Thailand Travel Kit: Huts, Trip Itineraries, and Tips for the Budget or Upscale Tourist by a Thailand Insider who has lived in Thailand for 8 years by Jack B. Wily ... see you in Thailand ...

I have been in Thailand for ten years and dot really speak Thai. I learned another language before coming here and have had other desires. It is not that I do not want to learn to speak Thai. In fact, now that I have listened to it for years like a child might listen for a year or two before uttering that first word, I may start to speak. But what I have learned is that a lot can be learned and experienced in  
Speaking throughmenglish in Thailand. It is not the language where human feelings lie. It is within the heart and the Thai people learn English and one can communicate with all of them in that manner.    Of course they are delighted when a person speaks some Thai, but I believe they are more delighted to have the opportunity to speak and learn English. As for me this is a fine situation, as I am an English teacher and I greatly value the cross cultural transactions that occur when speaking English. If I do learn Thai, it will be fluent and not the broken crap that one often hears. I was impressed on th islands when I came across two English speakers who spoke Thai with all it's tones and have always thought that if I learn Thai that is the way I want to speak it.