(Ok, this post is really just for sympathy and pity as we try to learn this language.) Language learning is difficult because it is not enough to just learn the vocabulary of the new language and then do a word-for-word translation from English, you must learn whole new patterns of communication. And since it is […]
Thai Culture is Interdependent [Thai Culture]
The value of helping one another motivates cooperative behavior in the community and reinforces a sense of neighborhood… They bind their relationship through reciprocal services such as assistance and exchanges of food. – From a study done by Dr. Suntaree Komin, a Thai psychologist and a Fulbright scholar, who wrote a publication entitled Psychology of […]
A Little Fun is Expected [Thai Culture]
Thailand has been known as the Land of smiles. Work and play must contain at least a little Sanuke (to have fun, to enjoy oneself and have a good time). – From a study done by Dr. Suntaree Komin, a Thai psychologist and a Fulbright scholar, who wrote a publication entitled Psychology of the Thai […]
Education Isn’t the #1 Priority [Thai Culture]
The findings of the study revealed that educational values and competence hold a medium level of importance…This finding can help missionaries adjust their focus. The Thai people are not interested in the content of missionaries’ teaching. If being Christian enabled them to get benefits and helped in finding jobs, knowing English, and opening up chances […]
Thai Ego and Saving Face [Thai Culture]
The Thai are first and foremost ego oriented, characterized by the highest ego value of being independent, being one’s self (pen tua khong tua eng), and having high self-esteem. Thai people have big egos, a deep sense of independence, pride, and dignity. They cannot tolerate any violation of the “ego” self whether that be Buddhism, […]
Emotions are More Important Than Facts [Thai Culture]
A rational or apologetic approach may not work well with the majority of the Thai people, but an intuitive, feeling, or affective approach, seeing Christ as the “Man for others” and the one who can deliver them from all fears, may be considered as a new way of meekness in Christian witnessing. For the Thai, […]
Goals Aren’t That Important [Thai Culture]
This is characterized by the achievement need emphasizing the internal drive toward achievement through hard work… Because of this Thai value, missionaries and Thai Christians who are work-oriented and perceive Christian missions as something they have to strive to do by their own efforts, and who evaluate their success by the number of saved souls, […]
Thai People are Pretty Flexible [Thai Culture]
In general for the Thai, there is nothing as serious as being rigid or unchangeable. Because of this value, it is not surprising to find a “decision-shifting” behavior pattern quite common for the Thai, such as denying or postponing decisions to accept Christ, baptism, or appointment even though they said “yes” weeks prior. They might […]
Friendliness is More Important than Ambition [Thai Culture]
Unlike American’s top values which tend to focus on self-actualization, ambition, and achievement, the Thai also place high value on a group of “other-directed” social interaction values, designed to project a picture of smooth, kind, pleasant, no-conflict interpersonal interactions, in short, the surface harmony observed by many. This orientation is characterized by the preference for […]
Thai People are Generous [Thai Culture]
Reciprocity of kindness, particularly the practice of being grateful, is a highly valued characteristic in Thai society. The Thai have been socialized to value this grateful (Katanyu) quality in a person. A person should be grateful to persons who render Bunkhun (goodness, helps, favors) to him or her. Bunkhun must be returned, often on a […]