Should We Learn The Language?

[yourauntbob]

Ok, so reading through the "i'm just the falang" thread and it prompted a question i have not seen discussed specifically (although it may have been in the past). Should foreigners learn to speak Thai, or should we expect to be able to live here using English only?

IMHO if your planning on living here for an extended period of time, have a Thai g/f or wife, and integrate into the community you should at least attempt to speak Thai. This is not to say you need to be fluent, but we are in Thailand and should speak Thai when we can. I am also not saying its necessary, I think we can all agree you can live here for a long time knowing nothing more than hello and thank you. If I am in the USA, I expect people to speak English and get frustrated when people try to make the country "dual language" with Spanish. There is nothing wrong with speaking Spanish in the USA, but English is the national language and people should know how to speak it. I feel the same way about Thai and Thailand.

I make an effort to learn it although do struggle with learning languages. Using a computer program I spend about 3-5 hours per week trying to learn new words and work on my grammar. Taxi's and restaurants are no longer a problem and can converse a bit if I remind Thai's to speak slowly. When the missus is chatting with friends I pick up about 20-40% depending on what they are talking about and make an attempt to speak Thai around the house when I can.

[GuestHouse]

Learn the language and free yourself from the shackles of having other people decide what part of what you say be translated for others to hear and what part others say should be translated for you to hear.

Edited April 22, 2013 by GuestHouse

[AnotherOneAmerican]

To integrate into the community you need to be Thai. Learning the language is not relevant to that concept.

Learning Thai has other advantages when outside the main tourist areas, but it also has many disadvantages.

It won't stop them calling you the "f" word either.

Edited April 22, 2013 by AnotherOneAmerican

[lemoncake]

All depends on the reasons why you here and what you doing.

If one comes here to do business, absolutely must.

If one is retired and married, it may not be as necessary, though sure would not hurt

I must say though, in my opinion ONLY, putting aside that Thai is a very difficult language, Thai are not too eager to teach the language.

There are thousands of people who learned English as a second language and can speak it pretty fluently, while there are very few who managed to learn Thai fluently(not in their opinion , but Thai opinion)

[GuestHouse]

And learn to speak the right Thai.

The wrong Thai can slam doors in your face.

[StreetCowboy]

Do you mean "should" as in duty, or "should" as in "would be better to"?

Speak whatever language you want. But you'll find it easier to get around, get things done, avoid being cheated, make informed decisions and take advantage of opportunities if you can understand what people say and read the signs.

To be honest, I think the question is a no-brainer. A more interesting question would have been: How important is it? And that depends on many personal circumstances - how long you anticipate being here, how much you have to deal with strangers, where you live, how easily you learn languages, how much spare time you have...

SC

[HeavyDrinker]

And learn to speak the right Thai.

The wrong Thai can slam doors in your face.

Agree! Once learned, you should then be selective as to how and when you use it or even who you let know that you know....

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Which Thai language will you learn?

Southern, Issan, Central or Lanna?

City or village or Hill-tribe?

Chances of your loved one or her family speaking Central Thai as a first language are practically zero.

Speaking some backwoods dialect will do you no good at all in any city or other area of the country.

You end up learning central Thai, and all her relatives chat away with each other in another dialect that you still can't speak or understand.

Edited April 22, 2013 by AnotherOneAmerican

[StreetCowboy]

Which Thai language will you learn?

Southern, Issan, Central or Lanna?

City or village or Hill-tribe?

Chances of your loved one or her family speaking Central Thai as a first language are practically zero.

Speaking some backwoods dialect will do you no good at all in any city or other area of the country.

I don;'t see why you assume that all TV posters are the same as yourself. My wife is university educated, about the same age and me, and certainly not from the boondocks of Isaan or somesuch. Lao or Isaan dialect would do me no good whatsoever with the in-laws - they'd look .at me like I was mad!

to be honest, I think reading is as important as speaking. Speaking you can replace with pointing and sign language. Reading is irreplaceable.

SC

Edited April 22, 2013 by StreetCowboy

[Morakot]

Well, to be honest I can't really see why foreigners should (or would like to) learn Thai. But I would say anyone who lives in Thailand or spends a considerable amount of time with Thai people should learn Thai.

Edited April 22, 2013 by Morakot

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Which Thai language will you learn?

Southern, Issan, Central or Lanna?

City or village or Hill-tribe?

Chances of your loved one or her family speaking Central Thai as a first language are practically zero.

Speaking some backwoods dialect will do you no good at all in any city or other area of the country.

