Would This Fly In Thailand

[phuketrichard]

Just in from a bali forum and wonder if this is not a bad idea.

..expatriate workers will be required, starting in 2011, to demonstrate proficiency in Indonesian language.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Well, perhaps for Indonesia but I'm not really sure how much a fluency in Indonesian would fly in, say, Map Tha Phut Industrial Estate, or the other ones....

Mac

[phuketrichard]

come on, i was speaking of a fluency in Thai. How many farangs that live here and have work permits that never get beyond the bar thai.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

come on, i was speaking of a fluency in Thai. How many farangs that live here and have work permits that never get beyond the bar thai.

Sorry (not really...) but the way your Q was phrased, I just couldn't resist the temptation.

You might ask the same Q about those expats here for 20 years or more on retirement or marriage visa extensions. I'd bet the bulk would be at about the FSI 1 or 1+ level. Note, an FSI 3 level is really quite good and difficult to obtain in the 44 week intensive course given by the U.S. State Department.

Below a listing of pretty well standardized language proficiency grading. With my spoof at the end.

Mac

FSI Language Scale

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILR_or_Foreign_Service_Level_language_ability_measures

ILR Level 1 - Elementary proficiency

Elementary proficiency is the first level in the scale. This level is sometimes referred to as S-1 or Level 1. A person at this level is described as follows:

able to satisfy routine travel needs and minimum courtesy requirements

can ask and answer questions on very familiar topics; within the scope of very limited language experience

can understand simple questions and statements, allowing for slowed speech, repetition or paraphrase

has a speaking vocabulary which is inadequate to express anything but the most elementary needs; makes frequent errors in pronunciation and grammar, but can be understood by a native speaker used to dealing with foreigners attempting to speak the language

while topics which are "very familiar" and elementary needs vary considerably from individual to individual, any person at the S-1 level should be able to order a simple meal, ask for shelter or lodging, ask and give simple directions, make purchases, and tell time.

[edit]

ILR Level 2 - Limited working proficiency

Limited working proficiency is the second level in the scale. This level is sometimes referred to as S-2 or level 2. A person at this level is described as follows:

able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements

can handle with confidence, but not with facility, most social situations including introductions and casual conversations about current events, as well as work, family, and autobiographical information

can handle limited work requirements, needing help in handling any complications or difficulties; can get the gist of most conversations on non-technical subjects (i.e. topics which require no specialized knowledge), and has a speaking vocabulary sufficient to respond simply with some circumlocutions

has an accent which, though often quite faulty, is intelligible

can usually handle elementary constructions quite accurately but does not have thorough or confident control of the grammar.

[edit]

ILR Level 3 - Professional working proficiency

Professional working proficiency is the third level in the scale. This level is sometimes referred to as S-3 or Level 3. S-3 is what is usually used to measure how many people in the world know a given language. A person at this level is described as follows:

able to speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on practical, social, and professional topics

can discuss particular interests and special fields of competence with reasonable ease

has comprehension which is quite complete for a normal rate of speech

has a general vocabulary which is broad enough that he or she rarely has to grope for a word

has an accent which may be obviously foreign; has a good control of grammar; and whose errors virtually never interfere with understanding and rarely disturb the native speaker.

[edit]

ILR Level 4 - Full professional proficiency

Full professional proficiency is the fourth level in the scale. This level is sometimes referred to as S-4 or level 4. A person at this level is described as follows:

able to use the language fluently and accurately on all levels normally pertinent to professional needs

can understand and participate in any conversations within the range of own personal and professional experience with a high degree of fluency and precision of vocabulary

would rarely be taken for a native speaker, but can respond appropriately even in unfamiliar situations

makes only quite rare and unpatterned errors of pronunciation and grammar

can handle informal interpreting from and into the language.

[edit]

ILR Level 5 - Native or bilingual proficiency

Native or bilingual proficiency is the fifth level in the scale. This level is sometimes referred to as S-5 or level 5. A person at this level is described as follows:

has a speaking proficiency equivalent to that of an educated native speaker

has complete fluency in the language, such that speech on all levels is fully accepted by educated native speakers in all of its features, including breadth of vocabulary and idiom, colloquialisms, and pertinent cultural references.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mac adds:

Level 1, Able to get into trouble

Level 2, Able to get out of trouble

Level 3, Would not have gotten into trouble in the first place

Levels 4 & 5, Unatainable for us normal beings

Mac

[mallyrd]

I take you are one those people who are fluent in spoken and written Thai? Otherwise your question is meaningless