Learning Thai

[gvmartialarts]

For anyone going to train, holiday or stay in Thailand for a long time, learning to speak Thai is great, appreciated, but not always necessary.

Here are a couple of websites that are excellent to help you learn the basics, whether learning to speak, or to the more advanced, learning to read/write. If anyone ever needs any help with translations etc, I am always happy to help out...

www.learningthai.com
www.thai2english.com
www.thailandqa.com

Learning by yourself is hard unless you have a sounding-board (someone to talk to to make sure your pronunciation, syntax etc. is understandable). Thai people are great when it comes to helping you learn their language, but don't don't get dis-heartened when they piss themselves at you every chance they get.

[Hellfighter]

this is great... pity you didn't start this thread in August 2006 :-(

[DanielBoonchu]

i taught myself the basics of thai on learningthai.com...its deffinatly an awesom website...the guy who made the website is/was in jail for involvment[not sure what kind] with drugs and has an interesting story

[Dynamite Drew]

quote:Originally posted by Sor.NakSooMuayThai
but don't don't get dis-heartened when they piss themselves at you every chance they get.


that is so true

when i was in Koh Samui , the staff at the place we stayed at were often rolling on the floor laughing at me trying to speak Thai

[Kano]

quote:Originally posted by Sor.NakSooMuayThai

but don't don't get dis-heartened when they piss themselves at you every chance they get.


NOOOO they would never do that... :([}:)]

[Hellfighter]

agree Kano, especially to your face

[samuaythai]

Yep been laughed at but know a little bit now.

[Dynamite Drew]

good thing about being able to order food in Thai ......they actually put a decent amount of chilli in it

[kathy]

quote:when i was in Koh Samui , the staff at the place we stayed at were often rolling on the floor laughing at me trying to speak Thai
Ahh yes, even after all the practising I was still laughed at by our hotel staff (who happened to be Alex Dally's sister-in-law... thanks Ta) and then when Scott finished his training session at WMC, he turned around (half dead) and wai'd (is that a word) and said what he thought was 'Thank you very much' in Thai before Pet (I think) laughed his arse off.

I bought the tapes (yeah dinosaur I know) and bookset, but then upgraded to the 'Talk Now - Thai' PC game. Even my 2yo had a go.

I think it's good to learn a little language wherever you're going.

[Hot Sizzle]

Thanks Matt. I wanna be some what fluent when i next go back. Feel stoopid sitting around a room full of Thais and not knowing what's going on, then all of a sudden they all start laughing their arses off and it takes 5 minutes to realise they're laughing at me.

I've also heard Pinkbits (i know sounds R18) is a good audio for learning Thai. Was told to download it from i-tunes but haven't got around to it.

[PINKBITS]

Is that me? This Pinkbits?
I have been speaking Thai for a few years. Learning was hard at 1st but then I was just learning so much, now I am to the point where I really struggle pick up new stuff.
Can speak a fair bit of E-San these days to
Reading and writing is not the easieat thing I have ever had to do, still struggle with it. Can't read fast.
Best advise! Carry a pad and pen and ask anyone and everyone! Write it down how it sounds to you. And bust it out when the time is right to use what you just learnt!

[Hellfighter]

an old man I speak to over here, also suggests a pad and pen, because the difference between thai and english is that thai words aren't "fixed", meaning that 1 word can have many many meanings, where as many words in english are "fixed" to a single meaning (2 or at most)

[Hot Sizzle]

I had me a pad and pen. Was good at the start but it got to the point where i couldn't be arsed pulling it outta my bag every 5 seconds to right a new word or phrase down. I think audio would be much easier.

[Voice]

at many of JWP's fights when his Thai trainer is in his corner the entire conversation is in Thai. I've also heard the lady in the Boonchu restaurant at Broadbeach speak with him in Thai. After his stint in Thailand is JWP fully conversational, does he continue to practice and is it a language that one can acquire with a reasonable level of effort? It sounds difficult.

[Hellfighter]

"I think audiowould be much easier" - with a really good background soundtrack of scooters without mufflers, buses, cars, soi dogs, etc etc :-P ;)

many taxi drivers have asked me if I have a "horizontal dictionary"

[gvmartialarts]

lmao @ 'horizontal dictionary!'

[jarhead]

matt do you know anything about thai central school in melbourne

[gvmartialarts]

There are actually a few Thai language schools in melbourne, there is a good one near/in Springvale...

[gvmartialarts]

The Thai Language School of Melbourne
Coomoora Secondary College
15-39 Coomoora Rd
Springvale South 3172
Mel 88 K6

There you go Jarhead, now you can put pasaa Thai eek gwaar khrap ;)

[Dynamite Drew]

when i was in Chintown (sydney) today and orederd lunch at a Thai shop , they near fell over when i asked for it in fluent Thai

its the only way i can get Thai dishes with a decent amount of chilli in it

[promoboss]

whats thai 4 happy finish LOL

[Hellfighter]

POSEIDON

[gvmartialarts]

Ha, you better be careful, or they might tell you to 'Bpai Chuay Dtua Ehng.....'

[poondaddy]

quote:Originally posted by Hellfighter

POSEIDON


= unbelievable... architecture I mean :P

[gvmartialarts]

Poseidon on Rajadaphisek?!? ;)

[promoboss]

geez now I now who the grubs are !!!! RLMAO HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
luvz youz all

[jarhead]

thanks champ

[the RUSH]

quote:Originally posted by jarhead

matt do you know anything about thai central school in melbourne


Y do you want to learn thai? You cant even speak english

[gvmartialarts]

lol

[phuket soi easy]

The easiest way for me to speak and understand Thai at a level that was way beyond my Thai/English book days was to marry a Thai and be hearing it almost daily for the last 7 years but thats a bit extreme for most.:)

[Q]

quote:Originally posted by phuket soi easy

The easiest way for me to speak and understand Thai at a level that was way beyond my Thai/English book days was to marry a Thai and be hearing it almost daily for the last 7 years but thats a bit extreme for most.:)


That is a bit extreme but do you think they would mind if you are already married????

[Hellfighter]

they might not, but your wife might :-P

[Hot Sizzle]

How do you say "can you make me sushi"? Weird request i know but it makes sense.....to me.

[poondaddy]

"koon tum sushi hai pom dai mai krup"

or something along those lines :)

[PINKBITS]

That would do just fine poondaddy, but NO make it yourself!
Fun dee dee took khon ja