Why can't foreigners in Thailand read and speak Thai?

[Braddockrd]

I am always appalled at the vast majority of foreigners living permanently or quasi-permanently in Thailand and yet being completely illiterate. I have met almost none who could read Thai, when it does not take that long to learn. Most of them can blabber a couple sentences in Thai in such a horrible accent that only bar girls can understand. Very few are able to speak basic conversational Thai. I am sure that a vast majority of them would cringe at foreigners coming to their countries and refusing to learn their language. So why can't foreigners in Thailand learn to read and speak?

[MichaelJackson]

Like learning anything it depends on ability, motivation and in this particular instance, age.

Language is predominantly about memory, and as we get older retention is not as good. For most as they have Thai wives they may not see a need. With English being the second language here, and dependant where you live, in a tourist spot like Pattaya, where English is widely used, the need would be less for the average expat.

[Showbags]

I agree...we all need to speak such a universal language.

I know if I learnt to read, write and speak fluently it would open doors around the globe for me.

[beachproperty]

Can't speak for everyone....but for me after living here for 10 years (vocabulary of mayber 500 words)....my Thai is very basic....

WHY?...First off I'm an old man and its hard enough for me to remember where I left the car keys! let alone learn a "tonal" language like Thai.

Next....don't really need much more than the basic's that I know to communicate with the Thai's.....isn't That what its all about ...communication!

So why the attitude .....congrats to you....but each to their own

[ukrules]

It requires a lot of effort on our part.

Thailand makes it near impossible to ever become a citizen, we're not allowed to buy land, etc, etc, etc

Due to this most people will only regard themselves as temporary visitors so why bother learn a language that is only useful in a country where you're staying on a temporary basis.

Long term temporary or not, I don't see the point. I will never be here permanently and I'll move on at some time in the future at which point Thai becomes useless and I have less useless things to spend my time on.

[ozsamurai]

I have no interest in speaking to Thai people in general. I speak 3 languages already, Thai is not a good addition.

Oz

[mca]

I can never understand folks who live here a long time and don't even learn the basics. It makes life infinitely easier when you can give a taxi driver directions and when buying stuff etc. I hailed a tuk tuk outside panthip once and the driver tried the usual 200 baht patter. Noticing he was an isaan bloke i laughed and spoke to him with a bit of the dialect. He then grinned and dropped the price to the more usual 80 baht

[David48]

I think, in general, that we should not care, or worse, interfere with what our fellow ex-pats decide to do ... or not do.

It's no business of mine.

Of course, if they need a helping hand ... I'm first to offer mine.

But, if they wish to learn the Thai Language ... fine.

If they wish to become a master potter, or fisherman, or cook ...fine.

... and if they choose not to do ... fine by me also.

Enjoy your own life and don't be a back-seat driver to other's lives.

.

[chrisinth]

There are many excuses reasons why some people don't learn the language. In my case it just happened that English became the language of choice at home to keep the wife's knowledge up-to-date and obviously give the kids an advantage with the English language.

Other reasons I have noticed:

People living in the commercial areas (Pattaya, Phuket, Bkk, etc) don't really need the language as there are enough Thai people understanding English to get by. These people usually keep the company of foreigners, so again the need is not there.

People living and working here in environments where English is the preferred language. Our office (and workshop) operates like this, and the need to speak Thai is diminished.

I Know there are many more examples. Some people call them reasons, others excuses. At the end of the day though, I would agree with the OP that not being able to communicate in the language of the country vastly narrows the experience.

[advancebooking]

I have travelled all around the world and make an effort with languages everywhere I go. The thai language is difficult to learn- there is no doubt about it. Go to Indonesia and you can learn very easily and quickly. In LOS its a lot harder to get the pronunciation correct. As for being able to write thai.... forget it

[A1Str8]

In my opinion that happens for two reasons.

