Thai language study group "Kaizen" in Chiang Mai (ป.๓-๔-๕).

[Old Curmudgeon]

 

I am organizing a study group for expats who want to practice Thai reading and vocabulary at intermediate level, approximately ป.๓-๔-๕
(Sorry, not for beginners.)

 

Meet once a week in a quiet coffee shop in a central location.
Focused practice and vocabulary drill, (not random conversation).
Bring your own vocabulary lists, with several copies to pass around.
Discuss word meanings, pronunciation, and "register".

 

The unique idea of this group is to apply principles of Kaizen and "Lean" to improve the process of learning a foreign language.
Apply ideas of Paul Akers and Norm O'Hara to language learning.
(As far as I know, this has never been done before.)

Will begin with "morning meeting" (but sitting, not standing, thank you very much).

Then apply "3S" and 2-second lean to learning vocabulary and developing reading fluency.

 

No charge.
Not a business in any way.
(Just pay for your own coffee.)

 

Questions welcome here on the public forum,
but interested queries only by PM/DM please.

 

Edited yesterday at 02:34 PM by Old Curmudgeon

[Dante99]

If you want to learn Thai, study with a Thai teacher.  

[CMHomeboy78]

1 hour ago, Dante99 said:

If you want to learn Thai, study with a Thai teacher.  

That's the best advice anybody could give or get on this subject.

[Old Curmudgeon]

I should have made the OP more specific:

 

This group is for practice and drill to gain fluency in vocabulary.

And for using methods of Kaizen and Lean to make improvements in learning vocabulary.

 

Not intended as a substitute for learning with a Thai native-speaker.

Also not intended as a substitute for beginner lessons.

 

To participate in this small group, must already be fluent in Thai alphabet and tone rules and understand the language concept of "register".

Edited 17 hours ago by Old Curmudgeon

[Polaky]

No need to learn Thai, I understand her perfectly just by observing her hand gestures and the tone of her voice.😀

[Old Curmudgeon]

52 minutes ago, Polaky said:

No need to learn Thai, I understand her perfectly just by observing her hand gestures and the tone of her voice.😀

 

@Polaky's post brings up another point that I need to clear up:

 

The purpose of this group is NOT learning the language for casual conversation.

 

The goal here is:

1 - VOCABULARY ACQUISITION by drill and practice (with others at a similar level.)

2 - IMPROVE the learning process using "Kaizen" methods.

 

If one's goal is just to talk with Thai ladies, this is not a good fit.

But if your goal is to expand your vocabulary and fluency, this could be a good fit.

 

Basic understanding of Kaizen methods is required to understand the process.

Without that understanding, it would be a waste of time for all involved.

 

I will mention again to emphasize:

This will try to apply Kaizen and Lean methods to language learning.

As far as I know, this has never been done before.

 

For several years now, I have been trying to do that in my own language lessons.

However, there is a big problem:

The concept of "process improvement" is anathema to Thai culture.

Both of my private teachers get upset when I even hint at improving learning techniques, "This is the way we do it in Thailand!"

 

So, I'm posting here looking for other expats who also want to improve their own language learning process.

 

[1FinickyOne]

7 hours ago, Dante99 said:

If you want to learn Thai, study with a Thai teacher.  

Some of the best tips I have received through the years were from foreigners who were a few steps ahead of me - - they knew where my stumbles might be and how to overcome - -  

[placnx]

2 hours ago, Old Curmudgeon said:

 

@Polaky's post brings up another point that I need to clear up:

 

The purpose of this group is NOT learning the language for casual conversation.

 

The goal here is:

1 - VOCABULARY ACQUISITION by drill and practice (with others at a similar level.)

2 - IMPROVE the learning process using "Kaizen" methods.

 

If one's goal is just to talk with Thai ladies, this is not a good fit.

But if your goal is to expand your vocabulary and fluency, this could be a good fit.

 

Basic understanding of Kaizen methods is required to understand the process.

Without that understanding, it would be a waste of time for all involved.

