The Thailand expat forum for Travel, Lifestyle and Fun.

Milkman

^ Thanks so much, RDN.

Bobk_nyc

I could use a serial # for thaitrainer

raycarey

does anyone know if rosetta stone is available at pantip?

a. boozer

Yes, I have purchased it there. And no, I have not really learnt to speak Thai, my pronunciation is just not good enough (doesn't help being tone deaf!).


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raycarey

thanks.

mrsquirrel

DL from Demonoid or Oink.me.uk

It's rubbish mind.

raycarey

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

Butterfly

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

floorpotato

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.

yod4

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.

Zenman

Is there any other good learning program ?

buad hai

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?

Hootad Binky

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

raycarey

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.

buad hai

^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
.

Hootad Binky

^ Thais just laughed at my pronunciation, so I gave up. Like many other languages, Thai language instruction lacks:

- a varied currriculum: books, class texts, games, grammar/vocab practice activites, dvds, cds, flash games, courses (for instance "Thai for specific purposes" and theme-based lessons)

- a motivating, 4-skills, communicative syllabus with genuine, useful, everyday, functinal language

- properly-trained language teachers, who don't lecture and can create a student-centered, fun, motivating learning environment

This could be a useful and relatively-inexpensive way for the Thai government to create more interest in Thailand and its culture. Other countries are starting down this path, for instance Antigua, Guatemala is becoming known for its Spanish language instruction, homestays, reasonable cost, etc. Result? Promotion of tourism, money for local families and businesses, positive image, etc.

__________________
Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone elses opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation. -Oscar Wilde

buad hai

Ditto....

a. boozer

I'm in the same boat too!

Bill Donnell

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.

buad hai

What was this thread all about, anyway?