1. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
(3,558 words)
Why English is important for Thais.
Introduction
English is important for Thais because English is
the international language.
Most of people in many countries speak English for
communicating with other
people who are foreigners.
I chose this topic for my academic paper because
I wanted to write about the history of English, the
different types of teaching, examples of English
schools (International School, Bilingual School, English
Program, and Mini English Program), why English is
used in many countries, and how to improve English
skills. Every country, every area, every
community has a different language that they have
own language. But many countries use English as a
second language (ESL), which is a language that is
learned after the first language or mother tongue. EFL
is a foreign language which is not spoken in daily life
by the people of a certain place. For example: English
is a foreign language in Thailand. A foreign language is
also a language not spoken in the native country of the
person referred to, i.e. an English speaker living in
Thailand can say that Thai is a foreign language to him
or her.
Learning a foreign language is easier for some
people than others. Whether learning another
language is comparatively easy or difficult for you,

2. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
your goals and attitude about improving your English
have a strong effect. If you are determined to use your
experience to improve your English skills, and you
make a conscious effort to do so, improvement is
likely.
ESL (English as a second-language) classes are
available at many colleges and universities to help
speakers improve their command of English. These
programs provide a variety of courses (such as
grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, writing, and
conversation) at a variety of levels (beginning,
intermediate, and advanced). Some also offer “English
for special purposes” classes, which focus on English
as used in specific subject-matter areas such as
business, science, or engineering. In general, ESL
courses aim to prepare students for real-life experience
in American classrooms, laboratories, workplaces, and
communities. ESL programs might also be useful for
prospective teaching assistants and for graduate
students at work on theses or dissertations. These
programs may also organize events and activities such
as conversation partners and trips, and may be able to
provide tutors for individualized instruction.
The two types of English teaching are TEFL
(Teaching English as a Foreign Language and
TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language).
TEFL refers to teaching English to students whose first
language is not English or/in natural English language
immersion situations. The teachers may be native or
non-native speakers of English. TESL like TEFL,
teaches English to students whose first language is not

3. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
English. But, unlike TEFL, it is usually taught in a
region where English is the dominant language and in
natural English language immersion situations. These
two teaching situations are different and so the
teaching profession has different names for them.
Thais study English as a foreign language, which is
easier than as a second language. Many countries are
different formal communication. A manager sitting in
one part of the world should be able to correctly
interpret communication coming in a different format
from another part of the world. When you search
information from the internet or read magazines or
read newspapers, sometimes they are written in
English. So you should know English. In many schools
or universities or in the government, people who study
or work must know basic or advanced English for
communicating with foreigners and/or for studying.
English equals increased career opportunities.
International schools are schools that cater
mainly to children who are not nationals of the host
country, often the children of the staff of international
businesses, international organizations, embassies,
missions, or missionary programs. They are also
popular with local students who wish to improve their
language skills. International schools are usually
private, but public international schools do exist.
International schools typically use curriculum based on
countries such as the United Kingdom or the United
States. Usually, international schools use English as the
main language of instruction and teach the main
subjects that schools in the USA or the United Kingdom

4. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
do, i.e. English, mathematics, science, humanities,
foreign languages, drama, art, music, physical
education, information technology and design
technology. Most International schools also offer
private tutoring and other extracurricular activities
such as school plays, athletics, and other after school
programs. Thailand has many international school,
such as International School Bangkok, Ruamrudee
International School, The International School of
Amsterdam, etc.
Bilingual schools use two languages for each
subject. The purpose for the program is to provide an
English - Thai related education by immersing students
in an English study environment which follows the Thai
national curriculum. The content and curriculum
structure of the school is in accordance with the
curriculum issued by the Ministry of Education, and
also incorporates successful curriculum from abroad.
The goal is for students to communicate effectively in
English in addition to speaking the Thai language
fluently and behaving according to Thai culture. There
are 10 subject groups taught at primary section; Thai,
English, Mathematics, Science, Social-Religion and
Culture, Vocational Education and Technology, Art-
Music-Dance, Physical Education and Health Education,
Supplementary Mathematics, Supplementary Science.
English, Mathematics, Science and Health Education
subjects are taught in English by native English
speaking teachers. Thai teachers teach Social-Religion
and Culture, Vocational Education and Technology, Art-
Music-Dance, Physical Education, Supplementary

5. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
Mathematics, Supplementary Science and Learner
Development Activities (Boy Scout and Clubs). There
are many bilingual school in Thailand, such as Lertlah
School, Kasintorn School, Siriwat Wittaya School, etc.
Bilingual school can divided into 2 programs ; English
Program and Mini English Program.
1. English Program (EP) which teaches in English
in all of subjects, but Thai subject, Social-Religion and
Culture teach in Thai. All the homeroom teachers in
the English Program are Thai. The native English
speakers in the English Program nursery –
kindergarten 3 teach Math, Science and English using
an integrated approach. The curriculum is based on
themes developed in cooperation with the English
teachers and their Thai colleagues. Teacher developed
materials supplement the curriculum throughout all
levels and subject areas. The English program also
uses native English speakers for Physical Education
and Computers. The curricula for these subjects, is
based on themes developed in cooperation with
English teachers and their Thai colleagues.
2. Mini English Programs (MEP) are special
education for public schools that the Thai Government
established for Thai students who want to improve and
develop their English skills. There are many schools in
Thailand that have Mini English Program, such as
Benjamamaharaj School, Singsamut School, etc.
This topic of this paper is ‘why English is important
for Thais’, so I will explain the original of English and
the reasons why English is a global language. The
following is from

6. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language
:
English is a West Germanic language
originating mainly in England, and is the
first language for most people in Australia,
Canada, the Commonwealth Caribbean,
Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom
and the United States of America
(sometimes referred to as the Anglosphere).
It is used extensively as a second language
and as an official language throughout the
world, especially in Commonwealth
countries and in many international
organizations. The influence of the British
Empire is the primary reason for the initial
spread of the language far beyond the
British Isles. Since World War II, the
growing economic and cultural influence of
the United States has significantly
accelerated the adoption of English.
Approximately 375 million people speak
English as their first language, as of 2006.
English today is probably the third largest
language by number of native speakers,
after Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.
However, when combining native and non-
native speakers it is probably the most
commonly spoken language in the world.
Estimates that include second language
speakers vary greatly from 470 million to
over a billion depending on how literacy or

7. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
mastery is defined. There are some who
claim that non-native speakers now
outnumber native speakers by a ratio of 3
to 1.
The country with the highest populations of
native English speakers are, in descending
order: United States (215 million), United
Kingdom (58 million), Canada (17.7 million),
Australia (15 million), Ireland (3.8 million),
South Africa (3.7 million), and New Zealand
(3.0-3.7 million). It is used extensively as a
second language and as an official language
throughout the world, especially in
Commonwealth countries and in many
international organizations.
In many other countries, where English is
not the most spoken language, it is an
official language; these countries include
Botswana, Cameroon, Fiji, the Federated
States of Micronesia, Ghana, Gambia, India,
Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Kenya,
Madagascar, Malta, the Marshall Islands,
Namibia, Nigeria, Northern Mariana Islands,
Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the
Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, the
Solomon Islands, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
English as a global language because
English is so widely spoken, it has often
been referred to as a "global language", the

8. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
lingua franca of the modern era. Modern
English is sometimes described as the first
global lingua franca. English is a dominant
international language in communications,
science, business, aviation, entertainment,
radio and diplomacy.
English is not the official language in most
countries, but it is currently the language most often
taught as a second or foreign language.
While English is not the most widely spoken
language in the world when you look at it in terms of
the number of native speakers, it is the world's most
prominent language. Although a larger number of
people speak Chinese, that language is largely
confined to China. On the other hand, English is
spoken around the world. It has been estimated that
out of the roughly 6 billion people that are alive today
about 350 million speak English. When you look at the
importance of English, you must look at more than just
the number of people who speak it. You must also look
at what the language is used for. English is the ideal
language for many governments around the world, and
it is also prominent in business, education, world news,
and communication.
The following is from http://english-tutor-
newton.bostoncatalog.com/why-learn-
english.php :
About 1,500,000,000 people in the world speak
English. Another 1,000,000,000 are learning it.
About 75% of the world's letters and postcards
are written in English. Almost all international

9. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
conferences and competitions are conducted in
English. For example, the Olympics and the Miss
World contest.
Diplomats and politicians from different countries
use English to communicate with each other.
English is the main language of organizations like
the United Nations, NATO, and the European Free
Trade Association.
When I studied in primary school, my parents
wanted me to learn English, so they sent me to a
private school (Yaowares Suksa School) that was
Christian. I studied English for the first time when I
was in P.5. I got a B, and I was so glad. Later, in
M.1-6 at the public school (Narinukul School), I studied
English twice a week but that was not enough to
improve my English skills. I think the Thai Government
should develop and improve the English curriculum in
schools.
Books, magazines, newspapers and essays are
written in English, and are available in many countries
around the world. English is also the most commonly
used language in the sciences.
In 1997, the Science Citation Index reported that
95% of its articles were written in English, even
though only half of them came from authors in
English-speaking countries.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language)
The expanding of the British Empire and since
WWII, the primacy of the United States, have spread
English throughout the globe. English has developed a
host of dialects and English-based Creole languages
and pidgins.

10. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
English speakers have many different accents,
which often signal the speaker's native dialect or
language. English has borrowed words from many
different languages over its history, English loanwords
now appear in a great many languages around the
world, indicative of the technological and cultural
influence of its speakers.
I think English remains very much a foreign
language for most people, used only in administration,
education and government and as a means of
communicating between speakers of diverse
languages. When I was young, I didn’t like
English because it was difficult and it was not my
mother language. But now I like it because it is useful
in daily life. At present, many technical and internet
sites are in the English language, so we should have
English skills for searching information or
communicating with foreigners or foreign teachers or
other people. Especially, we should know English
grammar and have the skills to converse. When I
study, I must communicate with foreign teachers so I
learn grammar and other English skills to improve my
English. I’m afraid to speak with foreigners. When I
speak, I think about grammar first. Therefore, when
you want to communicate with foreigners, you should
not worry about grammar. You should speak to
foreigners if you want to improve your speaking
English skill. If you can communicate in English, you
can contact people from all over the world or talk
about your ideas and opinions on internet discussion
groups or send e-mail to interesting people or learn

11. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
about their life and culture. You can travel more easily
and can communicate with people wherever you go
because English is spoken in more than 100countries. You
can ask directions, have a conversation, or ask for help.
The following is from
http://www.writersblock.ca/fall1998/feature.h
tm :
"I am here because I need to know English
in my job," says Maria, who is a law
student; she's preparing for a career in a
legal firm in her home, Venezuela.
"If you want to find a good job you need it,"
says Rubin from Spain, who is preparing for
a career as a translator.
"If I can speak English fluently, I can meet
people and get more jobs," says Tets, who is
a former machinist from Japan, and adds:
"its the language of business."
Jeremy, who is a South Korean computer
science student says, "I need it to get a job;
English has the most information, especially
for my courses."
"If you want to find a job, you need both
languages," says Beatrice, another
Venezuelan, who studies business
administration.
Anyone who does not go outside of the country or
meet with others who come into the country does not
need to learn English. However, without English skills,
one does limit their possible options and so will lose

12. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
many opportunities. Some people think English is not
important because it is not their mother tongue and
they speak Thai in daily life.
But, people who want English for communicating
with foreigners or searching information from the
internet, should know basic or advanced English.
The most popular language is English, which is the
language that everyone uses in this computer age. You
can learn English from the internet, magazines,
newspapers, books and essays. There are three steps
to learning English.
The first step is gaining fluency. Unless you have
fluency in English, it will not be possible to work with
computers. If you do not know English, then you will
be in need of a translator to do the job. It is best to
follow the method of reading first, and then writing.
You can use picture books for this purpose. When you
learn a new word, you should take the time to use it in
a sentence and practice it when you speak to people.
By using the word in your everyday speech and
writing, the word will be saved in your long-term
memory. Studies have shown that you will need to
repeat the word. Think of a sentence in your mother
language, and try to write the same sentence in
English. There may be some mistakes. But you have to
write the same sentence using many different words
until you are satisfied with your sentence. If you follow
this way, eventually soon you can create sentences of
your own. In addition to learning new words, you
should read everything you can get your hands on.
Read fiction as well as non-fiction. Read things you

