Why do Thais refuse to Learn English?

[casinoclub]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/frederickallen/2012/03/01/a-new-international-business-language-globish/

 

goblish? :-) .... singlish?  I already can decipher singlish. :-)

 

 

Isaac Chotiner, in The New Yorker, has observed that Globish “is an overwhelmingly economic phenomenon—the language of Singaporean businessmen closing deals with the help of a small arsenal of English words, and of European officials calming financial markets by uttering stock phrases on television.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP7MnEZuexw

[Rowdy501]

I mean, just as comparison.  There are just more of us that speaks a second language then there are population of entire country.

 

I don't pretend to have a perfect command of the English language, but............allow me to explain.

 

What follows is my version of your above quoted text, with my corrections underlined and in bold print.

 

"I mean, just as a comparison, there are just more of us who speak a second language than there are populations of entire countries."

 

I know there are a several English language schools in Pattaya.  You and I could tag along for a few lessons.

[casinoclub]

I don't pretend to have a perfect command of the English language, but............allow me to explain.

 

What follows is my version of your above quoted text, with my corrections underlined and in bold print.

 

"I mean, just as a comparison, there are just more of us who speak a second language than there are populations of entire countries."

 

I know there are a several English language schools in Pattaya.  You and I could tag along for a few lessons.

 

I'd hire you as my editor. :-)

[Senja]

I don't care how well a bar gir speaks english. If she can't speak a word english it's a 90% chance that she is farm fresh and who do not like that? I know I do.

 

And english is my third language (talken not writhen) and I think I will make thai my fourth. Not only becaus it make it easyer to get around, but as I have learned from my trips if you can speak some thai the posibility to get rippet off is far less.

 

Have a nice tripp to LOS, I know I will

[Sofa King High]

As this forum is about learning Thai language, don't know why you have posted your question here.

whenever I meet a Thai English teacher, more than 95% of the time, I have to speak Thai with them, because their English language skills are so low.

Imagine how difficult it is for Thai people to learn English from teachers that are unable to speak the language themselves. Even the text books contain so many mistakes that it is laughable.

Many Thais want to improve their English language skills, but a competent teacher would cost them maybe a day's wages for 1 hour of tuition. They simply can't afford it.

It is the education system that should be criticised, not the Thais that really want to learn.

I think you hit the nail on the head with this. I was just discussing it with a Thai the other day who studied English her whole school career but for 14 years was never taught by or even spoke with a native. At that point, there is really only so far you can get.

 

 

They do not 'refuse' to speak English!!! Learning a different language is not easy and many of the bargirls or waitresses are not very well educated, that's sometimes one of the reasons they work as bargirls and waitresses. And don't forget, learning a language that is written in an other alphabet is even more difficult!

 

 

 

And Gambit, how many different languages do you speak? Do you have one language besides your own, that you can speak more fluent than the average bargirl speaks English? Everybody should learn to speak perfect English to serve Mister American...... some people and how they think they are important

Andy, just gotta say that I always really enjoy your posts. So many times you are the voice of reason in regards to some of the ridiculousness we see here.

[BigBlackGulliver]

They do not 'refuse' to speak English!!! Learning a different language is not easy and many of the bargirls or waitresses are not very well educated, that's sometimes one of the reasons they work as bargirls and waitresses. And don't forget, learning a language that is written in an other alphabet is even more difficult!

 

 

 

And Gambit, how many different languages do you speak? Do you have one language besides your own, that you can speak more fluent than the average bargirl speaks English? Everybody should learn to speak perfect English to serve Mister American...... some people and how they think they are important

 

Andy you have no idea what you are talking about!  Even Thais who speak great English will often refuse to or pretend not to.  The country as a whole has a problem with the language being implemented here! In spite of what they publish in news articles.  On another note most of the guys I hear rant on about Thais and English are from the UK!

[pattayaman2001]

how's your Thai, OP?

 

mine sucks... I am more interested in learning Thai than complaining about Thai people learning English.

 

Most Americans only speak English, many Thais speak two languages already, Thai and Lao, and the ones I come in contact with as a sex tourist all seem to be learning English as best as they can...  My hat's off to them...

 

I would NEVER whine about someone in a foreign country not speaking my language...

