The great English-language deficiency hype

Foreign 'experts' who warn that Thais won't be able to compete for jobs after the Asean Community comes on line in 2015 may be more interested in brightening their own employment picture

Published: 12/02/2012 at 02:39 AM
Newspaper section: News

Ever since I arrived in Bangkok in 2011, I've being witnessing the amazing spread of English fever. At the national level, Thailand is wholeheartedly invested in the promise of English _ the idea that proficiency in English will make ''it'' happen for the country, be it more economic development, more participation in global spheres or a more 21st century cosmopolitan look to the international community.

''Learn/teach English, better and faster!'' is very much the message at the education level where we are seeing an increase in English-medium programmes in secondary and higher education, ''language experts'' flying in and out of Bangkok, and the mushrooming of private English language schools throughout the country.

Similar to those in many other non-English speaking Asian nations, everybody I know wants to learn English to get a good job, and most academics I meet speak of English as the key to Thailand's brighter economic future.

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Writer: Kimie Takahashi

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cpkinnally
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Discussion 3 : 14/02/2012 at 09:54 AM3
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The fact that many students in Thailand have been learning English for a decade or more and still can't speak a lick of English speaks for itself. Additionally, long term policy planning with the English speaking world is definitely needed but the problem is that it doesn't, and won't, happen. All schools want here a white face to "sell" to their students. Education in Thailand isn't really about education at all, it's about money. Until this attitude changes, Thailand's educational system, in every subject, will continue to be subpar.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 2 : 13/02/2012 at 06:07 AM2
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Last paragraph of this article is pertinent. If you want to really overhaul the practice of teaching English you need people from the English speaking world to participate in policy making, rather than assuming lots of money to put Caucasian faces in front of kids will do the trick.

And by the way, the only thing I can see from the ASEAN 2015 labour market integration is that lots of Filipinos will be coming over here to work as English teachers on slightly better wages, which will put pressure on foreigners and Thais looking for such jobs. It's doubtful if any other nationals can speak English better (on average) and be attracted by the wages.
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Aussie John
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Discussion 1 : 13/02/2012 at 04:50 AM1
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What is unproductive is the continual ultra nationalistic and xenophobic undertones leveled at the actual use and benefits of learning the English language in Thailand. What is said and promoted publicly about learning the language is quite the opposite to what actually is promoted and said on the ground. You can not learn English effectively without actually being able to communicate with it. Rote methods of learning English only gives you parrots and nothing else.
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The great English-language deficiency hype | Bangkok Post: opinion