 

I will mention again to emphasize:

This will try to apply Kaizen and Lean methods to language learning.

As far as I know, this has never been done before.

 

For several years now, I have been trying to do that in my own language lessons.

However, there is a big problem:

The concept of "process improvement" is anathema to Thai culture.

Both of my private teachers get upset when I even hint at improving learning techniques, "This is the way we do it in Thailand!"

 

So, I'm posting here looking for other expats who also want to improve their own language learning process.

 

Are you aware of the AUA Chiang Mai Thai language courses?

https://www.expatden.com/thailand/thai-language-school-review-aua-chiang-mai/

[Old Curmudgeon]

1 hour ago, placnx said:

AUA Chiang Mai Thai language courses?

https://www.expatden.com/thailand/thai-language-school-review-aua-chiang-mai/

 

Thanks, @placnx for posting about AUA.

Some readers of this thread are likely to be interested in that.

 

But this thread is not about conventional language courses such as AUA.

It is not a language course.

I tried to make that clear in my posts above.

But if questions remain about the difference between this and conventional classes, welcome to ask here.

 

In addition there is the requirement to be familiar with Kaizen methods.

That is surely not part of any conventional language course.

 

 

Edited 9 hours ago by Old Curmudgeon

[novacova]

12 hours ago, Dante99 said:

If you want to learn Thai, study with a Thai teacher.  

That just so happens to be my wife and the neighbors I run into while walking around the neighborhood and at the local kad.

[AnnaBanana]

Learning Thai from farangs... be they digital nomads passing through, or long time expats pushing Japanese corporate mind control techniques... amounts to the same thing. 

It would be hard to imagine a better way to produce some real howlers.

The faux amis in French pale in comparison with the numerous false cognates that exist in both Thai and English.

Verbal pratfalls are hard to avoid even when studying with the best Thai teachers.

Learning from farangs would be a guaranteed farce.

[Old Curmudgeon]

[Old Curmudgeon]

It can't be that I am the only expat in the Chiang Mai area who wants to improve fluency in Thai language.

But so far on this topic, not even one interested inquiry.

Not one.

 

Seemed to me like a valuable opportunity to team up with other expats nearby who are interested in learning the language to a higher level.

And doing so by using an efficient and "Lean" process.

 

But, on this thread so far, only "snarky" or un-informed replies.

No serious inquiries in direct messages at all.

 

Oh, well, I'm continuing alone, as best I can.

The "Lean" method is working for me, albeit slowly and in fits and starts.

And the worst part: my Thai private teachers really don't like the concept of improving the learning process.

I wish they did, but that's not "how we do it in Thailand".

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Old Curmudgeon

[radiochaser]

1 hour ago, Old Curmudgeon said:

It can't be that I am the only expat in the Chiang Mai area who wants to improve fluency in Thai language.

But so far on this topic, not even one interested inquiry.

Not one.

 

Seemed to me like a valuable opportunity to team up with other expats nearby who are interested in learning the language to a higher level.

And doing so by using an efficient and "Lean" process.

 

But, on this thread so far, only "snarky" or un-informed replies.

No serious inquiries in direct messages at all.

 

Oh, well, I'm continuing alone, as best I can.

The "Lean" method is working for me, albeit slowly and in fits and starts.

And the worst part: my Thai private teachers really don't like the concept of improving the learning process.

I wish they did, but that's not "how we do it in Thailand".

 

 

What is the "Lean method"  that you refer to?  I don't recall hearing of that before.  

[GammaGlobulin]

15 hours ago, Old Curmudgeon said:

I should have made the OP more specific:

 

This group is for practice and drill to gain fluency in vocabulary.

And for using methods of Kaizen and Lean to make improvements in learning vocabulary.

 

Not intended as a substitute for learning with a Thai native-speaker.

Also not intended as a substitute for beginner lessons.

 

To participate in this small group, must already be fluent in Thai alphabet and tone rules and understand the language concept of "register".

 

And, also...

 

What prerequisite vocabulary knowledge is required?

Minimum of 5000 words?

Or, what is the minimum?