 

Kind of like the typical "ugly American" to do so, IMO.  

 

Hmm... Yes I agree with that.

 

The OP'S opening sentences were hardly legible. Thais try hard to learn but they come up against farangs speaking pigeon English and farangs who's English is a second language speaking a poor broken English to them.

 

I think they do well in the situation and environment they are in.

[casinoclub]

Andy you have no idea what you are talking about!  Even Thais who speak great English will often refuse to or pretend not to.  The country as a whole has a problem with the language being implemented here! In spite of what they publish in news articles.  On another note most of the guys I hear rant on about Thais and English are from the UK!

 

Is that so different then the French?

[Daddee]

Is that so different then the French?

ya, I think the french are way more arrogant!

 

555!

[bhthai]

The only problem I've ever had with not being able to communicate in English with a Thai was with taxi drivers in BKK. Which I find strange as you'd assume they should know the most, for their profession purposes.

[Taeng Mo]

Is that so different then the French?

Troll

[Taeng Mo]

ya, I think the french are way more arrogant!

 

555!

No they're not.

They're just Nationalistic, like the Americans.

[Daddee]

No they're not.

They're just Nationalistic, like the Americans.

ok...........  but Aussies aren't, right?

 

lmao!

[casinoclub]

ok...........  but Aussies aren't, right?

 

lmao!

 

I would rather live with my fellow citizens that are nationalistic then bunch of traitors and sell out as the other guy was implying that his fellow countryman is for lack of being nationalistic.

 

And just to be sure I am using this right, looked this up:

 

nationalistic

Opposite words for nationalistic:

fickle, unfaithful, traitorous, disloyal, faithless, inconstant, perfidious, internationalist, recreant, false, treacherous, disaffected, treasonous, international, unpatriotic.

 

Source:

http://www.antonymsfor.com/opposite-word-for/nationalistic

 

Hmmmm Yes, now I am even more convinced of my conviction above. 

 

I guess the other guys and I do share some common basis in that we both believe people from his country are opposite from nationalistic. :-)

[Daddee]

yawn...

[slick67]

I would rather live with my fellow citizens that are nationalistic then bunch of traitors and sell out as the other guy was implying that his fellow countryman is for lack of being nationalistic.

 

And just to be sure I am using this right, looked this up:

 

nationalistic

Opposite words for nationalistic:

fickle, unfaithful, traitorous, disloyal, faithless, inconstant, perfidious, internationalist, recreant, false, treacherous, disaffected, treasonous, international, unpatriotic.

 

Source:

http://www.antonymsfor.com/opposite-word-for/nationalistic

 

Hmmmm Yes, now I am even more convinced of my conviction above. 

 

I guess the other guys and I do share some common basis in that we both believe people from his country are opposite from nationalistic. :-)

You "forgot" to copy the examples of the use of nationalistic from your source.

Let me fix that for you, just to be complete:

 

Usage samples:

1) The first is the kingly, nationalistic type of hope. - "The Makers and Teachers of Judaism", Charles Foster Kent.

 

2) In the future, as in the past, a nationalistic competition for colonies will carry with it the seeds of war. - "American World Policies", Walter E. Weyl.

 

3) If we could use something like this to help overcome antiquated verbal prejudices and nationalistic emotional attachments.... - "Hunter Patrol", Henry Beam Piper and John J. McGuire.

 

4) The nationalistic political parties, the peddlers of hate, the entrepreneurs of discord- every crank in the world had something to say against the Platform from the first. - "Space Platform", Murray Leinster.

 

Hmmm, to carry the seeds of war, peddlers of hate, antiquated prejudices....well, good luck with those convictions

[Duvel]

I know this is their country, but if you income would be greatly increased would've you learned the language of the majority of people you make your money from? You see some bar girls speak just enough to get by but the waitress, hotel employees all speak little to none, I am at August suites and they import Phillipines to work the better jobs and most likely get paid a little better.

About 35% of the worlds official language is English, 90% of the mongers here are from England, Australian, Canadians and Americans. It isn't like you can speak Thai anywhere other then Thailand, so asking tourist to learn it for 2 or 3 weeks a year. If I were to learn another language it would be spanish, if you speak both of those you can get by in most of the world.

