Thai Exams

[dsfbrit]

I have been learning Thai for 3 years. I can speak, read and write Thai quite well, I guess. I have lost 'direction' though.

I still go to my Thai language lessons once a week, but its mainly conversation now. I still have Thai written translation homework as well, but that seems to be the same old structures (yawn...).

Its mainly that its all got so 'stale'. I figured if I were to study for an exam it would give me a new direction. Can anyone recommend a set of exams that I could study for that starts off as 'beginner' exam - which you need to pass to move to the next level etc... etc...

I did go and look at the AUA school in Pattaya, which has some exams that can be taken, but that seemed to be farang talking Thai to farang?? Is that any good ?

Even a web-site with a syllabus of a set of exams would be useful, as I could learn that via the school I currently attend in Pattaya and maybe go to Bangkok or whatever to take the exam?

Thanks for any advice

Edited September 6, 2007 by dsfbrit

[Sateev]

I have been learning Thai for 3 years. I can speak, read and write Thai quite well, I guess. I have lost 'direction' though.

I still go to my Thai language lessons once a week, but its mainly conversation now. I still have Thai written translation homework as well, but that seems to be the same old structures (yawn...).

Its mainly that its all got so 'stale'. I figured if I were to study for an exam it would give me a new direction. Can anyone recommend a set of exams that I could study for that starts off as 'beginner' exam - which you need to pass to move to the next level etc... etc...

I did go and look at the AUA school in Pattaya, which has some exams that can be taken, but that seemed to be farang talking Thai to farang?? Is that any good ?

Even a web-site with a syllabus of a set of exams would be useful, as I could learn that via the school I currently attend in Pattaya and maybe go to Bangkok or whatever to take the exam?

Thanks for any advice

Why not take the government Prathom 6 test? It is the basic requirement to demonstrate Thai language proficiency. Any number of schools have a prep course for it, e.g., Unity, Union, etc.

Sateev

[dsfbrit]

Thanks Sateev, I just 'googled' that and came up with this:

http://thaiarc.tu.ac.th/thai/thcourse.html

It looks like it is what the AUA were offering in Pattaya as they are mentioned on this site.

Thanks, you have given me a 'kick' in the right direction so I will investigate this further.

[Sateev]

Thanks Sateev, I just 'googled' that and came up with this:

http://thaiarc.tu.ac.th/thai/thcourse.html

It looks like it is what the AUA were offering in Pattaya as they are mentioned on this site.

Thanks, you have given me a 'kick' in the right direction so I will investigate this further.

Happy to help.

It occurs to me that if you are bored with language instruction, you might find a contemporary issues, newspaper reading, or history class helpful. Although I haven't attended one, those classes are offered by the schools I mentioned before, UTL, Union, and others, and I believe one such class is required before you can take the Prathom 6 prep class, but don't quote me...I'm sure if you are willing to pay the money, you can take ANY class they offer

Good luck.

Sateev

[dsfbrit]

Thanks Sateev, I just 'googled' that and came up with this:

http://thaiarc.tu.ac.th/thai/thcourse.html

It looks like it is what the AUA were offering in Pattaya as they are mentioned on this site.

Thanks, you have given me a 'kick' in the right direction so I will investigate this further.

Happy to help.

It occurs to me that if you are bored with language instruction, you might find a contemporary issues, newspaper reading, or history class helpful. Although I haven't attended one, those classes are offered by the schools I mentioned before, UTL, Union, and others, and I believe one such class is required before you can take the Prathom 6 prep class, but don't quote me...I'm sure if you are willing to pay the money, you can take ANY class they offer

Good luck.

Sateev

OK this is my plan:

1. Today I will go and buy a Thai newspaper

2. I will 'poke' my head into the AUA classroom in North Pattaya - the classrooms look really depressing - tiny inside rooms with no windows - however, they may have a great syllabus that makes up for that!

3. Discuss with my current Thai teacher if there is an exam I can do - should have done this before really - I think we know each other too well after 3 years of studying and we have both got a bit 'sloppy'.

Thanks again for the advice.

[dsfbrit]

I discussed the Prathom 6 exam with my Thai wife and now understand what the ประถม levels are and and what ages they occur. Really interesting to learn the school system here.