I don;'t see why you assume that all TV posters are the same as yourself. My wife is university educated, about the same age and me, and certainly not from the boondocks of Isaan or somesuch. Lao or Isaan dialect would do me no good whatsoever with the in-laws - they'd look .at me like I was mad!

to be honest, I think reading is as important as speaking. Speaking you can replace with pointing and sign language. Reading is irreplaceable.

SC

I don't have a wife or girlfriend (or partner of any kind), but I am (may be wrongly) assuming that most foreigners end up with lo-so girls.

When I meet foreigners 'partners', I'm usually appalled at their choice and make my excuses to get away as soon as I can.

(I actively avoid meeting with foreigners partners, if I can get away with it)

Funnily enough, each and every one of them claims their wife is University educated, wealthy in-laws, but the truth is usually different.

Edited April 22, 2013 by AnotherOneAmerican

[yourauntbob]

Do you mean "should" as in duty, or "should" as in "would be better to"?

Speak whatever language you want. But you'll find it easier to get around, get things done, avoid being cheated, make informed decisions and take advantage of opportunities if you can understand what people say and read the signs.

To be honest, I think the question is a no-brainer. A more interesting question would have been: How important is it? And that depends on many personal circumstances - how long you anticipate being here, how much you have to deal with strangers, where you live, how easily you learn languages, how much spare time you have...

SC

Should as in duty, not be better to.

[Neeranam]

Which Thai language will you learn?

Southern, Issan, Central or Lanna?

City or village or Hill-tribe?

Chances of your loved one or her family speaking Central Thai as a first language are practically zero.

Speaking some backwoods dialect will do you no good at all in any city or other area of the country.

You end up learning central Thai, and all her relatives chat away with each other in another dialect that you still can't speak or understand.

My wife and her family, speak Central Thai, coming from 2 hours outside Bangkok. Why on earth do you think otherwise? I have been told I speak better Isarn/Lao than my wife. Speaking Thai and Isarn has so many advantages, I can't even be bothered to name them as I think it's obvious. I think it's important to learn good Central Thai first then other dialects. To the OP - good on you for trying, persevere and it comes, eventually. My spoken Thai was actually better 5-10 years ago as I put little effot in now. Reading is much better but after years of trying still can't read a newspaper properly. Edited April 22, 2013 by Neeranam

[sustento]

Turn the question on its head. Do you expect foreigners who live in your home country as residents rather than as tourists to try and learn your language? Do you complain about those who won't?

[Neeranam]

Do you mean "should" as in duty, or "should" as in "would be better to"?

Speak whatever language you want. But you'll find it easier to get around, get things done, avoid being cheated, make informed decisions and take advantage of opportunities if you can understand what people say and read the signs.

To be honest, I think the question is a no-brainer. A more interesting question would have been: How important is it? And that depends on many personal circumstances - how long you anticipate being here, how much you have to deal with strangers, where you live, how easily you learn languages, how much spare time you have...

SC

Should as in duty, not be better to.

I agree - I think to get a non-imm visa one should be made pass a test, like all civilized countries.

[Morakot]

I think to get a non-imm visa one should be made pass a test, like all civilized countries.

Which country has such a test for a non-imm visa?

[Neeranam]

I think to get a non-imm visa one should be made pass a test, like all civilized countries.

Which country has such a test for a non-imm visa?

Don't know off-hand but would have thought most of them.

[yourauntbob]

Turn the question on its head. Do you expect foreigners who live in your home country as residents rather than as tourists to try and learn your language? Do you complain about those who won't?

That was addressed in the OP, yes i expect foreigners in my home country to speak the native language. It just seems many foreigners here in Thailand dont think the should learn the language and my question was to gauge that sentiment.

[StreetCowboy]

Do you mean "should" as in duty, or "should" as in "would be better to"?

Speak whatever language you want. But you'll find it easier to get around, get things done, avoid being cheated, make informed decisions and take advantage of opportunities if you can understand what people say and read the signs.

To be honest, I think the question is a no-brainer. A more interesting question would have been: How important is it? And that depends on many personal circumstances - how long you anticipate being here, how much you have to deal with strangers, where you live, how easily you learn languages, how much spare time you have...

SC

Should as in duty, not be better to.

No. Speak whatever language you want. It's no-one's problem but your own.

I never learnt a language out of duty.

SC

EDIT:

I'll not bore you with the whole joke, but the punchline is "...I don't see the point. That bloke spoke five, and it didn't do him any good"

Edited April 22, 2013 by StreetCowboy

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Turn the question on its head. Do you expect foreigners who live in your home country as residents rather than as tourists to try and learn your language? Do you complain about those who won't?

That was addressed in the OP, yes i expect foreigners in my home country to speak the native language. It just seems many foreigners here in Thailand dont think the should learn the language and my question was to gauge that sentiment.

You have carefully avoided saying which language variant you think foreigners should learn.

