Correct Word For 'course'

[xkkpafi]

My dictionary gives me so many versions of the word 'course' in the context of doing a course of education that I dont want to look a fool by picking the wrong one, or getting it mixed up with a completely different meaning for course (like saying 'of course..'). Basically what I want to say is that "Next year I am attending a Java course (of study)". Would somebody kindly help me with this translation, many thanks. Patrick

[stateman]

"Next year I am attending a Java course (of study)".

ปีหน้าผมจะไปเรียนวิชาจาว่า (ซึงเป็นวิชาทางคอมพิวเตอร์)

Pee Nah Pom Ja Pai Rian Wicha Java

(Sueng Pen Wicha Computer)

Note: the clarification in parenthesis is for the case the listener has no idea what a Java course is.

[xkkpafi]

"Next year I am attending a Java course (of study)".

ปีหน้าผมจะไปเรียนวิชาจาว่า (ซึงเป็นวิชาทางคอมพิวเตอร์)

Pee Nah Pom Ja Pai Rian Wicha Java

(Sueng Pen Wicha Computer)

Note: the clarification in parenthesis is for the case the listener has no idea what a Java course is.

Many Thanks. I suspected it was going to be " I read the subject Java..!"

[withnail]

Sometimes I see course translated as หลักสูตร làk sòot. Although this is really closer to curriculum I believe it is used in place of the word course when it must be written in Thai. However, the loanword คอร์ส kôht (course) is also commonly used at times.

Whether you really need to express the word course or not is the important issue I feel. Stateman's answer gets the point across perfectly but doesn't really mention the word course. If you feel you need to mention the word course because you are only studying for a short period not starting a degree then you could perhaps add ระยะสั้นๆ rá-yá sân sân to indicate it is only for a short period of time.

I have asked similar questions before because I have taken courses and actually now teach one. I have used the expression rian ___ rá-yá sân sân before because often when I have mentioned the idea of me studying to Thai people they have immediately presumed I meant 'at university for three years'. Where I work the Thai staff use the English word course when speaking Thai but probably just because they work where they do.

Edited December 6, 2007 by withnail

[stateman]

"Next year I am attending a Java course (of study)".

ปีหน้าผมจะไปเรียนวิชาจาว่า (ซึงเป็นวิชาทางคอมพิวเตอร์)

Pee Nah Pom Ja Pai Rian Wicha Java

(Sueng Pen Wicha Computer)

Note: the clarification in parenthesis is for the case the listener has no idea what a Java course is.

Many Thanks. I suspected it was going to be " I read the subject Java..!"

" I read the subject Java..!"

"read" is อ่าน, not เรียน

"เรียนวิชา" means to learn a subject. This is the original and common Thai usage.

The word คอร์ส (course) is a borrowed term known to college students. Majority of Thais may not know its meaning well.

"วิชา" is understood to be a short subject, not a long term multi-course series.

I assume OP is going to take a single course. Is this so?

If it is a curriculum containing multiple subjects, maybe withnail's หลักสูตร applies.

Sometimes I see course translated as หลักสูตร làk sòot. Although this is really closer to curriculum I believe it is used in place of the word course when it must be written in Thai. However, the loanword คอร์ส kôht (course) is also commonly used at times.