Poll shows most people feel Thai university graduates are unqualified

[AYJAYDEE]

The unbelievable numbers of graduations shown on TV makes the whole world laugh. Everybody comprehends that it's ment to be a show of the perfect educational system in Thailand, but that the opposite is the case.

At the private school where my wife worked as a teacher I tried to have a conversation with the English language teachers. All they could produce was: Good evening, how are you and some other words. None of them was able to have a normal conversation with me. All of them had a university degree...

the whole world?? lol

[darhut]

My Mrs went to Bangkok Business College and studied accounting, I'm not sure what they were teaching but it sure as hell wasn't accounting.

[Commerce]

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Most employers in the US feel the same about US Graduates as well...

Guess that must mean that US Universities are also crap?

http://dailyfreepress.com/2012/12/10/employers-view-recent-graduates-as-unprepared-study-suggests/

Yes, there is often a disconnect between what businesses and governments need and what is produced by the educational systems. It's up to the parents and others to direct children in the right direction as some schools choose the path of least resistance and/or the highest fees.

This thread is supposed to be about the level of qualifications of Thai graduates, and not their ability to speak, read, or write English.

<snip>

The majority of students I engage with work pretty darned hard, and take their degrees seriously. If they are falling to levels of lower graduation in many subjects, in comparison to other countries, then where does the blame really lie? Institutions and systems are failing the students, as the students don't know any better. It is ok to criticise the students but, in all reality; the blame rests upon the institutions, and the systems within which the students study.

The institutions cater to what the government, parents and fees provide. Private institutions are in 'business' to make money. If they don't graduate students, future students may choose to go elsewhere. Yes, some students are simply paying for their degrees and some truly want to earn their degrees.

In the USA, they have a growing number of commercial 'quickie' colleges that advertise guaranteed employment upon graduation - Get In, Get out, Get a Job, Pay for Student Loans the rest of your life.... I have interviewed many IT students from these 'schools' and would not hire any of them based upon their 'education.'

In every grade and undergraduate classroom, 50% of the students are below median. Some of the lowest scoring students should not go to the next grade level, however with parental pressures and limited teacher resources, these failing students are pushed forward. I put the responsibility on the parents as that is where it starts... The parents could hold the child back, they could provide tutoring, they could promote learning...

You say 50% of students are below 'median'. Thus, who is failing who? If a student fails, in my opinion, the student has thus been placed within the wrong level, or may even have learning difficulties. Ignoring government policies, shouldn't the teacher/lecturer or whomever take responsibility to place the student in the correct arena? If the parents are not advised about such then they cannot understand needs, or as in your latter case offered there are of course ways to overcome such, such as backhanders to promote their child to the next level - that may be a policy needing governmental 'assistance' in changes to what is current policy.

How can one blame parents who have been through the exact same process? It is all they know also.

Do you truly believe youngsters know all about what they are getting or paying for, when inculcated by useless systems (that includes their parents)?

[jaltsc]

They call every scool a university. And even the ones who really did the top Thai university's can't speak proper english. Some even can't speak english at all even if they have been in the USA to study.

You wouldn't be referring to an ex Prime Minister, would you?

[skildpadden]

They call every scool a university. And even the ones who really did the top Thai university's can't speak proper english. Some even can't speak english at all even if they have been in the USA to study.

True. It always amazes me how they managed even several years of study at a US college or university without picking up at least a decent level of English. As there apprarently is no tradition of failing people here, students are not encouraged to make an effort (I guess it is more fun hanging in Paragon than studying books) and you end up with mediocre graduates at best. Therefore their skills in English (or other languages for that matter) is average and the same could probably be mentioned for skills in science, cultural studies, history and political science.

[AYJAYDEE]

They call every scool a university. And even the ones who really did the top Thai university's can't speak proper english. Some even can't speak english at all even if they have been in the USA to study.

True. It always amazes me how they managed even several years of study at a US college or university without picking up at least a decent level of English. As there apprarently is no tradition of failing people here, students are not encouraged to make an effort (I guess it is more fun hanging in Paragon than studying books) and you end up with mediocre graduates at best. Therefore their skills in English (or other languages for that matter) is average and the same could probably be mentioned for skills in science, cultural studies, history and political science.

not the ones ive worked with.

