BKKGuitar

Likewise almost every Thai seems to know ATM, Internet, whisky, beer,...

You have to say it with the same pronunciation though... "whis-a-key".

That's beautiful! Also, "saut" (sauce) and "spy" (sprite)!

No worries mate, it’s all in good fun!

Even after being married to my Thai wife for 6 years, I still have problems with her English, and she with my Thai. Some conversations go like this:

One party makes a statement in their non-native language.

Other party goes “Huh?”

Statement repeated

Other party goes” Huh?.....Oooooohhhh!” and breaks out laughing. Then the pronunciation is corrected by the native speaking party and we move on in the conversation.

This also happens with my other Thai relatives and friends.

My favorite mis-pronunciation from my wife and her family is still “Baa baa yaa saa lat”. I ate this for months with out any idea what it was made from, until one morning someone brought ripe papaya for breakfast. One of my sister in laws sees it and says “Ahhh, baa baa yaa!”

For other places, I always enjoy it when I hear “Have a nice fright!” while boarding an airplane in Narita.

For lots of English bastardizations, see www.engrish.com

Blackheart, thanks for the tip on engrish.com, i just wasted a half hour there and had my first laugh of the day!

Personally, i love the Thai pronunciation of any foreign borrowed word with that "er" sound in it: เ-อ, especially if it has a falling tone. Good examples: computER or Big C SupER, mithTER. Always makes me smile.

The Swedish site www.4m.se is very good for single words. Click the "dictionary" tab at the home page and type in your English word. For more than one word, I don't know of any good sites. Anyone else?

็How about colloquial เพอร์เฟกต์? I think it's pronounced [ML]phoe [H]fek.

Thai people pronounce it as [M]per [L[fek.

Is this a difference in pronounciation or a difference is transcription?

I'd be surprised if that were a low tone, it must be high: low class consonant + dead short ending. also it just sounds right with a high tone.

The point is Thai people don't read English borrowed word as it's written. Because one of the rule to transliterate English word to Thai is "don't put tone mark on it unless it might mix up with other words". So, the rule you mentioned can't apply with borrowed word.

Take "computer" as example. คอมพิวเตอร์ - คอม(Mid) พิว(Mid or High sometimes) เต้อ(Falling).

Khun Yoot, thank you for explaining about borrowed words. I'm still learning every day!

็How about colloquial เพอร์เฟกต์? I think it's pronounced [ML]phoe [H]fek.

Thai people pronounce it as [M]per [L[fek.

Is this a difference in pronounciation or a difference is transcription?

I'd be surprised if that were a low tone, it must be high: low class consonant + dead short ending. also it just sounds right with a high tone.

็How about colloquial เพอร์เฟกต์? I think it's pronounced [ML]phoe [H]fek.

These replies are great--thank you very much!

I have a feeling เพอร์เฟกต์ and อีเมล์ might be what i want. I meant "perfect" as in a perfect day, or perfect Thai, or a perfect smile, something flawless/beautiful in the eyes of the beholder... something like that. I had been considering ถูกต้อง

Can you Thai gurus give an assist on this (i only have thai-eng dictionary):

"email" - is a thai cognate used, or is the english term substituted?

"perfect" - as in perfect Thai, i.e. free of errors or imperfections

Thank you!

I've got my Thai input language added and my language bar on the toolbar with En/Th as needed. Started actually using it today and realized that one letter is missing on the Thai keyboard layout: "s" soo ryysii (sorry about the spelling!). Is that letter not normally used in Thai typing (I doubt it!!) or is there a problem with Vista (using the "Notepad" application)?

You can see what i mean by: Control Panel, Regional and Language Options, Keyboards and Languages, Change Keyboards, select Thai (if you've already added Thai), and look at Properties

Thanks!

I am using Vista and ษ is [shift][า or K] on the keyboard. ฤษี. ฤษี [N] hermit; recluse. And, I typed the letter on the notepad as well. I got to thinking. Perhaps the problem is that it is difficult to see the letters on the on-screen keyboard. Under "Settings" "Font", try something like "Tahoma, bold".

Thank you, the "shift + K" works on that.

Another problem is that the letters e, h, j, and shift + 6 keys produce nothing when typed in Thai mode. I mean no letter or mark appears on the screen at all when those keys are pressed.

I'm working on making some kind of hardcopy reference i can refer to for typing in Thai now. Wish i'd gotten one of those B175 thai keyboards at Panthip!

