Women Learning Thai… and some men too ;-)

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Primer on Thai disaster words… The Thai great floods of 2554 have affected almost everyone in the country. The rains in Chiang Mai, where I live, have subsided and the floods only lasted a short while. But the water had to go somewhere, and it did. And now Ayudhaya and Bangkok are getting the water [...]

Ayutthaya underwater… Late last week I drove to Ayutthaya to see how the area was bearing up under the onslaught of flooding. I especially wanted to visit Wat Kasattrathiraj, the Wat reported as being underwater. I went on Thursday, when the roads were still passable but waterways were starting to encroach onto highways, closing down [...]

Interviewing Successful Thai Language Learners… Name: James Higbie Nationality: American Age range: 60+ Sex: Male Location: Sierra Leone Profession: Work for NGO in Education Development Thai level: Intermediate to Advanced Website: Thai Language / Lao Language Books: From Orchid Press: Thai Reference Grammar, Essential Thai, Let’s Speak Thai, Let’s Speak Lao; From Hippocrene Books: Dictionary [...]

Interviewing Successful Thai Language Learners… Name: Mark Hollow Nationality: British Age: mid-30′s Sex: Male Location: Bangkok Profession: Formerly an IT project manager, currently just studying. Twitter: @hmmbug What is your Thai level? I can speak reasonably well, although my ability and confidence varies according to the subject but can usually find my way around most [...]

Interview: Terry Clayton is getting by in Thai… Name: Terry Clayton Nationality: Canadian Age range: 59 Sex: Male Location: Udon Thani Profession: Science Writer / Teacher / Farmer Web: Red Plough Getting by in Thai… What is your Thai level? Intermediate / Intermediate + / Intermediate ++ Speaking: probably lower intermediate. Listening: Beginner. Pathetic given [...]

Interviewing Successful Thai Language Learners… Name: Marc Spiegel Nationality: American Sex: Male Location: Bangkok Profession: Management Website: Linkedin:marcspiegel What is your Thai level? Intermediate. Do you speak more street Thai, Issan Thai, or professional Thai? Professional Thai. What were your reasons for learning Thai? I believe that if you are going to live and work [...]

Thai Language School Review: Sumaa Language & Culture Institute… School: Sumaa Language & Culture Institute Telephone Number: Tel. 02-286-0129 Address: Sumaa Language & Culture Institute, 36 Sathorn Soi 1 South Sathorn road, Tungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Location: Sumaa Language & Culture Institute states that they’re conveniently located not far from the Lumpini MRT Station. But [...]

Interviewing Successful Thai Language Learners… Name: Daniel B Fraser Nationality: Canadian Age range: 30-40 Sex: Male Location: Bangkok, Thailand Profession: Travel Company Owner, TV Host Web: Smiling Albino, Facebook: Daniel B Fraser , YouTube: Smiling Albino Interview: Bangkok Podcast Thai Language Series: Daniel Fraser What is your Thai level? Combo of Intermediate and Advanced, with [...]

Word order in Thai “Wh” Questions… It is common for beginning students of Thai (or students of most foreign languages for that matter) to start off making sentences and answering the teacher’s questions. In fact, quite often the art of ASKING questions is frequently left to much later, and sometimes is forgotten altogether. This is [...]

HouseTalk: Learn Thai washer and dryer phrases… The last laundry post focused on mostly useful laundry phrases. It also introduced Thai manners and a few more things such as do not and must. Amongst the laundry phrases in this post you’ll find the difference between can’t, don’t, and forbidden. And you’ll soon see that the [...]

Interviewing Successful Thai Language Learners… Name: Rick Bradford Nationality: Australian Age range: 40-50 Sex: Male Location: Bangkok Profession: Publishing What is your Thai level? Very unbalanced. At some aspects, especially to do with reading and translating, perhaps Advanced; at others, such as round-table conversations, probably still Basic++. Do you speak more street Thai, Issan Thai, [...]

HouseTalk: Introduction to the laundry section… If you are a gal a percentage of the chats with your Thai housekeeper will focus on the care of your laundry. And if you don’t, you just might find yourself with an eye-raising wardrobe. If you are a guy, well, I’m not a guy so I don’t have [...]

Five things to change about the Thai character… In Thailand, if you don’t read or speak Thai, or know someone who does, you miss out on all sorts of goodies. For instance, several weeks ago a Thai friend arrived all excited about a radio talk show. During the show a Thai politician expressed an interest [...]

Chuvit: The Angry Man… The Thai press is calling Chuvit the colour of the election: สีสัน การ เลือกตั้ง /sĕe-săn gaan lêuak-dtâng/. And comparing Chuvit to the other candidates, who can argue? Chuvit is colourful, dramatic, and evocative. In your face even. So it’s no surprise that Chuvit’s powerful posters are the talk of the town. [...]