Phuket Thailand

del boy · #1 17-12-2005, 04:31

After my first ever trip to thailand recently, i am very interested in learning how to read and speak Thai. Its not something that I want to take up seriously, at this stage anyway, and I have no intention to try to learn the language fluently. But I would like to learn some of the basics and understand a little of the language. From what I have read so far, is that it is tough to learn Thai!

The TG's that I met in Phuket all said that they dont like farang that speak thai! And I am very curious to know why! Id love to be able to feign ignorance yet be able to understand at least some of what they are saying to their friends. Plus, a Brit who speaks a language other than English is harder to find than a needle in a haystack so it would be nice to learn at least some of a foreign language.

I'm looking at a PC based educational course. Ive found a lot on the net through search engines, and some are quite expensive. Can any BM recommend an effective and resonable priced course that they have used?

marc26 · #2 17-12-2005, 04:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by del boy

After my first ever trip to thailand recently, i am very interested in learning how to read and speak Thai. Its not something that I want to take up seriously, at this stage anyway, and I have no intention to try to learn the language fluently. But I would like to learn some of the basics and understand a little of the language. From what I have read so far, is that it is tough to learn Thai!

The TG's that I met in Phuket all said that they dont like farang that speak thai! And I am very curious to know why! Id love to be able to feign ignorance yet be able to understand at least some of what they are saying to their friends. Plus, a Brit who speaks a language other than English is harder to find than a needle in a haystack so it would be nice to learn at least some of a foreign language.

I'm looking at a PC based educational course. Ive found a lot on the net through search engines, and some are quite expensive. Can any BM recommend an effective and resonable priced course that they have used?

i dont think a pc based lesson would work because thai is so based on tone, you wouldnt get the full effect.
to learn the basics, pimsleur(spelling) has good cd's
tg's dont like when farang's speak thai because they think that means you have been there for a long time, probably have a thai wife, and are cheating on her

stevem · #3 17-12-2005, 05:54

Also they cant talk behind your back.

LivinLOS · #4 17-12-2005, 09:24

The courses I have seen are

The very expensive Rosetta stone course... I felt this was pretty poor course.. I downloaded a pirate from emule and what you have is a system where you click pictures and play some kind of games and it is 100% in thai spoken back to you.. Now I understand the rationalization of total immersion but that leaves some other probelm. for example in a picture of a blue ball is the Thai word they are saying 'blue' 'ball' or what ?? To me it felt like there was a lot of missing info in that it should obviously give you the thai word complete with tones but it should also let you know somehow what they are trying to tell you.. All in all I was very unimpressed..

I also have the Pimsluer Thai course of 10 lessons.. This is a good introduction to Thai I think, covers a lot of basics, gets you asking directions, how to address male and female, groups etc.. A good starting popint for a basic into..

Lastly if you wish to learn and keep learning the series of Books by Benjamin Poomsan Becker (Thai for begginers) come with a CD and workbook and start from the ground up.. These books tend to factor in a stronger desire to keep learning so start you with the writing side also but are inexpensive and a good package.. I currently keep these lessons on my cellphones MP3 player and listen if I am waiting for anything..

Pimsleur for basics.. Benjamin's stuff to learn and progress..

Pimsluer is also on emule..

fun2have · #5 24-12-2005, 05:51

agree with LIL 100% the books thai for beginners by Poonsawan Becker is a great learning method.

when i have quiet time on night shift i do the writing, and reading parts of the book.

also when in los try as much as possible to speak thai, at your regular bars, not where your trying to chase a special bg.

the thais in phuket make allowances for my generally poor thai tones in speech but up country its do it properly or you get the "vacant look"

fun2have · #6 24-12-2005, 05:58

an after thought.
Becker also has Lao for beginners, it is an excellant product like the thai books.

On the issan language, i use cheat sheets still sent to me by a girl from my gfs village, who has studied english at an advanced level at AUA in udon.

enjoy learning the basics Del it makes thailand more fun, and interesting.

JJT1603 · #7 20-01-2006, 00:03

I'd agree with LivinLOS completely. I have the Benjamin Poomsan Becker books (introductory, intermediate and advanced) and also have just taken delivery of the Pimsleur CD's.

I'd start with the Pimsleur CD's which get you introduced to basic phrases and the tonal aspect of the language.

Top this up with Thai for Beginners by BPB (see above) and you will then get introduced to reading and writing, which actually makes learning the whole thing easier in my opinion, rather than just learning to speak.

Finally, I wouldn't necessarily agree that Thais don't like it if you speak their lingo...quite the opposite in fact in my experience.
However, having said that, I'd agree that sometimes your average BG is more wary of the seasoned Thai traveller, but that's a whole new topic!!!

Mosti · #8 20-01-2006, 00:19

there is a self-study course in german listed @amazon:

http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASI...965249-0974938

i don´t know, whether it is aviable in english as well..

