All my life I have wanted to be able to communicate in foreign language. But I have never found the time or energy to dedicate myself to the task. I know it is do-able, but it takes work. I have never been able to make myself do it (even when I took French in high school and college).
Being in Thailand makes me want to learn Thai. Trying to learn Thai makes me want to go back and take the "much easier" French. But I am here and I still have the desire to speak. But do I have enough desire to actually accomplish it?
I took Thai lessons in California before I moved to Bangkok, but the students didn't allow for much learning because they were always asking questions that had nothing to do with the lesson. I took a Thai class at the school where I am teaching, but there were 30 students in the class and it was therefore impossible to practice enough to learn anything. I have lived in Thailand a year and I'm always asking "How do you say ____ in Thai language?" but it goes in one ear and out the other. I had a friend come over to my house 3 times a week to teach me, but his lack of English skills meant that he couldn't explain the meanings of words or the tricky tone rules.
After all of that, I have only picked up a few words and phrases. I can order my favorite Thai dishes and can say "This is delicious!" or ask "Are you cold?" but I quickly run out of words to say.
This week I started on my latest attempts to learn. On Monday, Piyawat and I visited a few Thai language schools. Prices ranged from 89 baht (US $2) per hour for conversation at AUA to 650 baht (US $15) for private lessons at Berlitz. None of the programs had the content I wanted for the price I was willing to pay.
So I have now convinced Piyawat to take me on as a student. He was confident that he could do it (he's a native speaker, after all) but after our first lesson last night, he realized it was harder than he expected. But we are committed -- one hour at the end of every work day in the library on campus. He will teach me to read and write and speak, and I will teach him how to teach me.
Wish us luck!
You've got the right idea, Stuart -- TEACH HIM HOW TO TEACH YOU!! It'll be interesting to see if Piawat's version of any of this shows up in his blog.
What an interesting challenge. Good luck to you both. (please don't kill each other) I recently made some new friends (at a Howard Dean rally of all places) who are Mexican and now I have a desire to learn spanish. They say the easiest time to learn a language is when we are very young. I truely wonder how I will pull this off in my middle age.
Oh, and thanks for the link to Piyawat's blog. Its real cool. Where else would we have found the real extent of your blood sacrifice for adventure.
You can do it!!! You both can!!! :-)
Love you!!
Thanks for the encouragement everyone! We will let you know how it goes.
And yes, Charles, apparently the younger you are, the easier it is to learn a language (or learn anything for that matter). My brain feels so hard and inflexible when I am trying to learn Thai lanaguage. I have to fight the frustration of it taking such a long time to learn any of it.
Why are you guys being so nice and encouraging to Stuart? I think he needs some reverse psychology.
Stuart,
YOU WILL FAIL (ala Mr. Andrews).
Don't forget to breathe, very important.
Just kidding (except the breathing part)! Take care and come visit us in Athens (Olympics 2004 start August 13th).
Eric -----
:-P
HAHAHAHA!!!!
Thanks for a good laugh today Eric. Good ol Mr Andrews... (Our 12th grade calculus teacher, for those who are not in the know). I can still see him sitting in a chair ON TOP of a desk during exams and suddenly disrupting the silence by bellowing out "I FEEL LIKE GOD UP HERE!"
It's also not everyday that someone quotes a signature from my highschool yearbook back to me (like you did! :)
Ajarn Stuart , www.thai-language.com is a pretty good site to learn Thai language when you have free time. (just incase you dont know about the site yet).
typed Paradorn +tata young in google search box and your page came up...good luck on studying Thai language. English is much harder :D
I am a serous Thai Teacher with lot of experienced as you will see below description.If you have any friend who need to learn thai pls. contact me and be sure you are able to speak and listen writin and reading clearly.
Brief detail about back ground and tuition fee :
Teaching Thai language for more than 7 years experiences.From the very beginning to most advanced level, speaking, listening, reading and writing, young learner to adult.
Both in group (1-5) or organization (10-30 person) and private. You may choose study Thai alphabet or choose to study Thai by English alphabets and able to select your study time at your convenient time and place.
Tuition Fee is approximately for Thai language Course
(Amount of study time 8 to 16 hours per month or 2 to 4 hours per week)
1). For one person: 500 baht per hour
2). For two person: 350 baht for each individual
3). For three person: 300 baht for each individual
4) For four person: 250 baht for each individual
Note: The tuition fee is already included books ,practice exercises and study equipments.
Also have a lot of teaching experiences from k3 to grade 10 of international school students. I am eager to seek for a teaching job at any level of international school students. And I believe I can do more than expectation.
Brief previous experiences :
1).Teach English Language for thai and international students from k3 to grade 12
2).Thai Language (for examples: General Manager at Muang Khaew Golf course,Bangkok, Printing Company for American and Taiwanese people)
3)Mathematics,
4).Social study,Science and
5). Art subjects: Toy Invention, Home works, Test Preparation for International Schools and Thai Schools, Improve study skills for each individual student.
In case you may need a teacher for your children you may contact me at your convenience time :
Mr. Noppadon Wongprayoon
Tel: 02-380-6590 (Home), 09-173-5419 (Mobile), noppadon_wongprayoon@hotmail.com.
Thank you.
By the way, I don't know the guy who posted the note above, but hey, if you're looking for a Thai teacher in Thailand, you might give him a call. I think I will stick with Piyawat for now :)
Another option to consider is the Thong Lo Language School. My friend Mark has had a lot of success with them. The school is located directly below the Thong Lo BTS station. It appears that they teach mostly conversational skills, but that's a good start!
I am 25 years old Thai Teacher.I have taught Thai for 3 years.If you are interested to learn Thai please contact me 09-8841315.Fee: 300 baht/hour for private course. I live in Bangkok. Thai language is fun to learn ;))
I'm a graduate diploma student of Teaching Thai as a foreign language course at Srinakarinwirot in Bangkok.(It's a first and only one course in Thailand right now!)I want to practice my skills that I'm studying. If you are looking for a Thai teacher, pls give me a call. 06-531-1696. Fee:300 bhat/hour for private course.
Is Thai difficult? Do they use Latin alphabet?
Lee
Yes, Lee, Thai is difficult for speakers who are not used to the Thai alphabet or a tonal language. I just added Thai to my laptop keyboard yesterday. Woohoo! Here are some Thai letters: ก ข ซ. (These are the first three letters of the alphabet. Unfortuantely, I now have to learn where all the keys are!)