Lemondropkid

2 hours ago, tommy dee said:

ok so i will fess up.  my wife is a language teacher, thai, english and german.  she is a partner in the I Pasa school near Big C

its a great idea to learn in a classroom, 1 on 1,  you will be surprised what you can do in a week or so

decide if you want to learn to read,talk  or both,  Ideally both.  if talk only its faster but you will always have issues with words, as I do.

here is a link to my 1200 thai lessons, free, I am a crap student.  so you will always be better than me

  but its one minute a day, or as many times as you want.  Its a taster really, as classroom is the way to go

 

all the best and never give up

Thanks for that link, that's really handy Have saved that as a library in YT. I had noticed the lessons as recently have started to watch your daily news building.

As an side note, was faccinated by the A.I bot reading the news yesterday. A more pleasant liste than many of the vloggers. Hope your staff get over the bug.

Oh and of course I "liked and subscribed" 😇

6 hours ago, tko said:

I first came to Thailand over 41 years ago. Before I left I bought the book "Fundamentals of the Thai language" by, I believe, the Australian War College.  It was recommended to me be a member of the Australian detachment on our mission in Thailand. 

I then separated and went to work in KSA, so I had a lot of time to study.  I wore that book out.  One of my colleagues there had done some Peace Corps work in Thailand and could help out when I got stuck.

When that assignment ended and I got back home, I found out there are Thai temples in almost every large city, and folks there are happy to help.  They also have lessons for the children of Thai families you can listen in on.

Almost 20 years later I met the "one," and fortunately spoke enough Thai to communicate because she didn't speak much English at all.  The next couple decades with her and all the Thai/Farang or Thai/Thai  families from our local temple that we became friends with, ramped my fluency way up.

It seems to me that the books, etc, get you started, but total immersion is what gets you fluent. 

These days I'm conversationally quite fluent, to the point that on the phone Thais are surprised that I'm not Thai.  I read fairly slow and I'm sure my handwriting is atrocious.  To be fair, my handwriting is not much better when I write in English. 

Thanks for sharing that. 

I guess necessity really is the mother of invention😁 It's all to easy like me to coast by in a big city stick to English and not make the effort.

1 hour ago, forcebwithu said:

Sometimes I get the gist of what they're talking about, especially if it's my lady spouting off a stream of Thai and I hear my name in the middle of it. 

There you go!!!

Managed to open a bank account yesterday. On the whole the process went well.

An early indication of what I was dealing with was when I was asked "What's your Thai address", to which I replied " That would be on the rental contract I just gave you", and then "What's your UK address"🙂

I scored one back for the away team, when as one of what appeared to be several random questions I thought I was asked, " You Read Thai" (she was wearing a face mask as well that wasn't a help, you'd have been stuffed) but she was asking " You Retired" 😁

13 hours ago, galenkia said:

Wondering why I keep getting calls from agencies about jobs. How do they know I’m not working?.

Never got calls until now.

Maybe it's a positve sign,

Someone from your old work recognised you were a decent worker and recommened you? 

8 minutes ago, rhodie said:

There is an app called Memolicious that teaches the Consonants, Vowels and Numbers. Might work for you.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. Can't find in the Google play store unfortunately and am very wary about downloading from unknown sites.

1 minute ago, forcebwithu said:

I focused on learning to count, the hours of the day and days of the week as a starting point. The rest I just picked it up if it was repeated often enough in day to day conversation.

Kind of sad really that after 14 years here I'm still at a very basic level of speaking and understanding Thai. Working against me is the prevalence of English spoken and my hearing loss which prevents me from distinguishing tones in the language.

We crossed replies🙂

Know you had mentioned on other threads issues with your hearing aids.

I'll bet you know more than you realise. Do you find you are able to understand what Thais are talking about even if you couldn't formulate a reply? Or am I just being too optimistic

Oh and thanks again for all the links.

2 hours ago, forcebwithu said:

As a beginner I would recommend the Learn Thai with Maanii Books, and Thai For Beginners by Benjawan Poomsan Becker. The Becker book is probably available in most Thai bookstores, or if you're in the Pattaya area

Thanks for the offer, am down in Hua Hin. The Becker book was on prominent display in the little Asia Book in Market Village shopping centre here.

Should easily be able to pick up a second hand copy when I'm up in BKK.

I'm under no illusion that it's going to be easy but feel like a lazy idiot knowing nothing. 

