My Thai brother-in-law, who by all accounts is a 'simple' Issan chap who left school at 12 years old, surprised me yesterday.

Some Chinese guests arrived at my hotel with not a word of English between them. I know about 9 words of Mandarin, and was struggling to make myself understood to these guests.

In steps my BIL and speaks to them in fluent Mandarin!

It then turns out that he also speaks fluent Cantonese....

Intrigued, I asked where he had learnt to speak both languages. 'When I was in prison in Taiwan' was the reply. 'Most prisoners were Taiwanese or mainland Chinese, so I had plenty of time to learn both languages'

I haven't got the courage to ask why he was in prison in Taiwan

Simon

A somewhat easier route - marry a country rice-farmer's daughter without a word of English.

And ideally one that has no interest in learning any either.

Worked for me. . .

It's a very interesting topic. I've been here a long time but still don't speak Thai well, but I can get by for the basics. I understand the context but not the words. My wife who is also a country girl and not well educated could speak mandarin, japanese as well as thai and english. We have a chinese guest staying and its only taken my wife a week or so to be fluent again

I hope you told your BIL not to tell your guests where he learnt the language