Comments on: Successful Thai Language Learner: Colin Cotterill

By: Catherine Wentworth

Catherine Wentworth — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:18:37 +0000

Hi Don, I agree, Thai is fun. And maybe one day you can tell us your adventure with learning the language.
.-= Catherine Wentworth´s last blog ..Luca on Active Learning vs Passive Learning =-.

By: Don Ross

Don Ross — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 12:27:56 +0000

ผมอ่านไทยได้ แต่ไม่เข้าใจพูด 100% ผมรู้ว่าต้องอ่านและเขียนแรก

It should read (gan พูด ) and (Tee แรก)

Thai is big fun – enjoy,

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:21:07 +0000

Martyn, you’ve misread. Colin said he can read Thai but cannot write.

By: colin

colin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:10:42 +0000

sorry if i gave the wrong impression. although i can’t write worth a sixpence, i read quite well. i still need a dictionary but i can get through most non-fiction and newspapers.

By: Talen

Talen — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:08:22 +0000

Another great interview Cat. Like Martyn I’m very impressed with Colin as well. Learning to read Thai is usually a sticking point with many of us learning the language, it’s not really necessary but being able to read signs and know whats going on around you is always a plus.

Reading I think will be a fundamental building block to speaking because you have the tonal cues. I’m equally bad at both reading and speaking at the moment but, fingers crossed, one day I will have that aha moment and turn the corner.
.-= Talen hopes you will read…Bangkok Motorbike Festival 2010 =-.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:57:13 +0000

Martyn, What Colin does not mention is that he is a well-known author (I'm a big fan) and cartoonist (amongst others, he illustrated Thai Jinks by James Eckardt). In fact, I bumped into Colin years back (years before I moved to Thailand, when I was in the design industry. His cartooning is fabulous! Colin and his lovely wife Jessi donate their time to helping those less fortunate. Wikipedia: Colin Cotterill One of the best mnemonics products for Thai is Linkword Language's Thai Survival Course (reasonable to purchase). It is easier to figure out how to create your own after going through their short course. Stu Jay Raj also uses mnemonics in his courses.