THAILANDS 2ND LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH

most thais speak or understand some english.it is taught in most schools. if you cant speak either that only leaves sign language .ok everyone knows finger signs for yes, no,i want bom bom etc guess if you wanted to go to bangkok you could bang cock on the table.maybe better to do a english or thai language course

English is the universal language, so it's a global 2nd language.

The problem in Thailand is the Farangs not knowing enough English themselves, as for many here it's also their 2nd language, and they don't bother to learn the proper colloquial Thai language. In addition some Farangs up north that do try to learn, mix the the Issan dialect with the traditional Thai, and that is just one dialect, and painful to listen to a Farang screwing up the language. It's equally painful to listen to a Farang speaking in broken English to a Thai. It does no favors.

A lot of Thais do know English, as well as many other languages. I am Thai, and can speak Japanese, Chinese, English, Spanish and German. How many Farangs can speak my language, with full comprehension? Very few.

ty maya great imput.my family all want to learn better english so i have little chance of picking up any form of thai.

I would think Issan is the second language, Chinese, Japanese and then English?

the tip is for guys coming here from non english speaking countries ,brushing up on their english is their best chance of being able to make themselves understood by thai people.