[bluebluewater]

I get tickled when I see on the telly these vast auditoriums of "graduates" coming forth to accept their "degrees" and it's 99% women and not a bloke to be seen. Good on the girls as at least they might be trying and don't wanna go out and peddle ass. To be fair, 99% don't. The guys just don't give a damn either way.

Great uniforms however and I'm sure we can all get behind that!

A university graduate here means they can speak, read, and write Thai language. Add up a column of numbers? Solve for "X"? Not possible.

Great uniforms . . . that's what I'm talkin' 'bout.

[Nigeone]

My wife's son just finished Uni and received his degree...unbelievable..He did a marketing degree and in the last few months he along with a group of 5 others

made and sold Satay chicken and pork from a stall outside a shopping mall.....something you expect a 12 year old to be able to do in the UK...He was 24..The group made a massive loss and couldn't understand how I tried to explain to him even then his profit and loss account didn't consider the 300 plus bht a day for him to travel from Mae Tha Lamphun to Chiang mai should be included as they were looking at it as a business....needless to say he is now working in a factory on a production line after the waste of

god knows how much money...But he has his degree !!! pictures all over the house and making his mum proud..its sad..!! I despair for thailand and its future..

Edited September 18, 2014 by Nigeone

[Assurancetourix]

Yes i speak 5 languages so forgive me if i make mistakes. And no i don't have any university degree's.

I know Thai who graduated for administration or Information Technology at university's here and they can't even say hello in english. They even can't add up without a calculator.

My daughter in law is a doctor in Nakhon Phanom province; impossible to have the beginning of a talk in english with her; she cannot speak english;

I have an old friend - not so old, she is only two years more than me ! - ; she is living in Bangkok; she was an english teacher ;

she is, with one of my uncles living in Udon Thani one ot the rare thai people in Thailand who have a fluent english .

My uncle is Director of Public Health & Environment - Udon Thani .

I know , in Phangkhon - Sakon Nakhon province - a young thai woman , she has a fluent french; she did a master of advanced study from Aix en Provence University .- France .

What I can write is that people who were a long time overseas for work can speak fluently Japanese ou chinese ( mandarin), english, french, etcetera ..

and all these people never went at university because they were and ar still a farmer in Issan

[scorecard]

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Fiddlesticks, on 18 Sept 2014 - 07:50, said:

It still amazes me to see Westerners who are attending Thai universities in pursuit of degrees! Why would anyone want to do this unless they too only want the paper and could care less about gaining knowledge. Outside of Thailand, I have to believe that the value of a degree from almost any Thai university is nil.

A very sweeping comment. Here's some other points:

1. A number of Thai universities have exchange programs with prestigious foreign universities and the bottom line is that the foreign universities would not enter such agreements unless they are convinced of 'quality'.

2. I teach many foreign students, mostly from Europe, typically one of the most advanced countries in the world, mostly in exchanges with top prestigious universities in that country, most of my courses are in MBA programs. At this university 99% of all MBA courses are taught by foreign professors.

The foreign students (90% of them) apply themselves and excel whilst 90% of the Thai students 'play', often also meaning continuously disrupting the class.

Examples:

- I (and many other lecturers) demand, again and again, that phones be switched off - all to no avail.

- Come one hour late then (some students) at the break ask for the first 5 / 10 whatever PowerPoint slides to be taught again. A few even have the cheek to give me their name and request that I construct an e-mail and send to them explaining the learning points they missed. I refuse both scenarios.

- Just before exams, further requests for additional teaching, I refuse.

- I removed two aggressive Thai girls from my room for one MBA course because they were continuously talking loudly to each other or on their phones plus they had a track record of never submitting assignments. I refused to allow them to continue that course and I now refuse to have them in any courses. This means the completion of their course work will be very delayed.

- The doozie, late last year in a final exam one young Thai male student who had an overall poor attendance record and never paid attention in class put his hand up, I went to his desk:

- 'Professor, question number #, I didn't attend that class, so it's not fair to ask me that question, so can you please give me an automatic A for that question'.

- Answer: 'No. If you give no answer to one question (the exam had deep 3 questions) then you automatically miss 33 possible points for the final exam assessment factor.' I then walked away. He complained to the office who confirmed what I had said. Then he asked if he could sit for a supplementary exam which included only subjects that he had attended. Answer from office and me 'No'.

