1. "Teacher, game please!"

This one’s universal. Whether you’re doing grammar drills or explaining irregular verbs, the call for a game will come. And once it’s been uttered, there's no going back. Even the quiet kids suddenly have energy. If you’ve got no game prepared? Good luck.

2. "I go toilet."

Said while already halfway out the door. No “may I,” no waiting for permission  - just an urgent declaration of biological intent. It’s never up for negotiation. Occasionally used to escape the class altogether. Clever ones will even time it to miss an entire worksheet.

3. "No have."

The ultimate all-purpose excuse. No book? No pen? No clue? Just say “no have.” Bonus points for shrugging and smiling like you’ve just explained everything. Strangely effective. Try using it at immigration and see what happens.

4. "Finish!"

Often declared within four minutes of starting a 30-minute activity. Don’t be fooled - they’ve written their name and maybe one correct answer. Still, they’ll be waving their book in the air like they just aced the SATs.

5. "Same same!"

A delightful phrase that defies logic. Used to say two things are identical, similar, vaguely related, or just… not that different.

“Teacher, cat and tiger – same same!”

Can’t argue with that. Kind of.

6. "You very handsome / beautiful today!"

A compliment? Flattery? Sarcasm? Hard to say. Thai students are surprisingly generous with this phrase, often when they want something (like a game). You might look sweaty and half-dead, but if you bring stickers, you’ll be declared gorgeous.

7. "One more time, please!"

On paper, it sounds studious. In practice, it’s code for “I wasn’t listening” or “I was texting under the table.” Still, it’s a nice way of saying “huh?” and they know it works. Just get used to being a living tape recorder.

8. "No speak Thai!"

Parroted with glee whenever someone breaks the “English only” rule -  even though the person saying it is, in fact, also speaking Thai moments later. Often said in Thai, which is the real  kiss of irony.

9. "I don’t know."

Said automatically to almost every question, including “What’s your name?” Sometimes used before you’ve even finished the sentence. It’s not rudeness - just a learned defense mechanism. But when you hear a kid say “I don’t know” and then answer perfectly? That’s when you know you're in deep.

10. "I copy friend."

Said with absolute honesty and zero shame. Thai students are refreshingly direct when it comes to shortcuts. Forget plagiarism panics - they’ll proudly tell you who they copied from, and maybe even offer you the original for checking.

Final thoughts:

These ten phrases aren’t part of any official syllabus, but every teacher in Thailand knows them by heart. They’re endearing, hilarious, and occasionally exasperating. But they’re part of what makes teaching here such an incredible experience.

Learn them. Embrace them. And yes - always have a game ready.