When comparisons are made between Thailand and Singapore, they usually have to do with culture. Or cuisine.
For example, some people – especially expats in Bangkok – believe that vendors take up too much space on the pavements. They prefer the orderliness of, say, Smith St. to the organized chaos of Pradiphat Rd.
But I reckon that most people here believe that the omnipresent availability of good eats on the streets is what makes Thailand Thailand. So on this topic, I don’t think that Thailand should be like Singapore.
However, on other more meaningful topics – such as when comparisons are made between the English ability of the two countries – I definitely do think that Thailand should be like Singapore.
This article will explain why and provide insights into how it can be accomplished.
● ● ●
The Data on English Ability
Anyone who knows the data is probably skeptical about Thailand ever resembling Singapore with respect to English communication skills. Because they know Thailand ranks 101st in EF’s English Proficiency Index while Singapore ranks 2nd “out of 113 countries and regions worldwide” and 1st in ASEAN.
Just imagine how many opportunities for economic growth in Thailand have been lost to Singapore simply because of this difference. It would be hard to measure, but let’s analyze it briefly.
Let’s assume that it’s as easy in Thailand as it is in Singapore to incorporate a business, hire foreign staff, obtain visas, borrow from banks, entice venture capital, navigate the tax code, enforce contracts… all the things that contribute to running a successful company in Asia.
Now, let’s assume that effective communication using the world’s “business language” – i.e. Business English – also contributes to running a successful company in Asia.
QUESTION: Where do you think Entrepreneurs, SME Owners, and Multinational Executives in high-revenue industries feel more confident going into business?
- Country #1 – English is a secondary language and is not spoken particularly well.
- Country #2 – English is the primary language and is spoken extremely well.
It seems pretty clear why Thailand still lags behind Singapore as ASEAN’s busiest and wealthiest commercial hub. But it doesn’t have to be this way forever!
● ● ●
Let’s discuss how upgrading your employees’ English ability will strengthen your company.
● ● ●
How Can Thailand Compete With Singapore on English Ability?
The first thing to point out is that it requires commitment. It requires an investment of time, and indeed money, on an ongoing basis. That’s because there’s no quick solution to close the gap between #101 and #2.
There’s additional data indicating the importance of Learning & Development opportunities for employees, too, and one statistic really stands out (according to the 9 Benefits of Employee Training):
Employee training improves a company's productivity by 17% and profitability by 21% if offered to engaged employees.
As an American who has been living and working in The Land of Smiles since 2011, I have made the acquaintance of a lot of extremely bright and engaged Thai professionals. They’ve told me the same thing about training: It has a direct impact on their productivity.
This is where Thailand’s Human Resources departments come in.
The first thing that HRBPs, TD managers, and L&D coordinators should notice is that the corporate English training they’ve been offered for the last 30+ years is mostly ineffective.
How do we know this? Again, look at the numbers.
The numbers are what they are because Thai people are taught tons of grammar, but aren’t given enough opportunities to practice actual English communication.
So, if you’re an HR professional, please reconsider your past experiences with English training providers: Those two-hour grammar lessons that you hosted twice per week, for a short-term contract like three months, in a conference room at your office… that doesn’t really work.
We’re here to change that game. We’re here to change Thailand.
● ● ●
Who at your company would benefit from innovative Employee Workshops, Executive Coaching, or Onsite Consulting?
● ● ●
How Can Your Company Upgrade Its English Ability?
Three points:
- Vocabulary
- Vocabulary
- Vocabulary
Many English training providers say they teach vocabulary, but in our experience that’s just part of their marketing pitch. The truth is, most of them do the grammar thing on short-term contracts.
ECSC’s deep focus on vocabulary training is something new.
ECSC’s delivery of longer-term, ongoing training is also something new.
Not just new, but innovative. It’s Business English training for companies that you can think of as Onsite English Consulting. It’s like having ChatGPT (made of flesh & bones) working in your office – but more personable, reassuring, and reliable.
You might have to be an early adopter of Onsite English Consulting, but that’s okay. The fax machine, email, and smart phones all took a while to achieve widespread usage.
How will you feel when you’re able to say, “Our company is dedicated to employee growth through improved English ability, our employees speak & write English at a higher level than our competitors, and they have real career-advancement opportunities.”
That will be your reality if you invest in this new brand of holistic English training. And if everyone starts doing it, Thailand will be like Singapore!
● ● ●
Contact us today to learn more about our Onsite English Consulting. We also offer Business English Workshops and Executive Coaching to help Thai employees communicate more like their Singaporean counterparts.
