desi

I don't have a percentage in my head on how much discussion there was about the Thai workplace. Most of the class/workshop teaches you methods to learn Thai, or any language actually. But information on the Thai culture is woven all through his conversations.

Btw - I'm an introvert and even I signed up for a second round. Fueled by Stu's energetic nature, a camaraderie developed between students in the class both times. It made a difference. So even though I was a reluctant participant (I prefer being invisible), I had a great time. If I had known about the activities beforehand I might not have signed up - obviously I'm glad I didn't know.

Before I placed this post, I offered to make a bet with another member of this forum on who would have something negative to say. He wouldn't take that bet...

Stu has amazing language skills and he's sharing how he learns. I applaud him for that. And that's why I've posted Stu's workshop here. I know language learners around the world who are drooling because Bankgok gets the pleasure of Stu and they don't. Funny how that is.

When I attended Stu's class there were several people on their second go round - yes, at 10,000 baht a session. It was not because they didn't learn anything the first session, it was because they had such a great time.

If you can't get your head around the price, or if you are an introvert, then maybe it's not for you.

But if you've already slogged through Thai lessons and still cannot read Thai, then perhaps think about attending Stu's workshop.

He does a lot more than teach you how to read Thai. Just check out his site if you want to know more.

A heads up. Stu Jay Raj (polyglot) is back in Bangkok for short bit.

He helps out in this forum, so most of you know him already.

While in BKK, Stu is giving his workshop: Cracking Thai Fundamentals

I attended when he was living in Thailand. During that time, he took away the fear of tones and gave needed insight into Thai culture as well. At the workshop he has everyone off their seats, getting into the fun of it all. So if you do go, be prepared to be entertained.

I don't know how often he'll be back in Thailand, so if you are wavering...

Here's an overview:

• Memory Building Techniques
• Building cognitive fluency when speaking Thai – training ourselves to react in Thai without thinking
• How to motivate people in the Thai workplace and how to elicit the information we really need
• Using language to build a cross cultural rapport in the workplace
• Street Thai vs. Formal Thai / what to say, when to say it and who to say it with
• Expressing yourself in Thai to get the right reaction
• Understanding Thai Humour and using it to reach into the Thai heart.

Yes, usually between 3-5 students and the teacher.

Interesting. Except for language exchanges, I hadn't come across more than a teacher and one student doing Thai Skype lessons.

... if you are at Wallen, your lessons will not be lost and you can continue thru Skype. Not sure if it is experimental or not, but our class is only a few people so there is space for more.

So your Skype lessons have more than one person in the class?

You can learn Thai via Skype anywhere. Even Pattaya ;-)

I've enjoyed each one so far. Hopefully there will be many more with Rikker.

We might need to wait until he can take a breather from having little ones come into his life.

Gaccha, I saw them in Paragon a few weeks ago but didn't think to do anymore than flip through.

Months back a Thai friend brought a copy by (her Japanese friend was learning Thai).

I'll check them out next time I'm in the area (IF there are any left!)

I blame the teachers, and those who market things like 'fluency in 3 months'

Agreed (especially your second point)

Did you read Stu Jay's latest post on Walking Dictionaries?

(He's started a new blog and it's going great guns)

Bangkok Podcast's latest interview with Rikker discusses a few Thai kids books.

I'm snowed so do not have the time add them in here, but if you are interested: Raising Bilingual Children

He also touches briefly on learning styles.

If you haven't listened to the rest of the series, there are four in all.

SoftWater, to explain...

I am not comfortable in language schools so any of their methods would not work on me. So you saying to stick it out with a school is too generic of a suggestion. It's not for a lot of students which is why so many wander away.

It just so happens that I learn best with audio and visual. Writing down while listening works. Photos with sound does as well. I'll play with Pimsleurs and Assimil only if I'm reading/writing in Thai script while listening. But forget classrooms.

And I do agree that combos work. But it needs to be a combination that suits the student. So call it a learning styles, call it whatever, but each of us do learn in our own way.

Some selfstudy, others depend on a classroom setting, some one on one.

Some jump out in the street with phrase books.

Some learn by quizzing themselves with thousands of flashcards.