- All my MBA courses have a small team course project (all teams do the same project - all teams include both Thai and foreign students). The foreign students dominate the work to complete the projects, whilst in most cases the Thai students:

- Sit a bit out of the circle and chat about fashion etc.

- Go to the canteen.

- Go home.

When the projects are started I announce that just before the final presentation I will:

- Ask each team leader to give me the name of any team member who has not contributed

- I also announce that I will be monitoring the teams (whilst they work in the class room) to note who is not contributing.

- Anybody 'nominated' as a non contributor will get zero score for course project and I actually do this.

After final grades are given I get numerous e-mails and phone calls, with tears, asking for forgiveness and asking for extra assignments to make up their overall score. And/or: 'can I give blood?', 'can I work at the dogs home for 10 hours?', etc.

I have only ever agreed to one extra assignment (the student didn't pay attention class however there was serious sickness and death in the family). I said 'yes' but on the basis that the student had to complete the assignment with a monitor in the room. The student didn't turn up.

I would never agree to an extra assignment to be completed at home, because there is 90% chance the student will get someone else to do the actual assignment.

There are of course a % of Thai students who do attend, are on time, listen and contribute to class discussions, contribute to projects etc.

It's a mixed bag!

Edited September 18, 2014 by scorecard

[jacky54]

Despite what many wish, the world do not revolve around English. This is true more and more every year.

It remains however the international language of banking, commerce, aviation, shipping, medicine, computing and science to name a few. If a German company wants to converse with Japanese or Chinese what language do you think they mostly use?

Edited September 18, 2014 by jacky54

[AYJAYDEE]

My wife's son just finished Uni and received his degree...unbelievable..He did a marketing degree and in the last few months he along with a group of 5 others

made and sold Satay chicken and pork from a stall outside a shopping mall.....something you expect a 12 year old to be able to do in the UK...He was 24..The group made a massive loss and couldn't understand how I tried to explain to him even then his profit and loss account didn't consider the 300 plus bht a day for him to travel from Mae Tha Lamphun to Chiang mai should be included as they were looking at it as a business....needless to say he is now working in a factory on a production line after the waste of

god knows how much money...But he has his degree !!! pictures all over the house and making his mum proud..its sad..!! I despair for thailand and its future..

for your sake, i hope he didnt inherit his brains from his mom

[ebean001]

A required course for math majors is "differential equations" which is a mathematical equation that relates some function of one or more variables with its derivatives. Differential equations arise whenever a deterministic relation involving some continuously varying quantities (modeled by functions) and their rates of change in space and/or time (expressed as derivatives) are known or postulated.

I took this course followed by partial differential equations in 1966 at Kent State University.

My point is this - I wonder if they have courses that are required like this in many SE Asia universities. Second point - can you image the how a person grows intellectually taking courses like this?

Fianl point - I actually got an 'A' in both courses in 1966. I have absolutely no idea what a differntial equation is today. None. You may know better than me. I had a career in computer programming.

A solid education includes learning difficult concepts and subject matter. We all know that, right?

I will make my last point. I came from small town Ohio and did not know of any profession other than fireman or policeman. Going to college opened my eyes to 100s of occupations. That is the greatness of going to college.

[judgedredd]

Perhaps my experiences with so-called "college-degreed" Thai professional represent a small sample, but please consider these three anecdotal stories - -

In 2001, I was a Project Engineer for Vogt-NEM Boiler Company. I was performing an inspection of components manufactured by VIPCO, in Pathumthani. I was going over a blueprint with a shop inspector, who allergy had a B.S. in Engineering. His English was quite good, but I was surprised at his lack of knowledge and mis-use of simple linear measurements, like "meter", "centimeter", and "millimeter". He couldn't convert from one to the other without using the "conversion software" on his office computer, even though all you do is move the decimal place, with 1-m = 100cm = 1,000mm... This was my first introduction to Thai "educated professionals".

