She has a point. In my travels in both countries I found Filipinas across a wide spectrum of jobs were able to communicate, both understand and speak, to a better standard. It’s also emphasises the difference in the standard of education in both countries. I don’t expect everybody to agree but it’s my opinion based on my personal experience.

17 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

For most Thais it all goes horribly wrong in high school, which is basically 6 years of meaningless brainwashing by incompetent Thai teachers pretending to know what they are doing. By the time the students get to university it is sink or swim... mostly sink. One on the main problems is that these high school kids think that languages are not important because they will just work in Thailand and not need it... but if you look at any decent job ad, then it requires a TOEIC score etc. or "Good English communication skills" etc... even for an engineer at a half-decent company. There just isn't the intrinsic motivation for such topics as Thai society doesn't encourage it, neither does the system, as it wants compliant workers that don't get aspirations above their station... Thailand stills needs a slave class to serve the elites.

same in America. we need those Mexicans to pick fruit and clean and build houses.

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

For me the same with Americans... British are speaking clearly.

We all have our preferences I guess.

I work with a lot of Thais who went international school and learned English from a young age.

Their English pronunciation is indistinguishable from a native speaker.

Generally they have a sort of "mid-Atlantic" accent, neither British nor American.

This is in spite of having mostly British teachers.

They tend to say that American English is easier to understand, but they haven't been to Louisiana.

1 hour ago, Keeenok Powell said:

I can never find a girl’s hubris.

It's certainly a mystery!

Looks hot to me.

When you visit other countries, it is always best to keep your piehole shut so as to ensure that people only guess you're idiotic rather than proving it so clearly.

But I must point out: English is a compulsory subject in the Thai school system....lealy😁😁😁

3 hours ago, newnative said:

The tourist definitely has a point. Thai workers in the tourist industry need better English skills. But, the reality is that the English test scores for Thai students are going in the wrong direction--down--every year. Instead of improving, they are only getting worse as Thailand works its way to the bottom. Not far to go now.

One problem I see is a lack of really wanting to learn English, even a few words related to the job the Thai is doing. For example, I don't like to use chopsticks. When we eat out, which is a lot, and the restaurant only has chopsticks on the table, I will ask the server for a fork and spoon. The majority of the time, they have no idea what I am asking for. Many also have a problem with salt and pepper. My Thai spouse hdas to tell them in Thai.

When you are working at a restaurant serving tourists, you should at least know a few basic restaurant related words in English. And, yes, I sometimes do try to ask for a spoon and fork in Thai--which often results in the server looking at my Thai partner, rather than interacting with me and trying to understand what I am asking for.

i was in Hanoi and the kids there will walk up to you and ask if they can practice English. this will not happen in Thailand. this is fine if you want to work in noddle shop, but if your in position the puts you in contact with foreigners than learn English i use FedEX frequently and most of the drivers are ignorant in English. this is unacceptable

17 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

You can't lay all the blame on the teachers. The whole Thai education system is flawed with perhaps the most important issue being that you cannot fail a student no matter how bad their performance. The students usually figure this out by Grade 3 and this is dispiriting for all but the most eager to truly learn.

The problem with teaching English in Thai schools is the curriculum - it is all grammar focused. You don't learn a language by studying grammar. Languages are learned by listening. Listening leads to speaking. The listening skill is hindered by the fact that most Thai English language teachers speak Thai when trying to teach English through a grammar focus which does not promote speaking skills. If taught properly, once speaking skills are developed then the next skill is reading. Reading results in learning vocabulary and structure, grammar, and that leads to writing ability.

Forget about the "I speak good English" what about the 4th world country she comes from? The place is so bad the locals flee to other countries to escape that rat hole as even they want out.

What is so funny is the filipina's English is probably no great shakes either.

3 hours ago, newnative said:

The tourist definitely has a point. Thai workers in the tourist industry need better English skills. But, the reality is that the English test scores for Thai students are going in the wrong direction--down--every year. Instead of improving, they are only getting worse as Thailand works its way to the bottom. Not far to go now.

One problem I see is a lack of really wanting to learn English, even a few words related to the job the Thai is doing. For example, I don't like to use chopsticks. When we eat out, which is a lot, and the restaurant only has chopsticks on the table, I will ask the server for a fork and spoon. The majority of the time, they have no idea what I am asking for. Many also have a problem with salt and pepper. My Thai spouse has to tell them in Thai.

When you are working at a restaurant serving tourists, you should at least know a few basic restaurant related words in English. And, yes, I sometimes do try to ask for a spoon and fork in Thai--which often results in the server looking at my Thai partner, rather than interacting with me and trying to understand what I am asking for.

If you live in Thailand, maybe you should learn to speak Thai. You could start with the words for fork and spoon since eat out a lot.

