Thai Language Schools Pattaya

[feasantplukka]

Hi be in Pattaya in April, wanting info on best schools, prices, courses available, need a beginners course, not too intense 2hr a day maybe, 20hrs in total, any info would be appriciated, thanks

[doctormann]

Hi be in Pattaya in April, wanting info on best schools, prices, courses available, need a beginners course, not too intense 2hr a day maybe, 20hrs in total, any info would be appriciated, thanks

Hi

You could try AUA Language Centre, located in Pattaya Bazaar, near the Dolphin Roundabout. Tel 038 414634-5 They are affiliated to Burapha University and the teachers are all professionals.

The courses run for six weeks - 1 1/2 hours per day, Monday through Thursday. Cost per course, if I remember correctly is about 3500 THB. Usually not more than about six people in a class.

I attended classes there for about a year, with mixed results. Initially, very good progress (although 20 hours, as per your suggestion, isn't likely to get you very far unless you have a real flair for languages) but less good as things got rather more difficult. Pleasant environment though and the teacher that I had for most of the time (ask for JC) was a very nice lady.

The only real reservation that I have with AUA is that for the first three courses or so - starting at beginners level and progressing from there - there is no reading / writing content at all, it's all oral stuff. This may seem unimportant but it quickly becomes a real handicap. The general consensus seems to be that you should start with some reading / writing on day one, otherwise you will never get the pronunciation and tones correct. I know that this is not the way a child learns a language but bear in mind that children have brains like sponges and adults definitely do not (my brain, what there is left of it, is actually now full so I have to forget something if I want to make room for new info - or so it seems at times).

I think that the most important thing is not to get discouraged. Thai is not an easy language to learn - just about any European language is simple, in comparison, even Russian. The main problem is with the tones - you probably know that slight differences in tone can alter the meaning of a word completely. The grammar is actually, on the face of it, very simple but, in practice, this leads to it's own set of problems.

After a year of study I can now ask simple questions or make simple statements, in Thai, and am generally understood. Interpreting what comes back as a reply is another matter! Trying to follow a conversation - impossible for the most part! Reading / writing - can do at a basic level (often get fooled by the compound vowel structures). Vocabulary still very limited so I don't actually understand most of what I read! Maybe in another five years?

Anyway, good luck with it. Having some command of the language will definitely be better than having none. There are quite a few fluent Thai speakers amongst the farangs, in Thailand, but they are in the minority. Most of us (those who bother at all) just about know enough to get by.

DM

[feasantplukka]

Hi be in Pattaya in April, wanting info on best schools, prices, courses available, need a beginners course, not too intense 2hr a day maybe, 20hrs in total, any info would be appriciated, thanks

Hi

You could try AUA Language Centre, located in Pattaya Bazaar, near the Dolphin Roundabout. Tel 038 414634-5 They are affiliated to Burapha University and the teachers are all professionals.

The courses run for six weeks - 1 1/2 hours per day, Monday through Thursday. Cost per course, if I remember correctly is about 3500 THB. Usually not more than about six people in a class.

I attended classes there for about a year, with mixed results. Initially, very good progress (although 20 hours, as per your suggestion, isn't likely to get you very far unless you have a real flair for languages) but less good as things got rather more difficult. Pleasant environment though and the teacher that I had for most of the time (ask for JC) was a very nice lady.

The only real reservation that I have with AUA is that for the first three courses or so - starting at beginners level and progressing from there - there is no reading / writing content at all, it's all oral stuff. This may seem unimportant but it quickly becomes a real handicap. The general consensus seems to be that you should start with some reading / writing on day one, otherwise you will never get the pronunciation and tones correct. I know that this is not the way a child learns a language but bear in mind that children have brains like sponges and adults definitely do not (my brain, what there is left of it, is actually now full so I have to forget something if I want to make room for new info - or so it seems at times).

I think that the most important thing is not to get discouraged. Thai is not an easy language to learn - just about any European language is simple, in comparison, even Russian. The main problem is with the tones - you probably know that slight differences in tone can alter the meaning of a word completely. The grammar is actually, on the face of it, very simple but, in practice, this leads to it's own set of problems.

After a year of study I can now ask simple questions or make simple statements, in Thai, and am generally understood. Interpreting what comes back as a reply is another matter! Trying to follow a conversation - impossible for the most part! Reading / writing - can do at a basic level (often get fooled by the compound vowel structures). Vocabulary still very limited so I don't actually understand most of what I read! Maybe in another five years?

Anyway, good luck with it. Having some command of the language will definitely be better than having none. There are quite a few fluent Thai speakers amongst the farangs, in Thailand, but they are in the minority. Most of us (those who bother at all) just about know enough to get by.

DM

thanks for info, as i'm only staying around three weeks, but usually come to pattaya four times a year and stay for the same period do you think I will be able to take a course and do it when I am over, progressing as I go

Anyone else any useful info, wanting to learn as i visit, as long as it takes to learn or to a suitable level, someone must have learnt this way

[doctormann]

Hi be in Pattaya in April, wanting info on best schools, prices, courses available, need a beginners course, not too intense 2hr a day maybe, 20hrs in total, any info would be appriciated, thanks

Hi

You could try AUA Language Centre, located in Pattaya Bazaar, near the Dolphin Roundabout. Tel 038 414634-5 They are affiliated to Burapha University and the teachers are all professionals.