I've got my Thai input language added and my language bar on the toolbar with En/Th as needed. Started actually using it today and realized that one letter is missing on the Thai keyboard layout: "s" soo ryysii (sorry about the spelling!). Is that letter not normally used in Thai typing (I doubt it!!) or is there a problem with Vista (using the "Notepad" application)?

You can see what i mean by: Control Panel, Regional and Language Options, Keyboards and Languages, Change Keyboards, select Thai (if you've already added Thai), and look at Properties

Thanks!

I dropped by the Berlitz office in Bangkok and their method is kind of new to me- no English spoken in the class! They use pictures, body language, anything but English to help you learn.

It makes a hel_l of a lot of sense to me actually.

It is also expensive... so I am going to hunt around a little and was curious if anyone else knew of other immersion style schools in Bkk.

If anyone is interested the berlitz place is in "Times Square Building" near Asok Bts- and they offer a free lesson to try it out.

peace,

DL

I have to reply to this because I feel strongly about this subject. I know that different strategies work for different people. What works for one learner might not for another etc., but i really feel that the immersion strategy is not an effective one.

Examples that come to mind would be the US government's Defense Language Institute, and the AUA Thai program in Bangkok. At DLI, in an advanced "immersion" course I took, the instructors were ordered to not use a word of English in classes. They would enter the room and begin talking. The students eventually begin to understand a word or two, along with a splitting headache. At some point the teacher HAS to revert to English for explanation. Every class included the teacher at some point furtively checking the window at the door and then explaining something in a whisper. The irritation was tremendous, since the students were very motivated to learn and were forced to sit and endure this, instead of diving in and working with the language.

At AUA, I was allowed to observe one class (after gauging my Thai language ability at the office, they sent me to observe an intermediate level class, i forgot what level it was). The young energetic male Thai instructor entered the room holding a newspaper and spent the entire period talking about an article from the paper. The students are NOT ALLOWED to speak! They must remain passively listening, with the assumption that at some point some of the language starts to sink in. I spoke with several students after the class, and they like the class and felt they were progressing nicely, which contradicts my opinions on immersion...

I really feel that this immersion strategy is mostly an irritating waste of time. Yes, the students eventually begin learning, if the presentation is mixed with other activities, reference materials and guidance, but it's a long, drawn-out process. I feel that the best way to learn language (for me, anyway) is to roll up the sleeves, dive in and work with it: dialogues, lots of examples, vocab lists, pattern drills, reading, listening, speaking, all preferably with a native speaker's guidance, and lots of hard work.

The language packs are not what you want. They change the user interface language (things such as dialog boxes, menus, etc.). See http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/e...ab5ecc1033.mspx for more about language packs.

What you want to do is change the input language. See http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/e...30889f1033.mspx for instructions on doing this.

Thanks for your reply. I'll read those links. My windows/fonts folder has several Thai fonts already included with Vista, including the one I want ("Angsana New"), but when you open the Thai font, the example of the font is in an English language font... I'm on an XP computer at the moment, have to wait to get back on my normal Vista one. Thanks again!

Has anyone recently installed Thai fonts on a PC running Vista or know anything about Windows Vista language packs (not available in Thai font as of 1/7/2007)?

I want to be able to type in (and read) Thai and English using a word processor, email, and other applications. Vista is my operating system.

Thanks!

Does anyone have the link to that "Pirates" site? Many found it offensive, i thought it was very funny. Some guy was running around Pattaya and Bangkok taking pictures of "Pirates Sightings" (farang men in Thailand, something like that...). Thanks

if you don't mind about seing some rats in your room when you come back in the night, you could try the Rajah Masion

Hold on, you must be confusing Rajah Mansion with the seedy-ass Rajah Hotel, next door. Rajah Mansion is on Soi 4, fairly new, neat and clean. Good rate, but then they stole my security deposit when i moved out. Dohh!

When i was apt-hunting i checked out the Rajah Hotel: scary!!

Well, turns out that Bangkok really got "under my skin" in the year or so I spent there, unemployed and doing the monthly visa run routine.

I find myself making plans to go back, and am looking at info for the TEFL Certificate courses in Bangkok, beginning early May-ish. To make my life easier I'm only looking at four of them, and here's what I've got:

ECC - CELTA course, 3 weeks, $1,400

Worldwide TEFL - TEFL Cert course $699, "Guaranteed Job and Work Permit" $$2,549 (!), and both for $3,199

Text and Talk - 4-week Certificate course and 6-week Certificate course, have to go back again for prices.

Chichester - Certificate course $1,390

These schools all mention help with getting the non-immigrant B, good for up to 15 months. Mmmm....

