Expats, do you speak Thai at home?

[simon43]

I read this post in the World forum:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782640-speak-german-at-home-row-as-conservatives-target-migrants/

I wonder how many expats who live in Thailand speak Thai at home with their families.

I speak Thai with all of my family, except for my young son. I speak English with him, so as to help him improve his English language skills (he is UK/Thai nationality).

I don't speak English with all my other family members, because they wouldn't understand me...

How about you? And do you agree with the premise of the linked thread that we should try to speak Thai at home?

[ripstanley]

I speak English with my family. I have 2 step daughters and our son. It is so they can learn more English which will help their schooling. The youngest daughter is improving her English. Our boy speaks English and Thai with no problems

[mesquite]

I live alone and talk to myself in both English and Thai.

[jacky54]

Only for a laugh, it's a pretty crude language anyway that I have no intention of mastering thank you.

[sdanielmcev]

Yes.

[shaggy851]

When I had girlfriends in the past, yes as I like to practice my thai. But also because I had to learn on a pretty steep learning curve, because my girlfriends only spoke thai not a lick of English! Mostly upcountry girls riding escalators, using smartphones, navigating the Bts and Mrt along with a small need to talk English, discovering western products was always a fun time.

I remember one from mukdahan that made me brekfast one morning and took a spoon and dipped it straight in the margarine for a mouth full... Mai aloy!!! :-P

[villagefarang]

Yes.

[robblok]

We are trying to speak more and more Thai as I want to learn more. But her English is far better as my Thai. But its good for me to learn the language even better. It makes me self sufficient.

[n210mp]

I think that its horses for courses isn't it?

I read many posts from those Manic black and white oriented people who think that by learning to speak a little Thai that they are and will be "understood" by people other than their closest relatives and who in any event those close to them would understand them more from body language than anything they said in any language in the first place!

Please re read that last paragraph again, I had to read it twice and I wrote it but it does make some sense.

The Thai ladies on our Soi have a great laugh when there is a Farang with admittedly poor thai speaking qualities and always a little Mau trying to impress them and their ExPat spouses with his Thai speaking abilities (Or Not)

For those young enough who have invested their lives in Thailand, to speak Thai is obviously a top priority but for those like me who are well past their sell by date just being understood is enough.

So in answer to your question I do not speak in Thai at home but when Thai friends or neighbours call round I do say hello and thank you in Thai.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Not many of you are migrants, why should you speak Thai?

[Neeranam]

Although I speak fluent Thai, I don't speak Thai to my wife at home or ever with my kids, unless it's a joke or something.

My wife does speak Thai to me most the time and to the kids.

The bilingual language acquisition experts say that the Thai parent should speak Thai to kids and English speaker speak English.

[Neeranam]

Not many of you are migrants, why should you speak Thai?

Why should migrants speak Thai at home?

What's your point?

[brewsterbudgen]

I don't speak Thai, so, no I don't.

[Chonburiram]

...The bilingual language acquisition experts say that the Thai parent should speak Thai to kids and English speaker speak English.

... so, the kids can learn both languages half...

[Eddy B]

I mostly use English. Often I will ask my My Thai wife who is pretty good in English a question in English and also follow up with some Thai just to make sure. No one likes being locked out of the house, so I ask if she has the keys and then make sure in Thai. She only buggered it up once and so thats why I keep her on her toes because most the time a foreign language becomes white noise to a person once you learn to block it out. Especially when the temples or pick-up trucks are at 100% above normal sound levels.

[Been there done that]

I live alone and talk to myself in both English and Thai.

Alcohol anything to do with it?

[Neeranam]

Actually I speak to my wife in Thai when asking directions. But even in Thai she says 'kwaa' instead of 'sai' etc.

I speak in Thai when we discuss medical issues, religion, bank stuff, and the kids schooling. Important stuff as her English isn't perfect even after 14 years marriage.

For the first 2/3 years we spoke ONLY Thai as she didn't know any English at all when we met.

[Been there done that]

...The bilingual language acquisition experts say that the Thai parent should speak Thai to kids and English speaker speak English.

... so, the kids can learn both languages half...

Schools !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Neeranam]

I live alone and talk to myself in both English and Thai.

Alcohol anything to do with it?

I seemingly talk thai when I am sleeping and do dream in Thai sometimes..

[kurtramsbottom]

Most of the expats I've met in Thailand only speak when the Wife let's them.

[rwdrwdrwd]

Actually I speak to my wife in Thai when asking directions. But even in Thai she says 'kwaa' instead of 'sai' etc.

...

I think I might be married to her sister.

We speak English generally, though my wife does also speak to our toddler in both Thai and English, more Thai when I'm not in sight.

[Gecko123]

100% Thai.

[kannot]

My Wife lives in Bangkok I Live down past Hua Hin I see her maybe once a month, so most of the time I speak to no one in any language as Im on my own .

Some seem to think my language is "bashing" in which Im fluent

[n210mp]

Most of the expats I've met in Thailand only speak when the Wife let's them.

Thats true about me, by the way how is Ramsbottom these days Kurt I had some good times there 50 plus years ago.

Holcombe brook area as I remember ? (just about that is)

[bkkgooner]

I speak about 80-90% English with my wife and my two children. I only speak Thai to my mother in law.

[ajahnlau]

Yes,50-50

[bkkgooner]

...The bilingual language acquisition experts say that the Thai parent should speak Thai to kids and English speaker speak English.

... so, the kids can learn both languages half...

not true at all

[geronimo]

I speak Thai with my wife but English with my two boys. The other members of my wife's family cannot speak English so it is Thai whenever we meet.

[WhamBam]

Currently, No as my new g/f is not Thai and she speaks English almost as good as I do.

[keestha]

Shopping in like Tesco and Home Pro in Phuket, I get the impression that mixed couples usually communicate in English.