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jjj
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Hi all,
I will be in BKK for maybe 2 months in Mar/Apr, & would like to do some kind of Thai language course during the daytimes. Can anyone recommend any schools/teachers in BKK for this? (I am aware of the list of schools - http://thai-language-online.com/resources/Bangkok_schools.shtml - but can anyone actually *recommend* any of these?). I'm not a total beginner - have done 60 hours worth of Thai lessons part time here in London over the past year, but want to continue it.
Note: I'm looking for courses in the daytime - I have far better things to do during the evenings....
Thanks in advance
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:59 am on Jan. 16, 2003
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meuok
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There are 3 ways of learning Thai.
a) by yourself, with the assistance of a good book: I recommend " Fundamentals of the Thai Language" from Asia Books
b) find a school where you can have 1 to 1 tuition from a competent teacher (most are not)
c)go to AUA at Thannon Rachdamri (see skytrain) This is probably the best way, and is very inexpensive, albeit long term
If you are serious, then I would suggest that you learn to read and write whilst learning
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 4:25 am on Mar. 23, 2003
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nikko
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Can anyone tell me what the tuition rates are at Nisa, Siri Pattana (YMCA), Union and/or Somchart language schools? Also, anyone who has studied Thai at AUA-- I would be interested in hearing about the experience. Based on the way that they teach Thai at AUA, it seems like it will take a few years before you have proficiency in speaking, reading and writing. Any other recommendations for schools are welcome. I have about one year to study and want to get the most out of it. Thanks.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 11:14 am on Mar. 29, 2003
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haam sup
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Nikko,
I have studied at AUA, albeit sporadically.
Currently, at AUA main branch, Ratchadamri (which is the only AUA Thai program in BKK), they are using the Advanced Language Growth (ALG) method, as distinct from the old J. Marvin Brown books/tapes.
In ALG, the idea is that to speak without a foreign accent, you must listen (for a LONG time) and NOT try to speak Thai. Their levels AT 1-10 consist of about 200 hours each of mainly listening, and interacting with a 2 person team of teachers. After about level 5, some reading and writing are introduced, but you are STILL discouraged from speaking Thai. This is at about the 1000 hour point, or 6 months of full time study.
As you can see, this is quite a committment, although it is only about 92 baht per hour. Sitting through 8 hours of dialog per day is, for me, challenging in terms of staying awake.
Even the teachers find it difficult to expect students to refrain from speaking Thai for a year in BKK, and in practice, the 'rules' are bent quite a bit. Also, at last survey, Levels AT 5-10 were a combined class (guess why!), and not well attended.
Still, if you have a chance to chat with David Long, the program administrator, you will find that he speaks Thai in a manner indistinguishable from a native Thai. Such proficiency is the supposed reward for following ALG.
I find that 2-3 hours a day, as is convenient, are sufficient to get some benefit. The flexibility of AUA is its best asset, and they have classes 12 hours a day M-F, and a few hours on Saturday as well.
Since we're on this forum, it might not hurt to mention that a significant benefit of attending AUA is social: Babes galore! The English curriculum accounts for 95% of the school's attendance, and there are zillions of Thai and Japanese cuties studying. Japanese account for a large percentage of the Thai classes as well.
In any case, you get to meet a lot of great people, the staff included, and there are many trips and activities that make the experience worthwhile.
Now, for the more direct method: if basic Thai proficiency is your goal, I can recommend Union Language School (see the link in a previous post). Costs last year were about 6000 baht for a one-month course (4 hours per day), with about 6 months to reasonable reading/writing/speaking proficiency. Add another 6 months (or less) and you will be prepared for the P6 exam, which means you can converse meaningfully with 12 year olds  (as well as read and write at their level). Your accent will, of course, depend on many things, including your basic aptitude, and how much time you spend with Thais, among other things.
I will actually do this course when I next land in LOS, as a fill-in-the-voids remedial effort. I have at least 2 friends who attended the course, and all gave it excellent reviews.
