Learn Thai In Melbourne - Where?

[honkin]

Does anybody know a decent place to learn Thai in Melbourne?

Also, is there a Thai alphabet resource that is downloadable? Like a pdf or something?

Cheers

[N&M]

RMIT in the city have a supposedly good course.

[skylar]

I think it's the only one with a structured course, but even then I can't locate it on the website. There are no institutes with degree level Thai in Melbourne since Monash closed its programme in 2000; RMIT's programme is TAFE. Sad - and get this - 10 years ago 5 universities were operating Thai in Sydney, however only Sydney University's course remains and even then it shifted to UTS at the beginning of this year! And the ANU's programme is strong. They even have a Lao unit of study.

[honkin]

Can't find anything at the RMIT website. They used to run it but it looks like they are not in 2006

Thanks anyway

[MrHerb]

Does anybody know a decent place to learn Thai in Melbourne?

Also, is there a Thai alphabet resource that is downloadable? Like a pdf or something?

Cheers

G'day,

You might want to try contacting this bloke

http://members.optusnet.com.au/alexgitlits/

I know he was using a private tutor in Melbourne to teach him Thai.

Regards,

Herbie.

[donna]

Try the Council of Adult Education (CAE). They are in Flinders Street half way between Swanston and Elizabeth. I did an Indonesian course there years ago and they were great.

Im sure they have a website.

[Bobcat]

The class at the CAE appears to be taught by a farang. Details are here: http://www.cae.edu.au/?class=DLI74501

[honkin]

Yeah, I did have concerens when I read he was a farang, even if he taught Thai to the defence forces.

cheers

[skylar]

He's paraprofessional with NAATI, which means he's pretty darn good... www.naati.com.au for details on levels of translators and interpreters, and they have a list too - maybe some of the listed contacts also teach Thai? He will speak Thai with his own accent rather than a proper Thai one. The upside is he's learnt it himself so he will understand your problems. Interesting that he was the tutor at RMIT when the Thai course was running!

[meadish_sweetball]

I have met a few farang who have almost spotless Thai accents. They are not common, but they definitely do exist. One was my first Thai teacher at Uni.

The major advantage of a farang teacher at the early stages is that they will generally have a better understanding of the problems and misconceptions that face a beginner.

In my case, it was also easier to understand the reasoning of our farang teacher than our Thai teacher in the early stages.

The possible downside is that their vocabulary and familiarity with uncommon expressions will not be as good, but at the beginning stage that is hardly much a concern.

Once you have the basic knowledge and can ask and receive instructions in Thai, switching to a Thai teacher is often a good idea. Another variation is to take some classes with a Thai teacher, and some with a farang - they will typically complement each other really well.

[N&M]

Also there is a wat in Springvale rd, dont know address or number, but it is one of the bigger well known ones in Melb.

From Maroondah highway heading out of the city, turn right into springvale and keep an eye out on the left for it, you have to look good, because it is just a house with signage from memory, or couple of houses actually. There are some shops just 100 mters past it and if you get to Burwood highway I think you have gone to far.

[skylar]

I have met a few farang who have almost spotless Thai accents. They are not common, but they definitely do exist. One was my first Thai teacher at Uni.

I never said farang with Thai accents or near Thai accents didn't exist. I know farang with proper Thai accents! This particular tutor's experience tells me he learnt Thai in the later stages, which in turn tells me it is more likely than not that he has a non-Thai accent. Which is the case of most people on this forum, dare I say it.

[Bobcat]

He probably has a better standard Thai accent than some Thai people from the North and the South of Thailand. Not uncommon. The NAATI paraprofessional category no longer exists for Thai language so he must have been accredited a long time ago. Paraprofessional accreditation is now only available for languages where there are insufficient professional level interpreters or translators. Also, paraprofessional accreditation is for general conversation, not requiring knowledge of specialised vocabulary.

Edited February 8, 2006 by Bobcat

[meadish_sweetball]

I have met a few farang who have almost spotless Thai accents. They are not common, but they definitely do exist. One was my first Thai teacher at Uni.

I never said farang with Thai accents or near Thai accents didn't exist. I know farang with proper Thai accents! This particular tutor's experience tells me he learnt Thai in the later stages, which in turn tells me it is more likely than not that he has a non-Thai accent. Which is the case of most people on this forum, dare I say it.

I haven't got a clue what John Cavanagh's accent is like in reality, your guess is as good as mine - however, judging from his merits and solid experience of linguistics and teaching, I think he sounds like just what the doctor ordered for a Thai language beginner.

As for the Thai accents of forum participants, I am completely ignorant. I have only met one other language forum regular in real life. As far as I can tell, my own accent is passable and reasonably clear without the typical beginner's mistakes, but I also know a few mistakes I do make (I can even hear them as I make them), in particular when tired, e.g. upholding the difference between สระ โ and สระ อ, and between สระ เ and สระ แ.