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Reload this Page Is it really necessary to learn a host country's language?
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Thai Language Where to learn Thai, How to learn Thai and anything to do with the Thai language. Which Thai Language School is the best? Can I learn Thai online? How difficult is it to learn to read and write Thai?

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Old 18-11-2007, 05:04 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Is it really necessary to learn a host country's language?
That they need not learn their hosts' language to communicate.
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Old 18-11-2007, 07:45 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Texpat
That they need not learn their hosts' language to communicate.
interesting that.

as my thai has improved to a really pretty good level, i have found myself less willing to broadcast it.

these days I speak English to Thais that can, even if their English is worse than my Thai.

for some reason it annoys me to hear bad Thai spoken very loudly, especially to people who speak good enough English.
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Old 18-11-2007, 07:58 PM   #3 (permalink)
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^Yes, good to have the option, but the farangs I am referring to are the smug, I-won't-stoop-to-learn-Thai types.
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:04 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Texpat
That they need not learn their hosts' language to communicate.
interesting that.

as my thai has improved to a really pretty good level, i have found myself less willing to broadcast it.

these days I speak English to Thais that can, even if their English is worse than my Thai.

for some reason it annoys me to hear bad Thai spoken very loudly, especially to people who speak good enough English.
Must admit I have gone in that direction myself, partly due to wanting my children to improve their engllsh and partly wanting the locals to get off their butts and start using some of the ( lImited) English skills I know they have.

I spent a couple of days in BKK last week with me Mia noi or ex Mia noi as she now is, trying to bond with our daughter. They both live in Thai situation, she has a job dealing only with Thais, her English has regressed to the point of being useless.
So maybe they feel the same way, when the requirment becomes superfluous the skill atrophys.
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:16 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Texpat
^Yes, good to have the option, but the farangs I am referring to are the smug, I-won't-stoop-to-learn-Thai types.
I don't see the point of learning Thai, it's not like it's a major language, definitely not a must

It's like learning how to speak Monkey, who the fuck care.
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:17 PM   #6 (permalink)
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^
jeezus.
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:18 PM   #7 (permalink)
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^^like that Thanks for illustrating my point BF.
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:21 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Butterfly View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Texpat
^Yes, good to have the option, but the farangs I am referring to are the smug, I-won't-stoop-to-learn-Thai types.
I don't see the point of learning Thai, it's not like it's a major language, definitely not a must

It's like learning how to speak Monkey, who the fuck care.
No honestly, BF has a good point. Nobody in the entire world speaks Thai. It has no influence whatsoever in any circles in the world, whether business, diplomatic, scientific...nothing.

Why learn more than a smattering of this useless language? What's the point?

Learn Chinese. Learn Russian. Learn Arabic. Learn Spanish.

Those are important world languages.
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:22 PM   #9 (permalink)
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^
is that a troll?

do you live in thailand?

absolutely beats me how people can live here and can't read or write.

would you feel happy being illiterate in France, England, America.
not rocket science.
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:23 PM   #10 (permalink)
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well at least BF can speak a couple of languages well
(that i know of, it may be more). And thats better than me.

As for monkey, yes i never bothered to learn malay either, even though the whole language only seems to comprise of about 100 words
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:24 PM   #11 (permalink)
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[quote=kingwilly;455738]
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Originally Posted by a bloke from an indo forum
I've never asked her out or even asked for her number. I like joking around with her, but I've never had the urge to pursue her. She's a cutie though, no doubt about it. Then again, there are so many cuties on the blok.
Well, most expats are not that careful usually and it has nothing to do with delusions of grandeur.
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:26 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Quote:
Nobody in the entire world speaks Thai
I was just going to say that but I could predict the responses - after a quick edit, I see I was right - but the cat's out of the bag now. The way I see it, the Thais would be doing themselves a big favour if they just learn English & if they're going to do that, there's not much point learning Thai properly.
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:26 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon View Post
^
is that a troll?

do you live in thailand?

absolutely beats me how people can live here and can't read or write.

would you feel happy being illiterate in France, England, America.
not rocket science.
I speak fluent French, mostly fluent English and American, and conversational Thai. I rarely use English in Thailand.

But I stand by my point. It's a useless language. It relates to no other important world language, such as Mandarin. It gives you no foundation for any other important Asian language, such as Japanese or Bahasa.

Useless. Sorry.
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:28 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chinthee
Learn Chinese. Learn Russian. Learn Arabic. Learn Spanish.

Those are important world languages.
Exactly. But you forgot French, the universal language of love and a beautiful language period
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:29 PM   #15 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Butterfly View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by chinthee
Learn Chinese. Learn Russian. Learn Arabic. Learn Spanish.

Those are important world languages.
Exactly. But you forgot French, the universal language of love and a beautiful language period
Je parle Francais parfaitement mon ami!
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:32 PM   #16 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Clockwork Orange
The way I see it, the Thais would be doing themselves a big favour if they just learn English & if they're going to do that, there's not much point learning Thai properly.
twattish post.




Quote:
Originally Posted by chinthee
Useless. Sorry.
I'm sure it is, unless you fukking live here.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Butterfly
Exactly. But you forgot French, the universal language of love and a beautiful language period
christ almighty.
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:35 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon
absolutely beats me how people can live here and can't read or write.
I have plenty of admiration for those who try and do speak and read Thai

but really, it's pointless and there are better things to do than spend time to learn the language of a minor third world country
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:35 PM   #18 (permalink)
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learning a language is never a waste of time.

i've learnt (and forgotten) to speak half a dozen languages over the years, always helps.

one day i might even learn to speak or write english
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:35 PM   #19 (permalink)
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Ok, yeah, I speak converasational Thai because I have to. Not because I want to. It's a useless language and gives you no tools for any other language on this earth. * And I promise this is true.

Everyone is so proud when they speak Thai in Thailand, but it doesn't get them anything outside this little country.
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Old 18-11-2007, 08:37 PM   #20 (permalink)
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