Hello.

I have decided that I want to learn to speak Thai better than I do now so that I can talk more with my girlfriend and her parents. My knowledge of Thai is not too good but I know some. My question is simply what would you recommend that can help me? Do you know of any language schools that offer courses for learning Thai (I prefer this method) and how much would I be looking at paying? Are there also any particular books that can help me too?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Many thanks.

Ian

Hello.

I have decided that I want to learn to speak Thai better than I do now so that I can talk more with my girlfriend and her parents. My knowledge of Thai is not too good but I know some. My question is simply what would you recommend that can help me? Do you know of any language schools that offer courses for learning Thai (I prefer this method) and how much would I be looking at paying? Are there also any particular books that can help me too?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Many thanks.

Ian

Don't know of schools in BKK. To speak better you need to read and write Thai.

Here's info about the Chulalongkorn University Intensive Thai course.

Did you look at Thai Forum Sponsors? Some of them are Thai language schools.

Here's info about the Chulalongkorn University Intensive Thai course.

If you really want to learn Thai, Chula is the place to go!

There's some excellent info on the Chula course here. Some comprehensive discussion of other Thai schools can be found here.

Edit: Apologies to Billp - thought your link was to the Chula site. Anyway here's a link to the actual Chula course.

Hello.

I have decided that I want to learn to speak Thai better than I do now so that I can talk more with my girlfriend and her parents. My knowledge of Thai is not too good but I know some. My question is simply what would you recommend that can help me? Do you know of any language schools that offer courses for learning Thai (I prefer this method) and how much would I be looking at paying? Are there also any particular books that can help me too?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Many thanks.

Ian

I am attending Piammitr School and would recommend it. Piammitr offers 6 levels at 5500 baht a level plus 200 for the book. Classes are small with lots of individual attention and are taught in Thai. One level is three hours a day , 5 days a week for 60 hours. It is located near Nana BTS station. Website is:http://www.piammitrschool.com/index.html

Bob

Thank you very much for that

I will take a look. Thank you to you all for helping.

Take care.

Ian

The best school with private teachers is Pro Language (Kruu Eed is best) but if you want a full-on intensive course check out Unity Thai Language school in Times Square

I can recommend P&A Language Centre, very near Sala Daeng BTS. Link. 1 on 1 lessons are 300 Baht per hour.

Thanks for that. I will look at that also

I also have the Linguaphone Thai course that I will try.

Take care.

Ian

I found the timings of the schools too inflexible .... but I have a good Thai teacher who fits in with my travels .... K. Narissa on 0814094296.

Also just starting to watch Thai films and Thai news to try and improve the tones.

Hello.

I have decided that I want to learn to speak Thai better than I do now so that I can talk more with my girlfriend and her parents. My knowledge of Thai is not too good but I know some. My question is simply what would you recommend that can help me? Do you know of any language schools that offer courses for learning Thai (I prefer this method) and how much would I be looking at paying? Are there also any particular books that can help me too?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Many thanks.

Ian

Don't know of schools in BKK. To speak better you need to read and write Thai.

That's not the least bit true. I have taken many courses in the theory and practical application of learning languages, and speaking and listening have zero to do with reading and writing (well, not zero, but they're way less important than people think). You do not need to know how to read and write at all to speak well. Of course, it can help if you want to read Thai, yes, that would be helpful. But at the beginning you should focus solely on speaking and listening. Buy the Pimsleur Thai course of 30 lessons. Google it. Get it on Amazon dot com. They have cheap used ones often on Amazon. Worked wonders for me. Not perfect, and a phrase or two they teach you is not the common use (for example, Thais do not use "laowai" when referring to wine, but they say that is regional only, mostly they say they just use the English "wine"), but that's probably just the translators they used. Other than that, it's a great method for learning to speak correctly. You can loosen up the formal speech you learn with practice. After that, then focus on reading and writing if you want. Complete literacy in all areas of a language is desirable in the end, but not the start.

Oh, and as for schools, there are plenty in BKK. I would suggest doing the Pimsleur course, and then take a course to reinforce and add to what you learned. But in 30 days with that course, you will speak better Thai than some guys who've been here for 20 years and never learned how to speak well. If you want to stay in Thailand for a few years or more, knowing the language benefits you immensely. Try searching for BKK schools in the Bangkok Post print edition classifies, those are usually pretty good schools. Or try Walen method. I would be partial to that as I used to teach Callan Method, among other methods. Some people hate it, but it is intensive and focuses on drilling and fast, practical learning.

Hello.

I have decided that I want to learn to speak Thai better than I do now so that I can talk more with my girlfriend and her parents. My knowledge of Thai is not too good but I know some. My question is simply what would you recommend that can help me? Do you know of any language schools that offer courses for learning Thai (I prefer this method) and how much would I be looking at paying? Are there also any particular books that can help me too?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Many thanks.

Ian

Don't know of schools in BKK. To speak better you need to read and write Thai.

That's not the least bit true. I have taken many courses in the theory and practical application of learning languages, and speaking and listening have zero to do with reading and writing (well, not zero, but they're way less important than people think). You do not need to know how to read and write at all to speak well. Of course, it can help if you want to read Thai, yes, that would be helpful. But at the beginning you should focus solely on speaking and listening. Buy the Pimsleur Thai course of 30 lessons. Google it. Get it on Amazon dot com. They have cheap used ones often on Amazon. Worked wonders for me. Not perfect, and a phrase or two they teach you is not the common use (for example, Thais do not use "laowai" when referring to wine, but they say that is regional only, mostly they say they just use the English "wine"), but that's probably just the translators they used. Other than that, it's a great method for learning to speak correctly. You can loosen up the formal speech you learn with practice. After that, then focus on reading and writing if you want. Complete literacy in all areas of a language is desirable in the end, but not the start.

Oh, and as for schools, there are plenty in BKK. I would suggest doing the Pimsleur course, and then take a course to reinforce and add to what you learned. But in 30 days with that course, you will speak better Thai than some guys who've been here for 20 years and never learned how to speak well. If you want to stay in Thailand for a few years or more, knowing the language benefits you immensely. Try searching for BKK schools in the Bangkok Post print edition classifies, those are usually pretty good schools. Or try Walen method. I would be partial to that as I used to teach Callan Method, among other methods. Some people hate it, but it is intensive and focuses on drilling and fast, practical learning.

I completely agree and have always promoted the pimsleur course throughout this forum. The courses are used by the secret services to train agents in languages extremely quickly. After taking this course which is only considered 'Level 1' by Pimsleur my speaking ability is better than most farang I meet. It is complete nonsense that you need to read and write a language to speak it, children acquire language without any knowledge of the written word.

Thai language came from Lao language. Thai script came from the Tai of Sukhothai which are Lao people that was modified from the Khmer. Tai exist in southeast Asia in the mid 1250s AD. Lao existed in southeast Asia 2000 years ago. The Lao took Sukhothai from the Khmer in the early 1230s . Thats before the word Tai ever existed in southeast Asia.

The point being that the writing system is just a horrendous useless mish mash.

These sound like some great options to learn Thai. I have been studying as well. However, I need to work so I cannot devote 5 hours a day to go to school. You might try this lady Emma. She is half Thai half British. She can come to you for private lessons. Meet you in a coffee shop or public place. She has done this for a number of years and actually has some students who have become quite fluent. (I am not one of them yet! Working on it.) I think you can get about 20 lessons for about 7000 baht which I think is cheap. Check with her though. Plus she will come to you and work around your schedule. She has a basic website www.learnthaibangkok.com and you can reach her at: 0858141957. Good luck.