Aua Thai Language 'listening' Only Program

[Nepal4me]

I have studied Thai at the Union, Unity, TLA schools, which all have the same program. I've gone thru levels 1 thru 6, have done some of the modules twice and have even done a couple of the electives after level 6. These electives are refered to as "advanced". I can read Thai quite well, I can speak poorly but my vocabulary is quite full so can make myself understood. My problem is after almost 2 years, I still can't understand anything. If I'm in a taxi, I can have a simple convo with the driver, I can understand to some degree because I know exactly what the topic is and he can repeat it a number of times. Beyond that and the usual greetings, I can't understand anything. It's very frustrating given the significant amount of hours I've put into learning Thai.

Since my problem is clearly listening and understanding (rather not understanding), I've decided to give the AUA program a go. This program entails having 2 teachers at the front of the room talking Thai to each other in an animated way and they try to keep the students engaged and interested in what they are talking about. They have levels 1 thru 10 and recommend 200 hours per level. Yeah 2000 hours is a hel_l of a long time but they say you'll be fluent by the time you're finished. I've done about 25 hours, they put me in level 3, and I don't understand too much. Other students say after a while, it just starts to make sense, your listening just gets better. Most of the students spend 4 to 7 hours a day, if you want to get the full value out of the program then they say the more hours the better.

Would be interested in hearing from somebody that actually went thru the program and had success or otherwise at least get their comments on the program.

[mijan24]

No nothing about your question sorry but was just wondering about the cost??- 2000 hours wow!!

[Neeranam]

I went along to AUA once a few years ago and they tried to get me to enrol on that thing - I told them I'd be better off watching the telly.

I think that immersion is the only way for myself to learn Thai - away from any Thais who speak any English, whether in the pub or watching telly, reading books etc.

[mijan24]

I went along to AUA once a few years ago and they tried to get me to enrol on that thing - I told them I'd be better off watching the telly.

I think that immersion is the only way for myself to learn Thai - away from any Thais who speak any English, whether in the pub or watching telly, reading books etc.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes also for me - Soi where I lived in Nonthaburi all Thai, did not have cable nor ubc and I progressed - now in KK with mod cons so to speak - stagnating in the TL Stakes.

[Brew]

what about the gossip that AUA is connected to CIA.

(sorry, it doesn't fit to this topic)

Edited November 16, 2005 by Brew

[bina]

neeranam,

i have to agree with u; i'm now working with soeone that refuses to speak anything but pure thai (not english mix or hebrew mix, and not 'baby thai' but real grammatically correct thai)... he carries most of the conversation and gives me words to look up (he writes in thai refuses to let me do the transliteration bit and then i have to type them in the virtual keyboard), so am learning very very very quickly... although he has a six grade level only schooling , he is a natural teacher and working like this for 7 hours a day, my learning has jumped by leaps and bounds... although by 17:00 my brain is absulutely fried .... he asks questions, expects full answers, etc... this is the third week and i've progessed by leaps and bounds, although it couldnt have happened if i didnt have a good basis...

immersion is the way at least for me (with no access to mother tongue, etc)

[Johpa]

what about the gossip that AUA is connected to CIA.

(sorry, it doesn't fit to this topic)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah yes, the swashbuckling stories of Marvin Brown must still be making the rounds.

Beware the subliminal messages when listening to the old AUA tapes.

"raan ?ahaan nik (kill commies) yuu thii nai?"

[sabaijai]

The problem with that particular method that AUA Bangkok uses is that it's based on Stephen Krashen's 'Natural Approach', which was big in the 1970s and early 80s but has been roundly discredited since then. Classroom-centred research suggests it's one of the least effective of the many methods that have been cooked up over the years.

On the other hand everyone has their own way of learning language, and it may work for some.

I also have noticed that language students often learn in spite of the method they're taught with, rather than because of it. Someone who has trouble learning a foreign language will probably have trouble no matter what method is employed, and conversely someone 'good' at languages will learn no matter what.

[mijan24]

I also have noticed that language students often learn in spite of the method they're taught with, rather than because of it. Someone who has trouble learning a foreign language will probably have trouble no matter what method is employed, and conversely someone 'good' at languages will learn no matter what.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sabaijai The Ozzie Defence Dept used to have a Phys test to identify if you were good at languages or not, more often than not those selected for linguistic training ended up taking on several languages during their careers.

Nepal4me - What is the cost??

Edited November 17, 2005 by mijan24

[Nepal4me]

I also have noticed that language students often learn in spite of the method they're taught with, rather than because of it. Someone who has trouble learning a foreign language will probably have trouble no matter what method is employed, and conversely someone 'good' at languages will learn no matter what.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nepal4me - What is the cost??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The cost of the program is about 85 baht per hour if you pay in advance for 200 hours. If you do the 200 hours in 2 months, you get a bonus 50 hours. There are many students there that spend 7 hours per day there so they certainly qualify for the 50 hour bonus.

I've spent about 30 hours there over the past week which isn't enough to really guage its effectiveness for me. I suspect that what Sabaijai says about people who can learn will learn whatever style they study with and those that are slow to learn new languages will learn slowly in any style. I certainly qualify as a slow learner. Learning my first 2nd language in my forties is probably not easy for anyone and I am slow as molassas. I've bought 200 hours and am going to make a concerted effort to try this program out, it does make some sense to me. My biggest problem is understanding when Thai people speak so there is some logic that this style of teaching will be useful for me. TBD.

It's also worthy of note, this program is very different from just watching TV. When I watch TV, I understand nothing. At least in this program when I can keep my attention on what the teachers are saying, I can understand 30 or 40% since the topics are pretty standard and are repeated quite often. Interestingly there are classes from 7am to 8pm and each hour has a theme, eg. business, vacation, religion, popular TV shows, amazing Thailand etc. so there is consistency in each hour. Additionally a lot of what they say in one hour crosses over to other courses so you do get repetition.

[Neeranam]

Seems a little strange to me this method when one is living in Thailand.

Just befriend a few Thai people and learn by osmosis.