1 hour ago, Zambo said:

Better to meet the teacher and use the resources she provides. You could start by using what you do know of the Thai language already at every opportunity and try a few simple exercises like counting to 10

Was thinking of beginning with learning the numbers. Give plenty of opportunity to try out in real life of course.

I'm planning on popping back into the school - meeting the teacher and getting the resource book is a good idea. On my only visit I spoke to a very friendly administator and was shown a copy of the resource book they use.

I noted they had excellent AC and the school had a well-ordered look to it.

I've signed up for a 5 week beginners Thai Language course. 

The course doesn't start till mid January,  and I'd like to learn a little before then. 

I know almost zero Thai, where to start?

Can any BM's recommend 

- any Thai language app for total beginners. 

-any text books, see so many in Asia books but are any worth buying.

-anything on YouTube?

All suggestions gratefully received 

2 hours ago, Horizondave said:

Having a nice pint of Elland 1872 Porter, a strong but enjoyable pint. Just the one mind you at 6.5%.

 

 

 

A fantastic beer.

Current Champion Beer of Britain

https://camra.org.uk/press_release/ellands-1872-porter-crowned-the-champion-beer-of-britain/

5 hours ago, Stillearly said:

I decided to give @Lemondropkid  a four point head start this week ...

I transferred Cash out too soon because I thought he was injured and got Saka in before I'd heard he had limped off ... praying he is okay 555 🙏

Salah as captain 👍

You could give me a 24 point start and still be safe.

Spurs played well tonight  regardless of the result given our situation. 

Watched in Father Ted's,  great pub as I've always said

Was just chatting with a lovely gentleman from Quebec. 

Took me a while to pick his accent,  then we were chatting away just fine. The joys of travelling meeting some fascinating people. 

Got me thinking of @Golfingboy

Seems you guys have it rough on the cost and tax front!!

39 minutes ago, fygjam said:

What are YouTube ads?

https://ublockorigin.com/

Brilliant thank you!

Has stopped the annoying adverts, was getting up to 4 of them in a 12 minute NFL highlights package.

Thai craft beer brewed in Vietnam, not good at all. Have had some good Thai beers in Thai run bars recently, this is pretty poor sadly. Bad 80s homebrew😔

6 hours ago, AJSP said:

Nice we are looking to stay at Baan Bayan a little bit further up the road from your place 

Don't know it but looks very classy. Can't beat the location

I enjoyed a much lower rent lunch in KFC just over the road in Market Village yesterday. 108 baht for a Zinger, fries and a soda. Wouldn't touch it in the UK but was excellent.

Just saying in case you get bored of that colonial 4 star luxury😉

5 hours ago, Bazle said:

Ditto me. 

Are Bolt taxis used as in Pattaya? 

I hope you will be able to give us updates on how you are experiencing the move as the months go on. 

I do use Bolt here, seems to work well but yet to use  itin super peak hours at the weekend.

Fares are very reasonable in my view but maybe not as super cheap at Pattaya. Was chatting to one Patts visitor who seems to attract rain wherever he goes, and the fares seem surreal they were so low in Patts.

Will post the odd update is anything interesting comes along,  good or bad. Life is pretty laid back here, not too much excitment, I kind of like that😛

1 hour ago, Yesitisdakid said:

n Bangkok decided to give buddy's bar and grill on Sukhumvit Soi 8 a try tonight

Do you have any favourites amongst the American bars/eateries in Bangkok?

9 minutes ago, Krapow said:

Is that not where the Hua Hin version of boyztown is?

#justsaying 

 

Nothing like that in Hua Hin old chap.

You'll have to persuade the wife again you need yet another solo trip to Pattaya again to go to Tony's Candy Shop.

Must have more Rangers Tops than Imelda Marcos had shoes!!!

The mighty Beer Lao IPA

12 minutes ago, Horizondave said:

Good move, which condo? I am sure you will have a great time.

I'm in LaCasita, lovely spot.

I don't drive and won't take motorbike taxis, but being here there's plenty of decent places a short stroll away.

16 minutes ago, thegrogmonster said:

Which area have you decided to live in?

Am starting off in Hua Hin. Enjoying it so far! 

2 hours ago, Zambo said:

1. Draft San Miguel

2. Pale Ale

3. Pilsner

so far the pale ale was really good.

How much was the big glass of pale ale?

Having a second sachet of electrolyte drink. Too many beers last night and even a short time out in today's Bangkok heat has done for me😛