Well...im struggling with my Thai lesson's,1 hour a day.

My teacher explained to me he teaches /speaks Thai not Lao/Issan and really I want to know more of that,but as he's my flatmate I am getting lesson's for free so I will just keep going with the Thai he's ...trying ...to teach me.and it's not easy.

How do you think i should program my learning,my 'teacher' is not experienced,just my flatmate.

Believe it or not I have been learning on and off for 7 years,but keep stopping.

I know many words but not sentences,i know days,months,numbers ,I dont want to get dissallusioned and give up but any ideas on how to learn.

Im thinking of buying a Iphone so i can wear that in the gym,walking etc.

Do you think using memory is good or do you write the words down.

thankyou to you all

yes great..

Just my humble opinion.

You can study some words and phrases "here and there", with no programme, and that's fine for beginner.

But you have to realize that solid knowledge can't come this way. Say if you know how to calculate 2+2, this alone does not mean you can teach in school. That's because you can't answer why. "Just" native speaker will give you courage for learning, but not more.

What you can do?

1. Get a notebook and write. There will be two parts, dictionary and phrases. A Dictionary has three columns: (1) meaning - English, (2) transcription, and (3) writing - Thai.

2. Read your notebook time to time.

3. Speak.

4. Convince your roommate to correct you when you speak wrong. Thai people are usually shy to correct you because they don't want you to "lose face".

Good luck in your studying.

Umm... even though Lao/Issan language is pretty close to Thai language (grammatically), there is a huge different in vocabularies. I don't think your Thai teacher can teach you Lao/Issan language. If you really want to learn it, wouldn't it be easier to go live in Lao or Issan for a year or two? (I'm not being sarcastic).

I'm somewhat in the same boat terrychris.

In most situations, I am going to struggle.

BUT in some situations, The words just flow.

Maybe your teacher can help you with an everyday type situation that you want to feel comfortable with.

Knock that out.

Focus on a new one.

One facet I am working on is the 3 online dictionaries that I have book marked (Thai-Language, Lexitron, and the RID).

My reflex is to start with Thai-Language but it needs to be Lexitron. The RID being the ultimate goal.

At this point in the game, I need to be looking at more Thai and less English.

The Iphone idea > If you think that it will help you soak it all in, go for it.

I write down words, phrases, and sentences in one of those basic black composition notebooks all the time.

When it's full, I throw it out and get a new one.

It's a habit that has developed over time and has taken a while to pay off for me in a way that I did not foresee.

I have a (slowly) growing bank of words where I can visualize the spelling as I speak them. Like an image that flashes in my head.

I find myself having to hit the reset button from time to time. I can do this in Thai, why am I still using English here ?

Anyway, hope any of this helps.

This is how I mastered a foreign language. By watching sitcoms and game shows (never mind, Jeopardy! was one of them) on television in the States. Don't forget Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Ernie, and Elmo. Learning through comedy is great because laughing relaxes you. Besides, skits tend to use contemporary vocabulary and include current local and global affairs.

I'm a die-hard Kids in the Hall fan, except that they're Canadians. Well, close enough to American English than British English.

So make it fun and laugh while learning your Thai or Isaan. There must be something on the tube for you to watch.