In 2008 (post retirement) I had my first experience with Thai-trained "medical doctors". At Bumrungrad, the endocrine specialist asked me what I was taking for my Thyroid, and I told him "50 micrograms of T4", per day. Again, this guy spoke passable English, but he laughed, and said, "what is that, don't you mean milligrams"? I laughed a little with him, and I explained that 1-gm = 1,000mg = 1,000,000mcg. (A microgram being only one-thousandth of a milligram, or one millionth of a gram...) Oy vey, I suppose that was a irritating social faux pas on my part, the doctor's face turned red, and he mumbled something to the effect that, "..it doesn't matter, our pharmacist knows the difference..". (Yeah, I hope so.) Lesson: Be cautious in how you "teach" simple things to them or they will "loose face".

In 2012, I was riding the BTS, and a young Thai fellow sitting beside me was going over what looked like a homework problem, specifically engineering statics and mechanics, the deformation and bending moments in a simple beam. I couldn't help but asking him, "are you a first year engineering student"? He blushed and stammered, "No, I am a Masters Degree student in Civil-Structural". Well, we talked a little, and he claimed to have a B.S. in Engineering, and now he was working on his Masters Degree. I then tried to help him with the homework assignment, which was a classic (old-fashioned) allowable stress design ("ASD") equation for a uniformly-loaded simple beam. I can't fully describe this guy's inability to handle simple algebra and cancel units, but it was sad to see. His answer was supposed to come out in a bending moment value (in SI units), which would be expressed in "Newton-Meters". I finally showed him that 1-Kilogram X 9.8m/sec/sec = 1-Newton, so that gave him the force, or load values, but again, like the VIPCO shop foreman, "millimeters" and "meters" seemed to confuse him, and when it came to canceling units, (with one derived unit being divided into another mixed unit) he just couldn't do it.

Without generalizing about how almost all schools everywhere are mediocre, I have concluded several specific things about Thai math and science training: Thais seem to be baffled by units of measurement and unit conversions; They don't seem to intuitively handle simple algebraic expressions, especially if you've got mixed (derived) units canceling other units.

In America, we learned all of this stuff in high school, in grades 7-12, including shop class, Algebra One, Algebra Two, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, General Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

In my first quarter at Georgia Tech (1967) I learned more about "statics and mechanics", and "strength of materials", and "allowable stress design" than that "Masters Degree" engineering student on the BTS will quite likely ever learn.

Again, these are just three anecdotal experiences, but I suspect they are representative.

Lastly, for the poster, Trogers, who said - - "A bachelor degree here is equivalent to grade 12 in the US"... I disagree, it's more like Grade-9.

Just my 0.02-EUR

JD

[AYJAYDEE]

Perhaps my experiences with so-called "college-degreed" Thai professional represent a small sample, but please consider these three anecdotal stories - -

In 2001, I was a Project Engineer for Vogt-NEM Boiler Company. I was performing an inspection of components manufactured by VIPCO, in Pathumthani. I was going over a blueprint with a shop inspector, who allergy had a B.S. in Engineering. His English was quite good, but I was surprised at his lack of knowledge and mis-use of simple linear measurements, like "meter", "centimeter", and "millimeter". He couldn't convert from one to the other without using the "conversion software" on his office computer, even though all you do is move the decimal place, with 1-m = 100cm = 1,000mm... This was my first introduction to Thai "educated professionals".

In 2008 (post retirement) I had my first experience with Thai-trained "medical doctors". At Bumrungrad, the endocrine specialist asked me what I was taking for my Thyroid, and I told him "50 micrograms of T4", per day. Again, this guy spoke passable English, but he laughed, and said, "what is that, don't you mean milligrams"? I laughed a little with him, and I explained that 1-gm = 1,000mg = 1,000,000mcg. (A microgram being only one-thousandth of a milligram, or one millionth of a gram...) Oy vey, I suppose that was a irritating social faux pas on my part, the doctor's face turned red, and he mumbled something to the effect that, "..it doesn't matter, our pharmacist knows the difference..". (Yeah, I hope so.) Lesson: Be cautious in how you "teach" simple things to them or they will "loose face".

