11 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.

When your language is the international language of the world what reason is there to learn another language? As the economic powerhouses around the world have learnt that to suceed you need to be fluent in the international language of the world. For some reason Thailand can't quite grasp that reality.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Speaking to Thai teachers that I know and am continually helping with their class work to explain basic grammar and vocabulary, it's based on fact.

I agree. Most Thai English language teachers have poor English speaking skills. Grammar is probably better than 90% on here. Doesn't make them bad teachers though. If your pool of English teachers is coming from a population of poor English speakers you can't expect much more. Even if fluent in English, admittedly I've never met one, will be pushing the proverbial uphill teaching multiple classes of 40+ with no tech in the classroom. This of course is referencing the government school system. 

Just now, Purdey said:

No mention of Chinese proficiency. Much more useful in this region.

Chinese (Mandarin) is taught in schools but it's not the international language. English is. Let's hope it stays that way.

In how many countries is Thai spoken.....One! how many countries speak English in various degrees....all of them!

1 hour ago, KireB said:

Most native speakers are terrible English  teachers, as they have never learned a foreign language themselves. Like a coding teacher who has never turned on a computer. I prefer non native or Pilipino teachers for my children. 

Complete and absolute rubbish based on your incapacity for an intelligent thought. What about native speakers with an education degree? How about those with an ordinary degree and a CELTA (my guess is you don't know what a CELTA is)? What about an ordinary degree, a diploma of teaching in a 2nd or other language and a CELTA?  An education degree and a diploma in teaching in a 2nd or other language? Masters in linguistics on top of an education degree? A teacher that teaches a 2nd or other language in no way needs to know another language. They need to know about language acquisition and how to teach it.

You really just keep showing your complete lack of understanding. Of course there are some who can be well qualified and be bad teachers just as there can be some who have little or no education in the profession but can still be good teachers. Sure Thailand's full of useless farang teachers with dodgy degrees but to say "Most native speakers are terrible English  teachers" is simply your opinion with no actual basis. 

13 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

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

but apparently a load of foreign bigots?

11 hours 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. 

You obviously know nothing about Thailand and Thais. They are completely ignorant to anything outside Thailand's borders. That includes American films and English music.

Education is just not taken seriously enough In Thailand.  They say their English Proficiency is poor but no doubt it's the same with other subjects.  It wouldn't surprise me if they're poor in most subjects.  

11 minutes ago, MartinBangkok said:

You obviously know nothing about Thailand and Thais. They are completely ignorant to anything outside Thailand's borders. That includes American films and English music.

Not true at all. They love American action movies. They all know Arnold. They all know who Trump is. 

5 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Paranoia is common in non thai speakers who imagine everyone is gossiping about them when they are really only discussing the price of potatoes, chewing gum and guava in France.

No my partner is Thai and told me myself. And indeed, if you understand some Thai you will hear that you ate talking aboit you, as they assume you don't understand them

10 hours 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.
 

Jack, nice post. I am always curios about the background of fellow expats, and after carefully studying your written statements I am daring a wild guess that you maybe from Sydney, Australia.

9 hours ago, KireB said:

Very useful. My wife works for an international company in Bkk, and is pulling in a salary I can only dream of.  How about those working in tourist related businesses. 

 

Learning English ican pull peopke out of poverty.

My ex-girlfriend's career (girl from Korat I met in Pattaya) was solely thanks to her being able to speak decent English. 

3 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

Ouch, nasty... I have lived in Thailand for over 5 years, you might have worked in an industry, but not all, also, I speak to many Thai, in cities, in rural areas, in regional towns/city, I do know their language abilities... So get off your ignorant high horse.

Leave him, as he has no clue what he is talking about. He wants to be show he knows a lot but it is a hollow barrow

29 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Not true at all. They love American action movies. They all know Arnold. They all know who Trump is. 

Message me back after you've lived in Thailand a couple of years and come to your senses.

54 minutes ago, MartinBangkok said:

You obviously know nothing about Thailand and Thais.

You are correct in that YOU "obviously know nothing about Thailand and Thais."

38 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

No my partner is Thai and told me myself.

Probably the worst reference for anything about Thailand!

42 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Not true at all. They love American action movies. They all know Arnold. They all know who Trump is. 

You are nearly as bad as the person you quoted with that comment!

12 minutes ago, MartinBangkok said:

Message me back after you've lived in Thailand a couple of years and come to your senses.

I lived and WORKEd in Thailand for 20 years and I think Harrisfan is right.

3 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

You are correct in that YOU "obviously know nothing about Thailand and Thais."

Ask a random Thai about the last 5 or 10 movies they've watched and ask them to share their song playlist with you. Then get back to me. Ok Scottie?

16 hours ago, oustaristocrats said:

 

Yes, and most striking, their last 10+ prime ministers, including the current one, are absolutely illiterate in English. I sometimes believe they prefer to study Chinese instead of English. 

Maybe a correct decision, considering the present times.

13 hours ago, mfd101 said:

So Thais would have been better off (today) if they HAD been colonized by the British ...

 

Probably some Thais would.

30 minutes ago, MartinBangkok said:

Message me back after you've lived in Thailand a couple of years and come to your senses.

Message me back when you meet some real Thai people.

13 minutes ago, MartinBangkok said:

Ask a random Thai about the last 5 or 10 movies they've watched and ask them to share their song playlist with you. Then get back to me. Ok Scottie?

Can't remember my last 2 movies. Movies are more for teenagers 

1 hour ago, MartinBangkok said:

You obviously know nothing about Thailand and Thais. They are completely ignorant to anything outside Thailand's borders. That includes American films and English music.

I assume you are sarcasric.

35 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Probably the worst reference for anything about Thailand!

Happy to know you now everything.. probably got your education here in Thailand. Your comment on everybody but you knoe nothing about the real life

42 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Probably the worst reference for anything about Thailand!

 

41 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Probably the worst reference for anything about Thailand!

 

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Complete and absolute rubbish based on your incapacity for an intelligent thought. What about native speakers with an education degree? How about those with an ordinary degree and a CELTA (my guess is you don't know what a CELTA is)? What about an ordinary degree, a diploma of teaching in a 2nd or other language and a CELTA?  An education degree and a diploma in teaching in a 2nd or other language? Masters in linguistics on top of an education degree? A teacher that teaches a 2nd or other language in no way needs to know another language. They need to know about language acquisition and how to teach it.

You really just keep showing your complete lack of understanding. Of course there are some who can be well qualified and be bad teachers just as there can be some who have little or no education in the profession but can still be good teachers. Sure Thailand's full of useless farang teachers with dodgy degrees but to say "Most native speakers are terrible English  teachers" is simply your opinion with no actual basis. 

Do you have temper issues? And of course is that my opinion.  Isn't it factual that most Americans only speak 1 language? Wouldn't you agree that when you want to teach a subject, you should understand the learning process behind it? Exactly, so we agree now.

 

I fail to see why you would get all upset about that.

35 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Happy to know you now everything.. probably got your education here in Thailand. Your comment on everybody but you knoe nothing about the real life

I'm dyslexic too, but it didn't prevent me from learning critical thinking. Assumptions are the mark of a fool,

3 hours ago, KireB said:

Like a coding teacher who has never turned on a computer

but you are speaking like a teacher who has never trained to teach...