In the last week I have found myself writing about English(language) in Thailand and Teaching English as a foreign language in Thailand-TEFL in Thailand. In the first article I questioned the use of English in Thailand and posed some questions about the use of English as a second language here.
Well I don’t know whether the Thai Prime Minister or the Thai Ministry of Education read my blog but low and behold on Thursday this week we get an announcement reported in the Bangkok Post that says the Ministry of Education is set to announce plans for making English the official second language of Thailand(around 22 October).
“The Education Ministry plans to declare English the second language for teaching and learning in schools with an aim to enable Thai people of the new generation to communicate with other people in Asean and world communities in English, Chinaworn Boonyakiat said on Thursday.”
An excellent move in my opinion and certainly mirroring the sentiment I expressed in my article. The Minister went on to say:
……..in order to successfully carry out the plan it is necessary to have foreign teachers from countries using English as the mother language for all schools for Mathayom 4-6 level (Grades 10-12).
Schools for Mathayom 1-3 level (Grade 7-9) should at least have Thai teachers majoring in English.
Elementary schools should also have more English teachers, he said.
“After having enough foreign teachers and Thai teachers majoring in English, schools will then be able to arrange an English programme,” he said.
Ah, I thought things were going to well. Now if I was the PM, don’t forget he is Oxford educated and speaks perfect English, I might ask Mr Chinaworn(is that really how his name is transliterated) a couple of questions along the following lines:
- What are the thousands of native English teachers we employ doing at the moment?
- Why do we currently employ teachers to teach English from counties where it is not the mother tongue?
- Have you ever had a conversation in English with a Thai teacher majoring in English?
When asked how the Ministry of Education would staff and fund the initiative to make English Thailand’s second language his reply included reference to an increased budget and the inclusion of the Foreign Ministry in the recruitment process, he then added:
“We have eyed American teachers who are retired under an early retirement programme,” he said.
Now hang on a minute surely this is going to far, with the greatest respect to my American cousins, their version of English is a bit different to mine, hasn’t anyone mentioned that they only started speaking it a couple of hundred years ago 
Mind you I did read an interesting piece the other day that suggested we Brits actually spoke with what would be called an American accent nowadays, back in days of yore. That we have in fact changed our accent and words, not the other way round. Mind you it was written by an American professor.
However lest you get the impression I am not too impressed with the announcement can I just say in my defence that I am trying to make Thai my second language. My efforts to date are probably at about the same level as that of English spoken by most of my hosts. Guess pronunciation is the key.
However I can easily order fried rice and be understood, so perhaps future generations of Thais will be able to repeat back my order in English….you know how it goes…..”fried lice sir?”
Then again given the potential for an increase in the use of American English perhaps it won’t be too long before the eateries of Bangkok are ringing with the classic “Hi I’m Nancy and I will be your waitress tonight.” How might I serve you hon?
Finally can I apologise to my US readers, you know I love the way you talk 
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