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1 2 1 tuition or enrol in school? advice needed


BaldPlumber

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Hi Mongers

 

I need some advice regarding learning to speak Thai to a decent conversational level - I'm sick of the "where you from?" "what you do?" conversations but certainly don't want to discuss the meaning of life with anyone.

 

So, my dilemma is, should I enrol in a school or try and find someone for one 2 one lessons? I am in Pattaya for 3 months from January 2nd, am self employed and luckily (fuckit) as I am now 50, don't really need an ED visa. My basic plan is to spend the majority of the UK winter months in Thailand and work the summer back in the UK.

 

So, I would appreciate any first hand advice from anyone who has experience of either approach and what their thoughts are re the pros and cons.

 

Many thanks.

 

P.S. Any recommendations for schools / people would be more than welcome.

Edited by BaldPlumber
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I have several courses on CD's and from things I've downloaded from the Internet, as well as a number of books. But I've found the one-on-one lessons from a Thai teacher to be very helpful and, I think, the best way to learn Thai. (I still have a long way to go!) I've been going to a place in Pattaya on Soi Buakaow called EasiLearn Center (Click on This - not a great Website, but it will give you some idea).

 

By the way, they don't know me as "Bakwan" there. If you want a reference, PM me.

 

I'll be in Pattaya during the last couple of weeks of January and the first couple of weeks of February. Maybe we could get together.

 

Bakwan

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There's a recent thread on a similar topic: http://www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/topic/66217-3-month-trip-in-patts-with-2-or-3-hours-a-day-for-a-thai-school/

 

If you're in it for the long haul and plan on dividing your time between home and pattaya, there's no question that you'll need to read Thai to get yourself to a real conversational level - otherwise you just won't be exposed to enough Thai.

 

For schools, AUA and Pro Language are probably the ones with the best (deserved) reputations in Pattaya. I'd say AUA might be better for you because they offer their classes (which are not at all like the ones at the AUA in BKK btw) in 5 week courses (for 5k baht at 2hoursx5 days/week). http://aua.buu.ac.th/pattaya/index_en.html For reading, however, there's a new school that focuses on that and since it's so new, you'd have 1-on-1 or just 1 or 2 other students in the class: http://www.excelanguage.com/.

 

If you're really serious, I'd take these next 3 months in Thailand to get the sounds of Thai down so that you can self study till you come back. For that, excel might be good and they also do 1-on-1 for a very affordable 300 baht/hour. There's also a software program called courage software interactive that can be downloaded for free (http://www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/topic/23622-courage-thai-interactive/) - with that SW and private lessons, you could probably get your pronunciation very good at the start. The tones matter, but can be added in - but, if your vowels and consonants are shit, that's pretty hard to correct later as I found out :)

 

So, maybe some private lessons for reading and getting the sounds right at Excel and then 1 class at AUA. (2 if you're making a big push). And get started learning to read now with courage software and thai for beginners.

 

Good luck and remember it's about sticking to it for the duration.

 

 

ps For self study, I think Thai for Beginners and Thai for Intermediate learners are great. Once you can read, the best book out there is Everyday Thai for Beginners (http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Beginners-Wiworn-Ph-D-Kesavatana-Dohrs/dp/9749575970).

Edited by el_jefe
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