Looking For A Thai Language Teacher Who Is Not Thai

[phuketlen]

Ideally a native English speaker who learned Thai as an adult. Lookling for longterm private lessons, once a week at a business office for two people. If you know someone please PM me the details. Thank you very much in advance!

[BangTaoBoy]

Do you mind if I ask you why you've decided to go down that road? Surely you will need to be very carefull that you're not learning bad habits. There are a lot of people who speak Thai very, very well, but not so many that speak it exactly as a Thai would.

[keestha]

I am also puzzled about this. A non Thai teacher would teach you the wrong pronounciation

As a foreigner, you will always have a heavy accent when speaking Thai. I have been living in Thailand for 19 years, and to foreigners it seems like my Thai is fluent. But I know that for Thais my accent sounds like I am from outer space. The muscles in these people's jaws developed in a different way. When I speak German, which is a foreign language to me, sometimes native speakers think that I am a native speaker too, especially when they are from Austria or Switzerland. But no way if I make a phone call in Thai, the person picking up the phone will think I am a native Thai speaker.

[krading]

"I am also puzzled about this. A non Thai teacher would teach you the wrong pronounciation"

Are you saying that there are absolutely no foreigners speaking Thai who can pronounce the words correctly?

I would love to have lessons from a native English speaker who is fluent in Thai.

I think that Phuketlen might be looking for someone who understands business concepts and can translate them into workable Thai.

On the other side of the coin, would you want to learn English from a Thai teacher like those seen on Distance Learning Television?

[Patong Bob]

David from TTT in Chalong specialises in teaching Thai to Falang. He is very good ( and better when sober). He is Sourh African and speaks Afrikaans, Hebrew and several other languages. I recommend him.

[BangTaoBoy]

Are you saying that there are absolutely no foreigners speaking Thai who can pronounce the words correctly?

Of course there is. My point was, out of all the people who speak Thai well, there will be more of them that speak it with a Farang accent, than those that manage to get the Thai accent perfect. I was simply saying that it would be a good idea to make sure the teacher was the latter.

I think that Phuketlen might be looking for someone who understands business concepts and can translate them into workable Thai.

Hopefully he'll answer the question and we'll all find out.

On the other side of the coin, would you want to learn English from a Thai teacher like those seen on Distance Learning Television?

I don't know what 'Distance Learning TV ' is, but isn't that the point we were making!! No you wouldn't, you would want to learn English from a native English speaker.

[BangTaoBoy]

David from TTT in Chalong specialises in teaching Thai to Falang. He is very good ( and better when sober). He is Sourh African and speaks Afrikaans, Hebrew and several other languages. I recommend him.

Does he speak Thai like a Thai person, or does he speak Thai like a Farang speaking Thai?

[Somtamnication]

TTT used to have a good Thai teacher. Do not know if he still works for Dave. And yes, the bottle has been a problem. Every student I have ever sent there for their TEFL, come back with strange stories.

Anyways, to the OP. Better get a Thai.

[phuketlen]

Thanks All, for all your time and input but with all due respect and no offense intended, I am not really looking for opinions on how to learn Thai. I know what I am doing and why. So if anyone know of someone who fits the bill please let me know, PM is just fine if you prefer. Thanks!

p.s. in context of a few PMs I have received and the one recommendation in the thread, I would add that I am looking for someone relatively "professional". Thanks again in advance for anyone who can help!