jaithai

I think you mean หรือ you forgot the vowel. It depends on the context it can mean or, but placed at the end of the sentence I think it's the same as ไหม

Actually, I did forget the vowel. The word she used is: เหรอ

The best ones I've found will translate from English to Thai, and from Thai to English, but only words, not sentences. Except they might have a phrasebook which translates preprogrammed phrases, sentences, questions, etc.

The talking portion will "say" the English words and will "say" the preprogrammed phrases in Thai. I was hoping to be able to put in a Thai word and have it "say" the word in Thai so I could check my pronunciation. Unfortunately, this seems to be beyond their scope at this time.

My tilac recently used หรอ at the end of a question. When I tried to get her to explain the difference between using หรอ and using ไหม to indicate a question, she gave some examples but I couldn't understand when one uses one and when one uses the other. Can someone please explain the difference and when to use each?

I'll go along with billp and flightcrew1. I stayed there with my "faen" for most of the month of February. Standard room was large with refrigerator, couch, desk. Good aircon. Pool on the roof was nice, but most importantly, the staff was friendly and helpful. When the housekeeper found out I was studying Thai, she frequently chatted in Thai to me, making small talk and complimented my progress.

One resource that has been invaluable to me for memorizing consonant classes. vowel sounds, and tone rules has been: http://www.1steasythaialphabet.com/

They use a visual memorization method that seem much easier and quicker than just a large chart. It has greatly improved my reading skills.

In February I was studying Thai at Pink Chilli Language School in Bangkok. Since being back in the US I have continued with them using Skype and a webcam. I use my laptop (IBM T43). The quality is generally fine. It's like being across the desk from the teacher.

One great feature with Skype is that while the teacher and I are talking, she can type (in English and/or Thai) and it shows up on my screen in a separate window. This is great for vocabulary words and reading practice. As cited above, a broadband connection is necessary on both sides.

Unico Grande Silom (formerly called Tower Inn) has free wifi in their lobby.

I have to add my agreement with meadish sweetball that trying many methods is the best way to find what works FOR YOU. And with luck, you get something out of each of them.

I, too, have started with the book method (and podcasts and CD's and Thai TV). But I have found that my native English speaking mouth just doesn't make the right shapes to form some of the sounds, especially vowel sounds. So next week I will start a few weeks in Bangkok to study with a tutor. I hope to gain some proficiency in sentence formation and pronunciation, as can only be achieved in the presence of a native Thai speaker.

Thanks, Jai Dee, for an informative and succinct explanation. I've heard about HHH but never figured out what they did or how they did it (until now).

And thanks to taxexile for asking the question in the first place.

Nice link. Very clear. Looks like INTJ has nothing to worry about.

I'm very glad you reported back to us on your experience. It so happens that I'm planning to visit BKK in February for a few weeks for the express purpose of learning (improving) my Thai.

Pink Chilli was my first choice of schools. Did you do group lessons or private tutoring?

Would you please share any details? I'd appreciate a heads up on what to expect.

I've been teaching myself for the last 6 months through CD's, software, podcasts, and the internet.

Thanks.

Happy Holidays to all and a special thanks to George for a brilliant clip.

Nice find! Thanks!

Now THAT sounds like it will help a lot. Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm using this book as well as "Thai for Beginners" by Benjawan Poomsan Becker. Both take you through stages using conversational dialogue as well as introducing written language. I liked Beckers book well enough that I recently ordered her software and her Intermediate book. The Becker series seems to dispense with the transliteration toward the end of the first book. I understand that the software program allows you to turn it on or off as needed. Good!

As others have cited, proper pronunciation is the biggest hurdle. I've made friends of the owner and waitresses at my local Thai restaurant (since I am living in farangland) and now they all help me with my "homework" whenever I come in.

I downloaded a mnemonic guide from 1stEasyThaiAlphabet.com. They claim to help you memorize the Thai alphabet in 60 minutes, as well as remembering to which class each consonant belongs and the tone rules. And it works! I've rely on this as a guide to tweak my memory as I study. Full access to the program is only $5.95 and it was well worth it.

And once you can type on your keyboard using Thai fonts, consider keyboard overlays to make it easier to figure out which keys make which letters.

I just ordered some from: http://www.datacal.com

They have clear self-adhesive stickers with either blue characters (for white and off-white keyboards) as well as with white characters (for black keyboards).