If their English is non-existent then of course your broken Thai and use of google translate is better than nothing. But if it's easier in the moment to communicate in English, save your practice for another time.
They don't want you to embarrass yourself, lose face or feel bad so if they believe their English is better than your Thai, this is their way of making things easier for you. My advice for Thai language learners in this context is to go with what works best in that situation.
Finally, the concept of 'consideration for others' or เกรงใจ (gring jai) once again comes into play in this context because they don't want you to struggle or have trouble when communicating.
You can easily offend to the point of justified aggression with improper word choice. This is another pitfall that native speakers prefer to avoid with westerners who often have no concern for the emotional impact of their words.
Some words in Thai have a variety of vocabulary to choose from for a particular meaning and word selection is extremely important. For example, there are many ways to say "you" but not all of them can be used with just anyone.
When these tones are spoken incorrectly or ignored completely it can be quite unpleasant to hear for those raised with the language. I wasn't even raised with Thai and it's painful to even me when foreigners attempt to speak it with bad pronunciation.
They switch to English as this ensures no one gets offended or feels disrespected since English does not have this characteristic. Additionally, Thai is a tonal language and thus has a sort of melody when spoken properly.
In Thai society, a social hierarchy exists and is acknowledged with honorifics that westerners may not be used to using in speech. Not adhering to this custom can cause friction and discourage native speakers from communicating with a foreigner in Thai.
Sometimes Thai native speakers will switch to English when they're addressed in Thai by a foreigner and there are many reasons for this. Many aspects of Thai culture are designed to help maintain social harmony and the way Thai people communicate with one another plays a signinficant role. 1/x
to say no even if you want to accept because you don't want them to go out of their way. Bascially, this custom prevents conflict and ensures that everyone feels comfortable in a shared space. 4/4
you don't want to be a burden or inconvenience. When dealing with elders or superiors you choose your words or actions carefully to show respect and avoid causing them any discomfort or "loss of face." If someone offers you a gift, your first instinct will be... 3/x
having "a deep consideration for" or "a desire to avoid imposing on" others. It helps to maintain social harmony and ensures one is mindful of how your actions affect someone else's feelings. Some examples of this...You may hesitate to ask for a favor because... 2/x
One of my students asked me to explain เกรงใจ (gring jai) for a personal situation so I'll share it with you guys too. It's mostly considered a feeling but it's also a custom, behaviour and cultural norm. It doesn't have a direct translation in English but I'd describe it as... 1/x
For me, it's paradise but this may be related to my behavior and more importantly... my attitude. 7/7
being black doesn't have the potential to negatively affect their lives. Moving to Thailand felt like a weight hung around my neck since birth had been lifted. I was free. Don't get me wrong. You may notice some subtle anti-blackness in Thailand but not the hate you've experienced in the West. 6/x
it's the national language that's taught in schools and spoken in almost all news and mass media. It's also a critical element of understanding WHY Thailand is such a wonderful place to call home. Most Black Americans who visit Thailand may have never experienced an environment where 5/x
One of the best things you can do to prepare for life in Thailand is to learn the native language. There are over 60 dialects spoken in the various regions of this country but if you learn to speak Central Thai, you'll have no problem communicating with just about anyone because 4/x
When traveling outside of tourists areas, they may occasionally stare and seem eager to talk with you cuz they may not have ever met someone of African descent in real life. Be open to these interactions for some of the more entertaining and wholesome experiences. 3/x
- besides money - is attitude. It's a good idea to maintain a positive attitude and behave in a calm and reserved manner no matter what happens. Thai people are generally kind and most of them couldn't care less about your race as Buddhism is the dominant religion. 2/x
A few thoughts from a guy who has lived here since 2003 for my cousins who are interested in relocating to Thailand. This country has a wide variety of foreigners from around the world who come to live here for a variety of reasons. The most important part of accomplishing this... 1/x
it's because since the day our people were enslaved and brought to the Americas, the artists among us have tapped into the darkness of life for inspiration to make something so beautiful that no matter where you go in this world, they don't always love us but they love what we've made.
Someone asked me what made Black American culture so popular and influencial? I didn't have a good answer at the time but now that I've had a chance to think about it, I'm gonna say...
How it started - how it ended.
Every American should have just one visit to a major city in China so they too can feel this sense of betrayal.
The post: "The rent in Thailand is cheap."
What I read: "The currency I bring to spend in Thailand makes the cost of living here extremely affordable for me."
"Cheap" is a subjective and condescending term.
internalized greed and capitalism?
I don't believe there are that many people who want to learn to speak Thai but I'm glad I can make a living helping those who do. No, I don't want to make more money, use a subscription model or scale my course. I have fun teaching and I'm satisfied with small class sizes. It's not that serious.
If you want a peaceful life just learn to speak Thai, build a nice home and live in a remote province of Thailand. Scenery is top tier & the people are lovely. Outside of gardening & community activities you may need to investment in home entertainment to create what's basically retirement heaven.
with AI slop then that's what they'll get. Creators will abandon the platforms but effectively Meta's lost nothing. We're over here screaming SHOW MY POSTS TO MY FOLLOWERS! Meta be like, it's cute you think your followers wanna see the things they follow but we know better so fuck your feelings. 5/5
except the trillions they spend on data centers and energy. While this is definitely just a theory the fact that Zuck and his team do not care about your feelings is not. They only care about the data and if it tells them that most people who use their platforms are sufficiently entertained 4/5
