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FAQs คำถามที่พบบ่อย

How can I get good at English?
I'm very poor. I can't afford to buy expensive books or take expensive classes.
I'm too old to learn English.
There are no farangs for me to talk to where I live.
I'm scared I'll make mistakes.
The farang may not understand me if I make a mistake.
What's the difference between “house” and “home”?
How long have you been in Thailand?
What do you like about Thailand?
Can you eat Thai food?
How old are you?

How can I get good at English?

There is only one way to get good at English – that is, practice and then practise. (Notice I spelt that both ways. In England, practise is the verb and practice is the noun, but these days, thanks to the Americans, they are interchangeable). There is no magic wand, like Harry Potter has, to make you good at English quickly. You have to USE the language, and you have to use it regularly. Here are five good ways to get started:

1. Listen to English songs. Don't worry if you don't understand all the lyrics – often I don't, either – but see if you can get the lyrics and sing along.

2. Listen to English radio. Again, don't worry about understanding every word. Just let it seep into your brain. Do your homework or your work with the English radio in the background.

3. Watch English movies and TV shows WITHOUT the subtitles. That's right … watch … NOT “read” … no more “reading movies”. Turn off the subtitles when you watch movies on DVD. I'm serious.

4. Make a foreign friend on the internet. Yes, I know, there are lots of obnoxious, impolite people out there. But there are lots of nice people, too. Start chatting to some of the regular posters on our webboard, for example.

5. Start a diary. Write a sentence or two every day about your life. No need to show anybody, and don't worry about making mistakes. but write every day.

6. With one good friend, just for fun, spend 10 minutes a day chatting to each other in English. Have fun with this.

I'm very poor. I can't afford to buy expensive books or take expensive classes.

You don't have to spend one Baht to learn English. All you have to do is open your mouth and SPEAK. It costs nothing to do that. If only rich people could speak English, what about all those poor people in my home country who can speak English?

I'm too old to learn English.

Let me tell you a story. Back in Australia, when I was a kid, one of my neighbours was a Greek man. He'd lived in Australia for about 10 years. He brought his mother over to live with him in Greece. His mother was 86 years old. I remember her as a really big woman who always dressed in black. She couldn't speak a word of English. In six months she was speaking English. Six months! And why? Because she had to. She would go to the market and buy things. She was forced to speak to the vendors, who would be very kind to her and help her out.

I know she got good at English in six months because my brothers and I used to steal the oranges from her orange tree. She would run out shouting “Stop that! Stop that!” in perfect English.

There are no farangs for me to talk to where I live.

Go back and read the first answer I wrote.

I'm scared I'll make mistakes.

Scared of what? What terrible thing will happen when you make mistakes? Think about it.

Nothing bad happens when you make a mistake. In fact, the more mistakes you make, the better your English will be.

By the way, I have a secret to tell you. We native English speakers ... when we speak English, we often make mistakes. There are too many rules and laws about grammar to speak perfectly all the time. So … we don't expect you will be perfect either. So relax.

The farang may not understand me if I make a mistake.

That's his problem, not yours. A foreigner who doesn't understand you will ask you: “What did you say?” or “What do you mean?” So, repeat yourself, slower, and/or in a different way. He'll understand you eventually. See? No problem!

What's the difference between “house” and “home”?

Before posting such a question, go to the Columns section of this website and do a search. I have written over 1,000 columns and they are all here! I am bound to have answered your question already.

(By the way, both words refer to your บ้าน, but house is more about สิ่งปลูกสร้าง, but a home is more about the feelings you have towards your house.)

How long have you been in Thailand?

18 years. I came here on the way to London. I was a journalist in Australia and I'd lined up a job working in London, England. I bought the cheapest air ticket I could find … that was Thai Airways, but they said I had to stop at least 2 nights in Thailand. I was so angry, because at the time I thought: “Why do I want to go to Thailand?”

I never made it to work in London. I wonder if my position is still open for me.

What do you like about Thailand?

The people. The work. The opportunities.

Can you eat Thai food?

Of course I can. Why wouldn't I? My favorite Thai food is ลาบ followed by ส้มตำ ไก่ย่าง น้ำตก. I think I was a Northeasterner in my past life. I really love spicy food, too.

How old are you?

Now you're getting personal. How old are YOU? What else do you want to know? My weight?