Learning Thai In Isaan

[wasabi]

I have been thinking about going to Piammtr school in Asoke but I am now also considering going to a school in Isaan. Reasons are cheaper cost of living, more peaceful, and less pollution. Would it be a bad idea to attend school maybe in Kon Kaen or another city around there? Any recommendations? Any ideas about advantages/disadvantages would be appreciated. One thing I do like about BKK is the ample public transportation in mos areas.

[meadish_sweetball]

You won't hear Central Thai spoken around you as much, outside of the classroom. At least this is true for Chiang Mai and I would imagine Khon Kaen being one of Isaan's largest cities, is similar. In CM, almost all informal conversations between natives are in Northern Thai, kham mueang.

If you address somebody in Central Thai they will answer in Central Thai, but until one has learned a fair bit of Northern Thai there is not as much chance of eavesdropping as in Bangkok.

[wasabi]

Maybe I should go to Piammtr to start off and once I get a stronger foothold move on to Isaan for the peace and quiet I desire!

[Gimbo]

Maybe I should go to Piammtr to start off and once I get a stronger foothold move on to Isaan for the peace and quiet I desire!

If you want to learn Thai, staying in Isaan is not a good idea. As all you will hear is Isaan Lao, or khmer. People here only speak Thai when adressed in that language.

It would be like going to France to learn to speak German.

[meadish_sweetball]

Maybe I should go to Piammtr to start off and once I get a stronger foothold move on to Isaan for the peace and quiet I desire!

I still haven't made an active effort at learning Northern Thai, I just pick up bits and pieces. It's fairly ironic that I spent several years on learning Thai but still have some difficulties understanding what my wives family and relatives are saying when they are not speaking directly to me.

Perhaps it would be good if you tried to define for yourself for what purposes you want to learn, and then make a decision based on that.

If it is your dream to spend most of your time in Isaan and you aren't worried about understanding the news and reading, maybe it would be a better idea to start with learning Lao - provided you don't live in area bordering Cambodia, that is.

[wasabi]

My desire is to learn central Thai. I want to speak with the majority of Thai people and possibly increase employment options. I am interested in Lao, but a mastery of Thai comes first which requires I go to a school that teaches central Thai well. It seems Isaan is not the right place to start.