Comments on: Successful Thai Language Learner: Paul Garrigan http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/interviewing-successful-thai-language-learners-paul-garrigan/ Expat making her way through the Thai language and culture Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:56:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Catherine Wentworth http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/interviewing-successful-thai-language-learners-paul-garrigan/#comment-2823 Catherine Wentworth Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:02:44 +0000 http://womenlearnthai.com/?p=8066#comment-2823 On the subject of needing to live in a country... what some are finding out once they are in Thailand is that the basic beginners courses assume some knowledge of Thai language, with some students taking the same course over. So if you can nibble away at Thai a little at a time, by the time you get here you won't be too lost. Well. That's if you intend on taking organised lessons... On the subject of needing to live in a country… what some are finding out once they are in Thailand is that the basic beginners courses assume some knowledge of Thai language, with some students taking the same course over. So if you can nibble away at Thai a little at a time, by the time you get here you won’t be too lost. Well. That’s if you intend on taking organised lessons…

]]> By: Keith http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/interviewing-successful-thai-language-learners-paul-garrigan/#comment-2810 Keith Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:52:05 +0000 http://womenlearnthai.com/?p=8066#comment-2810 In regards to this statement: <blockquote cite="Paul Garrigan">I have had lots of times when it felt like I am really getting it. I can understand all that is going on around me and they seem to understand every word I say in Thai. During the first few years I would mistake this for being fluent, but now I’m less optimistic about my abilities.</blockquote> I think this is the reality and I wonder how many people are mistaking themselves for being fluent in a foreign language. Of course there are those who really are fluent. But even fluent people still have things to learn. Per Martyn's comment, I resist the notion that you have to be actually living in the country to become fluent in a foreign language. However, you still need the same amount of input and eventually speaking opportunity that one would be able to get from living in the country. .-= Keith´s last blog ..<a href="http://natural-language-acquisition.blogspot.com/2009/10/pepsi-and-flag-of-south-korea.html" rel="nofollow">Pepsi and the flag of South Korea</a> =-. In regards to this statement:

I have had lots of times when it felt like I am really getting it. I can understand all that is going on around me and they seem to understand every word I say in Thai. During the first few years I would mistake this for being fluent, but now I’m less optimistic about my abilities.

I think this is the reality and I wonder how many people are mistaking themselves for being fluent in a foreign language. Of course there are those who really are fluent. But even fluent people still have things to learn.

Per Martyn’s comment, I resist the notion that you have to be actually living in the country to become fluent in a foreign language. However, you still need the same amount of input and eventually speaking opportunity that one would be able to get from living in the country.
.-= Keith´s last blog ..Pepsi and the flag of South Korea =-.

]]> By: Martyn http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/interviewing-successful-thai-language-learners-paul-garrigan/#comment-2809 Martyn Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:50:17 +0000 http://womenlearnthai.com/?p=8066#comment-2809 I have to agree with Talen's comment as far as my learning progress goes. The key to learning Thai seems from reading your Successful language learner series to be actually living in the country and a little up top of course. Trying to earn a living, go about life's general things and juggle a language course as well, is extremely difficult when you live thousands of miles from Thailand. I do wonder how fluent some experts would be if they had studied without actually stepping foot in Thailand and I don't mean that disrespectfully, I mean it based on an outsider looking in angle. Either that or I'm just plain stupid. My school reports did mention the latter. .-= Martyn´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.thaisabai.org/2009/11/thai-toilets/" rel="nofollow">Thai Toilets – Get Me Out Of Here</a> =-. I have to agree with Talen’s comment as far as my learning progress goes. The key to learning Thai seems from reading your Successful language learner series to be actually living in the country and a little up top of course. Trying to earn a living, go about life’s general things and juggle a language course as well, is extremely difficult when you live thousands of miles from Thailand. I do wonder how fluent some experts would be if they had studied without actually stepping foot in Thailand and I don’t mean that disrespectfully, I mean it based on an outsider looking in angle. Either that or I’m just plain stupid. My school reports did mention the latter.
.-= Martyn´s last blog ..Thai Toilets – Get Me Out Of Here =-.

]]> By: Talen http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/interviewing-successful-thai-language-learners-paul-garrigan/#comment-2807 Talen Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:53:33 +0000 http://womenlearnthai.com/?p=8066#comment-2807 "anyone who spends enough time learning Thai will become fluent" this quote gives me hope but I fear enough time for me will be several decades. .-= Talen´s last blog ..<a href="http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2009/11/03/thai-foot-massage-fishy-business/" rel="nofollow">Thai Foot Massage Can be a Fishy Business</a> =-. “anyone who spends enough time learning Thai will become fluent” this quote gives me hope but I fear enough time for me will be several decades.
.-= Talen´s last blog ..Thai Foot Massage Can be a Fishy Business =-.

]]>