Comments on: Successful Thai Language Learner: Chris Baker

By: Journal Review: ‘Asian Journal of Literature, Culture and Society’ (October 2010) | Voicu Mihnea Simandan

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 06:48:42 +0000

[...] most well-known literary and political critics and commentators, among which are Marcel Barang and Chris Baker. The books covers 60 years of Thai political unrest and concludes that the power of change and [...]

By: Catherine Wentworth

Catherine Wentworth — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:14:34 +0000

Hi Marc, thanks for sharing the link to the Thai songs. I missed that when researching for a coming interview with Jonas and Christy (expat Luk Thung singers). Their video of Ramwong Dao Dao stuck with me as it is quite fun.

As for having cool bodies… Thailand gets pretty hot so I can see how it would be desirable :-)

By: Mac Bakewell

Mac Bakewell — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:32:05 +0000

Nice story, Chris. I was 44 when I began learning Thai, and I’ve been pretty comfortable with it for the last 15 years, but เนื้อเย็น as a term of endearment? … Took me a while to suss that one out, as neither I nor my Thai wife of 17 years had ever heard it. Google found mention as far back as สุนทรภู่ so I’d guess it’s really much older than that. Lovely idiom, and one I’m very glad to add to my colloquial vocab! With thanks to Chris and Catherine and

http://www.hawaii.edu/thai/thaisongs/frmcome.htm

เนื้อเย็น (the cool body) for women — since Thailand is a tropical country, “cool bodies” are more desirable for hugging than “warm” bodies, hence the term “cool bodies” refers to a beloved girl.

(Please note there’s a small typo in your post: เนึ้อเย็น should be เนื้อเย็น)

By: Catherine Wentworth

Catherine Wentworth — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:09:32 +0000

Ah, I see what you mean. I have no doubts about Chris being clever. I have two of his books. And just this week I stood over another for the longest time (do I rip the plastic off, or no?)

By: Martyn

Martyn — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:53:08 +0000

Several hundred dollars for the tapes…they must be the cream of learning Thai. By the ‘cave man’ bit I meant that Chris hadn’t gone the same route has other interviewees and had self taught himself Thai. That makes him one clever man. Best wishes.
.-= Martyn´s last blog ..Off Road In Thailand =-.

By: Catherine Wentworth

Catherine Wentworth — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:56:53 +0000

Martyn, nubile Thai ladies in basements and pizza? :-) What Chris did do was study the AUA books, which are highly thought of. I don't have the tapes (they are several hundred dollars even now) but I do have the books. The method is excellent (each lesson builds upon the other) but I was put off the transliteration and the (for a beginner) too small Thai. Several people have professed a desire to retype the books (I'm one), but AUA did not seem interested. You can get all of the AUA books at amazon.com. The AUA tapes can be purchased at Cornell University. A part of the course (with pdf and sound) is online for free at the University of Hawaii.