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normally wouldn't read. This will allow you to learn
new words that you normally wouldn't be exposed to.
The second step is learning English grammar.
There are certain rules and regulations, and it is easy
to make mistakes. You will learn the structure about
parts of speech, tenses, kinds of sentences, English
patterns, active and passive voices, and more.
The third step is the most important. It is the
ability to communicate. Naturally, you must be
confident when you are presenting what you really
wish to say. Do not try to write or speak beyond your
capability. Even if it is a small and simple sentence, it
can reach the receiver perfectly. The basic idea is that
you can improve the standard of your language by
practice. If you know how to form sentences, it is more
than enough to go deeply into the subject. Though this
is an article about the importance of the English
Language, you have to learn some of the basic points
in creating sentences.
There are many ways that you can improve your
English skills by yourself. For example: you should
watch American and British films in the original, read
great books(every famous book was written in English
or it was translated into English), listen to English
songs(song is better if you can understand the words),
enjoy learning English, the internet(most pages on the
web that is over a billion pages of information and you
can learning more than one language), English
books(you should read books were written by British or
American authors and books were translated from
other languages), English reports(watch international

14. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
television networks, such as CNN International and
NBC and you can watch them everywhere in the
world), English novels, English newspapers, English
magazines, etc.
If you wish to be successful, then learning English
is incredibly important. In many places such as Asia,
Africa, and South America, the ability to learn English
will determine who will increase their living standards
and who will remain in poverty. There are a number of
powerful tools that have allowed more people to learn
English than ever before. One of these tools is the
Internet.
Before the Internet, it was hard to learn English if
you didn't attend a college or university. These were
the only institutions where the language was widely
spoken. If you lived in a community so poor that it
didn't have a college or university, your chances of
ever learning English were remote. While many people
still live in these circumstances today, the internet has
allowed the English language to spread around the
word. Because the Internet was invented in the West,
English was inherently built into it. Because Internet
usage has expanded throughout the world, more
people are being exposed to English.
The advent of online universities has now made it
possible for more people to learn English, even people
who live in countries where access to standard
education facilities is limited. While it may have been
impossible for these people to learn English in the
past, the internet has opened up new career
opportunities. These people are now able to learn

15. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
English, and they can use their English skills to get
better paying jobs at home or to find jobs overseas. In
any event, the Internet has played a powerful role in
allowing English to spread across the world, and the
number of people learning it is likely to increase in the
future.
The Thai Government should improve the English
curriculum by using computers and the internet.
Schools must adapt to reflect the use of text
messaging and communication via new technologies.
Schools should take advantage of the range of texts
now available to teach the language, including what is
available online. The following recommendations come
from a report which examined the future of the major
curriculum subjects.
Why is English important for Thais? Because
English is a global language. Most technical information
is written in English, as well as general information, so
improving your English skills can be very useful if you
want :
• to earn good grades while you are studying
English.
• to be able to speak comfortably with your
foreign teachers.
• to have a good relationship with your foreign
teachers.
• to get an internship in your field of study.
• to make presentations with foreigners.
• to make friends with people who foreigners.
All of these worthy goals require using English.
Everything will be easier for you, and you will be able

16. Miss Pitima Boonprasit (Bai-Toei)
to accomplish more of what you want, if you speak
English well. Much of your success in the English
classroom will depend on your ability to communicate
with foreign teachers. To accomplish these goals you
will need English. Students constantly share ideas and
information in informal conversations that they may
talk about their daily life or their housework or other.
If you miss out on these conversations, your chances
for professional and personal success will be limited
compared to your peers.
In many countries where English is not the native
language, you are considered highly educated if you
can speak the language properly. You will be
presented with a number of career opportunities, and
you will have the option of staying home to work, or
traveling abroad. When you learn how to speak
English, the opportunities are limitless.