In 2012, I was riding the BTS, and a young Thai fellow sitting beside me was going over what looked like a homework problem, specifically engineering statics and mechanics, the deformation and bending moments in a simple beam. I couldn't help but asking him, "are you a first year engineering student"? He blushed and stammered, "No, I am a Masters Degree student in Civil-Structural". Well, we talked a little, and he claimed to have a B.S. in Engineering, and now he was working on his Masters Degree. I then tried to help him with the homework assignment, which was a classic (old-fashioned) allowable stress design ("ASD") equation for a uniformly-loaded simple beam. I can't fully describe this guy's inability to handle simple algebra and cancel units, but it was sad to see. His answer was supposed to come out in a bending moment value (in SI units), which would be expressed in "Newton-Meters". I finally showed him that 1-Kilogram X 9.8m/sec/sec = 1-Newton, so that gave him the force, or load values, but again, like the VIPCO shop foreman, "millimeters" and "meters" seemed to confuse him, and when it came to canceling units, (with one derived unit being divided into another mixed unit) he just couldn't do it.

Without generalizing about how almost all schools everywhere are mediocre, I have concluded several specific things about Thai math and science training: Thais seem to be baffled by units of measurement and unit conversions; They don't seem to intuitively handle simple algebraic expressions, especially if you've got mixed (derived) units canceling other units.

In America, we learned all of this stuff in high school, in grades 7-12, including shop class, Algebra One, Algebra Two, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, General Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

In my first quarter at Georgia Tech (1967) I learned more about "statics and mechanics", and "strength of materials", and "allowable stress design" than that "Masters Degree" engineering student on the BTS will quite likely ever learn.

Again, these are just three anecdotal experiences, but I suspect they are representative.

Lastly, for the poster, Trogers, who said - - "A bachelor degree here is equivalent to grade 12 in the US"... I disagree, it's more like Grade-9.

Just my 0.02-EUR

JD

!) you ridicule his english skill and then proceed to use the word allergy instead of allegedly!! lol. then you try and suggest that a masters homework assignment was the solution of a simply loaded beam!! lol. try again pal!!

2) 1kgx 9.8 m/sec squared= 1 newton?

Edited September 18, 2014 by AYJAYDEE

[jacky54]

I know a Thai woman with two English degrees, cannot hold a conversation in it, met a homeless tramp and the wat the other day and had a chat with him in English, amazing Thailand. All those stuck up cows in Banks make me laugh, all got degrees but cannot understand balance or withdrawal, go outside and lots of uneducated peasants at least know enough English to conduct a sale in

[GAZZPA]

A Thai degree, even from Chula or Mahidol, are worthless outside of Thailand. Many in the West particularly will not hire such, and the universities there know of the bogus situation in Thailand when evaluating admissions applications.

I dare say that even any newly graduated medical doctor should not be practicing beyond taking vitals until he/she trains in USA. I read their diplomas on the wall or as listed in Web site.

Learning is just not valued in Thailand and HiSo think spending time studying is just a waste because dad has a company position ready for them anyway.

The other root problem is that Thai teachers function the same way... the Thai way. Western trained teachers soon learn that there no Fs or Ds, that their Thai colleagues and especially administrators are just time servers, and go along to get along is the rule. The way things are now, Thailand will remain locked in the gray Second World status forever.

My Thai friend has a degree from Chula or Mahidol but any Indian speaks better english then him. He is very proud with his degree though, even has been to Norway with the university to "see how they work there". Don't tell them how the rest of the world thinks about those degree's because that's very offending.

Was his degree in English language? You seem to equate the ability to speak fluent English with intellectual competence.

Speaking English is not a measure of intellectual competence, don't think that is what is meant.

The consideration should be that Thailand "desires" to be the leading nation in the upcoming Asean region and as I am sure you know it has been agreed that English is chosen business and communication language. So, for Thai Universities (and one would presume future leaders) to not learn English will be a serious handicap in years to come.

[Cereal]

A Thai degree, even from Chula or Mahidol, are worthless outside of Thailand. Many in the West particularly will not hire such, and the universities there know of the bogus situation in Thailand when evaluating admissions applications.

I dare say that even any newly graduated medical doctor should not be practicing beyond taking vitals until he/she trains in USA. I read their diplomas on the wall or as listed in Web site.

Learning is just not valued in Thailand and HiSo think spending time studying is just a waste because dad has a company position ready for them anyway.