So when I was at the bookstore yesterday, I had a look for any books on the syllabus of the of Prathom 6 Thais Language exams or any self learning books or tests questions etc... Couldn't find a thing. Nor on the Internet.

Does anyone know where I could find a Prathom 6 syllabus or test questions so I can better understand what it entails?

Also, does anyone know if there are Prathom 1, 2 etc... exams as well that can be taken on the way to Prathom 6 or even books the Thais use to study for these exams.

A lot of questions I know - but any answers gratefully received.

[Sateev]

I discussed the Prathom 6 exam with my Thai wife and now understand what the ประถม levels are and and what ages they occur. Really interesting to learn the school system here.

So when I was at the bookstore yesterday, I had a look for any books on the syllabus of the of Prathom 6 Thais Language exams or any self learning books or tests questions etc... Couldn't find a thing. Nor on the Internet.

Does anyone know where I could find a Prathom 6 syllabus or test questions so I can better understand what it entails?

Also, does anyone know if there are Prathom 1, 2 etc... exams as well that can be taken on the way to Prathom 6 or even books the Thais use to study for these exams.

A lot of questions I know - but any answers gratefully received.

Thais don't 'study' for there exams, per se; they take them as part of their primary school education. This is why you don't see prep books for them.

As for a syllabus, I think your only hope is to approach one of the language schools that has a specific course for the test. Union Language School, Unity Thai Language, and others have this course, although I don't know whether they would require you to take the course, or any prerequsites before they would give (or sell) you course materials. Passing the test would require you to have studied at a comparable level of instruction.

Note that the Prathom 6 test includes written and oral components, and part of it is about how you actually write the alphabet - if you use the correct strokes (the circle first, the correct formataion of sara 'e' and 'ee', etc.). This has to be done the approved way, and not randomly, even if the end result looks the same.

It is not really a test that you can study for; it is a test of how well you have learned Thai.

Sateev

Edited September 9, 2007 by Sateev

[dsfbrit]

I discussed the Prathom 6 exam with my Thai wife and now understand what the ประถม levels are and and what ages they occur. Really interesting to learn the school system here.

So when I was at the bookstore yesterday, I had a look for any books on the syllabus of the of Prathom 6 Thais Language exams or any self learning books or tests questions etc... Couldn't find a thing. Nor on the Internet.

Does anyone know where I could find a Prathom 6 syllabus or test questions so I can better understand what it entails?

Also, does anyone know if there are Prathom 1, 2 etc... exams as well that can be taken on the way to Prathom 6 or even books the Thais use to study for these exams.

A lot of questions I know - but any answers gratefully received.

Thais don't 'study' for there exams, per se; they take them as part of their primary school education. This is why you don't see prep books for them.

As for a syllabus, I think your only hope is to approach one of the language schools that has a specific course for the test. Union Language School, Unity Thai Language, and others have this course, although I don't know whether they would require you to take the course, or any prerequsites before they would give (or sell) you course materials. Passing the test would require you to have studied at a comparable level of instruction.

Note that the Prathom 6 test includes written and oral components, and part of it is about how you actually write the alphabet - if you use the correct strokes (the circle first, the correct formataion of sara 'e' and 'ee', etc.). This has to be done the approved way, and not randomly, even if the end result looks the same.

It is not really a test that you can study for; it is a test of how well you have learned Thai.

Sateev

Thanks, I have my weekly Thai lesson on Tuesday so will pursue this further.

[kiwivn]

I discussed the Prathom 6 exam with my Thai wife and now understand what the ประถม levels are and and what ages they occur. Really interesting to learn the school system here.

So when I was at the bookstore yesterday, I had a look for any books on the syllabus of the of Prathom 6 Thais Language exams or any self learning books or tests questions etc... Couldn't find a thing. Nor on the Internet.

Does anyone know where I could find a Prathom 6 syllabus or test questions so I can better understand what it entails?

Also, does anyone know if there are Prathom 1, 2 etc... exams as well that can be taken on the way to Prathom 6 or even books the Thais use to study for these exams.

A lot of questions I know - but any answers gratefully received.

I'm not sure if this website has what you are looking for, but have a look: http://www.dekgeng.com