It is certainly common for wealthy Thai families in Bangkok to send their children to good private schools, mainly in the UK, USA or Australia, for their secondary education.

One of the primary aims of this is to dramatically improve their English skills which are seen as vital for a successful business career.

I'm not sure how common this is outside of Bangkok, but I do know one Thai family in Udon (with no other western family links) who have a son at a “public” school in the UK.

What is the best private school in the Udon Thani area? I have heard it is Don Bosco located near Nong Sim park, but would like some confirmation from the forum.

It is probably the greatest criticism of this forum as well as the general expat population here in Thailand that I have: thinking they are so vastly superior to the Thais. Does this come about through their own educational inadequacies?

I do take issue at this remark, I am not and many of us feel the same way, we are not educationally inmadequate, for from it many of us have qualifactions that are the same if not better than many thias.
We could not explain anything in Thai because we are not fluent in that language, and we do not pretend to be, however the Thais seem to think that they have such a superb command oif the English language that they can teach it to a level that is accepted by world, sadly that is NOT TRUE, I have in my six years here net a very few Thais who have a good command of the Englsih language and those that do normally have had some years learning in a foreign University.
So before you wax lyrical upon the negative attitude of farang perception of Thais in general , it would be good to reflect upon your own educational system and what you achieved before speaking about others in such a degrogatory way.
As for our command of English on these posts, i was not brought up with the ease of computors so i learnt ona typewriter, knowing I can correct without having to retype the whole thing is wonderful, but occasionally I forget so do many others, I have been speaking the Queens English for a good many years now and my command of thsi language is very good.

Khun Paul wrote:

I do take issue at this remark, I am not and many of us feel the same way, we are not educationally inmadequate, for from it many of us have qualifactions that are the same if not better than many thias.

If this is an example of very good command of the Queen's English, god help us

he did say he forgets or neglects, as i do, to hit that spellchecker every once in a while

if typing skills are as good as mine, in deep trouble. as you notice, i edit quite often, if lucky enough to notice a mistake of english or thoughts.

Khun Paul, thank you for proving my point:

Khun Paul wrote:I do take issue at (with) this remark, I am not and many of us feel the same way, we are not educationally inmadequate (inadequate), for from it many of us have qualifactions (qualifications) that are the same if not better than many thias (Thais).
We could not explain anything in Thai because we are not fluent in that language, and we do not pretend to be, however (lacking punctuation or misplacement) the Thais seem to think that they have such a superb command oif (of) the English language that they can teach it to a level that is accepted by world, sadly that is NOT TRUE, I have in my six years here net (met) a (singular article for a plural noun?) very few Thais who have a good command of the Englsih (English) language and those that do normally have had some years learning in a foreign University.
So before you wax lyrical upon the negative attitude of farang perception of Thais in general , it would be good to reflect upon your own educational system and what you achieved before speaking about others in such a degrogatory (derogatory) way.
As for our command of English on these posts, i (I) was not brought up with the ease of computors (computers) so i (I) learnt (learned) ona (on a) typewriter, knowing I can correct without having to retype the whole thing is wonderful, but occasionally I forget so do many others, I have been speaking the Queens (Queen’s) English for a good many years now and my command of thsi (this) language is very good.

Now for addressing your points:

Khun Paul wrote:I do take issue at (with) this remark, I am not and many of us feel the same way, we are not educationally inmadequate (inadequate), for from it many of us have qualifactions (qualifications) that are the same if not better than many thias (Thais).

You may not have noticed, but it was not a remark, it was a question. That is what the (?) is for. It was a question as to why someone would denigrate an entire country like that concerning their intelligence and education, bringing up the question: “Does this come about through their own educational inadequacies?” I certainly have never heard such comments coming from the many distinguished visiting academics that I have met in Thailand.

Khun Paul wrote:We could not explain anything in Thai because we are not fluent in that language, and we do not pretend to be, however the Thais seem to think that they have such a superb command oif (of) the English language that they can teach it to a level that is accepted by world, sadly that is NOT TRUE

First of all, if one does not have a fluency in Thai, what are they basing the perception of the Thais’ education, intelligence or knowledge of philosophical concepts, advanced mathematics and science from? The comment made by me was to have the members that are critical on this forum to look at a counter example, in order to look at themselves, since very few members (low single digit number?) of this forum would be able to do the same in Thai. Your second point of this statement is untrue; not only does Thailand’s own educational regulations call for native English speakers to assist in the national education of English, showing your statement to be untrue at a national level, but from the academics up through the university systems, none that I have ever met have claimed that the Thais' command of the English language is at a world class level. To the contrary, all of the high level academics that I associate with lament that the command of the English language must be improved.

Khun Paul wrote:it would be good to reflect upon your own educational system and what you achieved before speaking about others in such a degrogatory (derogatory) way.

That is exactly what I did. I was educated in the US and pointed out the inadequacies of the American school system, which are many at the primary and secondary level.

No need to address the last paragraph, you made the point for me; although, the first personal computers did not come into common usage until about 1980. I would think that very few on this forum where brought up with computers and even fewer were brought up with their modern ability to improve their writing (unless we have forum members in their young 20s).

My remarks, specifically on the remark that you quoted, are directed to the general population of expats here in Thailand, certainly not all of them. There are a great many expats that feel no need to denigrate Thais’ intelligence or education in order feel better.

=D> =D> =D> =D>

MC is correct about the Thai government trying to upgrade the system of English taught in this country.

Personally, a Udonthani member of the Education Ministry asked me to help devise new tests (five parts) for early high school students. It was a matter of coming up with questions based on fairly simple readings. In total, there were around twenty readings for which they asked me to provide both the questions and answers. Some were of the multiple choice variety, some were the short answer type, and others were more detailed.