Mosti

jimholio · #9 20-01-2006, 04:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc26

tg's dont like when farang's speak thai because they think that means you have been there for a long time, probably have a thai wife, and are cheating on her

It would be a whole lot of fun to understand Thai without actually telling them tho.

stevem · #10 20-01-2006, 04:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimholio

It would be a whole lot of fun to understand Thai without actually telling them tho.

Been there done that, until you get too pissed to think about what your doing and then let it slip. The look on my staffs faces was priceless.

steve@thaib · #11 21-01-2006, 06:46

I have a PC based Thai language course which seems pretty good. I can e-mail you a .zip file if you like. It's 750kb I think, so most e-mail addresses should be able to handle it.

PM me an e-mail address if you want it.

jimholio · #12 22-01-2006, 00:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimholio

It would be a whole lot of fun to understand Thai without actually telling them tho.

Hehe, you know it's a bit frustrating tho, when i was out with my girl, she talks with her friend, her friend looks at me, and my girl says, my friend thinks you're lovely. For all that i know she could just aswell have said, He looks funny, or he looks like a retard or whatever. Oh well sometimes i guess its better to not know even tho it would be alot of fun other times

Dojoden · #13 22-01-2006, 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

Been there done that, until you get too pissed to think about what your doing and then let it slip. The look on my staffs faces was priceless.

I would have paid money to see that LMAO... Busted

DD

shark1963 · #14 22-01-2006, 14:32

Hi del boy, i tried a software called thai trainerr111. you can download a trial version with 5 lessons. you have the choice to change between thai writing and writing the phrase also in english. i asked some thai friends what they think about the software and they where suprised. its not only writen thai so you can hear they thai phrases too. it has a seperate lesson for numbers and asking for the time. i also found a sw esspecially for thai writing wich seems to be good.
the thaitrainer can be registered for about less than 70 euro to get all the 90 lessons.

shark1963 · #15 22-01-2006, 14:37

UPS forgot to mention the site now it comes:

http://www.wantana.com

maybe anybody out of the room knows it and give his opion about it.

Thanks for the many tips and information i got from the BM´s , should have found this site before my trip to LOS. But not to late anyway

void · #16 16-09-2006, 22:00

Here is a web site that is selling Thai-English language software. It is intended to teach Thai to English speakers.
Thai Culture Publishing

The software is good, but the "disadvantage" is that when one installs the CD, then the software requries a massive download from the web to update and operate fully. This is not a problem if one has DSL, but I think for a dial up connection, it might be a bit slow for the full installation to complete (although it will function on a partial download - the database just won't be fully populated).

For those who can already read and speak Thai, it is likely too basic.

I have no financial affiliation, but I confess that I do know the falang male who is developing the software. He is asking $25 US for the software (he didn't listen to my advice to charge more). I ordered (and paid) for 3 copies (one for myself, and two that my wife plans to give away to some Thai friends here in Germany (for their husbands)).

Apologies if anyone considers this spam. I can delete this post if this is offensive.

the_walker · #17 18-09-2006, 17:00

HI all, Try this site. It has a search, click on the speaker and you can hear what it sounds like.

Be in the MTB this Saturday night whoopee.

Re edited. so excited about coming over I forgot to add the site !

thai-language.com

DougBrisbane · #18 29-09-2006, 22:07

Here is a web site that is selling Thai-English language software. It is intended to teach Thai to English speakers.
Thai Culture Publishing

The software is good, but the "disadvantage" is that when one installs the CD, then the software requries a massive download from the web to update and operate fully.

Not true. The CD uses a program called "Web Update" to "download" and install the modules from the CD-ROM; there is no massive download.

After the software is installed, you can use the same program, Web Update, to download updates to the dictionaries, images, sound files, and software from the Internet.

The CD is inexpensive and includes a perpetual license for use and updates.

brit · #19 30-09-2006, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_walker

HI all, Try this site. It has a search, click on the speaker and you can hear what it sounds like.

thai-language.com

I had a good laugh today at some of the sample sentences you find in the transliteration search, try typing in "arai" for example

oneday · #20 30-09-2006, 11:15

Another web site which let's you click on phrases and you here it spoken by a native speaker.

Learning Thai Language the Easy Way!

biomech · #21 03-10-2006, 13:13

I've started used the Pimsler and it's a great introdutcion. Working alot quicker than doing it straight from a book as I was before. I'm across the basics, you know just getting around and small chit-chat, but hopefully I can cram as much in my head in the next few weeks.

void · #22 08-10-2006, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougBrisbane

After the software is installed, you can use the same program, Web Update, to download updates to the dictionaries, images, sound files, and software from the Internet.

The CD is inexpensive and includes a perpetual license for use and updates.

I do like the software. As opposed to being strictly audio (like Pimsler) the software makes it more interactive. One can easily focus on the type of session they want (expand one's vocabulary, learn more about tones, etc ...).