andre47

55 minutes ago, Tweedle dee said:

I may stand corrected  but i think our German buddy's seem to get there 'heads' round the language much easier.

I don't think so. It is all about motivation and discipline. If you want you can do too. ????

I was last week in Bangkok and had no problem at all to get a taxi. Each taxi was using the meter. Even no discussion at all.  ????

4 minutes ago, Ashto said:

I’d be interested in having a go. Can you indicate what were the right resources for you?

take a look here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Ruedskins/playlists

25 minutes ago, Pete1980 said:

I have been learning Thai since i arrived here.

The most important thing is to learn the script. It doesnt take that long and saves you time in the future. And by learning the script you are then surronded by Thai language, on signs, on TV etc etc.

I am not sure if i am allowed to plug this, but about 6 months ago I stumbled on to "Learn Thai with Oliver". IMO it is the best way, and i wished i had found it earlier. It doesnt teach you how to read the script, you must do that yourself, but once you do, this is the best website. It is a fun website to use, not just like reading Thai from a book, which sends me to sleep after about 30 minutes.

I went to a couple of schools in Pattaya and they were useless. 

I also use "Learn Thai with Oliver" and can recommend it.

I good way to learn the Alphabet is this on youtube:

1 hour ago, fvw53 said:

The most important factor is "necessity" ....before settling in Thailand I worked and lived in Pakistan, China, Sweden, Germany and Vietnam : in everyone of those countries I learned to speak the local language fluently...but here I got retired and married to a Thai wife and she is doing the communications in Thai for me. Also I cannot pick up a language from street talks and I need to go to school...but the nearest Thai language school is 2 hours drive from my house.

If you have an internet connection you can learn Thai easily with your computer. If you like, send me a PM and I can give you some good websites. And you have your wife who can answer your questions. ???? 

2 hours ago, Justin Side said:

I used to try and make an effort but soon realised that most Thais make no effort to even try and understand me if my attempts are not perfect so I gave up.

Yes, many Thais don't like to speak Thai with farangs. I think that is because for us it is difficult to use the right tones. Then the meaning is changing and for Thais difficult to understand.

Don't give up. For me, I am learning Thai now for 3 years, it is going much better now. Sometimes Thais are trying to ignore my Thai but I insist in speaking Thai with them. When they are realizing that I know some Thai they start to take me seriously and talk Thai with me. Often they are much friendlier when they feel that a farang can speak Thai.

2 hours ago, sirineou said:

Absolutely right, in addition Thai is not related to the european languages   and if you simply learned the words and then try to structure a sentence the same way you would in English, you would make litle sense. For instance in english you would say the red car. same in Greek "to cokino autokinito or in italian " La machina  rossa . different words but same structure   But in Thai you would not say "the red car" but rather "the car red"  (rot si dang)  I know the words but I have trouble with the sequence.   Next year when I retire and have more time in Thailand I plan to  take lessons and hopefully crack the code.

Try to exercise whole sentences, not only single words. Practicing whole sentences will give you a feeling for the structure. It takes a bit of time but it can be done.

31 minutes ago, rhodie said:

Did it ever occur to you that Thailand is a military dictatorship! 

I did not write that in Thailand is everything perfect, but as far as I know the government here is not killing thousands of people.

13 minutes ago, KittenKong said:

Donald Trump is a total a**hole. Did that stop me from spending a month in the USA and enjoying it immensely? No. Would it stop me from living in the USA if I wanted to (and if I could afford the health insurance)? No.

You are funny....

yes DT is a AH, but not a murder (as far I know ???? )

10 minutes ago, tropo said:

This is total nonsense. Just about everything has improved since Duterte took power, unless you're a corrupt cop or drug dealer. Poor people get more aid, hospitals are forced to treat people they used to turn away to die. Less young people are using drugs. Public offices are working better to serve people. The economy is growing too. He is not power hungry at all - he loves his people and he is very popular. He is not after money or power.

