Does speaking the local language whilst teaching english make you a better teacher ?

**NickA** · 12-12-2008, 05:00 AM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

I think in a lot of cases speaking thai would speed things up a hell of a lot, lets take something real basic like telling the time, we do it in 12 hour increments, Thais do it in 6, this difference needs to be explained before you can even begin to teach them the time.

That's why you should stick to building sheds DD.

Never uttered a word of Thai in 5+ years of teaching science in Thailand.

For the example above the simple use of a clock or two (12 hour and 24 hour) would overcome the problem pretty quickly.

**mikehunt** · 12-12-2008, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by NickA

Originally Posted by dirtydog

I think in a lot of cases speaking thai would speed things up a hell of a lot, lets take something real basic like telling the time, we do it in 12 hour increments, Thais do it in 6, this difference needs to be explained before you can even begin to teach them the time.

That's why you should stick to building sheds DD.

Never uttered a word of Thai in 5+ years of teaching science in Thailand.

For the example above the simple use of a clock or two (12 hour and 24 hour) would overcome the problem pretty quickly.

Couldn't agree more NickA

It took me a total of 3 hours to teach my students the 3 methods used for telling the time;
a] 12 hour analog (half past this, a quarter to that etc)
b] 12 hour digital (2am, 10pm etc)
c] 24 hour time.

With very minimal use of the Thai language & with the use of a clock, almost all students managed to not only learn these methods but also managed to remember them well.

**dirtydog** · 12-12-2008, 06:45 PM

So you have to take a clock into school?

What happens when you teach them about public transport and how do you get the train there?

**mikehunt** · 12-12-2008, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

So you have to take a clock into school?

What happens when you teach them about public transport and how do you get the train there?

**qwerty** · 12-12-2008, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by mikehunt

In Thailand, bilingual Thai teachers are supposed to be present for the duration of the English lesson.

In over 5 years of teaching in Thailand, I don't think I've EVER had a Thai Teacher stick around for a whole class. One or two have hung around for 5 or 10 minutes, after that I've been strictly on my own.

Originally Posted by mikehunt

Speaking a small amount of Thai can be helpful to speed things up but when I say "a small amount", I mean using simple words...not complete phrases. Of course, as the students get to know your style, you can slowly reduce these words & then use only English.

If a Thai teacher is present & if they are any good, they will not translate everything that you say. They will attempt to give a general idea of what you are saying with the hope that the students will "catch on".

With about 5 of my 26 classes per week, I do not speak Thai at all & the Thai teacher only explains difficult things or exceptions (too time consuming for me to get them to understand me in this case).

^ That is a perfect explanation of when and when not to use Thai in the classroom!

**MeMock** · 12-12-2008, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Gallowspole

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

Ok then.

No you don't need to be able to speak Thai as you'll only get laughed at as you mis-pronounce the kids names time and time again.

This confuses me. If I said 'Somsak aawk pai' or 'Somsak get out', isn't Somsak pronounced the same?

It is just DJ Pat being a mindless prat again.

**dirtydog** · 12-12-2008, 07:50 PM

Damn sure I wouldn't want to be a Thai kid learning English, what happens when you get to the lessons on man eating/killing animals?

**mikehunt** · 12-12-2008, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by qwerty

Originally Posted by mikehunt

In Thailand, bilingual Thai teachers are supposed to be present for the duration of the English lesson.

In over 5 years of teaching in Thailand, I don't think I've EVER had a Thai Teacher stick around for a whole class. One or two have hung around for 5 or 10 minutes, after that I've been strictly on my own.

I must be very lucky. In 9 out of 10 cases, a Thai teacher is always present for the duration of my lessons. Then again, most Thai teachers at my workplace, are bloody good teachers who do not support the usual Thai teaching methods. They encourage questioning & making mistakes without delivering any "guilt trips" onto the students.

**Gallowspole** · 12-12-2008, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Damn sure I wouldn't want to be a Thai kid learning English, what happens when you get to the lessons on man eating/killing animals?

They all start saying "hue maak".

**PlanK** · 13-12-2008, 02:52 AM

Another good reason for knowing some Thai is that the dictionaries some of the students have are absolute rubbish. Some words poorly translated, or using the archaic meaning, or just plain wrong.

From DD's example, endangered/dangerous animals is common mis-translated. It doesn't help that many endangered animals like tigers are also dangerous animals

**kingwilly** · 13-12-2008, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by jerryuk

Hi, i have just started my final year of my BA Hons in education and my plan is to move to Thailand after i graduate to potentially teach there one day, but everyone i talk to asks me the same question “How Can You Teach Someone English If You Don’t Speak Their Language?”, so i thought i would use this as a basis for my research project to hopefully gain an insight into teaching in Thailand before i even get there. I have previously completed my cert ed and a level 4 tesol qualification. Any responses would be gratefully accepted and they may give me guidance as to where i intend to go with my research, i.e benefits, etc well thanks in advance for anyone who could shed some light on this or if there are any threads on this subject already

so how did your assignment go? did you find anyone to do it for you?

**tuferguson** · 25-12-2008, 05:39 AM

to quote your heading. No.

**Kikiat2009** · 25-12-2008, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

What a waste of a BA Hons in Education.

You only need a shirt, a pair of trousers, shoes and a white face to be a tecaher in Thailand.

true that.

**benbaaa** · 25-12-2008, 04:54 PM

The ability to understand a bit of Thai is simply an extra golf club in your bag, nothing more nothing less. A deeper understanding of Thai language structures can help you pin down the source of common errors which Thais make when speaking English. An example is I have ever been to Bangkok. If you know how Thais would say this in Thai, it explains why they say it in English.

But as to speaking Thai in class? My general rule is don't. They get enough practise listening to Thai at home and in their regular school. The only occasions when I have used Thai is for a quick translation of a word which isn't target language and which is somehow stopping them from doing the activity I actually want them to do.

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