With millions of individuals traveling to Thailand every year, it is becoming more important for Thais to communicate with foreigners in other languages such as English. So, this prompts us to inquire whether English is spoken in Thailand or not. Do people speak English in Thailand? How widely spoken is English in the Land of Smiles?
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, numerous individuals speak the English language in Thailand. This is especially true for people living in Bangkok and other well-known tourist destinations in the country. However, if you go to other places in this Southeast Asian country, you will struggle to find anyone that speaks English.
Therefore, if you are coming to Thailand and only understand English, you should note that communication may be a slight issue for you. Nevertheless, lots of foreigners have visited or lived in Thailand without understanding any indigenous languages of Thailand. Therefore, this should stop you from visiting the country.
How widely spoken is English in Thailand?
According to Howwidelyspoken.com, the English language is not widely spoken in this country. Only about 27 percent of all people in Thailand can speak English at all. Based on the comments of people on Quora, most foreigners living in the country even disagree with the figure as they believe that only about 10-15 percent of Thais can speak English. Even out of the said percent, only a handful of people can communicate effectively with the English language.
In addition, the use of the English language in Thailand varies greatly based on the region. For instance, if you are in Bangkok, you will likely assume that at least 50 percent of all Thais speak English. However, a visit to some of the smallest cities and towns in the country will let you know that English is definitely not widely spoken in the Land of Smile.
The majority of Thai English speakers cannot speak fluently. According to EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), Thailand was ranked 100th among 112 countries surveyed in 2021. As a result of this, the country is categorized as Very Low Proficiency.
How do Thais learn English?
Thais learn English through different means. Some of these learning means include:
- Schools
The majority of the schools and universities in Thailand teach the English language. Therefore, most students in schools will learn some level of English at a particular time of their lives. However, because the English language is an important part of the education curriculum in Thailand, many students don’t learn it well. As a consequence, people have very poor knowledge of the English language in Thailand.
However, for students in expensive or international schools, it is almost certain that they will have an exceptional understanding of the English language. Such schools often emphasize the need to learn English; hence, students learn it a lot.
Another option is to attend a language school. A few of them exist in the big cities in the country. But it should be noted that language schools can be quite expensive. Therefore, many Thais can never attend them.
- Private tutors
There are tons of foreigners in Thailand who are interested in making money from teaching the English language. Expectedly, some Thais hire these people to teach them how to speak English. But hiring private tutors is quite expensive; hence, only a few people can explore the option.
- Real-life conversations with English speakers
When it comes to learning the English language in Thailand, the most effective way is communicating with English speakers. Apart from learning in a simple and fun-filled way, this option is also free. Lots of street vendors, taxi drivers, boat drivers, tour guides, and so on have learned the English language through this method.
Is it okay to speak English to Thais?
If you are in or visiting Thailand, you need to communicate with people. So, you may be wondering if it is okay or rude to speak English to Thais. According to answers on Quora, you can speak English to Thais as long as you don’t understand the Thai language.
However, you may not get any response from the person you are not communicating with. This could be because they don’t understand English. Even some people that understand English may avoid replying to you. This is because many Thais are not confident in their ability to speak the English language.
But if you are a Thai, you should avoid speaking English to other Thais. Many people will perceive you as a proud person or a snob.
Can I get by speaking in English in Thailand?
Of course, you can get by easily in Thailand without speaking the English language. The fact is that millions of foreigners have visited or lived in Thailand without understanding any of the local languages in the country. If you are in Thailand, you will likely find a handful of individuals that can communicate with you in English. Besides, restaurants, hotels, and many tourist centers have made arrangements that help foreigners to cope with living in Thailand without understanding the Thai language.
In addition, your ability to get by in Thailand without only English depends on where you are staying or visiting. If you are in most of the popular areas in Bangkok, you will not have any issues with getting by without speaking Thai. This also applies to staying or visiting some areas in Pattaya, Chang Mai, and Phuket. But outside of these areas. You will struggle to live comfortably in Thailand with only the English language.
Conclusion
Finally, the English language is spoken by 27% of the people in Thailand. But most of the speakers are not confident of their capability to speak the language well; hence, they will be reluctant to communicate with foreigners in the English language. Nevertheless, you can live or visit Thailand without any hassle even if you only speak English. Although your communication with others may be limited because of language barriers, many people in Thailand will still be willing to help you when possible.
