How long till you could keep a basic conversation?

[Cinderella Man]

English is my second language and I swore that I would never ever again start to learn another language.

Well, I did not know so many hot Thai girls can't speak English

How long it took you to be able have basic conversation with native Thais? And how hard did you study?

Would like to know how much suffering should I expect

[Johpa]

Would like to know how much suffering should I expect

Are you referring to before or after?

[Cinderella Man]

So far it's been fun )

[SlyAnimal]

Depends on your definition of basic.

e.g. When you first meet someone, I could have a 5-10 minute conversation with them within around 3-4 months of living in Thailand (Admittedly I wasn't learning actively studying Thai, just in my spare time). Although that was with a lot of pauses etc while I thought of what to say and worked out what they were saying etc. Within around 9 months I held a conversation in Thai for around an hour with someone, although again, quite a lot of pauses and my grammar etc wasn't that great so I was having to explain things a couple of times before they'd understand what I meant. These were only the "First meeting" type conversations though, so involved a lot of questions which you wouldn't normally ask someone who you'd previously met etc.

But how quickly you learn depends on how often you practice, and your own motivation towards learning. When I first came to Thailand, I didn't know that many English speakers, and am generally not shy, so was talking to lots of random people and so even though I wasn't really studying Thai (Just looking things up in my dictionary and occasionally asking people about phrases), I learnt relatively quickly.

[naboo]

What is a basic conversation? Ordering food? A week. But then after 8 years, I'm fairly capable but any conversation in depth is just not possible. And today I had trouble asking for batteries. But I can go to a builder's yard and discuss the benefits of different roof insulation options.

Bloody nightmare this language malarky.

[connda]

What is a basic conversation? Ordering food? A week. But then after 8 years, I'm fairly capable but any conversation in depth is just not possible. And today I had trouble asking for batteries. But I can go to a builder's yard and discuss the benefits of different roof insulation options.

Bloody nightmare this language malarky.

It helps to have a natural affinity toward language learning, like 4 year old kids. I've been attempting to learn for 7 years and my Thai still sucks. And I study 1 to 2 hours a day. I don't have any natural affinity toward the Thai language. Maybe a Latin based language like Spanish would be easier, but I don't live in a Spanish speaking country. My progress is like 10 words forwards, 9 words back. It's like trying to walk up a sand dune.

[MaeJoMTB]

What is a basic conversation? Ordering food? A week. But then after 8 years, I'm fairly capable but any conversation in depth is just not possible. And today I had trouble asking for batteries. But I can go to a builder's yard and discuss the benefits of different roof insulation options.

Bloody nightmare this language malarky.

How could you have trouble asking for a battery .......... ow bat-ter-ree kap.

(bat-ter-ree gare by noi, bat-rer-ree ja mot, etc)

[naboo]

What is a basic conversation? Ordering food? A week. But then after 8 years, I'm fairly capable but any conversation in depth is just not possible. And today I had trouble asking for batteries. But I can go to a builder's yard and discuss the benefits of different roof insulation options.

Bloody nightmare this language malarky.

How could you have trouble asking for a battery .......... ow bat-ter-ree kap.

(bat-ter-ree gare by noi, bat-rer-ree ja mot, etc)

Exactly what I said, high tone on the "ree". Blank faces from three people at a shop I visit regularly and converse in Thai every time. Today, conversation with a friend's father in law for three minutes about when my friend would be back, how his grandson was enjoying Songkran and the BBQ they were having in the evening.

Drives me nuts.