OK its about time that I learned toi read/speak thai properly. I learn best in a face to face intsructor lead forum but as I am in the boonies this is not an option.

How did other people learn?

Wife and I have reached a point where we almost have our own language, thaiglish I call it. Not really helping each other progress much.

Have looked at loads of online things, CDs and books not sure where to go. Any pointers?

I have learn't to read & write Thai on the fly - an initial kickoff using a teach yourself thai book by "David Smyth".

Learned the Thai "alphabet" from kids books in the local newsagents & parcticed everyday reading number plates on cars & passing road signs. Took about a year to become proficient with the Thai consenants & vowels.

I am at the point now where some serious one on one tuition for a year would be very beneficial.

Soundman.

I spend at least an hour a day reading Thai everyday and have been doing this for the last five years.

Choose a subject that interests you. ( I am intersted in Buddhism but there are plenty of Thai books on every subject).

Learn the tone rules and everytime you see a new Thai word work out its tone. Eventually after a few years you will be able to do this automatically.

Don't look at Thai words as the same word with different tones but different words altogether.

Everytime you hear a new word look up its meaning.

Buy a good dictionary.

Listen to Thai music.

Watch Thai TV.

Speak it everyday.

Expect progress to be slow.

Expect to realise after a few years to realise just how far more you need to go.

Practice everyday.

Only an idea, this is what i did, after learning the basics of speaking.

Learn to write the letters of the alphabet, consonants and vowels seperately. Then get your wife to tell you what each one is, i wrote the sound down in my own personal phonetics. Takes time, but if you've got it, it worked for me. For the tones i would seek professional help, but that's enough to keep you going for a bit.

There are also baby and prathom writing books you can buy cheaply in a local bookstore, just ask your wife to take you.This will help you to learn the alphabet.

And you can practise everywhere, there are signs all over Thailand. Take the bus everywhere.