Some listen to teachers and don't talk for xxx amount of hours.

Some thrive on Pimsleurs or TYT or Becker.

Some swear by Rosetta Stone.

And who's to say if any one of those methods/learning styles is better than the other, if it works for them?

One more agreement - whatever works, stick to it... common sense.

An oft-repeated myth, this one.

I totally disagree.

i found out there are several methods.. pimsleur or classes etc etc.. what would u recommend and why?

Those recommending methods will mostly be selecting from their language learning style. So, do you know how you learn? Have you taken one of those online tests? I'd personally start from there, then go searching around for a method fit. No point in you sitting in a class if you don't learn best that way...

Btw - I do like Pimsleur Thai. Along the same lines, I found Assimil Thai good as well.

Englander, feel free to carry on your tirad without me.

WoW you have someone drive however many KM's to deliver your solitary meal, yet you claim to care about the environment.

I believe the tree hugging musician Sting once had his maid drive 300 miles to make him a solitary meal so your not quite on his hypocrisy levels when it comes to your love of the environment.

There's always going to be someone on this forum showing off what an asshat they are. Congrats.

I just remembered one little niggling problem...

Chefxp delivers food in containers that are quite good.

Unless I've missed it, the containers are not being officially recycled.

When I first started ordering from Chefxp, I'd clean each container and into the cupboard they'd go.

But cupboards can only take so much plastic. Friends and maids as well.

So is there a plan in place to stop this mounting waste?

Is the packaging biodegradable?

If not, can they make the move to something that is?

Or at the very least, set up a return policy?

About a month ago I placed an order for cabos Mexican restaurant around 1030pm. This is kind of the border time when some restaurants are still open and some closing, so I really appreciate the email verification system; if I don't get a confirmation email about my order, then I assume the order didn't go through and the restaurant is closed. I didn't get any emails after 20 min so I went for option B ; McDonalds... The mc'ds and the chefsxp guy showed up at the exact same time and I payed 200'baht and 500 baht for the Mexican food. I ended up giving the fast food to the security guard. I sent an message to chefsxp the next day, but never got a reply.

If you don't receive an auto email, just ask via their online help. But they are typing with English as a second language, so mixups can still happen.

Odd that you didn't receive a phone call though. If anything is wrong with my order - the restaurant being out of something, or closed - then they call to make sure I know. In my experience, they don't leave that part up to emails.

If anyone fancies trying to teach me some basic Thai over Skype I will pay by PayPal.. nothing serious!

I'll even buy you a few drinks when I arrive next month!

There is a Thai Skype series now in progress.

A list of Skype Thai teachers will be posted next week (message me if you want the list)

Interesting story (and what a difficult way to learn Thai).

Does anyone know how to contact Behnam Moafi?

I've been using Chefxp for over a year now and feel that they are doing a decent job in a market that needs it. Before I moved without their range, I'd look on their services with envy.

There was only one problem (a mixup) where they offered the food for free.

No deliveries have been cold, even during the Red Shirts. I often compare my steady Chefxp experience with the many times I've had pizza companies deliver pizzas anyway but up upright.

Gather all of the information you can (photos if need be), and contact the American Embassy.

Hmmmm... well, ok then. But can you [deleted]

Why don't you offer to review?

They have reprinted, so they've obviously corrected mistakes.

(note: there are always mistakes - staring at computer screens is a bugger).

That way, it would be a win win.

Tod, you might have spoken too soon as they have updated. I don't know what version you saw, but the phonetics are the typical lines angled above and below (nothing earth shatteringly different than a lot of the courses out there). And the colour coding denoting the different words in Thai script could be helpful for those just learning how to read (the other option for beginners is to separate the Thai words).

I can say that it is easily the best dictionary that I have found for a mobile device.

What others did you compare it with?

This is a new product line out last year (I believe).

http://www.learnspeakthai.com/

They released their Volume 2 in both Issan and Central Thai just recently.

As for trying to do without an iPod (ie without sound), you are awfully brave.

And like Todd mentioned, monks have all the gear tucked away somewhere in those orange robes. So why not you?

Besides, 'rules were made to be broken' = sooooooooooo Thai... as is 'up to you'...