Thai English skills below Asean partners

[buksida]

Thailand ranked 42nd out of 44 countries surveyed for adult English proficiency -- below Cambodia (41), Vietnam (39), and Indonesia (34), with Malaysia the top Asean country at No 9.

The full list can be found at http://www.ef.co.th/epi/ef-epi-ranking/.

The Office of the Education Council (ONEC), which revealed the results of the survey, said the level of English proficiency of Thai youth is below par and cannot compete with other countries.

The ONEC said the Thai education system has no clear strategy or goal to effectively teach English and educate young people on the importance of the world's main business language.

The office suggests a “hasty” reform of the education system is needed to bring Thailand to international standard ahead of the Asian Economic Community in 2015.

According to the ONEC, in 20 years, Thai youth must be fluent in at least three languages, Thai, English and Chinese.

Languages of the other AEC members should also be taught at schools to better prepare Thailand and its workforce to to compete effectively with neighbouring countries, the office said.

Education permanent secretary Sasithara Pichaicharnnarong announced on Monday this week that more than 100 language teachers had arrived from England under a programme to improve the standard of Thai students' English ahead of the launch of the Asean Economic Community in 2015,

The. teachers, all volunteers, were recruited under the Thailand English Teaching Project 2012.

Ms Sasithara said the teachers would this week head out to about 100 schools spread throughout the country, where they would teach English to students for six weeks.

The British Council had prepared the teaching curriculum and was providing teaching assistance.

She said the project would enable Thai students to learn English directly from teachers whose mother tongue is English, and the teachers would gain experience from teaching abroad and learning about Thai culture.

All teacher volunteers would be issued with a certificate, which they could use to help find a job in the future.

Source: BKPost

[GLCQuantum]

Education permanent secretary Sasithara Pichaicharnnarong announced on Monday this week that more than 100 language teachers had arrived from England under a programme to improve the standard of Thai students' English ahead of the launch of the Asean Economic Community in 2015,

Ms Sasithara said the teachers would this week head out to about 100 schools spread throughout the country, where they would teach English to students for six weeks.

Yes, because 6 weeks of English lessons and then back to pretty much nothing again is really going to make a difference.

Hey, I've got some ideas that would make a major difference. How about giving kids more than one English lesson a week. How about teaching the teachers to teach properly and not just have the kids writing down stuff from the board. How about not having 50 kids in a classroom.

If the people in power spent a little of their 'hard earned' money on making sure the poorer folk (a large amount of the population) had access to a better education the whole country would come on leaps and bounds in the future... instead we have them faffing about with tablets for every Grade 1 kid, something that was only used as a swinger to get voted in.

... but, what do I know. I'm just a white guy.

[bapak]

Education permanent secretary Sasithara Pichaicharnnarong announced on Monday this week that more than 100 language teachers had arrived from England under a programme to improve the standard of Thai students' English ahead of the launch of the Asean Economic Community in 2015,

Ms Sasithara said the teachers would this week head out to about 100 schools spread throughout the country, where they would teach English to students for six weeks.

Yes, because 6 weeks of English lessons and then back to pretty much nothing again is really going to make a difference.

Hey, I've got some ideas that would make a major difference. How about giving kids more than one English lesson a week. How about teaching the teachers to teach properly and not just have the kids writing down stuff from the board. How about not having 50 kids in a classroom.

If the people in power spent a little of their 'hard earned' money on making sure the poorer folk (a large amount of the population) had access to a better education the whole country would come on leaps and bounds in the future... instead we have them faffing about with tablets for every Grade 1 kid, something that was only used as a swinger to get voted in.

... but, what do I know. I'm just a white guy.

HEAR HEAR!

[brianks]

Now why would the Red Shirts want to educate the masses? It might get them voted out of office is my guess.

[GLCQuantum]

Now why would the Red Shirts want to educate the masses? It might get them voted out of office is my guess.

[Spitfire]

I think most of the locals have no idea what is heading their way in 2015 and I wouldn't call Thailand even slightly ready for it.

The Thais are already 'dragging their heels' on some fronts regarding the the ASEAN agreement and I don't see trade and employment barriers coming down in any convincing fashion imo.

I think the locals are going to end up with a bad taste in their mouths after they have had time to interact with this new idea......and it'll be interesting to see to see how they react a few years later once they have acquired a bitter taste for it in their mouths.

We'll see, and if I'm proved to be cynical and negative then I'll eat my 'humble pie'....but I don't think so.

[chaspul]

Read a letter to BK Post a couple of months back about the the potential Thailand has in the expat community to teach English.
I am not talking basic primary/secondary education, but engineering and scientific. Had many years of instructing trainees of many countries.
I do not have a degree, althogh more than 40 years experience, many years in engineering and instructing, mainly aircraft and would be willing to talk to any student in English, conversationally as long as this dose not contravene the employment rules .
After all we are only talking English.
Not looking for a job, only to help the youth of my adoptive country.
Chas

[margaretcarnes]

So they seriously believe the problem can be solved by 2015? As always it's too little too late, which shouldn't be a surprise to us anymore. Because Thailand really doesn't want to educate it's masses. It is happy for the HiSo's to be sent to Europe to study at the expense of Mama and Papa - not the State.
We always have our Western heads on with these debates, and tend to forget that Thailand has never been colonised, and gets along very nicely thank you in it's own sweet way. Paying lip service now and then as deemed appropriate. It has a quite stable economy compared to some other SE Aain countries. Japan for one is struggling - and it wouldn't surprise me if China follows. Cambodia can't pick up the pieces until those who dropped them sort it out - a lifetimes work in itself. As for Laos.... so is it really surprising that Thailand continues to jog along as it does?

[Takiap]

Well said MC. I too don't think Thailand is very concerned at all. As for education..........a lot of Thai families don't send their kids to school, even though free schooling is available, and this is not only restricted to very poor families. As is so often the case, it's the "mai pen rai" attitude.


Anyway, it's go nothing to do with me. The husband of a Thai lady, and father to three Thai kids, is but only a guest.

[HHTel]

How come the US isn't in that list. They haven't spoken English there for years!!!

I'll now wait for the backlash........

[moose 961]

here we go with the proper again. spot on

[poosmate]

here we go with the proper again. spot on

Not just the Thais apparently