Comments on: Successful Thai Language Learner: Vern Lovic

By: Catherine Wentworth

Catherine Wentworth — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:12:37 +0000

Martyn – I’ve opted to focus on reading and writing first because it suits my nature (I did the same with French and Russian). But also because of the advice I’ve received. Not everyone learns the same, so learning to speak Thai without could be easier for some. When you find out, please let me know how it worked for you, and we’ll write a post on WLT.

Talen – Patience… that’s a good one to take note of. The Thais are ever so patient with us, so we are a huge step ahead on that issue.

Amy – I am looking forward to you coming back to Bangkok. Then we can cruise the streets trying out our Thai. As I learned this week, it is totally easier to speak Thai if you have another learning buddy. I spouted off more Thai than I have in the entire time here. And it felt awfully good.

By: Amy P.

Amy P. — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:16:54 +0000

Interesting interview with Vern. I’ve followed his Thaipulse blog for years and never knew he was this good in Thai. Makes me realize how much I need to get off my duff and STUDY!
Amy P. hopes you will read…ArtiPlus 2010

By: Talen

Talen — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:59:48 +0000

Knowing regular Thai seems to be the way to go but I wouldn’t fore go learning Issan especially if you are living in the region because you will miss out on a lot. Likewise I’m still tackling learning to read Thai because I’ll feel that I’m in a much better position if I can read more than the entrance and exit signs.

Truly though at the end of the day as Vern & Martyn stated, the more you can converse with natives in Thai the better and more you will absorb and a lot patience helps too.
Talen hopes you will read…A Thai Superstition is Born…Again

By: Martyn

Martyn — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:03:55 +0000

Catherine I have at last found someone who is an expert in conversing in Thai but CANNOT read and write the language. Finally there is hope for us all.

Patience and talking everyday to a Thai person seems to be reoccurring advice in these language expert interviews and I’ve not really got either. I must start having a Thai only conversation with Wilai once a week, that might progress me a little further and encourage me to study my book course a bit more.

I assume from the interview that when Vern lived in the Isaan region he made a point of focusing on learning Thai and not the mix of Laos/Thai they speak in the area. I am going down that route myself and try to completely forget the mixed language words they use.

Thanks for the tip on CommentLuv, it has done the trick.
Martyn hopes you will read…On the Road to Ban Chiang