Do you really want to tell us that it is ok if a president of a country is murdering people for a good cause?

Even if his victims are drug dealers (all of them? who knows...), they should get a fair trial at court. 

By the way...

The President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte is commanding killer groups and he treats the law with his feet. He is not far of being a dictator.

Think twice before moving to such a country.

6 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Tell that to those who are being arrested for being late on their 90-day reports or not having up-to-date TM30 residence forms.

 

You can be arrested for overstay but not for being late on 90-day reports or TM30. You can be fined for that. Of cause if you are overstaying you will also not make a 90-day report or TM30 ???? 

5 hours ago, BobBKK said:

You believe that BS?  do you speak to any Thais?  (doubtful I know). You are WAY off-topic.

Yes, I believe these figures. Just take a look to the highway between Pattaya and Bangkok. Compare the companies at the right and left side now with 2 or 5 years ago. Its growing fast. Take a look at Suvarnabhumi Airport now and 5 years ago and look what they are planing for the next 10 years. Then compare Thailand with their neighbors. Thailand is developing very fast. Of cause not everybody is a winner in this process. Some businesses are declining (beer bars) and other are growing. So if you ask some people on the street it is not sure that you will get a representative answer. Look how many cars are driving now at the streets and how many were 10 years ago. I know that many of them are bought by bank loan but anyway the people can afford them.

Thailand is changing. The old 'sanuk-culture' is slowly disappearing. Some of the old 'beer-bar-farang' will not like that and some of the uneducated Thai also don't like it because they have to start thinking and working.

6 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

'Booming'?  hahaha   what planet are you living on?  do you talk to any Thais?  I'm afraid your understanding of Thais, Thailand and the 'government' is virtually zero.

GDP growth: 3.0% (2015), 3.3% (2016), 3.9% (2017e), 4.1% (2018f)

Is this stagnating?

My understanding about people like you is zero!

3 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Lots of answers to the above questions, but I'll just offer two:

 

1. They're arresting and jailing foreigners for failing to do their 90 day reports these days....

 

They are fining foreigners for not do their 90 day reports and this is ok because they don't obey the rules. They are not jailing them for that.

What is your intention? Why are you publishing fake news here. Why do you irritate others here?

For me it seems too be not save enough. Armed securities in front of each shop with valuables. Many people have guns.

I don't like their food.

The only thing for tourism you can do is beach life or exploring the nature.

The Catholic Church has a very strong influence.

I don't want ever have a Thai landlord....????

4 minutes ago, Sparkles said:

Driven in many Asian countries Thailand is the worst by a mile...

Have you driven in India or Vietnam?  ????  In Thailand is not that bad ☠️

10 minutes ago, tropo said:

Thanks for the warning. The only time I carry my passport is when I'm going to the immigration office, visiting my embassy or travelling. The rest of the time it is locked up in my safe.

Me too...but I always carry my Thai DL and a copy of my passport and visa pages on my mobile phone.

Don't worry too much. If you behave like a normal person this should be enough.

On 10/9/2018 at 2:37 PM, Burma Bill said:

The we must be lucky. Not only my local PO but the main offices in Khon Kaen and Chumphae, also the branch offices in Nong Rua, Ban Fang, Central Plaza, Tesco Lotus and the airport (KKC) - all of which I use. NO PASSPORT for letters. PASSPORT for packages and parcels.

I sent a letter from Thailand to Germany. I must show my ID-card. (DL) ---a normal letter ----

It is already worse than in China. Big brother is watching you....everywhere. All these security measures don't make any sense. If somebody want to make a crime he will do anyway. And wait..it will become worse. They will control us everywhere. Cameras and face recognition and our phones (location + message history). 

On 10/12/2018 at 3:53 PM, Bangkokazy said:

Siberia has become a popular destination for Chinese tourists

This is the Kremlin. (not Siberia)