Thai language communication issues
Where is it insulting to be spoken to in your own language?
Seriously, if you really want to rattle a Thai person in Bangkok, then speak to them in their own language. Truly, there are few things that irritate them more than a foreigner who can speak Thai clearly and is, or appears to be fluent. It is akin to waving a red flag at a bull.
My struggles with the Thai language part 3
I've finally reached the dizzy heights of upper-intermediate
I've reached the stage where communicating in Thai gives me so much pleasure. And I think the more you learn and the better your range of expression becomes, so your ‘thirst for knowledge' increases.
A farang mute!
Why I have no intention of studying Thai
We all have our different reasons for being here in Thailand. Yours may be to experience adventure and to embrace different cultures. Mine's just the opposite. I came to be left in peace.
The Burning Question - Does it help if you can speak Thai?
Teachers give their opinions on a couple of teaching in Thailand questions
This month's burning questions are a) Does a period of time spent teaching English in Thailand look good on your resume if and when you return home? and b) Does knowing and speaking Thai language in the classroom come in useful?
Mastering the Thai tones with football results
Postbox letter from Del
There seem to be more and more people around with an interest in learning Thai, and the most common problem they face is the fact that Thai is a tonal language.
My struggles with the Thai language part 1
For 15 years, my spoken Thai didn't get any better at all.
For the first five years here, I would say my Thai improved steadily. Both my vocabulary range and my speaking confidence increased and my listening comprehension improved a lot. I never felt the need to take any formal Thai lessons. The Bangkok streets were my classroom
Say hello to technology related stress
Stress comes in many forms - but how about this one?
There isn't an acronym for it. And there damn well should be. So I'm going it call it TRS. It stands for technology related stress. I can't put my finger on why but TRS always seems different to any other form of stress.
To use Thai or not to use Thai?
Why learning Thai has helped me so much in the classroom
My philosophy on spoken communication has always been that perfect grammar, extensive vocabulary and intimate knowledge of tenses are all totally worthless if the listener cannot understand the words that are coming out of your mouth.
How to talk to foreigners in Thailand
We don't bite. Well, a handful might I suppose.
Put simply, if the foreigner clearly knows what they're doing, can order a round of food with minimal problems and pay the right money when presented with the bill, you don't need to talk down to them.
An unwanted duty
Is this Thai tradition pain or pleasure?
In many schools in Thailand, Thai teachers, as well as foreign teachers, take turns in standing at the school gate to greet parents and students. Two or more teachers are assigned, depending on the size of the school, to do this each day.
