Filipino tourist criticized for saying English is 'useless' in Thailand

Ann Berdin shared the video on Jan. 11 expressing her frustration over the language barrier she encountered while travelling in the country, Khaosod English news site reported.

In the clip, which quickly went viral, she said her fluency in English did not make communication with locals any easier.

"I'm Filipina. Of course my English is good, but when I arrive in Thailand it's useless," she said in the video. "Even if I speak good English, nobody can understand me, especially the Grab driver and the local people here. They need a translator."

The remarks prompted criticism from both Thai and Filipino netizens.

"As a Filipino living for almost two years in Thailand, I understand your struggle. But mind you, we are not in our own country, so we should adjust and respect. Thailand is not an English-speaking country, and translation exists for a reason. English is not part of daily life for most locals here, and many do not need it to survive or work," one netizen wrote.

"I visited Thailand knowing I would need to use Google Translate at some point and learn a few basic Thai words. I had an amazing time and will definitely go back many times," another commented.

"Some people think they're superior simply because they speak English better than others," another wrote.

Amid widespread criticism, Berdin later posted a new video apologizing to Thais, Thaiger reported.

In the follow-up clip shared on her Facebook account on Jan. 13, she said her original video had been misunderstood. She stressed that she had no intention of insulting Thailand or its people and was merely sharing her personal experience.

"I didn't mean anything hateful about Thailand," she said, adding that when she mentioned the need for a translator, she was not mocking anyone. She noted that she also uses translation apps and has friends who struggle with English.

"I was just explaining what my experience was. I think I said it in the wrong words."

She acknowledged that her English is not perfect but said her comments were made in good faith.

Thailand has recorded one of the lowest levels of English proficiency in Asia, according to the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index.

Thailand's English proficiency ranked 116th out of 123 countries, placing it in the "Very Low Proficiency" category. In Asia, it ranked only above Cambodia.

The index is based on test results from 2.2 million participants across 123 countries, with an average test-taker age of 26.