Thais wear poor English as badge of honour

First, we teach English so kids can pass exams, not so they can communicate with the world, and that’s why their speaking and writing skill is unacceptable. We should teach English the same way we do music, so kids can play an instrument decently, not so they can cite music theories and music jargon fluently. 

Second, Thais are reluctant to speak English with proper pronunciation, because if you do, people will sardonically question your nationality and accuse you of trying to be a Westerner. They’ll say you are gra-dae (pretentious). So it is always Sen-tun (Central), di-gi-ton (digital), ee-lev-fen (elephant), Pae-si-fik (Pacific), ex-seh-koo-tif (executive). 

Finally, Thai conservative dinosaurs see English clumsiness as something to be proud of; it is a result of the Kingdom being able to fend off the British and the French during the colonial period, while neighbouring countries couldn’t. They ignore the fact that Siam was spared because both aggressors agreed to use the country as a buffer zone between their colonies. 

Unless we get rid of this nonsense mindset (I doubt very much if we can), our English skills will never improve. 

Somsak Pola 

Samut Prakan