The other root problem is that Thai teachers function the same way... the Thai way. Western trained teachers soon learn that there no Fs or Ds, that their Thai colleagues and especially administrators are just time servers, and go along to get along is the rule. The way things are now, Thailand will remain locked in the gray Second World status forever.

Look at how many job adverts in the classifieds say ' Degree from foreign university preferred "

It says so much

I sure as hell hope they don;t consider Korean degrees foreign. This place is every ounce as bad as Thailand. I've been a teacher here for years, believe me. You can literally buy a degree here, from an accredited university with a transcript! I know a guy who did. He's Korean and was a plumber; his wife is Canadian and teaches at a university with her BA English.

He didn't have a degree and couldn't find work anywhere, so the school told her to let him know they'd sell him one for the full 4 years tuition plus books fee. He paid, got his degree and now teaches English to kids in their living room!

[cloudhopper]

Speaking English is not a measure of intellectual competence, don't think that is what is meant.

The consideration should be that Thailand "desires" to be the leading nation in the upcoming Asean region and as I am sure you know it has been agreed that English is chosen business and communication language. So, for Thai Universities (and one would presume future leaders) to not learn English will be a serious handicap in years to come.

No argument there, if that's the criteria. Thailand is indeed a bug waiting to meet the Asean windshield.

[kaorop]

That is indeed the problem. Primary schools...well, they can be ok. Once a kid gets to high school...forget about it. I have been working in a government school (never, never again...I have handed in my notice) and its just a shambles. Too many kids in the class, no resources, no discipline, everyone passes, Thai teachers that sit on their lazy butts with no interaction with the kids...simply write a load of words on the board and the kids just copy it, total disorganisation...of EVERYTHING! There is no culture of questioning anything, hardly any students are curious about much....Yes, by the time they get to uni the have been successfully turned into Thai zombies. Its sad because when you teach at primary school level you can still see the spark, the kids are curious, they are inventive....that gets beaten down by Matthayom 3.

Yes, the system needs a total overhaul! Its a system that produce such lovely people as the head of English department at my school. She has a mas DUR degeeee in English. I have to speak Thai to her a lot of the time because she literally doesnt understand me. Its a sad state of affairs.

100% the same here, I find it very sad and the lost potential is enormous.

I racked my brains in the past and couldnt pin point the turning point, figured its like erosion a slow but inevitable process.

What I'm wondering is where are all those "You are unqualified to teach English unless you have a degree in knitting " types that appear in every farang teacher thread?

This is a thread about education standards in Thailand surely this is a concern for them as well? Seems not, funny that.

Edited September 18, 2014 by kaorop

[tboxcar]

Yes, with all due respect to my wife, who went to Ramkhamhaeng Uni and seen what she went through, and not saying she is stupid by any means but gaining a Uni degree in Thailand is not what is in the West, but to go further, I am see gradutes now in the USA who are not much better than High School graduates so 'go figure'

[Anon999]

The one thing that seems to have been omitted here is the fact that the students attitude determines how much or how little they learn. Many, probably most do not have an interest in learning and see uni as a way to avoid working for few years as well! They may be subject to parental pressure due to the need to maintain face, something that is not common in the West.

My Thai stepdaughter is currently halfway through taking a BA in English in BKK and with a 6 month gap this year spent 3 months in London on a full time English conversation and grammar course. She was graded as upper intermediate on completion. The reason that her spoken English is good is due to the fact that she wants to learn English and take her Masters degree in England. Furthermore having a conversation with her in English is not a problem and she also chats to her mother in English and corrects her too, much to my amusement! If the desire and will are not there then nothing much is going to be learned, regardless of the subject. Her elder sibling, after 8 years, still cannot put a sentence together and has difficulty in understanding anything but simple English words, slowly. Apart from the will to learn some people find languages easy whereas others find them hard, however, for example, Engineering etc. may come easily to them. Each to their own.

[tubby johnson]

They call every scool a university. And even the ones who really did the top Thai university's can't speak proper english. Some even can't speak english at all even if they have been in the USA to study.

I agree with your comment, though it took me a long time to decipher your gibberish. You really need to take English lessons. Urgently.

[Briggsy]

I used to work in a private university here. Provided you paid the tuition fees (that is the most important, nay essential, thing) you would get your degree. If you were utterly useless, rarely attended and never did the assignments, you may have to do "summer school" but you would get your degree in the end.

