How Much English Studies Do Thais Need In Public School?

[PeaceBlondie]

On another topic here, we started discussing this, so I thought it would make a separate topic that we haven't exactly discussed before.

Does the average Thai student in a public school need to study English? Considering the status of Thai education in general, how well does Somchai or Lek speak English by age 18 and Matayom 12? How many students (outside of tourism jobs in direct contact with many foreigners) will have much use for the studies? Does Thailand need native speaking teachers in every province and amphur?

Please, let's not get sidetracked with the usual things like drunken sexpat backpacking louts from Liverpool, etc. Thanks.

[cm-happy]

On another topic here, we started discussing this, so I thought it would make a separate topic that we haven't exactly discussed before.

Does the average Thai student in a public school need to study English? Considering the status of Thai education in general, how well does Somchai or Lek speak English by age 18 and Matayom 12? How many students (outside of tourism jobs in direct contact with many foreigners) will have much use for the studies? Does Thailand need native speaking teachers in every province and amphur?

Please, let's not get sidetracked with the usual things like drunken sexpat backpacking louts from Liverpool, etc. Thanks.

GOOD QUESTION PB, but brings to fore the purpose of education.

Is education training to acquire certain skills and knowledge for a profession or avocation?

or

is education not only the above, but to broaden the knowledge of the individual--I vote for this one

[PeaceBlondie]

In this context in Thailand, we could also ask if education should teach students to ask questions, do independent research, think creatively, question authority......ooops.

How does this relate to teaching English, and by native speaking teachers? Do we think too much, do we want to have open ended questions with more than one good answer, do native speakers question authority more than Thais do?

Also, do the real powers that be in Thailand really want the provincial kids asking questions, speaking English, challenging authority?

[cm-happy]

Ys, agree with you PB, about independant thinking, creativity, question authority, importand aspect of a good education system.

My theory about education In thailand is that it is a deliberate dumbing down of the populace. Knowledge is dangerous to the powers that be. God forbid that the general Thai population is educated and be able to think for themselves and question authority.

[yorkman]

Does the average Thai student in a public school need to study English?

Yes. If you consider how many outside Thailand speak Thai. For the same reasons that, almost without exception, Swedes (for example) speak excellent English

It's the international business language, I understand that now it is a requirement for qualification as a doctor, lawyer or accountant that they can speak English.

It could be argued of course that "the average Thai student in a public school" will probably end up in fairly menial work. But then it could be argued why teach them more math than basic arithmatic?

[TEFLMike]

Lets turn the table. In the UK recently, a new rule has been sanctioned that ALL children from Primary school (early years) will have to learn a second language.

More imprtantly, The UK Government have announced , only this last week that any non-european immigrant will HAVE to learn English, prior to them coming into the Country, if they are seeking life in the UK within marriage etc. They already have to do an exam for basic english. Many colleges of further education are offering courses for immigrants. If they fail to do this course then they will lose their visa. Other countries within Europe, generally, is sure to follow suit.

I set out below an article in this week's news >>

Britain tightens immigration requirements

LONDON: -- The British government Wednesday outlined details of a points-based system to "manage" immigration from outside the European Union (EU) under which unskilled workers would have little chance of entering Britain and spouses would have to pass an English language test.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the proposals, devised along the lines of the Australian immigration system, were aimed at providing a "robust machinery" to ensure that only those migrants "meeting the needs of the UK will be allowed to enter and work."

Applicants would earn points for their skills and the "potential" they show for economic success.

The government would also in future "block the privilege of citizenship" to applicants with a criminal record and offer greater protection for people being pressurized into forced marriages.

Under the proposals, expected to come into force next year, the minimum age at which people can come to Britain for marriage will be raised from 18 to 21.

The five-tier immigration system is aimed at attracting highly trained and skilled workers, according to Britain's economic needs, while low-skills "will only be used if specific shortages are identified that cannot be filled from the UK or European labour force."

Last year, about 12,000 unskilled migrants from non-EU countries in Africa, America and Asia came to work in Britain.

However, the opposition Conservative Party, and anti-migration pressure groups, have said the new system will have little real effect as the vast majority of migrants coming to Britain were arrivals from new east European members of the EU.

The Conservatives, who have demanded an Australian-style upper annual limit on immigration, also maintain that the new system would not work without putting a cap on numbers.

Back to the point in question? Is it not better and wiser for Thais to be taught English by a native English teacher ? In view of the even faster-changing world and approaches to immigration?

[samsara]

1) education allows one to lead a richer, fuller life. not learning any english would severely curtail a thai's ability to experience much of anything outside of thailand.

2) powers that be MOST DEFINITELY want to keep the masses ignorant. i have lived in europe, in parts of asia, and am from america (where education is a joke in many places, too) but i have NEVER seen such purposely widespread ignorance as that exists in thailand. im a cynical guy, which doesnt help, but i think its beyond obvious that the current power players use education (or lack thereof) to maintain the status quo.

3) teflmike raises an interesting question, however heres the problem with it. thailand doesnt want to be part of the world. it doesnt want to be globalized. it strives to maintain its culture (a sometimes quite splendid one) amid a world that is passing it by. the irony is that the power players promote globalization cause it makes them money.

4) education will NEVER improve in thailand unless the vicious cycle of training is stopped. the poorest/least bright students go to the worst schools (rajabhat) and become teachers. they can speak precious little english but somehow managed to get a degree stating they can teach it??? hmm, how does that work? so those same teachers, who can teach english about as well as they can quantum physics, go on to instill basically no english skills in their students. those same students go on and later become the next teachers...on and on ad infinitum. the public school culture is DREADFUL for thai teachers. BEYOND DREADFUL. its not motivating. its not an attractive environment to spend your life AT ALL!! the salary is a joke. where do i stop? teaching in a public school in thailand has got to be right up there with garbage collector.