Where Do I Learn Thai, Whilst My Gf Learns English?

[meadish_sweetball]

never hear deum. Always hear kin. Education hasn't sat still since 1960. You may not have noticed.

In this case it's not about language development, it's about register.

Good schools teach you to speak properly first, the same way Thai school kids will be corrected by their teachers for using กิน when referring strictly to drinking.

This is because they realize it will get you further and put you in a better light than teaching you street lingo and slang. It isn't particularly hard to adjust to and learn the different levels of vocabulary once you have a solid base in proper Central Thai.

ดืม is a more specific word than กิน and also slightly more formal, but it is not by any means archaic.

[el jefe]

never hear deum. Always hear kin. Education hasn't sat still since 1960. You may not have noticed.

In this case it's not about language development, it's about register.

Good schools teach you to speak properly first, the same way Thai school kids will be corrected by their teachers for using กิน when referring strictly to drinking.

This is because they realize it will get you further and put you in a better light than teaching you street lingo and slang. It isn't particularly hard to adjust to and learn the different levels of vocabulary once you have a solid base in proper Central Thai.

ดืม is a more specific word than กิน and also slightly more formal, but it is not by any means archaic.

If no one taught me "deum", how would i know what they were asking me in a restaurant?

As for private tutors (Thai only), please post them here, or PM me too. Thanks.

[DavidOxon]

Great innit?

OP comes on looking for some POSITIVE advice, then a disgruntled poster's comment all but takes over the thread in terms of replies. This is becoming too standard when people are posting valid help requests - is it a symptom of the wider farang community's condition, or a peculiarity of the online community?

For Mall Magician - having spoken to a few friends, they all recommend the place on Chotana Road that's a few hundred metres uphill from the elephant shrine and on the right as you leave the city. Apparently they do foundation reading and writing counrses for foreigners to learn Thai, and blend them with spoken Thai lessons. (They told me the name and I forgot it - it's almost dead level with where the road turns into dual carriageway with a central barrier up the middle of the road)

A few people who I know went there 3-4 years ago, now read the Thai language newspapers daily and tend to be way ahead on news of what's happening. Still rooting around to find the best options for your gf.

Gaz

I'd like more details of this school if anyone has any

I arrive in less than 4 weeks and a decent Thai language school

is second on my list right after broadband and beer

David

[Ajarn]

never hear deum. Always hear kin. Education hasn't sat still since 1960. You may not have noticed.

Maybe it's the crowd yer hangin with. Bargirls ?

Since you are not learning thai, I think you don't know what you are talking about.

One of the reasons for studying Thai at AUA is the quality you get. People who talk thai with you can tell you where you got your Thai. A person with a non-bargirl type of thai will be respected more.

[p1p]

never hear deum. Always hear kin. Education hasn't sat still since 1960. You may not have noticed.

ดืม "Deum" literally means to drink and is used in all kinds of company. It is normal, everyday Thai in most circumstances.

กิน "Gin" (ก Gor Gai is most appropriately transcribed as a "G") means both to eat and/or drink. In polite company it is most often used with children. Depending on the company you keep, you may seldom hear people use กิน.

[Loaded]

I know what deum means and I know what kin means. As I have said already, 'deum' is more formal than 'kin' and is rarely heard in an informal situation. AUA DOESN'T teach this difference.

Ajarn

I don't do bargirls. I'm not a sad old fart... yet! And I don't speak Burmese.

[uptheos]

And I don't speak Burmese.

If you do want to

http://www.educationburma.net/migrant_learning_center.html

[Ulysses G.]

I know what deum means and I know what kin means. As I have said already, 'deum' is more formal than 'kin' and is rarely heard in an informal situation. AUA DOESN'T teach this difference.

They taught me both and explained why each is used.

[kash]

Maybe it's the crowd yer hangin with. Bargirls ?...People who talk thai with you can tell you where you got your Thai. A person with a non-bargirl type of thai will be respected more.

Excellent remark, always a reason to be found when civilized debating don't make your case ... most people respect those who don't put people in class and derogatory remarks like this, much more than those riding their white horses pretending to be high up there ... eod.

hope OP find what he seeks, and more people learn Thai - which I at least hope most people will agree upon is tge most important issue here ...

[Ulysses G.]

never hear deum. Always hear kin. Education hasn't sat still since 1960. You may not have noticed.

I'm not trying to be nasty, but as soon as I read this, I thought along the same lines as Ajarn.

My staff are all educated through high school and they all use the word "duem" on a regular basis.

Edited December 11, 2007 by Ulysses G.

[Loaded]

I know what deum means and I know what kin means. As I have said already, 'deum' is more formal than 'kin' and is rarely heard in an informal situation. AUA DOESN'T teach this difference.

They taught me both and explained why each is used.

Which book (1, 2 or 3) and page number do they teach kin as a synonym for deum and explain it's tone/register?

PS UG

Thailand doesn't have high schools. Do you mean they continued their education from M4 to M6?

Edited December 12, 2007 by Loaded

[Ulysses G.]

I know what deum means and I know what kin means. As I have said already, 'deum' is more formal than 'kin' and is rarely heard in an informal situation. AUA DOESN'T teach this difference.

They taught me both and explained why each is used.

Which book (1, 2 or 3) and page number do they teach kin as a synonym for deum and explain it's tone/register?

