Speaking Thai

[Sirgezza]

I will be in Phuket for 6 weeks starting 29th Dec. Is it worth me trying to learn some basic Thai words / phrases. I went to Cuba last year and tried to learn Spanish, but after 6 months at home with some cds I struggled to get by once I was there.

I know the BGs will speak enough English to make ''the deal'', but it would be nice to speak some of their language.

Anyone know what is available?

Thanks

Gez

[Nicke]

I can recommend Thai Bar Guide - Phrasebook. Lot of good and practical phrases you can learn from that book to communicate with the girls.
Also use the book to learn Thai with the girls, let them pronounce the sentences for you.

If you are more serious interested, I can recommend Patong Language School and their courses.

[domifletch]

A good website : http://www.learningthai.com/

A good book, rather funny is "Thai for lovers". I saw many BG's learning English from it, but you can also learn Thai.

But the most difficult are tones. The same word can mean 5 different things if you pronounce it with the 5 different Thai tones.... so better to find a book with audio CD's ... and easier again to learn if you try to write in Thai.

[cotambear]

Pimsleur thai is VG and can be downoloaded 4 free through bit torrent or shareazaa, (though it`s rare). Be aware however that to do so is illegal

[Schmeen]

Gez if you are in the UK, Linguaphone courses are excellent. They are however quite expensive. Whatever you fdo, you need tapes, it is IMPOSSIBLE to learn purely from a book.

[stevem]

As someone else has said, learning the Thai alphabet really helps with your learning of the language.

[butterflyblonde]

Is there a microchip that i can buy and have fitted into my head which allows me to speak thai fluently and all regional dialects ? + read thai as well?

Could really do with it as i want to speak thai so much but I'm a lazy muther.

[Sirgezza]

Thanks for the help. I do need to hear what is said so will try and get my hands on some cds or downloads. Learning the Thai alphabet looks a bit daunting.

Failing that if Butterflyblonde gets his hands on a microchip, I'd appreciate a copy - legal or not

[mikegb]

Originally Posted by gez

Thanks for the help. I do need to hear what is said so will try and get my hands on some cds or downloads. Learning the Thai alphabet looks a bit daunting.

Failing that if Butterflyblonde gets his hands on a microchip, I'd appreciate a copy - legal or not

Hi Gez,

If you really struggle with the thai language, then I suggest you do what I do -

Keep my fingers crossed that everyone else in the world gets good at English

Good luck

(seriously, I can read and write a bit of thai, and its worth the effort to learn the symbols. Its not as hard as you might think)

[Gildas]

This is well worth £7.35; gives some good pointers on basic grammar and is a decent phrase book.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...015828-8265414

G.

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by stevem

As someone else has said, learning the Thai alphabet really helps with your learning of the language.

I agree 100%. If you learn to read Thai, it really helps to pronounce it correctly. When Thai words are spelled using the Western alphabet, it is difficult to tell how they are supposed to be pronounced.

The best way to learn Thai is to take lessons. Check at the Buddhist temple nearest to where you live. A lot of them offer lessons for beginners!

[Shagrath]

Originally Posted by gez

Thanks for the help. I do need to hear what is said so will try and get my hands on some cds or downloads. Learning the Thai alphabet looks a bit daunting.

Failing that if Butterflyblonde gets his hands on a microchip, I'd appreciate a copy - legal or not

Have a look at thepiratebay.com
Do a on-site search for learn thai and you should find it.
It's about 265mb and contains 10 half-hour lessons.

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by Shagrath

Have a look at thepiratebay.com
Do a on-site search for learn thai and you should find it.
It's about 265mb and contains 10 half-hour lessons.

Are you sure that site is safe? I tried it and my computer got all screwed up. Maybe just a coincidence. Also they wanted mt to register and give them a lot of personal information about myself. I don't really want to say who I am and whre I live, etc, on a site where I am going to illegally download stuff!

Just thinking out loud!

JayBee

[steve@thaib]

Originally Posted by gez

Thanks for the help. I do need to hear what is said so will try and get my hands on some cds or downloads. Learning the Thai alphabet looks a bit daunting.

Failing that if Butterflyblonde gets his hands on a microchip, I'd appreciate a copy - legal or not

I know this is not very rock and roll, but if you want the Linguaphone course, which costs around three hundred quid, your local library will get it for you. Mine did. Then all you need to do, naughty boy, is copy the tapes or CDs.

I had a tape (it was a few years ago) in the car and listened to that instead of all the drivel that comes out the radio. I never progressed past please and thank you, hello, goodbye and negotiating prices. Though that has always been enough for me.

Basic counting really helps, though the girls all laughed their asses off at me so I gave it up. Shame really.

[Expat]

Originally Posted by JayBee

Are you sure that site is safe? I tried it and my computer got all screwed up. Maybe just a coincidence. Also they wanted mt to register and give them a lot of personal information about myself. I don't really want to say who I am and whre I live, etc, on a site where I am going to illegally download stuff!

Just thinking out loud!

JayBee

Before my last trip to Phuket I downloaded "In-Flight Thai: Learn Before You Land" from the Apple music store under "Audiobooks" onto my iPod & found it quite helpful although it's very american, tend to speak too fast & has dumb stuff like " Do you have another room with a data port" (what is data port in english?) but if you have an MP3 player listening to it while you sleep on the plane might give you subliminal thai lessons. I Like the microchip idea - does anyone remember the "Babelfish" you slipped into yer ear in Hitchhickers guide to the Galaxy back in 1981 oops back to "For The Older Guys On The Forum...it Made Me Laugh IRISH JONNY" thread...

[Shagrath]

Originally Posted by JayBee

Are you sure that site is safe? I tried it and my computer got all screwed up. Maybe just a coincidence. Also they wanted mt to register and give them a lot of personal information about myself. I don't really want to say who I am and whre I live, etc, on a site where I am going to illegally download stuff!

Just thinking out loud!

JayBee

I'm 100% sure it's safe.
No registration/membership needed.
http://www.thepiratebay.com/frame.html

The only thing I can think of (wild guess,) is that it might be filtered stateside to exclude American users. It's a swedish torrentportal.

[Werwolf]

Originally Posted by dizbusta

I think it is important to learn the numbers, especially when dealing with tuk-tuk drivers !! When they say in English how much they want, I just give them a questionable look, repeat the amount in Thai and then laugh. It usually catches them off guard and ends up with me getting a lower price. It is also handy when bartering for something in the markets or a shop. I found it quite easy to learn them.

Cheers
Diz

you are absolutly right.
learning the numbers in Thai was the first what I have learned. It helps a lot to get lower prices.

[steve@thaib]

Originally Posted by Werwolf

you are absolutly right.
learning the numbers in Thai was the first what I have learned. It helps a lot to get lower prices.

I agree here, and with Diz, numbers are good. It stops them yanking your chain too hard.

[stevem]

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

I agree here, and with Diz, numbers are good. It stops them yanking your chain too hard.

And learning the numbers is the easy part.