I have been coming to Thailand for near on 5 years now and I have noticed that the best speakers of English are those that need to use it for work. These are predominantly young people from wealthier backgrounds who have studied English at university as part of another course and have become proficient in using English in their jobs.

These people are found in areas where tourists tend to stay. Jobs that deal with tourists require their staff to be somewhat proficient in English. But on the whole, English is not spoken widely, especially out in the provinces. The state school system does not seem to teach English effectively, concentrating on learning words by rote rather than comprehension of colloquial English sentances.

The best schools seem to be those that can immerse the students in English. I have had to learn Thai in order to be able to communicate effectively since the vast majority cannot understand spoken English and most people can only say a few words like "Hello, how are you?".

Pronunciation of English poses a real challenge because Thai lacks certain sounds like th, sh, z and Thai words and syllables that end in certain consonants mutate to sound like p, t and k. The Thai word for shallow fry for instance is written like 'pad' but is pronounced like 'pat'. The letter d in all instances (there are several different sorts of letter d by the way) mutates to a t at the end of a word. So Thai people have difficulty pronouncing words and syllables ending in d, ch, th, s, sh, r amongst others.

I think it is a question of confidence and also culture. You see, Thai people do not like to embarrass themselves because this is like losing face, an important feature of Thai (and Asian) culture. They would rather not say a word of English than risk making a mistake and embarrassing themselves.

Thai children do not seem to have the same motivation or eagerness to learn English compared with their peers in China for instance. It is frustrating to see the way that English is taught and the lack of emphasis on effective teaching methods. Perhaps this will improve over time, but for now Thailand is lagging behind in English.

Paul Clifton

If you really do care about education and want to make a difference, then well....become a qualified teacher! Nobody should expect to be hired as a doctor without going to medical school, likewise nobody should expect to obtain a serious teaching position without proper certification.

Then once you do get certified, you can work for an international school or bilingual school where you are taken seriously as a teacher, and your results do matter. The parents at these schools are paying ridiculous sums of money to ensure their kids become proficient in English, and they expect results.

Your students will sit standardized exams (ex. IGCSE) and your HOD and school director will expect results. You will have reasonable class sizes, decent resources. Not only will you have the opportunity to shine as a teacher, you will be expected to do so. Sure, that means more work and more stress, but you will be making a difference (at least, for the kids who can afford your school's fees).

Thai government schools are a great place to be for "teachers" who aren't qualified and don't care. They just want to be in Thailand, live a stress-free life, and do a joke of a job for an okay wage. And that's great for some people - those who would otherwise be working at McDonald's or stacking shelves in a warehouse in a Western country can come to Thailand, play the role of a foreign "teacher" and live a much better lifestyle with few professional expectations.

But if you find yourself stuck in one of those jobs (most likely due to lack of teacher qualifications) and actually care about teaching, then well... do something about it! Sure you could argue till blue on the face that teaching qualifications might not make you a better teacher, but if you were a parent paying $20,000 USD per year for your kids school, you'd expect certified teachers.

So ask yourself, what kind of teacher do I want to be? And then get the qualifications and the job that allows you to be that kind of teacher.

Danny

I am running a big teacher agency for over ten years already and I have helped to place many teachers at good schools all over the many parts of Thailand. In the Northeastern of Thailand, I have many partner schools and my agency pays between 32,000 and 35,000 bahts a month which is very competitive if you look at the salary and benefits of competitors who only pay the teachers sometimes about 25,000.

This year I have to ask myself what is happening with the professionalism of so many teachers? I make appointments for many teachers to come and interview with me at my office and they don’t show. Not even a phone call to say sorry I am not able to come so can we reschedule appointment?

When the teachers do come for interview, their behaviours are inappropriate and they do not dress in a professional manner. They ask for more higher salary even before I have the chance to discuss the details of the job and what are the responsibilities. Too many teachers carry a negative attitude from jobs they do in the past and bring them to the new jobs like the world owe them something. It seems like teachers care only about money and not about doing the good job.

When a new teacher starts the job they complain about everything! I even have one male teacher complain about the school toilets and say they don’t have the western style but only Thai squat style. But you are in rural Thailand. What can you expect? You cannot expect the proper toilet and perfumed toilet paper also.

Then they complain about the materials and say is not enough. They have to spend so much time for preparing materials before class. One teacher even say that he has no time for sleep because he is awake in night-time doing the lesson plan. But I think this is what a teacher should do yes? Lesson planning is part of when you want to be a good teacher in the classroom and give the students a happy time and make them understand.

Every day my phone is ringing with a new problem. Maybe the teacher he arrive at work drunk from the previous evening or he is not attired professionally or they not have any idea about the schedule which I give to them already before start of term. This is like a scallywag behavior.