First, learning Thai in Thailand is not particularly necessary. It's not like going to South America without speaking Spanish. That would be a problem and you wouldn't be able to do anything. Speaking the local language there is a must. However here it's different as more and more Thais speak English.

Second, a lot of foreigners start to learn to speak/read/write at some point but often they get discouraged by the locals' behavior towards them. As a foreigner you are never going to be able to fully integrate into the society. You won't ever be fully accepted. No matter what you do, here you are just a foreigner. That attitude understandably makes people feel that they don't want to put in effort as they are never going to be rewarded.

[Stradavarius37]

Because 90 percent of Thai conversations are about food, and I don't care what they ate, when they ate it, was it good, when will they eat next etc....

[Jasun]

I think, in general, that we should not care, or worse, interfere with what our fellow ex-pats decide to do ... or not do.

It's no business of mine.

Of course, if they need a helping hand ... I'm first to offer mine.

But, if they wish to learn the Thai Language ... fine.

If they wish to become a master potter, or fisherman, or cook ...fine.

... and if they choose not to do ... fine by me also.

Enjoy your own life and don't be a back-seat driver to other's lives.

.

This is great advice, particularly the point about becoming a master potter; about the same price but much more rewarding than language lessons. For those who are interested, Attic Studios on Sukhumvit Soi 31 run great classes. They're just around the corner from Abhisit's house. But don't think dropping off one of your shitty ruined vase turned ashtrays will win you favour with him, you won't get past the guards. At least I didn't.

[eeeya]

I am always appalled at the vast majority of foreigners living permanently or quasi-permanently in Thailand and yet being completely illiterate. I have met almost none who could read Thai, when it does not take that long to learn. Most of them can blabber a couple sentences in Thai in such a horrible accent that only bar girls can understand. Very few are able to speak basic conversational Thai. I am sure that a vast majority of them would cringe at foreigners coming to their countries and refusing to learn their language. So why can't foreigners in Thailand learn to read and speak?

wow you enrolled in a language school.. good on you

Edited December 4, 2013 by eeeya

[robblok]

I don't speek as much as I want but more then enough to hold conversation understand what people are saying. The next step would be for me to learn to read. I think its important if you ever want to be independent. It helps me a lot in many ways. I already speak 3 languages and this will be my 4th. For me its a time issue its hard to combine it with my work and hobbies. But as I now speak quite a lot (not good enough to follow the news or movies though soap operas are not a problem) i don't know about writing. I do know that I want to go on developing my oral Thai language skills.

Edited December 4, 2013 by robblok

[homeownership]

As an Englishman, I take great comfort in knowing that I should never try to speak anything other than English. I will never speak Thai as well as a Thai Person and if I got something wrong, they are unlikely to forgive me for it or see it as an insult. So it is always best to speak English to everyone and if they can't understand you, speak more slowly and it little louder. (Tongue in cheek).

[lemoncake]

I am always appalled at the vast majority of foreigners living permanently or quasi-permanently in Thailand and yet being completely illiterate. I have met almost none who could read Thai, when it does not take that long to learn. Most of them can blabber a couple sentences in Thai in such a horrible accent that only bar girls can understand. Very few are able to speak basic conversational Thai. I am sure that a vast majority of them would cringe at foreigners coming to their countries and refusing to learn their language. So why can't foreigners in Thailand learn to read and speak?

So you are fluent in Thai ? In your opinion.

You do not have an accent?

You have not met many? Try hanging around in bars little less .

You do not know why most countries have government forms in different language ? Do you think it's because foreigners in that country can speak the language ??

There are thousands if Chinese living in Australia for decades and do not speak even a single word.

There are thousands of Mexicans in US who do not speak a word .

Yes one should learn the language of the country he is living in, however Thai is not an easy language, Thai teachers do not know their own language and can not teach or explain much about the rules of it.

Thai is a tonal language , while most expats come from a single tone language .

Most expats are not spring chickens , and learning language with age is very hard .