If I were a Thai working in a store or restaurant I would be learning English every day, the Mexicans do it, the countries that cater to tourist in S America do it, even the Haitians learn it and if Thailand is considered 3rd world Haiti must be 4th.

It is there income and if I go to a restaurant I will admit if the server speaks English I tip them better.

 

Rant over.

“About 35% of the worlds (sic) official language is English, 90% of the mongers here are from England, Australian (sic), Canadians and Americans.”

Where do you get those percentages 35 % and 90 % from ?

Out of thin air ?

That being said I find that most Thai people I meet do have an acceptable command of English and I feel guilty that my knowledge of Thai is so minimal.

[Duvel]

They do not 'refuse' to speak English!!! Learning a different language is not easy and many of the bargirls or waitresses are not very well educated, that's sometimes one of the reasons they work as bargirls and waitresses. And don't forget, learning a language that is written in an other alphabet is even more difficult!

 

 

 

And Gambit, how many different languages do you speak? Do you have one language besides your own, that you can speak more fluent than the average bargirl speaks English? Everybody should learn to speak perfect English to serve Mister American...... some people and how they think they are important

Spot on.

[Duvel]

English is an official language in the Philippines so it's no surprise that Filipinos are more proficient than Thais. This is a legacy of being under US control from the Spanish-American till after WW2.

 

For many Thais working in Pattaya, Thai itself is a second language after Isaan dialect.

 

I am constantly amazed at how well people who are non-English speaking natives speak English wherever I go and how hard they make an effort (including on this forum) when I struggle with basic Spanish and a smattering of other languages, in addition to English.

 

They try a lot harder than we do. I've travelled to about 40 countries in the world though and I've found that learning "hello", "please" and "thankyou" and a few numbers, together with a smile and hand signals never ever fail.

 

In fact, one of the remarkable things about my travels is that in every bus, train, boat, taxi, tuk-tuk, motocy, rickshaw, cyclo ride I've ever taken, a smile has never failed to get where I want to go. Never. Nor to get a room or an extra towel. One of the keys is "patience".

 

But also "point and smile" do charades, enjoy and remember you're a guest in their country and treat the challenge of communication as a light-hearted part of the travel experience.

 

I remember one time I was in an Internet café in Tangier and this older American guy came out of the toilet going "do you have any toilet paper?" but he was being really ogre-ish and aggro about it. And the guys at the café sort of blanked him. Quite possibly because he was coming on too strong and aggressive. He started yelling "Papel! Papel!" which is "paper" in Spanish. He was really getting overheated. "You call yourselves a European country!" he said with disgust. 

 

Eventually he stormed out and the entire Internet café collapsed in laughter. If only he hadn't of made such a cunt of himself.

“For many Thais working in Pattaya, Thai itself is a second language after Isaan dialect.”

Not all of them speak Isaan/Laotian; many also speak Khmer/Cambodian and other languages.

I have met people from Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, Buriram, up to Trat, who all said they spoke Khmer/Cambodian.

I really doubt if 50 % of all Thais are native speakers of Thai.

[Duvel]

It can't be easy for Thais learning a language with a completely different alphabet and set of sounds. I found it extremely difficult to learn Russian despite working in Moscow for years but found it very easy to learn Romanian. Romanian being a latin based alphabet was much easier for me to associate sounds with words.

 

I'm facing the same difficulty with Thai. I can't make an association between what I see and what I'm supposed to vocalise and that makes it tough. I would imagine the inverse would be equally difficult.

I speak and write five European languages and can understand a couple more, but (apart from my age, my laziness and the missus spoiling me speaking excellent English) I meet several hurdles to learning Thai: the script, the pronunciation rules and the lack of similarity to Western languages.

[Duvel]

Rant! That's good coming from an American, we gave you a perfectly good English language and look how you have fucked that up?         

He cannot even write American correctly.

[stamps4139]

Two factors about any non English speaking person learning English. The first is that English is a difficult language to learn. Secondly, if you are trying to learn a language that you are not native to, you need to use it on a regular basis. If you do not use the new language you will forget what you learned.

[TK_Knightster]

Khun Gambit might consider improving his own command of English grammar and spelling - not just the odd typo - before criticising others.

Agreed, practice what you preach!