Actually, buying 30 hours of AUA class (the minimum for the 92 baht rate), and going a couple of hours a day, along with a Union Language course would keep you busy, and get you up to speed quickly. They are only 1 BTS stop apart (if you can negotiate Patpong without getting sidetracked at Star of Light), and convenient to everything else.
Oh, yeah...the food at AUA is pretty good, and REALLY cheap.
Good luck and have fun,
haam sup
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 1:57 pm on Mar. 29, 2003
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nikko
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Haam Sup,
Thanks. You specifically hit my concern. Given the ALG method, one year's study at AUA is probably not going to produce great results???? as you don't get to speak until the 1,000 hour mark. Whereas, at Union 6 mos. of study is 480 hours -roughly 1/2 the time and probably twice the benefit, at least in the short-term. One advantage of AUA though is no "homework". Don't know about Union, but I won't have much more than 4 hours a day to devote to Thai. Btw, when I stopped in at Union last August the price per course was 5,000 baht. So I guess they have gone up a little. I will check out both and go from there. Perhaps your idea of combining the two is the best option.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 3:08 pm on Mar. 29, 2003
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haam sup
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Nikko,
I don't want to put too fine a point on it, but the real difference will be your spoken ability, i.e., your pronounciation. ALG is supposed to produce extremely good spoken Thai, principally by avoiding tone/diction mistakes and bad habits we tend to form when we try to speak before we can distinguish the language elements...
I went to the old AUA classes in Chiang Mai several years ago, and a couple of programs here in the US, and probably acquired some bad habits long before ALG was conceived. My Thai still improves, however, whenever I am in country for a few weeks.
Listening is, IMO, the BEST way to learn to speak, as I've stated before. Studying and repetition is STILL the best way to read/write, though.
You'll do fine.
haam sup
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:37 pm on Mar. 29, 2003
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nikko
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HS,
Well, I'll see how things go. I will probably start at AUA anyway because it will be most convenient for me. My concern is not that AUA (or the ALG methodology) will not produce excellent results in the end but rather that I will not be able to get to a good level in one year (but i'll probably be "cheating" on not speaking with the benjawan poomsan becker tapes anyway and of course I won't be speaking with any thai females  ). Given the number of hours involved, 1 1/2- 2 years would seem to be a more realistic timeframe. But, I am sure that I will have a better idea of the timeframe/expectations once I actually delve in this summer. Thanks again.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 8:06 pm on Mar. 29, 2003
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jjj
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I've just finished doing 20 hours worth of lessons at Somchart language school (sukhumvit soi 19). Cost 5800 Baht for 20 hours - this is for private 1-on-1 lessons. Cheaper rates if you buy bigger blocks.
I would highly recommend this place - they have about 5 or 6 female teachers (all native Thais), & they are all a really good laugh. While doing Thai conversation practice, they would ask me things like 'Do girls from Nana Plaza snore during the night?'.
Am having a break in Pattaya right now, but will probably go back to Somchart school in a couple of weeks, when I get back to BKK. Great place.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:44 am on Mar. 30, 2003
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thai3
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I would not recommend somchart at all, although the teachers and system are good, the owner is a liar. Last year I paid 8,000 baht for 40 hours and she told me I could take them over two years if I wanted. Up to now I have only had a few hours and have over 20 left. On emailing her to book more lessons for next month she tells me the time has run out as it was always 12 months.
She informs me that as of 2003 pupils now have only six months to complete their hours, but I know people who have been told 12. This place has become a rip off IMO, only pay for what you can complete quickly-peter
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 8:43 am on Aug. 12, 2003
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DrLove
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----------------------------------------------------------------
'Do girls from Nana Plaza snore during the night?
----------------------------------------------------------------
What did you answer?
"Mai Sahp, krap. Phom mai non gap puying Nana. Non gap sao Patpong ...."
Translation available by PM ....
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:12 am on Aug. 12, 2003
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