Thread: Rosetta Stone

DL from Demonoid or Oink.me.uk

It's rubbish mind.

i've heard it's not so good, but then again, neither are my tones....i'm hoping this will help.

Got a great CD for learning Thais after watching a demo in those little shops on the BTS platform

Originally Posted by Bobk_nyc

I am looking for something to learn thai, but most have the thai script. and I can't make heads or tales of it.

I really liked the first two books (which apparently now come with CDs) by Benjawan Becker. The first (orange colored) one eases you into learning the script. Very practical, logical stuff. The second (purple) one is very useful, too. I would forget the third book, unless you can read and understand Thai fluently.

The rosetta stone series didn't really help me as much as pimsleurs and the books mentioned in the post above. A problem that i had with it was that it was totally based on you memorising the sound and the picture associated with the sound.

Originally Posted by Milkman

^ Thanks so much, RDN.

Is there any other good learning program ?

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Got a great CD for learning Thais after watching a demo in those little shops on the BTS platform

Can you give us some more info, such as the title of the CD or the method used? Is it just an audio CD, or something that runs on a computer?

You can only learn a language if you practice communicating it with another human being in a meaningful way.

i completed Rosetta Stone last year, and IMO it's too easy. there's a fair bit of useful information, but it's just not very challenging. also, some of the vocabulary is really 'dated' and the level of formality is a bit over the top in some instances.

i'd still recommend it--especially since you can get it for 100 baht--but don't expect to significantly improve your thai....particularly if you've lived here a while.

too bad there isn't a second level like they have for many other languages.

^Ms. B loves to make fun of the formal language of Rosetta Stone. Sometimes she falls in to "Rosetta Stone" mode and we both crack up over how ridiculous it sounds. No one really talks that way.

I'd say it's good for beginners (as long as you're willing to buy into it's methodology) and for people like me who will never work up the courage to

Originally Posted by Hootad Binky

communicate with another human being in a meaningful way

.

Originally Posted by Hootad Binky

Thais just laughed at my pronunciation, so I gave up.

Ditto....

Originally Posted by buad hai

Originally Posted by Hootad Binky

Thais just laughed at my pronunciation, so I gave up.

Ditto....

I'm in the same boat too!

I have Rosetta Stone. As one gets older it is more difficult to learn a new language. I find it works well for me as I am up in years. The pictures with the spoken language help in remembering the phrases. My short term memory seems to fade as years go by.

Originally Posted by Bill Donnell

My short term memory seems to fade as years go by.

What was this thread all about, anyway?

Something about houses or gardens I think!

Originally Posted by a. boozer

Originally Posted by buad hai

Originally Posted by Hootad Binky

Thais just laughed at my pronunciation, so I gave up.

Ditto....

I'm in the same boat too!

When I speak my (warped) Thai to a pretty office gal in Bangkok, and they subsequently laugh, I find it's a good icebreaker.


When a pretty Issarn lady in Nana will try for 10 minutes to get my Thai right then I know I'm 'in.'


Amazing, isn't it?




BTW, I learned my Thai at a school in Chotlom. 20 days of intensive Thai when I first arrived a year ago. It's done wonders for me.

Guys, if you really want to learn to speak Thai without any Thai script or confusing tone marks you should try this:
Spoken Thai Dictionary

I've recently started on Rosetta Stone Thai (level one), I reckon it's a pretty good way to learn actually. It certainly beats anything else I've tried.

A Tukcom copy cost me 300bht- a bit expensive compared to torrent though.

i completed it last year, and it is pretty good....but be aware that some of the vocabulary is decidedly 'old school'.

btw, as far as i know there is only one level.

I figure theres no harm in learning the 'proper' if archaic language- i get planty of lessons in the colloquial language from the local bar staff.

Originally Posted by gamerdude

When a pretty Issarn lady in Nana will try for 10 minutes to get my Thai right then I know I'm 'in.'


Amazing, isn't it?

.

yes, I find that amazing

10 minutes is a long time

ba-zing.

i've found RS to be useful. my main problem is that i'm just too lazy or tired after work to fire it up and bang out a lesson. i bought a copy at phantip back in december after picking up my laptop. only used RS for a month or two but the difference it made in my reading and writing was huge (i could already read and write a bit before). in addition, i think it probably gave me a bit more confidence as far as my pronunciation.

and i don't think it hurts to learn a slightly archaic, more polite way of speaking. imagine the difference between someone (an immigrant or tourist in whatever your home country) asking, "would you mind if i sit here?" and saying, "hey, move your ass. i wanna sit down." you never know when you're going to be rubbing shoulders with the hoi polloi (most likely, never) but at some point you will need to meet potential in-laws, potential employers, the BIB, immigration... it can be useful stuff.

hell, the only reason i'm learning thai is for chatting up women. being able to talk to the fuzz is just a bonus. i usually avoid them like the plague anyway.