Bangkok Convenience Store Manager Uses Seven Languages to Assist International Customers

Key summary

Teerawat Wanichkam, a 48-year-old assistant store manager at a 7-Eleven branch in BITEC Bang Na, has gained widespread attention for his ability to communicate fluently in seven languages. Originally from Ayutthaya, he holds bachelor's degrees in communications and law, as well as master's degrees in languages and tourism. He joined the convenience store chain during the Covid-19 pandemic after working in the tourism sector. His multilingual skills include English, Chinese, Japanese, Malay, Indonesian, German, and Burmese, with proficiency noted in English, Chinese, and Malay. Colleagues refer to him as Phi Tho. The attention began after a TikTok video posted by @gameboyz666 showed him speaking foreign languages, which was later interviewed by @711idol on 23 October. Teerawat described his role as similar to that of a goodwill ambassador, aiming to make international visitors feel at home and leave them with a positive impression of Thailand. He recalled that during his first days at the store, more than 10 tour buses arrived bringing hundreds of Chinese tourists, providing an early opportunity to use his language skills.