PATTAYA, Thailand – Thailand has launched yet another initiative to improve its citizens’ English proficiency, a move that could be particularly beneficial for tourism-driven cities like Pattaya. Given that Pattaya is a global hotspot attracting millions of foreign visitors yearly, stronger English skills among locals would enhance the overall tourist experience, making interactions smoother and businesses more competitive.
However, not everyone is convinced that this program will bring real results. A major concern is who will be teaching English? Will it be Thai instructors or native English speakers (NES)? In the past, the government has leaned towards hiring non-native English speakers (NNES) due to cost considerations; a practice that many believe has contributed to Thailand’s declining English proficiency over the last decade. If the new program follows the same pattern, it risks being ineffective from the start.
Another issue is the duration of training. Reports indicate that participants will receive only 18 hours of instruction—an amount that seems insufficient for any meaningful progress. Critics argue that rather than a short-term crash course, Thailand needs a long-term commitment to integrating English into education and daily life.
Some skeptics also point out that this push for English skills should have started decades ago—perhaps 30 or even 50 years ago. While neighboring countries like Singapore and Malaysia have made significant strides in bilingual education, Thailand’s reluctance to prioritize English in a meaningful way has put it at a disadvantage.
For a tourism hub like Pattaya, a well-implemented English education program could be a game changer. But for that to happen, it must be a serious, well-funded initiative with competent instructors and practical applications—rather than just another short-term policy designed to look good on paper.