I would like to see foreign teachers act with more professional attitude and not treat a teaching job like it is just an easy way to stay and enjoy your time in Thailand. You have to consider that you are an educator and the students are your responsibility!

Joshua K

Hello ex-pats living in Bangkok. A Canadian man is in hospital in Bangkok following a terrible accident. He urgently needs A- or O-blood and there is a chronic shortage. Asian people are 0.03% A- type. Red Cross Thailand only accepts donations from people under 55 who have been living in Thailand for at least 6 months. Please consider donating blood if you can--you may save his life. Simply donate at any Red Cross with the stipulation that the blood is for David Connelly in Phuket. Thanks.
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.3584412/why-a-b-c-man-run-over-by-a-truck-in-thailand-is-struggling-to-get-treatment-1.3584416

Rachael Preston BC Canada

I'm a Thai who has been teaching English for many years. I lived in Dhaka, Bangladesh for 6 years and I enrolled for an MA TESOL there. My MA there and the work at a university there taught me tremendously about CLT and communicative English; and what could really help students to communicate in English.

For any Bangladeshi student who enrolled on an English course with communicative environment, I found that almost all of them could use English well after they graduate (university level). The assessment aligned with what had been instructed and trained...and many involved speaking, presentation, discussion, listening along with reading and writing.

In Thailand....., the curriculum still focuses a lot on grammar; though many try to implement " English Conversation Class" and have the 2nd English class taught by foreign teachers. however, I was told Thai teachers would still explained to them in Thai in their classes and many even had to write the pronunciation of those lessons in Thai alphabet so the kids could read.

The parents also believe that their kids don't know enough vocabulary or don't know enough grammar to speak well. That's because generations after generations here have been taught with the grammar translation method...and it is still going on....among parents and worse, English teachers who are Thai.

I am seeing a huge gap between the practice and the need of the school to keep the look of International standard while O-Net and A-Net tests are so hopeless and do not align with any lessons they teach in classes in many schools at all.

However, I wouldn't ask who is to blame...., but what can we do to improve it?

Sunida

Dual pricing is morally wrong and according to some experts on Thai law, even illegal. However, as with a lot of things in Thailand I question the apparent illegality of it, given how widespread it is I doubt it's illegal at all.

Now when it comes to dual pricing, we need to distinguish between opportunistic greed (like when a taxi driver refuses to turn on his meter or a tuk-tuk driver tries to charge a huge amount) and institutionalized dual pricing at tourist attractions. It is easy to avoid the former - either catch a different taxi, rent a car, catch a bus, walk whatever, there are always alternatives.

However, when it comes to a temple, museum, national park etc. trying to charge a foreigner more, there are two prices only: one Thai and one foreign. Occasionally a foreigner can get the Thai price by speaking Thai, arriving with a Thai spouse or friend, showing a Thai driver's licence, work permit, tax ID card or similar, but these don't always work.

The very premise of dual pricing however is that it tries to create a feeling of "us vs. them" by making assumptions about a foreigners perceived wealth. It is one thing if one time tourists are affected as they can just decide never to come back to Thailand and many do vote with their feet and their wallets. However, apart from avoiding all dual pricing attractions in Thailand, it is not as easy for resident expats to do the same, as they may be faced with this issue on a regular basis.

Personally I have no problems with bargaining, though on a day to day basis I only engage in that part of the economy that has fixed prices. For example, I drive my own car, fill up my tank at a petrol (gas) station, which obviously has fixed prices, get my car serviced at the dealership, I eat at chain restaurants (or independent restaurants with air-con), shop at supermarkets and hypermarkets etc. just like I would do in the west. Not only because this eliminates the possibility of dual pricing but these types of businesses offer better quality food, produce and goods and I know whether I'm getting value for money or not.

Also, it's easier to find what I'm looking for. Yes I know foreign imported goods are often way overpriced, but there is often little way around that except for the occasional trip to Cambodia to bring in a few bottles of cheap wine. The Thai alternative is poor quality rubbish, so there's little choice but to pay these prices.

I don't visit markets, street food stalls etc. unless I'm on holiday and that would entail being outside of Bangkok or more likely even, when I travel to Laos/Cambodia/Vietnam/Myanmar etc. countries which have fewer supermarkets/hypermarkets etc.

Why don't I visit markets etc. (except for very occasionally Chatuchak)? Because 1) it's hot 2) the quality is poor and unless I'm looking for a souvenir I won't find anything interesting 3) the food at wet markets is often of questionable quality - food and veggies may have been tainted with formaline whereas at supermarkets it's safe too eat, while at food stalls it's too hot to eat outside plus the food doesn't taste good, nor is it fresh in many cases. I am worried about getting sick.

