After traveling recently to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, I was struck by the difference between the English ability of people in each country. Most of the Malysians we encountered spoke English while most Thais did not.
English education seems to have succeeded in Malaysia but not in Thailand. As I think back to studying Spanish and Latin in high school as well as Italian in college, I realize that I don't speak any of these languages. Americans are famous for speaking only English so I suppose language education is failing in America.
However, just across the border in Canada are numerous English and french speakers thanks to good pulic education language programs. Why aren't the successful programs being imitated?
Posted by James Trotta at February 14, 2004 8:23 AMIn reality most of us Anglophone Canadians can not speak French, while most Francophones can speak English. We're not nearly as bi-lingual as we'd like the outside world to believe. Sad but true.
Posted by: Douglas Orme at March 1, 2004 1:18 AMAs far as the contrast between Thailand and Malaysia and Singapore goes, there are so many reasons. Thailand's economy is improving, but finances is one area. Colonial experience is another. Consciousness of English as an important subject was more widespread in Malaysia and Singapore. Plus, the human capital of local people who were fluent speakers was a renewable resource.
Thailand may not be where Malaysia is, but my feeling is that English education will improve there. It certainly compares well with English education in Japan in many respects.
Actually, I was quite impressed by some of the schools I've visited in Thailand. I've done a small amount of volunteer teacher training in Thailand through two organizations. Here is a shameless plug for one of them VEN-Volunteer Educational Network http://www.vol-ednet.org is doing good work on professional development for teachers in rural Thailand and elsewhere in southeast Asia. Please take a look if you have a chance. I really think that creating local structures for improving teaching will help the level of English education take off.
Posted by: Ted at March 8, 2004 11:35 PMAre you sure the URL for the volunteering is correct? I've tried it a few times on different days but the site is always down...
Posted by: James Trotta at March 13, 2004 12:44 PMESL blog is one of many Blogs for learning English & teaching English. Translation services information.