Talking english in Thailand

[bernipes]

About the coronavirus, it' will have an end anyway... we just have to be patient.

We are so lucky to have google translate and maps

it's basically the same evolution than have a GPS compare to a map

[bernipes]

Nearly all the road signs and Advertising in Thailand are in Thai and English. Most people in the tourist areas can speak English.
Most of the taxi drivers at the airport can do English but if you get outside the tourist areas less and less people speak English.
Children also learn English all through school and most kids there these days know the English Alphabet song.

Ladyboys that come from the country can tend to be less education but usually know some English. However they are not very good since not many speak it where they come from.
Bangkok ladyboys are usually more educated and fluent in English. I've been lazy in learning Thai because i always get a LB GF to translate or speak for me.
Since i have started to understand more Thai over the years, it is still interesting to hear what they say when they think I don't understand them at all.

Thailand was basically colonized by the English so it is very acceptable.

Hopefully we can all get back to Thailand sooner than later.

Nice

Thanks it definitely answer me!!!

[Rockheart]

Google translate and maps are very helpful with taxi drivers and others that speak no English.
Most of my experiences with travelling outside of tourist areas was when i had no device like this, pre 2012.
Also great for other tourists that you don't understand.

I've gotten Taxi drivers that could not speak English or read Thai.
One time i had a business card for the MTF clinic in Bangkok where Cake was having her surgery that was written in Thai and English.
Two taxi drivers could not read the card and it was very hard to get to my destination because i barely knew where it was.

I was staying at Cake's condo she rented deep in Ratchada area while she was at the MTF clinic, like 20 blocks off the main street. There was no one anywhere nearby that spoke English and no Falangs in the area but me. I knew the Soi on Ratchada to turn on but beyond that I had no way to explain to drivers where it was. I even had the address on a piece of paper, but the address was so new and obscure, they had no clue. Fortunately i noticed there was Signs advertising the condo with arrows pointing the way to go that were written in Thai and English. Otherwise I would have been screwed.

The first time i went to Thailand we got in a taxi and the driver pretended not to speak English and drove us straight to one of those jewelry factories.
They wouldn't call us a taxi to go back until we toured the goods.

I always thought Bangkok was safe for Falangs everywhere but one time Cake took me to the worst neighborhood I have ever seen there.
Her sister was lesbian and lived with her GF in an apartment that was more like a jail cell, just horrible place to live.
We ate a a restaurant near by and it was the cheapest food I have ever seen in all of Thailand but was just as good as anywhere.
No one spoke any English and the menu was only in Thai with no pictures. I tried to tip the girl but she had no concept of getting tipped.
Cake convinced her to take it but after that some guy was trying to pick a fight with me over tipping her.
I think they were a little offended by me and my English in general, so there is some places English it is not welcome.
No phone would help me in this situation.

[P&G]

I wouldn't be so optimistic about corona virus. That has nothing to do with Thailand but with this crazy disease. To be honest, I'd rather say it'll take as much time as necessary to solve it.

As said above, you'll have no problem with English as long as you stay in touristic areas. I got panicked on my first trip 10 seconds only when I saw signs in Thai at the airport but soon realized that every sign sign or almost is doubled in English.

Google translate is very useful in non touristic areas to communicate with Thai people. I reckon that these areas are more fun once you get used to Thailand.

My Thai speaking is restricted to basic words "hello", please", "bye", "thank you". A ladyboy taught me how to say please a more sophisticated way ie in a restaurant. Otherwise, I never tried. The real challenge IMHO is to avoid paying a luxury service when an ordinary one is enough (ie go by bus instead of paying an expensive taxi fare) and on the other hand to decide spending more money to get a better service if need be.

[rxpharm]

Crag is correct, if you stay mostly in the tourist areas, English is fine. You can also use Google translate if you don't have an lb girlfriend to translate for you. I think Thailand will be open for tourism later this year, possibly as early as July, but there will be some kind of restrictions in place (countries with low numbers of cases, possible testing on arrival - and quarantine if you are positive, etc).

[Rockheart]

Nearly all the road signs and Advertising in Thailand are in Thai and English. Most people in the tourist areas can speak English.
Most of the taxi drivers at the airport can do English but if you get outside the tourist areas less and less people speak English.
Children also learn English all through school and most kids there these days know the English Alphabet song.

Ladyboys that come from the country can tend to be less education but usually know some English. However they are not very good since not many speak it where they come from.
Bangkok ladyboys are usually more educated and fluent in English. I've been lazy in learning Thai because i always get a LB GF to translate or speak for me.
Since i have started to understand more Thai over the years, it is still interesting to hear what they say when they think I don't understand them at all.

Thailand was basically colonized by the English so it is very acceptable.

Hopefully we can all get back to Thailand sooner than later.

[bernipes]

Hi everybody,

i'm just thinking about it but, is that ok if we are talking only in english in Thailand?

What are the fresh news there about corona? i can imagine it's just impossible to think about going there before next winter