The courses run for six weeks - 1 1/2 hours per day, Monday through Thursday. Cost per course, if I remember correctly is about 3500 THB. Usually not more than about six people in a class.

I attended classes there for about a year, with mixed results. Initially, very good progress (although 20 hours, as per your suggestion, isn't likely to get you very far unless you have a real flair for languages) but less good as things got rather more difficult. Pleasant environment though and the teacher that I had for most of the time (ask for JC) was a very nice lady.

The only real reservation that I have with AUA is that for the first three courses or so - starting at beginners level and progressing from there - there is no reading / writing content at all, it's all oral stuff. This may seem unimportant but it quickly becomes a real handicap. The general consensus seems to be that you should start with some reading / writing on day one, otherwise you will never get the pronunciation and tones correct. I know that this is not the way a child learns a language but bear in mind that children have brains like sponges and adults definitely do not (my brain, what there is left of it, is actually now full so I have to forget something if I want to make room for new info - or so it seems at times).

I think that the most important thing is not to get discouraged. Thai is not an easy language to learn - just about any European language is simple, in comparison, even Russian. The main problem is with the tones - you probably know that slight differences in tone can alter the meaning of a word completely. The grammar is actually, on the face of it, very simple but, in practice, this leads to it's own set of problems.

After a year of study I can now ask simple questions or make simple statements, in Thai, and am generally understood. Interpreting what comes back as a reply is another matter! Trying to follow a conversation - impossible for the most part! Reading / writing - can do at a basic level (often get fooled by the compound vowel structures). Vocabulary still very limited so I don't actually understand most of what I read! Maybe in another five years?

Anyway, good luck with it. Having some command of the language will definitely be better than having none. There are quite a few fluent Thai speakers amongst the farangs, in Thailand, but they are in the minority. Most of us (those who bother at all) just about know enough to get by.

DM

thanks for info, as i'm only staying around three weeks, but usually come to pattaya four times a year and stay for the same period do you think I will be able to take a course and do it when I am over, progressing as I go

Anyone else any useful info, wanting to learn as i visit, as long as it takes to learn or to a suitable level, someone must have learnt this way

Hi again

If my memory serves me correctly, AUA also run more intensive courses - Saturdays / Sundays, maybe 6 hours a day - so if you are only here for three weeks at a time this may suit you better. Can only suggest that you 'phone them (038 414634-5) and get advice. The people in the office at Pattaya Bazaar speak reasonable English but if you want an in-depth discussion of the available options ask if you can speak to Richard - he's English.

DM

[feasantplukka]

Hi be in Pattaya in April, wanting info on best schools, prices, courses available, need a beginners course, not too intense 2hr a day maybe, 20hrs in total, any info would be appriciated, thanks

Hi

You could try AUA Language Centre, located in Pattaya Bazaar, near the Dolphin Roundabout. Tel 038 414634-5 They are affiliated to Burapha University and the teachers are all professionals.

The courses run for six weeks - 1 1/2 hours per day, Monday through Thursday. Cost per course, if I remember correctly is about 3500 THB. Usually not more than about six people in a class.

I attended classes there for about a year, with mixed results. Initially, very good progress (although 20 hours, as per your suggestion, isn't likely to get you very far unless you have a real flair for languages) but less good as things got rather more difficult. Pleasant environment though and the teacher that I had for most of the time (ask for JC) was a very nice lady.

The only real reservation that I have with AUA is that for the first three courses or so - starting at beginners level and progressing from there - there is no reading / writing content at all, it's all oral stuff. This may seem unimportant but it quickly becomes a real handicap. The general consensus seems to be that you should start with some reading / writing on day one, otherwise you will never get the pronunciation and tones correct. I know that this is not the way a child learns a language but bear in mind that children have brains like sponges and adults definitely do not (my brain, what there is left of it, is actually now full so I have to forget something if I want to make room for new info - or so it seems at times).

I think that the most important thing is not to get discouraged. Thai is not an easy language to learn - just about any European language is simple, in comparison, even Russian. The main problem is with the tones - you probably know that slight differences in tone can alter the meaning of a word completely. The grammar is actually, on the face of it, very simple but, in practice, this leads to it's own set of problems.

After a year of study I can now ask simple questions or make simple statements, in Thai, and am generally understood. Interpreting what comes back as a reply is another matter! Trying to follow a conversation - impossible for the most part! Reading / writing - can do at a basic level (often get fooled by the compound vowel structures). Vocabulary still very limited so I don't actually understand most of what I read! Maybe in another five years?

Anyway, good luck with it. Having some command of the language will definitely be better than having none. There are quite a few fluent Thai speakers amongst the farangs, in Thailand, but they are in the minority. Most of us (those who bother at all) just about know enough to get by.

DM

thanks for info, as i'm only staying around three weeks, but usually come to pattaya four times a year and stay for the same period do you think I will be able to take a course and do it when I am over, progressing as I go

Anyone else any useful info, wanting to learn as i visit, as long as it takes to learn or to a suitable level, someone must have learnt this way

Hi again

If my memory serves me correctly, AUA also run more intensive courses - Saturdays / Sundays, maybe 6 hours a day - so if you are only here for three weeks at a time this may suit you better. Can only suggest that you 'phone them (038 414634-5) and get advice. The people in the office at Pattaya Bazaar speak reasonable English but if you want an in-depth discussion of the available options ask if you can speak to Richard - he's English.

DM

thanks doctormann