Thread: My First Private Lesson

There's a series called "Speaking Extra" (also Listening, Reading and Writing Extra books) by Cambridge I think which has a good series of activities and copiable sheets etc might also be useful.

Originally Posted by buad hai

^KM, sounds perfect. Go ahead an e-mail. Should be OK.

BTW, I'm getting paid in beer. Three per hour.

and good on you for doing something to help out.

Originally Posted by NickA

Don't worry, some nice Thai teacher is spending four hours a week teaching them to pronounce everything the wrong way

Isn't that the truth. There's some English language program on Thai Tee Wee in the morning and I shudder at the way the instructor pronounces some things. Just amazing.

Originally Posted by NickA

Originally Posted by buad hai

I spent ten minutes yesterday teaching them to say "Tee Vee" instead of "Tee Wee".

Don't worry, some nice Thai teacher is spending four hours a week teaching them to pronounce everything the wrong way

yeah - it might be better use of your time to focus on learning new vocab rather than trying to change an entire nations incorrect pronunciation....

Originally Posted by buad hai

No, 35 baht cans of Chang.

Just had to go back to this, was certain that you had said 35 Bht.

By heck, they are expensive in your local supermarket, aren't they?

Despite the likely slurring of words , at the end of a lesson ,


would have thought that 3 large bottles, would present a better deal on your part!

Anyway, :thanks:, for another good thread!

The pay is indeed dismal. You're doing this as a favour,

which begs the question then...

Are they shaggable?

Originally Posted by The_Ghost_Of_The_Moog

The pay is indeed dismal. You're doing this as a favour,

which begs the question then...

Are they shaggable?

Shaggable or not,

Hast thou never heard of the old adage?

"Never shite on thy own door step"

Originally Posted by a. boozer

Just had to go back to this, was certain that you had said 35 Bht.

Sorry, it's 35 baht cans of Singha.

Originally Posted by The_Ghost_Of_The_Moog

Are they shaggable?

Yes, but I won't. I suspect the 20 YO is untouched and the younger one, from my point of view, is untouchable for at least 4 or 5 years. My god, she hasn't even hit puberty yet....

Originally Posted by buad hai

Yes, but I won't. I suspect the 20 YO is untouched

time for another visit to your neck of the woods then...









oh and Lily...just kidding really...

Originally Posted by klongmaster

Originally Posted by buad hai

Yes, but I won't. I suspect the 20 YO is untouched

time for another visit to your neck of the woods then...









oh and Lily...just kidding really...

Beware B.H. a vulture approaches!







Oh Blast! Mrs. Boozer won't let me out to play.

Originally Posted by klongmaster

this is certainly the problem with English in the Thai education system, and the main reason why lots of kids hate the language...it's so boring and they don't see any practical benefit from it...a bit like us learning Latin at school....

Totally agree with you. I just actually wrote something about this on my site. But try to change the system is a tough one.

Originally Posted by The_Ghost_Of_The_Moog

The pay is indeed dismal. You're doing this as a favour,

Yes, agree with you, the pay for teaching English in Thailand sucks unless you are in a top private school or international school.

In this case it's kind of a fun thing to do on the side, which is not a bad thing at all.

I think most people are better off avoiding teaching English in Thailand where possible though - unless it's a casual thing as in this case.

Originally Posted by codefreeze

Totally agree with you. I just actually wrote something about this on my site. But try to change the system is a tough one.

a linky would be nice...I tried your site but didn't know where to look...

here in TD you can link to sites which will be helpful...or otherwise...

BH, See if you can drink those beers while you teach it may make the lesson more enjoyable!

The lessons have been going quite well. Up to twice a week now and the hour just flies by. Although I portray myself as being a shy, reclusive, loner, I'm actually quite gregarious and a good conversationalist.

My goal in these classes is to get these girls talking and using the English they already know. I'm not worried too much by grammatical errors; I just want to get them to talk and listen naturally.

This evening we mostly discussed food likes and dislikes. They were curious about Western breakfast cereal so I brought a sample that they could try. I also got each of them to imagine and then describe driving instructions to a particular place; a restaurant for the older one and her school for the younger one. They both did quite well, but it was interesting to watch them orient themselves geographically as they went through the driving instructions. Clearly, neither of them are visual thinkers.

For the next lesson, this Sunday, I've promised to show them my new house. They seem fascinated by all the fruit trees I've planted and are anxious to see the pond in progress.

So far, so good.

(And no, temptations aside, I'm drinking the beers after the lessons, not during.)