But always nice to hear from self proclaimed fluent speaker

[Spoonman]

Why don't I speak or read Thai, simple answer is do I not want to.

[mca]

I want to learn, the missus wont let me. Something about all the additional opportunities for pu$$y

Why on earth wouldn't she want you to buy a cat?

[samran]

Aye,

Shall wait for the inevitable TV sub-thread on how migrants back home don't integrate, and shall back link this thread when that time comes.

Thanks OP!

[i claudius]

I love these sanctimonious sorts ,just makes my day when someone makes a post like this , sitting there at his computer feeling all self righteous,while i am enjoying my life.

[mickjn]

I try but will never be also to speak fluent Thai.Lady Pla speaks English very well.I think the OP is very harsh

[robblok]

Why don't I speak or read Thai, simple answer is do I not want to.

I bet you loads of money if you could read and speak Thai tomorrow without effort and fluet you would want to be able too.

What most people mean here they don't want to put the effort in (and i can understand as some of us are real busy retired people excluded). But nobody passes an opportunity to acquire knowledge at no effort.

To bad its not available without effort. I am the last to condemn people as I feel i should be much further with my language skills.

The reality is speaking and writing Thai helps you a lot but its not easy. I do know that i love the fact that I can communicate and make myself understand in conversations. I also hate that it is a tonal language as I really don't hear the differences that well but the sentence usually makes things clear.

[robblok]

Aye,

Shall wait for the inevitable TV sub-thread on how migrants back home don't integrate, and shall back link this thread when that time comes.

Thanks OP!

Samran,

I would not care much how much Dutch immigrants back home speak unless they are living off welfare and not speaking the language impedes their chances of a job. Otherwise their choice.

[lempereur]

Can't speak for everyone....but for me after living here for 10 years (vocabulary of mayber 500 words)....my Thai is very basic....

WHY?...First off I'm an old man and its hard enough for me to remember where I left the car keys! let alone learn a "tonal" language like Thai.

Next....don't really need much more than the basic's that I know to communicate with the Thai's.....isn't That what its all about ...communication!

So why the attitude .....congrats to you....but each to their own

I live already more than 20 years here in Thailand and I can still not speak Thai good, with what I know I try to speak hit and mostly some people can understand me when the want to, it is a difficult languest and I am a very bad singer,

Vietnamese is whorst

[drrobert77]

Yes, in an ideal world expats in Thailand probably should speak better Thai. I would like to speak more Thai and have tried to learn but I find it very difficult!

[Jasun]

Because 90 percent of Thai conversations are about food, and I don't care what they ate, when they ate it, was it good, when will they eat next etc....

Not true. They also enjoy conversing about photography. Of food.

[mallyrd]

Thailand has been my home for 30 years and I do not read nor do I speak Thai. What business is it of yours?

[Spoonman]

Why don't I speak or read Thai, simple answer is do I not want to.

I bet you loads of money if you could read and speak Thai tomorrow without effort and fluet you would want to be able too.

What most people mean here they don't want to put the effort in (and i can understand as some of us are real busy retired people excluded). But nobody passes an opportunity to acquire knowledge at no effort.

To bad its not available without effort. I am the last to condemn people as I feel i should be much further with my language skills.

The reality is speaking and writing Thai helps you a lot but its not easy. I do know that i love the fact that I can communicate and make myself understand in conversations. I also hate that it is a tonal language as I really don't hear the differences that well but the sentence usually makes things clear.

Notice I said don't rather than directly answer the OP's question of can't, actually my reading skill's are worse than poor at best but I can converse ok which the only time that comes in handy is when I go visit the inlaws in Nakorn Bumfcuk Nowhere once in a blue moon.

Edited December 4, 2013 by Spoonman

[Radar501]

Thailand has been my home for 30 years and I do not read nor do I speak Thai. What business is it of yours?

It's my business because you just volunteered to make it so.