The lady who asked me to do this volunteer work was an Inspector, who went around to various schools in Thailand to report on the schools, teachers and administrators and their willingness to be part of a new, and improved, English education system.

Many of the inadequacies MC noted about the education system in the United States can be applied to Canada and England too.

The other comments MC made seem on the money.

To be vigilant about the education system no matter where one lives is a good thing.

Your second point of this statement is untrue; not only does Thailand’s own educational regulations call for native English speakers to assist in the national education of English

That is as maybe, however there is still a complete lack of integrated policy in that area to the extent that schools can no longer charge if they do want to, for the extra staff. IF the Educational policy was FULLY implemented, then the schools would be given the money to recruit Native Speakers, sadly that is not the case, hence my comments.
As for improvement, it needs only a stroke of a pen to raiuse the standards by making benchmarks that students must attain to be allowed to register for a English based University course, instead of paying thousands to learn it when they get there. This would be putting hundreds of self centered Thai schools to close as they would no longer be required to teach Englsih as the students woyuld learn it at school.
I say self centered, having used for children 3/4 Thai schools in Udon ( correction ) paid for their use by the wifes children, their knowledge decreased not increased, you cannot teach english in Thai, canada found that out that is why they use the duakl language system some years in English some in French.

But I do not suspect it will change in my life time which is rather sad really as the children are keen to learn but are not given any incentive to.

I say self centered, having used for children 3/4 Thai schools in Udon ( correction ) paid for their use by the wifes children, their knowledge decreased not increased, you cannot teach english in Thai

In the States, if you took a foreign language class, within a couple weeks, the teacher will only be speaking in that language.

I have been telling my wife this over the past 3 years we have been married. She's a teacher. But, that is the way they have been taught to teach. I have paid to have the kids go to tutors to learn English. The kids understand some of what I say but, won't speak English because they are afraid of making a mistake. (I have to admit, I am the same way with Thai.) My oldest graduates from university with a degree in Tourism and Hotel management next March. I told him early on he could work just about anywhere in the world if he learned English. He didn't take my advice. I figure, once he gets his degree, he'll go out and drive truck.

English is the world language of business, computer, aviation, etc. If they want to get anywhere, they will need to learn it.

Farang1 wrote:In the States, if you took a foreign language class, within a couple weeks, the teacher will only be speaking in that language.

True. And it happens in some schools on the very first day.

Tilokarat, I noted your comments with interest, it always amazes me that whenever one wishes to test the Students invariably the Thai teachers comments is, 'It is too hard', one always then assumes either the teacher has no idea what they are talking about or that we the farang's try to terst their students with the aim of noting their shortfalls so that they can be addressed .
I have over the past few weeks looked at and provided answers for a number of English tests put out by the Edication Authorities ( if I remember correctly) University English Exam, now not only were some of the questions ambiguous,( which in many Thai exams they are ) but also one or two of the questions had me sctraching my head and I reached for my dictionary, which no Thai student would have in order to understand the word.
Now if that is not bad enopugh when speaking to the M6 teacher, she stated that the answers would be right or near enough depending on how the students interpret the question and Thai culture.
After that being completely flummoxed, I said 'I see' , not being able at that precise moment in time to offer anything more succinct, I just handed back the paper with a smile.
So I rest my case, one does not state Thai education is bad, far from it, but the way the knowledge is imparted is at best good but so often only adequate in in many cases woefully poor. It is that that needs to be addressed together with a motivation for the children to want to learn.
Answers please on a Izal toilet roll ( being the only toilet paper one can write on ) and is also long enough .

Hopefully I used my spell checker this time, sorry if not always ok chaps.

Get a new spell checker

Yep tell the web site owner then OK............lol

im going out on a limb here , but is it realy in the elites interest to educate the population in general to a higher level . dont educated people start to ask why ? besides , who is going to plant the rice , if the next generation are so well educated ? the key is to be seen to be doing something posative for the people , without actually doing it !!!!!!!!! that way you maintain control !!!!!!

saint wrote:im going out on a limb here , but is it realy in the elites interest to educate the population in general to a higher level . dont educated people start to ask why ? besides , who is going to plant the rice , if the next generation are so well educated ? the key is to be seen to be doing something posative for the people , without actually doing it !!!!!!!!! that way you maintain control !!!!!!

That is the limb I sit on too

You can't repress the poor farmers for ever

that limb must be very strong, because i think most will agree that is one major reason the education system remains..stagnant...no new funds, salary, incentives to do a better job.

IMO,money thrown at the system to increase salaries&benefits,building more schools ,adding new programs,etc.etc. will not change the product outcome.They need to change the entire ''software'' of the system!
Teaching methods of group participation by qualified trained teachers in the system would be the number 1 goal within a smaller curriculum of subject matter repeated daily including labs for practice sessions.Lesson plans laid out initially and followed religiously to allow for student preparation and follow through!

Regular scheduled parent /teacher conferences to discuss childs needs and progress is a must if there is to be any sincerity shown in an interest to educate!

Teacher trainees should serve internships as group ''helpers''in classrooms during their schooling,giving more control of the classroom environment and helping older retrained teachers to focus on the new techniques,not slipping back into the ''old ways''!

Retrained teachers should be monitored and evaluated without notice with job performance expectations and salary increases as motivation factors.Noncomplying teachers should be phased out!

In the same spirit,student expectations should be raised!Counselors,trained in motivation and evaluation techniques are needed!

Failing should be an option for students and teachers,with support systems to help them succeed.No cheating allowed!