How I Made Communication Easier When I Am In Thailand

[eggomaniac]

Something that works really well for me at most places, department stores, cafes, rural roadside markets, and most everywhere is >>> "Does anybody here speak English?"

The department stores usually summons a fairly fluent English speaker, who escorts me on the shopping trip.

Often at the cafes I get invited to sit with an interesting person who has spent time in America and or Europe, or 'I worked in Phuket'.

Have made some friends this way for email buddies.

Almost everywhere I go, and most of the places I go only see a few farangs per year, I never have trouble acquiring a companion/interpreter, even if for only 15 minutes.

At Tesco Lotus in Surat Thani, for example, I can grab a snack and coffee at Black Canyon. The owner/manager is perfectly fluent and helps me out with directions or writing in Thai something I want to buy.

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On the rare occasions I cannot find a friendly, helpful translation assistant; I make sure I remember the most important Thai phrase. 'hong nam utenai'

Sometimes Thai food makes me want a toilet in a hurry!!!

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Just ask, "Does anybody here speak English?" A helper will appear and be the star of the show.

Oh if someone says they speak English 'nit noi', move on. If they say ' a Little bit ' you will probably do okay.

[Cuban]

I'm too lazy to find the link - I've posted it a few times before - look up "portable Thai menu"

[MrHammer]

I usually get by with a combination of grunts and head nods.

[xm911e3]

Buy a dictionary from the bookstore

Edited January 7, 2010 by xm911e3

[OxfordWill]

First, you'll seldom meet a Thai who's fluent in English, and willing to have a significant conversation in it.

Interesting. I have near daily conversations with Thai's who speak fluent English. Granted they are not serving me food at restaurants or dancing on silver poles - but there are plenty of Thai's who speak fluent English.

Me too! Not sure if we live in the same Thailand. Had a conversation about Dawkins book and general related philosophy/science with one just yesterday. I had trouble keeping up!

Last friday met two new guys- both spoke perfect English with perfect accents to boot. Random meeting too- its not like I stalk university halls (Ive never been inside a uni here actually).

Edited January 9, 2010 by OxfordWill

[billd766]

I have the same problem as a lot of people here in trying to learn Thai as I am 65 and partly deaf which makes the tones difficult to hear and speak.

I have my dog confused as I call him a horse at times and I am sure he looks at me with pity in his eye.

Over the years I made up an idiots guide to useful things in Excel which is below if anyone wants to use it.

Last week in BKK i bought a visual dictionary from a shop at 250 baht for 1 cd of 8.

2,000 baht for the lot less 10% and 4 dictionaries thrown in for free.

This week I start to learn Thai

AGAIN

idiots_guide_to_Thai_stuff_02_in_xl.xls

idiots_guide_to_Thai_stuff_02.xls

Edited January 10, 2010 by billd766

[PattayaParent]

Probably this post should be in the Thai Language forum. If you are able to read Thai, the 'ThaiDict' from True Applications is also a very good dictionary for the iPhone

Simon

How can I get this without getting f*cked around by Apple all the time.

First I need to set up an account and then they want my credit card number for a FREE application and then 'cos my billing address is Thailand the website goes to Thai fonts which I don't have on my computer and anyway my credit card is inactive 'cos the w*nkers keep blocking it every ime I use it.