Any Recent Experience Of Learning Thai In Pattaya

[sungod]

Hi, read a lot of previous posts about learning in Pattaya, but does anyone have any real recent experience. Most of the posts refer to AUA or Pro.I also work, it may be better to have private tuition as I need to be slightly flexible with timings. Just to give a background, I have been here 8 years and decided now to get off my ass and start learning, I have a very basic vocabulary which has just been picked up as I go along. Any help or suggestions would be greatly received.

[kriswillems]

I've visited several language schools in Pattaya (just went to talk with the teachers, not really studied there).

Only AUA has something that you can call a classroom course and has books. AUA has courses for beginners and advanced learners. But they don't orginise the course for advanced learners often because they don't get enough students. This is the reason why I decided not to study at AUA. The method of teaching of AUA in Pattaya and Bangkok is not the same. In Bangkok you basically have to watch 2 Thai people that speak together, you don't get the opportunity to talk yourself (it's like watching Thai TV). In Pattaya they offer a more regular course in which you also get the opportunity to speak.

The other schools I visited teach only Thai for absolute beginners (tourists). They only offer one-to-one tuition. They have no books for advanced learners. The teachers seem to be just people that can speak Thai and a bit English, without any experience teaching in a structured way and without any teaching method. I decided to study at PLC (Pattaya language and computer school, near carrefour). Although the teacher really tried hard, she didn't have any teaching method. I had to ask her questions and she replied.

I've decided to travel 4 hours per day, just to go to study Thai in Bangkok. The school in Bangkok are MUCH better. I live in Chonburi province (but not Pattaya).

[Jingthing]

I think there is a demand for a more serious school here.

[Mayette]

Hi there, i just want to ask you, if you finally found a decent school to learn Thai.. i also stayed here in Naklua and been here in Thailand for almost a 3 years but maybe just like you i speak the same 20 or 30 words in Thai that i know all the time..

I really want to try this year and i am still looking for a school...

I will really appreciate any information..

Thank you in advance..

[sungod]

Hi there, i just want to ask you, if you finally found a decent school to learn Thai.. i also stayed here in Naklua and been here in Thailand for almost a 3 years but maybe just like you i speak the same 20 or 30 words in.

Because of my work situation, i.e. I may have to go at a drop of a hat (actually left Thailand for Pakistan on new years eve and still here), courses with other students is not really an option for me. I could end up missing chunks. I need flexible one to one tuition.

I visited a few schools, AUA, PLC next to Carrefour and also Progress on Soi Yume next to Luk Dod. AUA do organised classes which start at different intervals through out the year. The teacher (JC) did say she could teach me privately at home for about 400 Baht an hour. To be honest price is not really a factor if the product is good. The main reason why I didn't go for that is I didn't want to learn at home. I'm one of those people that when they at home, I'm found mostly on the couch. I need to go to a classroom environment to focus completely.

I actually opted for Progress, just seemed to hit it off with them better than PLC when I was making enquiries, nothing against PLC though. I paid about 6000 baht for 20 hours (300 an hour), however if I like it I can upgrade to the 60 hour package for 15,000 (works out at 250 an hour). To begin with I went 3 times a week for 2 hours each time. I think one hour is not enough, and anything after 2 I would find it hard to soak in all the information. To be fair, it's too early to tell yet how good it is as I only managed to get 3 weeks in before I was called away. Saying that, I am happy with what I have achieved so far, Rome wasn't built in a day. Having a decent knowledge of Thai has helped a lot so far, as a lot of the words used in the sentences I know already. Therefore I can concentrate on the structure as opposed to learning all the words too. The teacher did say she is impressed with my progress in such a short time. (I do take her an apple every time though )

They have 2 approaches, what they call conversational and Grammar. Already knowing a bit I opted for the Grammar which I think will be better in the long run, as I think it is important to know why you are saying something, as well as knowing what you are saying. By learning the structure of sentences, I can now pop in words I know and thus increase my vocab. I had a feeling the conversational side was more directed at 'this phrase means this' and not understanding verbs, classifiers, tenses etc etc. They do have course books as such, stuff you have to cover. However my main criticism is that there are no exercises at the end of a section. I did say to the teacher as well as having a verbal question and confirm, could she design me some exercises to do, particularly for homework. She is more than happy to do it.

All in all, I can't comment on the other schools, it was just that Pro are happy to accommodate my schedule and at present I am happy with them, and am looking forward to getting back in the classroom next week.

Edited January 4, 2008 by sungod

[sungod]

Double post.

Edited January 4, 2008 by sungod