Comments on: Successful Thai Language Learner: Jonathan Thames

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:30:05 +0000

Marytn – Jonathan daily involvement with Thai does make a lot of sense. Slow and sure he goes… No worries about your absence (although I did miss you! :-) I know you’ve been busy having a grand time in Thailand (along with your unexpected illness – never fun on a holiday).

Talen – I am now 100% behind a set learning schedule as I tried free-form and it was not for me. I though that since I was not working, that I could relax through my days and things would still get done. I’ve since read that a greater percentage of those who do work, get more accomplished in their off hours than those who don’t. It is something to think about when in Thailand with tons of time to play (because time does zoom by when you are having fun).

(I’ll be looking forward to your distant future when I can drag out those interview questions and send them your way. Soon…)
.-= Catherine hopes you will read…Successful Thai Language Learners: Jonathan Thames =-.

By: Talen

Talen — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:37:09 +0000

Another great interview Cat… Jonathon is really on the ball with his languages. I hope in the end I can do as well with just Thai. A lot of what he says rings true and through you and the various people you have interviewed there has been a very consistent emphasis on keeping up with a learning schedule and surrounding yourself with native speakers.

Every time I read an interview I secretly hope that one day, and by one day I mean a day way off in the distant future lol, that you’ll be interviewing me as I expound on the depth of my Thai knowledge.

More than likely though I’ll be explaining how I can now watch Thai cartoons and pretty much understand whats going on.
.-= Talen hopes you will read…Rice Paddy Fishing, the Sport of Peasants =-.

By: Martyn

Martyn — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:20:49 +0000

Catherine – Johnathon comes over as a very intelligent yet modest young man. The boy has a talent for learning languages that’s for sure.

Johnathon seems to put a lot of emphasis on learning to read Thai as well as involving yourself in daily Thai conversation. A rock solid approach but one which previous to reading this post I thought was beyond me…. ‘I use Thai daily – through music, chatting, emails, forum posts, translations, prose, movies, etc.’….like I said rock solid and I really should sometimes have Thai only phone conversations with Wilai, that might help me a lot. I like this interview as it has made a lot of practical sense to me. I really do like Johnathon’s approach to learning languages. A constant daily learning approach. Slowly, slowly catch monkey if you like.

My apologies for playing truant lately but as you know I’ve been in Thailand and I don’t hit the net cafe’s very often when I’m there. Plus my chest virus left me feeling more and more lethargic as each day went by. I’m feeling much better now and have three days off so I’ll be catching up with your posts. Best wishes and I’ve got a shovel full of snow if you want it.
.-= Martyn hopes you will read…A Handbag Wielding Blogger =-.