Well, just wanted to share that, in case it's useful to anyone. Might give one an idea of the cost of the certificate. Has anyone out there gotten that 15-month visa?

Thanks for the info Bkkguitar. Useful info. I know some ladies who have lived in Nana Condo for at least 6 years. I think many property owners spend their deposits as soon as they receive them, with no intention of refunding them. Useful to share info on these instances.

Thanks for the note, shotover!

Just to clarify: Saranjai Mansion and Rajah Mansion stole my deposits. I had a good experience with Nana City Condo and Omni Tower.

I may be heading back to BKK soon, and am thinking of Asoke/Sukhumwit area, or Sukhumwit Suites, if anyone has recommendations there or is looking for a subletter or even roommate... thanks!

Thanks for the reviews. very informative. I've also heard negative comments about the conditions of the Rajah Mansion rooms, and them not returning renters deposits.

A couple of questions:

What was the minimum lease requirement for the Omni room at 19,000 baht, and how did they charge for electricity and water?

Where is the Nana City Condo located? At the end of Sukhumvit Soi 4 next to the Tobacco Factory, or on Sukhumvit Soi 3?

Thanks

Hi shotover,

I think Omni likes to get the standard 12-month rental contract but are flexible. You might get a better rate with a longer term. Water and electric were seperate bills, delivered in the mailbox and payable along with the rent. But i should mention that i was talking to the laundry lady across the street from Omni, and she told me i could have gotten the same studio from her for 16,000/month.

Nana City Condo is on Sukh Soi 4, not far from Nana Plaza. As you walk down Soi 4 from Sukh, it's on the left, before the Nana City Inn, and across the street from Rajah Mansion. You walk in off the street and back a little ways, all the way to the back, past the elevator. There's always a family member on duty watching from the back, they keep track of who comes and goes to the elevator. I plan to stay there again. No roaches, unlike the Nana City Inn which is in front of it and has a MAJOR roach problem! I think i'd prefer staying there and paying day-by-day, instead of having my deposit ripped off by places like Saranjai and Rajah Mansion.

We're leaving Thailand, but wanted to pass on a some housing info from the four apartments we've had in Bangkok:

Omni Tower: B19,000/month large studio; very positive experience, Indian (Sikh) management were super, only downside was the walk to Nana BTS

Saranjai Mansion: B16,000/month small one-bedroom; overall negative, was lied to on several occasions by management, then they kept half my two-month security deposit

Nana City Condo: B800/day large studio with sun room; positive experience, friendly and helpful family (all the way in the back) manages the short-term rentals there

Rajah Mansion: B11,000/month studio; seemed great at first, it's new, so not run-down yet. Friendly young woman manages at the office, speaks excellent English (school in USA). Then they stole my security deposit upon check-out...

I'll write a better review after arriving at home station, if anyone has questions on these four places PM me, i'd be glad to answer!

Tnx

What's best way to go, and cost? Looks like a (meter) taxi ride would be expensive...

Tnx!

Hi Frank,

Is this still available? I'd like to see it when I arrive next week.

The apartment was just taken. Sorry! (Unable to edit my original post to denote "taken")

Need to make reservations for a hotel-pickup mini-van to Pattaya for tomorrow, but I'm stuck in the apt today, can't get out to check at travel agencies.

Anyone have contact number for one? Thanks much!

Look's like this is the exact reason they are changing the visa rules. Dummies like this make us all look bad. Ten to One he has no work permit/visa ....To be unaware of the law is no excuse...................

Agree. The thrust of the matter is that selling medicinal drugs is illegal. This gentleman will be getting the shaft now, for sure. What is he: nuts? Reportedly, the police had been looking long and hard for him, too!

Pattaya Immigration arrested Viagra dealer

PATTAYA CITY: -- On 22 September 2006, at 01.00 a.m. Police General Ittipol Ittisaranchai, Chief of Pattaya Immigration Department, Police Lieutenant General Thanaphan Promsuk together with team of Officers arrested Mr. Geisler Heinz Robery, aged 50, German Nationality in front of Hous Munchen restaurant, in Pattaya Naklua Road.

Police General Ittitpol of the Pattaya Immigration Department received a report from an undercover officer that a foreigner named Mr. Geisler who’s making monkey business on Viagra pills in the city.-- Pattaya Daily News 2006-09-23

Police were swollen with pride after their arrest.

It would take more than 20 inches of water to get rid of all the shit in Soi Buakhao

"Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets." Who said it?

Robert DeNiro in "Taxi Driver" (?)