I'd much rather enjoy a delicious steak from Sizzler, along with some salad, which is much healthier than the MSG and sugar laden crap you get on the street. I can also pay by credit card as I don't always carry enough cash with me.

Tyson Jones

With the new regulations in place it is harder than ever to find good teachers. Those who are experienced and culturally aware are having to leave as they don't have degrees/diplomas in education and they have exhausted their temporary teaching permit numbers.

Unfortunately that means having to hire the inexperienced or basically any other white face despite their downfalls. Krusapa needs to assess foreign teachers individually regarding teacher licences and increase salaries extensively if they really want the educated and passionate in their schools.

Rhiannon

I read so often about the problem of students using cellphones in Thai classes. Although it's not the same everywhere here in New Zealand, its common for phones to have to be checked in at the start of classes and/or some schools either ban them altogether at school or students have to check them in to the office every morning where they're kept until the end of the day. It seems few teachers and schools do this sort of thing in Thailand?

Brent

The information that I am writing here is based on my experience as of March 1, 2016.

I am currently teaching in a government school. I started in March 2015 but I was only taxed in June 2015. I was deducted 875 Baht every month for my TAX and 750 Baht for my health insurance. Another 750 Baht is paid for me by the school as their share, hence a total of 1,500 Baht goes to my health insurance. To sum it up, the amount that is deducted from my salary is 1,625 Baht (875+750) per month.

When I went to the Ministry of Labor to have my work permit renewed, the officer asked for my tax record, which I don't have at that time. It is a requirement for the renewal of work of permit (W.P.5) to present the Phor Ngor Dor 91 form and tax receipt (yellow). Both documents can be acquired from the District Office (Revenue Department).

Prior to going to the revenue office, my school gave me the summary of my tax for the year 2015. The total amount that I paid for 7 months (June 2015 - December 2015) is 875x7= 6,126 Baht.

When I filed the Phor Ngor Dor 91 at the revenue, I was told to get a refund amounting to 5,875 Baht. I don't exactly know how the officer got the computation though it was all written at the back of the form 91. The cheque will be under my name and it will be sent to my school around May to June 2016.

I was surprised to hear that I will get a refund because I never got one before and my school didn't inform me neither. So I asked the officer if I could file for the previous years and she said that I can only refund for the 3 years back. I just need to get the tax record from the school. The paper must contain the total tax paid for the year 2012, 2013, and 2014 respectively.

I told the other foreign teachers in my school to file their Phor Ngor Dor 91 as well. Hurrah! we will all get out refund a few months from now :-)

I hope this information will assure you that indeed, there is a tax return/refund. We just have to file for it. You can either go to the nearest revenue office and file personally or you can ask your Thai friend to help you file online.

For translation purposes of the personal income tax forms, go to this link. http://www.rd.go.th/publish/index_eng.html

Elle

This is in reply to Methaya Sirichit's great letter (26th January)

I have been attempting to introduce the Western culture, the similarities and differences between Thai culture and Western forms of thinking. I had good results that came very quickly when I was learning the IELTS system. I would use The Bangkok Posts learning section and the articles available.

I stopped learning Thai when I started to understand just how nasty Thais are to each other. I did not want to listen. I left my own country (Australia) because I could see people becoming nastier and nastier to each other. The human race is a horrible thing.

I have recently read and listened to a radio interview about the next step in phonics. Understanding how the word was created. Knee is actually a word that was pronounced using the k to start the word. It is time that has made the K silent.

I have visited Sukhothai many times and been through the museum as well. It gives a good starting point into the Thai language, the history and its origins. I would like to know if corruption and as telling of untruths was so ingrained in Thai culture back then as it is today because there does seem to be a case for those in powerful positions in Thailand have made their own rules in today's society and many very clever and worthwhile people are not able to voice an opinion.

I have lived in Phitsunalok myself and found many of the farmers problem solving skills to far more remarkable than Bangkok's problem solving skills that are based on more money to buy things overs have designed. We currently hear about many horrible workplace problems and extortion of minorities. As an Australian I am horrified at what my country is doing in The Middle East. I grew up believing Australia was a passive country. No we are the aggressors.

You are correct that most farang coming to Thailand to teach do not have the skills. I suspect they are further infuriated by the fact that the students are not the centre of the schools here in Thailand but the amount of money required to give a perceived education that allows students to understand the world they live in is.

The international schools now have lowered the grade levels by allowing extra testing so those students who do not have the knowledge they should have learnt in normal class time to move up the education ladder.

I suspect it is the human race at the moment that is creating its own problems. The difference between Thais and others is really a small thing.

The few Thai friends I have will speak English with me as they trust me not to judge them. I suspect those who are scared of speaking and showing aptitude know that it will killed of by those controlling for more money. Which in turn is just our belief in pieces of paper with numbers written on them.

Have fun.

chantaburi