PS UG

Thailand doesn't have high schools. Do you mean they continued their education from M4 to M6?

We did a LOT of learning outside the book in every class. The book was only part of the learning process, and by the way, my staff insist that there is high school in Thailand, even if it is called something else in Thai.

Mr. Pedantic

[anonymouse]

I found with the AUA it depended on who was teaching, for book one I had the excellent Khun Boonmark who didn't bother using AUA's books and taught an excellent course that improved my Thai tenfold. My book two course and private lessons with other teachers were so so and I must admit lost me my initial enthusiasm.

Khun Boonmark also taught the difference between deum and kin

Edited December 12, 2007 by anonymouse

[uptheos]

I found with the AUA it depended on who was teaching, for book one I had the excellent Khun Boonmark who didn't bother using AUA's books and taught an excellent course that improved my Thai tenfold. My book two course and private lessons with other teachers were so so and I must admit lost me my initial enthusiasm.

Khun Boonmark also taught the difference between deum and kin

Khun Boonmark is the best I've experienced and I like the way he will improvise if need be. I found that when I was with him (several years back) all my Thai language skills developed very fast.

[PeaceBlondie]

The long review of many Thai courses, printed a few years ago in CityLife magazine, pointed out that many of the Thai teachers in Chiang Mai used antiquated books and teaching methods. In this thread, Khun Boonmark is given high ratings because he "...didn't bother using AUA's books..." Many Chiang Mai farang are saying they got very bad courses here, and yet they also found some good teachers and courses.

One TV poster has been through his third course already, including I think YMCA and Payap, and isn't halfway fluent yet. I gather that it's a very difficult language to learn, and many fail. I haven't even tried.

[meadish_sweetball]

The long review of many Thai courses, printed a few years ago in CityLife magazine, pointed out that many of the Thai teachers in Chiang Mai used antiquated books and teaching methods.

While today there is some new teaching material that can be used, especially for beginners, only 10 years ago the situation looked quite different. Unless I've missed a lot of what has happened during the past 6 years (which is possible as I haven't studied with a teacher during this time) high quality intermediate learning material geared towards foreigners may still be lacking.

Once you are at the advanced level, any contemporary prose, TV shows, music, poetry etc. can be used as the basis for assignments and discussion, but the problem is in between - from having learned the basics of reading and writing up until you are reasonably able to decipher novels, newspaper texts and other prose by yourself with the help of a dictionary and only occasional need for instruction by a native speaker.

Many foreigners have a problem getting on with Thai teachers, because of cultural differences. People who have the need to prove themselves right in front of their teacher may complain that their teachers sometimes can not explain things satisfactorily, and refuse to admit when they are wrong. Face comes in here.

From my experience, if you want a fruitful communication with a Thai teacher, in general it means you have to succumb to their authority in the classroom - even when you are convinced you are right and they are wrong. Learn to forget about what's incorrect and focus on what you can get out of the teacher instead. Ask the right questions.

'Why' questions are usually a waste of time - ask for concrete examples of usage, because this is what native speakers are best at producing. Leave the 'why's to specialist literature and google searches.

If one question fails to produce an answer that makes sense, try another angle later.

If the teacher is catastrophically bad, then by all means change courses.

One TV poster has been through his third course already, including I think YMCA and Payap, and isn't halfway fluent yet. I gather that it's a very difficult language to learn, and many fail. I haven't even tried.

It is a hard language to learn, but hard doesn't mean impossible. It just means a large amount of patience and persistence is required.

If my experiences count for something, the bulk of the effort in learning a language lies with yourself and the amount of time you spend on it outside of lesson time. Just sitting in on lessons will not be enough. Repetition is crucial.

[el jefe]

If the teacher is catastrophically bad, then by all means change courses.

Too late for some. My wife has already paid for her Beginning Thai course at the YMCA and is half way through it so she'll finish. In January or February she'll take the Beginning Thai course at AUA with Khun Boonmark, who I agree is excellent.

[Lithobid]

Many foreigners have a problem getting on with Thai teachers, because of cultural differences. People who have the need to prove themselves right in front of their teacher may complain that their teachers sometimes can not explain things satisfactorily, and refuse to admit when they are wrong. Face comes in here.

From my experience, if you want a fruitful communication with a Thai teacher, in general it means you have to succumb to their authority in the classroom - even when you are convinced you are right and they are wrong. Learn to forget about what's incorrect and focus on what you can get out of the teacher instead. Ask the right questions.

'Why' questions are usually a waste of time - ask for concrete examples of usage, because this is what native speakers are best at producing. Leave the 'why's to specialist literature and google searches.

If one question fails to produce an answer that makes sense, try another angle later.

If the teacher is catastrophically bad, then by all means change courses.

It is a hard language to learn, but hard doesn't mean impossible. It just means a large amount of patience and persistence is required.

If my experiences count for something, the bulk of the effort in learning a language lies with yourself and the amount of time you spend on it outside of lesson time. Just sitting in on lessons will not be enough. Repetition is crucial.

I've yet to hear anything more true on TV! I'm moving to CM soon to study Thai at Payap Uni, and I never would have gotten as far as I have with Thai if I didn't follow all of these important rules.

Great Post!

Edited March 7, 2008 by Lithobid