaluate subjects and propose enhancements, particularly focusing on reducing school hours. Thai students currently face some of the longest school hours globally, a factor that might contribute to insufficient focus on effective language learning.

 

This issue raises the critical question: Will Thailand implement effective strategies to enhance its global communication skills, or remain behind in the linguistic race? Adopting measures that focus on practical English use beyond traditional classroom learning could be pivotal in overcoming this barrier.

 

As nations worldwide make strides in English proficiency, Thailand stands at a crossroads—either to embrace and enhance its educational strategies or continue facing challenges in global arenas. Now, more than ever, is the time for transformational changes in the educational landscape to equip future generations with the skills they need to thrive internationally, reported The Thaiger

 

-- 2025-02-14

 

 

 

What about the Chinese language. Seems to me more important right now then English.

[craighj]

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I don't where you come from or what you do but only  a handful of people in Thailand can speak another language than Thai. 

What a stupid statement, clearly ill informed and ignorant of Thai people.  Many speak multiple languages, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Loa, English, French etc.  Do you speak Thai, fluently?

 

It is just that many also do not speak English or speak only a little, the school systems here for ordinally people is very poor especially for English.  All Kids get taught English almost none from the standard schools system actually can speak English!

[Aussie999]

5 hours ago, ExpatInCM said:

So many English speaking people find it very difficult to learn Thai, so it is not really surprising that so many Thai people find it difficult to learn English.  

 

I've been watching this annual reports come out for about 15 years now, and Thailand's ranking has not moved very much overy this time period.

Big differences in language.. as Thai is tonal. But what you also forget.. Thais are "taught" English at school, due to it being a tourist orientated economy, 20% GDP, and English being an international language... Thai is NOT. 

[Aussie999]

4 hours ago, khaowong1 said:

But Vietnam, Singapore and the Phillipines seem to handle it rather well. 

 

not sure about Viet Nam, or Singapore, but the Philippines teach classes, from 1st grade, only in English

[Aussie999]

4 hours ago, kwilco said:

What are you basing that assessment on and WHO?

V/N ses a western based writing system and Philillipines use the normal Latin script. Singapore is a small city state famous for it's draconian laws and edc=ucation - most people are multilingual.

In Thailand many people speak Thai, Laos, and Chinese, Korean, Japanese as well as some English and now a bit of Russian.

since Brexit the importance of English in countries like Thailand has also diminished

"In Thailand many people speak Thai, Laos, and Chinese, Korean, Japanese as well as some English and now a bit of Russian." only the bargirls

[Card]

I wonder how far the UK is in the rankings? Certainly not in the top 3 anyway.

[Aussie999]

2 hours ago, Kinok Farang said:

And England must rank 116th for learning other languages.

It's really embarrassing for Brits abroad when all their language skills are ,talking louder and slower in English.

Shame on the education system.

wow, you really do have issues....by the way, your comment is incorrect, and irrelevant. 

[Grusa]

I am surprised that no one has stated the blindingly obvious, that the last thing the powers-that-be want is a well-educated, English speaking, thinking population. If they had one, they would very quickly cease to be the powers-that be.

 

The education system is set up exactly as it is wanted to be, and very effective at what it does.

[Jim Blue]

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

No English, corruption and terrible drivers= 3rd world.

Off you go then....

[KireB]

3 hours ago, outsidetrader said:

On the bright side ,there are so many more International Schools cropping up at a rapid pace and the young guns are slowly but surely getting there .

No hope fror the Dinosaurs so .

Most of the Teachers are native English .

Maybe 10% of the population can afford international schools.