All the desk clerks in the Ruamchitt hotel speak English, so does the staff in Thermae and Rainbow 5 and Billboard so Im good.

2 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

You were doing well until this regurgitated nonsense.

Thailand was left alone as a buffer state to avoid direct confrontation between the British and French.

During World War II, the Japanese walked right in.

Did you study history at Trump University?

The Filipina is just pointing out the elephant in the room and the Thai responded because she felt insulted. Yes, there are some Thais that speak extremely good English, but they are the exception not the rule. The Thai educational system doesn't really address the situation in any real constructive way to turn it around. Most Thais that can speak English are self-motivated to do so for whatever their reasons are.

Well, over time Thais will have to come from under the "cultural" stone and face the reality. Until then, they know everything better and do not realize, how much business in trading and tourism they lose on a hourly basis. But, up to them, their country, their circus, their opinion .........

The Thai chick blew her away, all class. What a great reply to the Flippo's potty mouthed rant.

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai English Proficiency Slips Further Down Global Rankings

21 hours ago, webfact said:

A Thai English teacher addressed a viral complaint by a Filipina tourist about the lack of English comprehension in Thailand. In her response, the teacher emphasised respect and cultural understanding more than language proficiency.

That's the problem in a nutshell. Thai schools focus too much on "respect and cultural understanding" instead of teaching actual skills.

Not sure how things may have evolved since, but more than two decades ago I taught English for some months to the final class at a large secondary school in the north-west, located just next to where I had a class of adults from Burma. Unpaid, informal volunteer in both instances.

Initially total apathy. I moved the class from the big modern school-building to the nearby teak house with its sizeable veranda. More relaxed atmosphere. Then ensued chaos. My Burmese students intervened to restore order. I asked them to desist. Slowly things settled down of their own accord.

The six girls sat on the floor, the six boys on chairs behind them. Occasionally the boys might start chatting amongst themselves. The girls would turn round and tell them to shut up. Which they promptly did. More than once, as the pupils were departing, in high spirits, laughing and joking, my Burmese friends remarked, with a tone of astonishment, how much these 15-to-16-year-olds were enjoying the classes. We made great progress and the class became one of my most fulfilling ever.

The headmaster requested I take two more classes, which I declined; but then accepted to take an improver class for the three Thai teachers of English. The only one I ever met spoke an "English" of which I understood not a word. Embarassing for us both. But the teachers never turned up. Too much loss of face, I guess. A pity, because their pupils might have benefitted.

No guessing the cause of the initial apathy in my class.

"If troops mutiny, first seek failure in their officers."

21 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Complaining will not work as teaching Thai students English in government schools. They lack the motivation to learn, because they will pass every subject. And a PM once stated that Thai will be a global language and another is not welcoming foreigners..

Also, with English standards falling year by year, I'm convinced that the Thai establishment does not want Thai people to learn English. They want them to remain stupid, (thanks to the lousy Thai education system), gullible and blinkered to the outside world and outside values. They can then continue to be controlled, manipulated and exploited for cheap labour, mainly by their Chinese Thai masters.

What's the reason for Filipinos/as having such a high level of English anyway?

AFAIK there isn't a TEFL industry there, I've never heard of Westerners TEFLing or even teaching there.

It can't be a hangover from being colonized by non-English speaking countries hundreds of years ago, or the leftovers of American military bases over the last 100 years.

19 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

You just said the quiet part out loud.

Bull<deleted>. I've lived in the Philippines 27 years and put 2 kids through the Philippines private school system. Your comments are total tosh.

3 hours ago, Farage said:

AI generated

You're wrong, I often watch Crispys vids - funny lass.

I’d rather listen to a Thais soft tones speaking English , than them buck toothed high pitched squawking Filipino beggars on every corner tones

1 hour ago, jimgilly said:

Forget about the "I speak good English" what about the 4th world country she comes from? The place is so bad the locals flee to other countries to escape that rat hole as even they want out.

Take it up with the Catholic church which has fought against birth control since forever.

There are far worse places she could end up in. Flying into Moscow, for example, even the immigration and customs officers can't speak or understand a word of English but hassle you in Russian nevertheless. Trying to buy a ticket at the Moscow railway station was a complete nightmare.

15 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

There isn't overly high proficiency of Thai comprehension in the Philippines either....

And Thais can speak Tagalog? Stupid argument.

14 minutes ago, Packer said:

What's the reason for Filipinos/as having such a high level of English anyway?

AFAIK there isn't a TEFL industry there, I've never heard of Westerners TEFLing or even teaching there.

It can't be a hangover from being colonized by non-English speaking countries hundreds of years ago, or the leftovers of American military bases over the last 100 years.

A work ethic that propels them to study hard and to learn. They are a critical component of many workforces around the world like marine vessel crews, healthcare, elder care, service and and hospitality sector.

I speak English well, this can be easy for even fellow Scots to understand.