Jump to content
IGNORED

How I have been learning Thai.


LaaMok

Recommended Posts

It all started with the pimsleur lessons, that made it easy, even including grammer, it is almost effortless.

 

Then it got serious and i was told, to get perfect, i need to start at the beginning again. Learning the alphabet like a child would. I have loads of child books, even ones that just assist the skill of writing.

 

This means, if i cant pick up a pronounciation, a girl can spell the word for me and instantly, i can pronouce it better and remember it better!

 

Then from the most basic books, I went to a pictural book, with small stories, suitable for a 1 year old probably.

 

I am still learning the alphabet, as its been about 8 months, since i sat down in a class in pattaya and really concentrated on it.

 

I started texting thai also, but that phone got too crap, so i dont have a thai phone anymore.

 

I need a good kick up the backside.

 

Now i read books for vocabulary, listen to audio lessons over and over and i have a great grammer book, that i neglect too much.

 

The bottom line in my learnings, is that i dont give up, even if its one word a day etc. I play thai kareoke and thai films everyday now. I also put thai tv on in the background, and its great because you hear words used together, then you figure out how, words fit together and what means what.

 

i am not trying to tell you how to learn, this is the best way for me. If you want your pronouciation to be spot on, learn to read and write.

 

And i think it is important to learn off bangkok thais only and not bar girls, this way you maintain a BKK accent and dont start talking badly as alot of bar girls do.

 

I dont know if its me, but the more thai you learn, it seems the girls from isaan dont know too much about thai, i.e they misspell words (may be just me) I know the christian foundation hand out thai lessons for girls, because alot of them are uneducated)

 

I find isaan girls will try to teach you lao and wont warn you. Next minute your talking Lao and thai.

 

For those of you that dont know, there are 7 languages in thailand, not including hilltribes. so its important that we keep consistant.

 

IMO Thailand dont have regional accents like we do, our regional accents are different tones but same words. It seems because thai is a tonal language, there regional accent is different words, but same tone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First phrase I ever learnt was yet par yet mae mung! After that I bought a book called Making out in Thai, Thai how its really spoken. Basically a Thai slang book, it was great! Then I moved onto the Pimsleur CD's, after learning the first 10 lessons i stopped completely. But I have been in constant relationships with Thai girls ever since so I learn from listening to them instead.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ive brought quite a few books over the years about learning Thai (all of them have been a waste of money) pronuciation is everything IMO

I think youve just hit the nail on the head with that Bryan... we all jump in and try and learn stuff thats just too far advanced for our brains.

 

I thought id cracked it on about my 4th trip..id got my book and had written down loads of useful phrases.. but alas when i said them no 1 knew what the fuck i was talking about! even now when im pissed i still get the pronunciation wrong sometimes even with little words (suay sp) and the girls just look and laugh!

I guess its not as easy as i first thought.

Scars are a reminder that the past was Real!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
Ive brought quite a few books over the years about learning Thai (all of them have been a waste of money) pronunciation is everything IMO...

 

Ain't that the truth ! I've only got 2 trips under my belt, but thought it would be polite (at least) to try and learn a few basics. Trouble is...I only got blank looks, not even laughs. I've now got a book with audio CD's, but unless you record yourself and play back you end up fooling yourself that you've got it right. I'm still hoping to find someone in the UK - not necessarily a teacher - who is willing to listen to me mangle the language a couple of hours a week and correct. Incidentally, my book also tries to reach Thai script as well...how on Earth do you get your head round that ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 months later...

Keep it up Bryan mate, sounds like your doing alright. Agree that even if you learn one thing a day its still learning.

My understanding of women goes only as far as the pleasures.

-- Michael Caine (Alfie, 1966)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i just started the pimsleuer. pretty damn nice...

 

then i started rosetta stone.

 

good idea on the childrens books- never thought of that

 

-17

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Its a tough nut to crack unless you were exposed as a child..I'll never be really good in Thai..6 yrs ago I joined a class while living in Chiang Mai..It was Intense..12 began the class and 3 graduated after 4 months..9 dropped out within the first month because of its fast pase..A Japanese girl--A Vietnamese girl and my country bumpkin ass..I finished and coupled with only Thai friends for 4 yrs and looking at there silly soap operas I get by with little to no help..It takes a great memory because there are few rules to this language and many dialects..Im still learning after 8 yrs of effort...Perfect--No way

No place on the Planet like Pattaya..Don't let your meat loaf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really dont like the books because you can read it and say it but prouniciation is a different thing all together ive found the cds are alot easier

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd love pimsleur except the fact whenever I download it, it never seems to come with transcriptions. I have no idea if the physical pimsleur tapes come with written work, but most my pimsleur time consists of me trying to use google to figure out how to write what it taught me to say. Language learning needs to be written and spoken, not just spoken.

 

It'd be totally awesome if someone would transcribe the pimsleur tapes, too, I'd like to learn me some Thai.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the first thai i started to learn was in the workplace whilst in chiang mai for 6 months. then a 3 month holiday in pattaya destroyed that foundation as the issan bar girl talk became the norm.

5 years later i am still trying my best to UNlearn the impolite words and phrases i picked up in gogo bars or whilst in Issan.

 

Ive embarassed myself so many times by saying err rather than kha pum with thai colleauges.

 

So my experience suggests that to learn the proper way from educated thais or be stuck shouting Tor Lay and realising that everyone else thought it was rude and crude and only I thought it was cute.....................

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pimsleur CD's ? Are they any good? Dont want to spend all that money and not learn LOL!

 

Anybody sell copies of these cheaper, if so where ;)

Wha's like us?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pimsleur CD's ? Are they any good? Dont want to spend all that money and not learn LOL!

