Thais learning English?

[Brizo]

Hope this doesn't break the rules in some way. But having a little trouble researching self-study, learn English, books for Thai people.

Requirements:

• Student speaks almost zero English, maybe just hello and a few other words.
• Eager to learn, but not wanting to discourage with anything too heavy/academic as they really are a complete beginner.
• Main aim is get them up and running quickly on the basics of conversational English.
• Can be purchased in the Bangna area of Bangkok. Think there is a big mall there called CentralPlaza. But, no disaster if have to travel to another part of the city.

Which phone apps are popular amongst Thais for general Thai/English translation and specifically social media?

Any other resources/tips online or otherwise you might want to chip in that might be helpful for a Thai person living in Bangkok?

Thanks,

[beano2274]

I used a program called Tell me More, it helps by giving students words to put into sentences it gives you the words and the answer, it also needs a microphone on the computer as it teaches how to say the words correctly.

The program is used by UTCC and a few other Universities, and there are many levels.

Have a search on youtube and you can probably find some examples of people using it.

[Brizo]

They don't have a pc only a phone. The program sounds good for further down the road but from what I can see on the site it's not available in Thai so the student would struggle.

[Brizo]

Does no one have a Thai partner who learned English from a book they bought in Bangkok?

[piersbeckett]

Does no one have a Thai partner who learned English from a book they bought in Bangkok?

I do and she still has the book, written in Thai, naturally, it's called 'Speak English in 79 Hours' - the front and back cover are missing but the spine cover remains, at the bottom of which is a circular logo depicting a graduate sporting mortar board in the background and two students, one male and one female in the foreground.

Around the perimeter of the circle there is Thai wording and the digits, 222. She, my Thai partner, bought this book in Bangkok fourteen years ago. She reckoned after about three hundred and fifty hours of study over a year period she had only a very basic idea of both written and spoken English but a great improvement from virtually no knowledge.

The above information doesn't help you much admittedly but surely there must be similar books currently in print and sold in many book shops all over Thailand.

Edited February 14, 2016 by piersbeckett

[Richard W]

I'm not sure about actually learning, but my wife says the similarly named เรียนพูดภาษาอังกฤษด้วยเอง 95 ชั่วโทง (which I would translate as Teach Yourself to Speak English in 95 Hours) was useful. I have to say the errors in it make me wince, though some pages are almost error-free.

[cumgranosalum]

Are your "beginners "absolute' or "false'?

Most Thais were taught some English at school, but this is a bit hit or miss....they usually know th Roman alphabet, but can they use it to either make words or read words?

I would suggest if you have a small company and it's for your staff you get a teacher in ..

I also wonder about your expectations "conversational" in any language is really quite a high level.

[Brizo]

Thanks,

I hear what you're saying. Most Thais under 40 are able to speak at least some English.

But, this student has so little English in effect it might as well be none.

Going over the basics of what they already know will help boost confidence and get them started.

In terms of conversation, I'm talking about basics like: Hello, How are you, I'm fine, What are doing today.

It has to be a book that can be purchased on the ground in Bangkok, no teachers or PC software etc.

There seems to be loads of book titles along the lines of 'Learn English in x hours' but I found this one which might be the one Richard mentioned(thanks for the title in Thai btw), if you scroll down there are similar books below:

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=th&u=http://www.priceza.com/s/%25E0%25B8%25A3%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%2584%25E0%25B8%25B2/%25E0%25B9%2580%25E0%25B8%25A3%25E0%25B8%25B5%25E0%25B8%25A2%25E0%25B8%2599%25E0%25B8%259E%25E0%25B8%25B9%25E0%25B8%2594%25E0%25B8%25A0%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%25A9%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%25AD%25E0%25B8%25B1%25E0%25B8%2587%25E0%25B8%2581%25E0%25B8%25A4%25E0%25B8%25A9-95-%25E0%25B8%258A%25E0%25B8%25B1%25E0%25B9%2588%25E0%25B8%25A7%25E0%25B9%2582%25E0%25B8%25A1%25E0%25B8%2587&prev=search

The trouble is I have no idea on the relative merit of these books being suggested, I presume they are in Thai & I have no physical access to them, so looking for you guys tor recommend something.

[cumgranosalum]

Thanks,

I hear what you're saying. Most Thais under 40 are able to speak at least some English.

But, this student has so little English in effect it might as well be none.

Going over the basics of what they already know will help boost confidence and get them started.

In terms of conversation, I'm talking about basics like: Hello, How are you, I'm fine, What are doing today.

It has to be a book that can be purchased on the ground in Bangkok, no teachers or PC software etc.

There seems to be loads of book titles along the lines of 'Learn English in x hours' but I found this one which might be the one Richard mentioned(thanks for the title in Thai btw), if you scroll down there are similar books below:

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=th&u=http://www.priceza.com/s/%25E0%25B8%25A3%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%2584%25E0%25B8%25B2/%25E0%25B9%2580%25E0%25B8%25A3%25E0%25B8%25B5%25E0%25B8%25A2%25E0%25B8%2599%25E0%25B8%259E%25E0%25B8%25B9%25E0%25B8%2594%25E0%25B8%25A0%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%25A9%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%25AD%25E0%25B8%25B1%25E0%25B8%2587%25E0%25B8%2581%25E0%25B8%25A4%25E0%25B8%25A9-95-%25E0%25B8%258A%25E0%25B8%25B1%25E0%25B9%2588%25E0%25B8%25A7%25E0%25B9%2582%25E0%25B8%25A1%25E0%25B8%2587&prev=search

The trouble is I have no idea on the relative merit of these books being suggested, I presume they are in Thai & I have no physical access to them, so looking for you guys tor recommend something.

To be frank, I can't see a book being much use on it's own...if your student (only one?) is that basic, you will need audio visual....speaking comes from hearing.

You might do an internet search for beginners English and see what you find....it should be free too.

Edited February 15, 2016 by cumgranosalum

[Brizo]

To be frank, I can't see a book being much use on it's own...if your student (only one?) is that basic, you will need audio visual....speaking comes from hearing.

You might do an internet search for beginners English and see what you find....it should be free too.

Only 1 student.

The book is just the starting point. And its something they can use anytime which doesn't cost money unlike internet access. Once they progress from zero and have a bit more confidence I can look at other less antiquated learning streams.

The trouble with me internet searching for beginners English resources, is that it brings up pages mostly in English which the student wont understand, if I search in Thai it then brings up pages I can barley understand.

Someone who cant speak Thai searching for a book written in Thai aimed at Thais learning English ....not easy!