It's like saying everyone that moves to Canada should learn English, not much use if you live in Quebec (they speak French).

Or everyone that moves to Belgium should learn French, not much use if you move to Flanders (they speak Flemish).

Even countries like Italy spoke 3 completely separate languages until the 1950s

(A situation very similar to modern day Thailand)

Edited April 22, 2013 by AnotherOneAmerican

[StreetCowboy]

Do you mean "should" as in duty, or "should" as in "would be better to"?

Speak whatever language you want. But you'll find it easier to get around, get things done, avoid being cheated, make informed decisions and take advantage of opportunities if you can understand what people say and read the signs.

To be honest, I think the question is a no-brainer. A more interesting question would have been: How important is it? And that depends on many personal circumstances - how long you anticipate being here, how much you have to deal with strangers, where you live, how easily you learn languages, how much spare time you have...

SC

Should as in duty, not be better to.

I agree - I think to get a non-imm visa one should be made pass a test, like all civilized countries.

I've never been obliged to learn a language, in all the countries I've worked. I think you're letting your prejudices ride your imagination roughshod over your common sense

SC

[Neeranam]

Do you mean "should" as in duty, or "should" as in "would be better to"?

Speak whatever language you want. But you'll find it easier to get around, get things done, avoid being cheated, make informed decisions and take advantage of opportunities if you can understand what people say and read the signs.

To be honest, I think the question is a no-brainer. A more interesting question would have been: How important is it? And that depends on many personal circumstances - how long you anticipate being here, how much you have to deal with strangers, where you live, how easily you learn languages, how much spare time you have...

SC

Should as in duty, not be better to.

I agree - I think to get a non-imm visa one should be made pass a test, like all civilized countries.

I've never been obliged to learn a language, in all the countries I've worked. I think you're letting your prejudices ride your imagination roughshod over your common sense

SC

Possibly, but doesn't the UK and USA require a certain standard of English to be able to work there? TEFL, TOEIC etc

[StreetCowboy]

...

...

I agree - I think to get a non-imm visa one should be made pass a test, like all civilized countries.

I've never been obliged to learn a language, in all the countries I've worked. I think you're letting your prejudices ride your imagination roughshod over your common sense

SC

Possibly, but doesn't the UK and USA require a certain standard of English to be able to work there? TEFL, TOEIC etc

Only for citizenship.

[nontabury]

Well, to be honest I can't really see why foreigners should (or would like to) learn Thai. But I would say anyone who lives in Thailand or spends a considerable amount of time with Thai people should learn Thai.

It's certainly an advantage if you can speak the local lingo,however some of us are not able to

Learn the language, I can speak a little Thai,but only a little and this is after many years living here,while some people seem to be just natural at learning Thai, even after just a few months they are speaking Thai like a local.Does it hold me back,sure in some instances,but life goes on.

[HardenedSoul]

I can't speak Thai but I think it would be better if I did learn.

[StreetCowboy]

I can't speak Thai but I think it would be better if I did learn.

So much better that it's worth putting in the effort?

[rgs2001uk]

I can't speak Thai but I think it would be better if I did learn.

So much better that it's worth putting in the effort?

Yes, be aware, you might not like what you hear, but at least you can answer back.

[Morakot]

Well, to be honest I can't really see why foreigners should (or would like to) learn Thai. But I would say anyone who lives in Thailand or spends a considerable amount of time with Thai people should learn Thai.

It's certainly an advantage if you can speak the local lingo,however some of us are not able to

Learn the language, I can speak a little Thai,but only a little and this is after many years living here,while some people seem to be just natural at learning Thai, even after just a few months they are speaking Thai like a local.Does it hold me back,sure in some instances,but life goes on.

Whatever your current level is, you're still learning that's what matters. It's a continuous process. So I'm sure you're doing well, unless of course you have give up learning for some reason.

[eeeya]

Just invested alot of time and effort and money into learning thai.

Some days I win, some days I loose and want to pack it all up and spit my dummy.

But the doors are opening and it's pretty exciting like I've unlocked a code once thought impossible.

And as an added bonus I've discovered there's heaps of freebies, promotion s and discounts available at supermarkets and shopping centres.

Just by being able to read a little thai.

[lemoncake]

Just invested alot of time and effort and money into learning thai.

Some days I win, some days I loose and want to pack it all up and spit my dummy.

But the doors are opening and it's pretty exciting like I've unlocked a code once thought impossible.

And as an added bonus I've discovered there's heaps of freebies, promotion s and discounts available at supermarkets and shopping centres.

Just by being able to read a little thai.

Do not need Thai for that, just look out for groups of people running into one direction, usually means something is free or on sale