 

Anybody sell copies of these cheaper, if so where ;)

 

Try the download link on this thread mate - see if it still works..........

 

http://www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/Pimsl...amp;hl=Pimsleur

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This a very useful and free site

 

 

http://www.thai-language.com/

 

Yeah used that before, I got one of there ---------- ship-hi-lay it said it meant 'holy shit'! But when I said it to my GF she went berserk!

 

So must have some buddha translation or something! Type in holy shit you should get the same thing :GrinNod1:

Wha's like us?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Bryan - I've never thought of learning to read/write Thai but I'm starting to think about giving it a go, I have a query.

 

If I bought a infant book I still can't see how I could learn from it, if the chracters are in thai then surely I could only work them out accompanied by sound.

 

btw - your insect signature, I really did think for a couple minutes "how the f*$k will I be able to get it out of this monitor, or do I have to leave with a dead bug on my screen for good"

Edited by herds
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If I bought a infant book I still can't see how I could learn from it, if the chracters are in thai then surely I could only work them out accompanied by sound.

btw - your insect signature, I really did think for a couple minutes "how the f*$k will I be able to get it out of this monitor, or do I have to leave with a dead bug on my screen for good"

 

 

I just started learning the alphabet myself and I've been using the reading thai section @ www.Learningthai.com. (Free site) It list all the consonants and vowels with audio links for each sound. It also as an online version of "Manee and Friends" which was once used to teach thai primary students.

 

I also have been using some brillant (IMO) alphabet flashcards I downloaded for free @ slice-of-thai.com/flashcards

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey thanks hutch.

 

That girl in your avator, whoa, I have a porno from that clip. Makes me want to hit Rio from some big booty action. (please no advice that I should head down to high boss if I want an implanted ass :) )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Obviously pronounciation is VERY improtant. i am currently using pimsleurs thai and i was under the impression that it was a good way to learn as it really seems to instruct you on every little detail but after what i have heard here i think i may have to look into other areas aswell.

 

can anyone here tell me how pimsleur helped them, basically when you finished the sessions and had learned all that the lessons could teach you what level where you at? could you now understand a fair amount of what was being said in a conversation or where you still fairly basic?

ALTHOUGH I DO NOT AGREE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE SAID SIR I WOULD DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.

 

NICE TO BE NICE SUPPORTER ADD THIS TO YOU SIGGY TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE IDEA THAT STARTED THIS FORUM

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it depends on how seriously you take the pimsleur course as to how much you get out of it. For instance when I started I just put it on in the background now and then but nothing really went in, then I got more serious...

 

I'd recommend using each 30 minute lesson for around 45 minutes to an hour, have a notepad and pen to jot down notes, use pc software where you can easily rewind a few seconds and have a thai to english dictionary or website at hand to work out what the words mean exactly and the order in which they fit together.

 

It really is a good grounding into thai langauage I think, there seems to be a bit too much focus on ordering food and asking directions but the structure of the sentences and pronunciation is what is important overall.

 

Many people find it a bit tedious as its a long slog, but I think that if you want to learn properly its good. Learning words is ok but its a lot easier for thai people to understand if the word is in a sentence as saying single words is so random especially as your pronunciation probably won't be 100%.

 

When I finished? after I finished I could understand the conversations in the lessons almost perfectly, but if you mean thai people talking to each other then not really, perhaps the odd word here and there, depends on the subject really, if they are talking about directions, food (what was covered in pimsleur) then I understood that more or less.

Edited by herds
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I agree the Pimslars is great for learning sentence structures and having an understanding of how to ask for things and general tourist stuff with a little simple conversation.

 

The converstations are very simple but they are more as an illustration of what the lesson is about and recapping previous lessons. The gulf between that and real life Thai convos is immense but that was never the aim of Pimslars. It provides a great starting point in my view.

 

I've learnt from a few different sources to add to my vocabulary as I think you can begin to understand things better once you have a grasp of the basics. I always look up words in Thai2English if I see a word I've not seen before in a sentence.

 

Theres no right or wrong way IMO but its best to not try and run before you can walk. I've not attempted to learn to write yet but I will as I think its a better way of learning rather than just to concentrate on one aspect of the language.

 

I've only been going 5 months now but finding the time is proving difficult. I try to learn at least 20 to 30 sayings or words a week fluently. Would love to just goto school for 6 months solid in BBK and properly get on it.

My understanding of women goes only as far as the pleasures.

-- Michael Caine (Alfie, 1966)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

came on this site, before you know it (BYKI) lite is free transliteration but you can upgrade if you want. gives some phrases with pronunciation

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a haard enough time speaking my own language although I'd love to learn Thai.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Am not learning Thai. but one thing Bryan said bar girls talking Lao, i remember saying to a ex i wish i could speak Thai. so i knew what she was talking about.

 

She said like many of them say we talking Lao. sounds like you learning a good way Bryan and your not giving up well done mate just remember take a break down Soi 6. when you feeling stress cheers................

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Like Bryan said it really helps to learn to read Thai. That way you can look up a word and know exactly which vowel and the sound, weather it is a long or short vowel and the proper tone.

Cd's are good to practice your listening skills. hardest part is looking words up in the dictionary does not always tell you which is traditional language and which is vernacular. Also other than the "Speak Thai like a Thai" series there is not really any other books that teach how thais really speak. My biggest problem is lack of memory, probably a case of too many beers!555

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • COVID-19

    Any posts or topics which the moderation team deems to be rumours/speculatiom, conspiracy theory, scaremongering, deliberately misleading or has been posted to deliberately distort information will be removed - as will BMs repeatedly doing so. Existing rules also apply.

  • Advertise on Pattaya Addicts
  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.