Without standards in tertiary education, it is inevitable Thai degrees are not considered as a valuable qualification.

Most graduates could not care less though. The degree simply allows one to apply for various public and private sector positions here. Without it, you are not even considered for the job. Same with Master's Degrees, for management positions.

My personal theory is that it is simply both an extension of and a symptom of the systems in place within Thai society to prevent social mobility and hinder a more equitable income distribution.

[namdocmai]

They call every scool a university. And even the ones who really did the top Thai university's can't speak proper english. Some even can't speak english at all even if they have been in the USA to study.

I agree with your comment, though it took me a long time to decipher your gibberish. You really need to take English lessons. Urgently.

I allready have been standing in the corner for 10 minutes and will never use the word scool again. The reason i 'm reading all this here is to improve my english. It was much better before but since i stay in Thailand (for 10 years) and barely speak to english natives it is getting worse, i admit that but what can i do?

By the way i read many more forums in english and i also see plenty Americans who can't write english properly. And if we are speaking english my accent is probably closer to the Queens english then yours. The goes same for my other 4 languages. But since this is a forum about thailand you shouldn't be bothered by spellingmistakes, then you won't have a life at all here in Bangkok. Even the roadsigns spell neighbourhoods different (or wrong as you like) all the time.

[SinCityGr8One]

They call every scool a university. And even the ones who really did the top Thai university's can't speak proper english. Some even can't speak english at all even if they have been in the USA to study.

?

Hold on there, you made a speling eror, I meen a mystake. I have a Dagree in the Englis langage granted by a prestig, no presgee, no an importand Universaytee here in Bangkok. And "Scool" should be spelled "Skool"!

[thailiketoo]

This is the first Thai poll that I can actually believe

Quite common among people who have preconceived ideas about almost everything. Quite a few people on Thai Visa know it all. Comforting isn't it?

[Just1Voice]

A couple of things here.

First. Young Thai couple in my moo ban both have Masters in English from Chula. But for me to have a conversation with them in English I have to speak slowly, and use the language I would with a 10 yr old back in the U.S. But they are just SO PROUD of their degrees.

Second. The implementation of AEC and ASEAN is going to be a major shock to Thailand. They are in no way ready for it, and are going to be trying to play "catch up" very quickly. When employers, especially those of the bigger companies have a broader base of better educated, English speaking employment pool to pick from, Thai's are going to be left holding the short end of the stick. The "loss of face" to the Thai at losing a job opportunity to someone from an "interior race, such as Filipino, Vietnamese, or even Lao because they are better educated, with a better grasp of English, is going to be almost catastrophic on the Thai psyche and their "superior race" attitude. I wouldn't be surprised to see a whole new list of jobs "reserved for Thai only" come out, covering just about everything except working in 7-ll. (And maybe that, too.) They have known for years that both AEC and ASEAN were coming, and have done nothing concrete about it.

But as they say - som nom na.

[maxme]

A couple of things here.

First. Young Thai couple in my moo ban both have Masters in English from Chula. But for me to have a conversation with them in English I have to speak slowly, and use the language I would with a 10 yr old back in the U.S. But they are just SO PROUD of their degrees.

Second. The implementation of AEC and ASEAN is going to be a major shock to Thailand. They are in no way ready for it, and are going to be trying to play "catch up" very quickly. When employers, especially those of the bigger companies have a broader base of better educated, English speaking employment pool to pick from, Thai's are going to be left holding the short end of the stick. The "loss of face" to the Thai at losing a job opportunity to someone from an "interior race, such as Filipino, Vietnamese, or even Lao because they are better educated, with a better grasp of English, is going to be almost catastrophic on the Thai psyche and their "superior race" attitude. I wouldn't be surprised to see a whole new list of jobs "reserved for Thai only" come out, covering just about everything except working in 7-ll. (And maybe that, too.) They have known for years that both AEC and ASEAN were coming, and have done nothing concrete about it.

But as they say - som nom na.

What is an "interior" race?

[KarenBravo]

Thailand, unlike China, Japan, Korea and even Vietnam, does not value education.

The crap education system here is purposely that way, to keep the majority ignorant so that they don't question the ruling elite, who, by the way, have their children educated abroad.