I can't learn Thai by myself!!!!

dantheman · Newbie

I can't learn Thai by myself!!!!

DaleTH · Member

Hi Dan, I'm originally from Perth, but I have lived inThailand for the past 17 years. I speak Thai fluently, but I have only been able to learn by being here and speaking to the locals on a daily basis.
I suggest to you that if you are planning to come here then do so. Once your here find a school to work in, which isn't that hard, then find someone to teach you.
With some intense trainin you should be able to carry out a basic everyday type conversation within about 6 months.
Bangkok also has schools that will teach you, but they are expensive and in my opinion not necessary if you get into a school teaching English. Someone there will definitely teach you.

Dale

dantheman · Newbie

Thats tops - thanks for the tip! I'm keen as mustard move to Thailand and just as keen to learn the language. I'm sure, like you say, it wont take very long before Thai starts rolling off the tongue. Especially being surrounded in it all day.

Cheers Dale

Lucky · Lucky Phill

Dale is spot on .. best way to learn is hang with thai people and don't be impatient ... when you get embarrassed and look like a dill ... don't give up

inn the meantime we have learning tools on our website .. free
http://www.tt.austhai.biz/Home/thai-language

don't forget to join our friends network .. www.friends.auswathai.com

visit www.wat.austhai.biz and see details about the thai community in perth - great people and good way to start learning thai.

i have 2 thai students living in my home and thai visitors ..so it's great for me.. they are beautiful people.. if you need some thai lessons the thai students are more than happy to help out in exhcnage for some pocket money or friendship..

chockdee krup

Lucky · Lucky Phill

Hi Dale

very happy to know of you and would be great to hear more about you.. maybe you can write a article about the location where you live... i enjoy to know about people and places (not so much the tourist aspect but about the people)... maybe you will be interested to join the auswathai team www.auswathai.com - see team

chockdee krup

DaleTH · Member

Hi Dan,
Just one other thing that might help.
There's a website up here called arjarn.com (arjarn means teacher in Thai), this website advertises teaching jobs. In the beginning try to stick to Bangkok or the surrounding areas, maybe somewhere like Nakorn Pathom, as the language is more "pure". The further from Bkk you go the more dialeted the language can get.
There's no real problem with learning Isan, the north-eastern dialect of Thai, but it's sure to get a laugh from the locals when they hear you speaking that way. I know about 30-40 works and it never fails to get them laughing.
The best time to come is around the end of the school year, this being March. The reason for this is that the students like to take classes in English during the holidays, hence the schools are looking for teachers.

Good luck mate,
Dale

Janis · Veteran Member

Hi! Dan

It's not difficult to learn Thai . When you stay in Perth , you go to Phill House because there is thai student would like to teach thai as a part-time job.
When you go to thai , you should have thai friend because you will get thai language and thai culture .
Cheer
janis from thailand

dantheman · Newbie

Thats cool! You people are great. I will plan my move around march next year like you suggest Dale - hopefully jump into a job straight away. I've got a few great contacts over there which have suggested certain english courses to take in order to make the job hunt easier. But it sounds theres a pretty good demand for the old english teacher so i'm not really worried about my chances.

I dont think there will be many problems in finding friends in Thailand and learning Thai there but it would be tops to get the language smooth before i step foot onto the beautiful land. So i'll check out Phill house, Janis - thanks.

Besides having the advantage of being able to communicate and reap all the benefits of the culture, i think its just a show of respect to learn the language of a country you plan on living in for a while. Why be a tourist when you can become part of the culture?!?

I'm out,
Dan

angella · Member

Hi Sawasdee ka Khun Dan,

Welcome to The land of smile soon!

My name is Angella from Thailand and i just came back from Perth for about 1 month.

i really believe that you can speak thai very well if you still keep practicing

and soon you will happy with yourself that you can comunicate with thai people

by thai language like i has that feeling when i stayed in Australia.

what you have to do ?

1. Thinking = it's easy to speak thai because you ready to learn and enjoy it!

2. Practice = easy way to keep practicing, you just bring yourself to stay among thai people

as much as you can" learning by doing and living with thai people or stay at Thai

Thai people area" don't forget to enjoy it! even your pronounce seem strange!

(you know,If we laugh when Farang speak Thai that mean "you are so cute" )

Khun Dan, i'm not a good teacher but i can be a good friends to share my culture and thai language with you and i'm happy to try my best to help you as much as i can.

so far you can notice, Indeed my english not well...hahaha

yes i still keep practicing my english and im lucky that i got a chance to spend time for more 6 months in Australia
that help me very much... for first month in AU it was very difficult for me to understand
what people they talking about and they dont understand what i saying about!!!
hahaha

good fun! and great experience!

Kon Thai Jai dee mai tong gung won ka

(Thai people are kindness, don't worry)

Chok Dee ka

(lucky to you)

Cheers!!

Angella

palawast · Newbie

No worry , I can help you to learn Thai