5 comments about Teach Yourself Thai Complete Course Audiopack.

1. The book/CD's are quite good. It is an introduction to the Thai language, similar to another pack which I already own.
   
   My only disappointment is that the item was represented to me as an intermediate learning guide to the Thai language. This was via a communication from Amazon saying that as I had purchased Thai for Beginners by Becker, I might find this publication helpful.
   
   I therefore find that I have purchased an item which is of no use to me.



2. I bought this book to learn a little Thai before taking a vacation in Thailand. A great introduction to the Thai alphabet! Also, I found the phrases and topics covered very useful for my trip. If you are looking to do something besides vacationing, then you might look elsewhere, but this was perfect for our needs. I loved having the CD with the book. They absolutely would not be useful one without the other. Being able to see what I was saying and listen to how to say it was very helpful.



3. This is a great product for those that already have some background in Thai speaking, and are trying to brush up on the language. This course might be a little more difficult for someone that is just beginning to learn the language. As a beginner myself, I found it very difficult to keep up with the dialogue, but could find it useful for people that already know the basics of Thai.



4. We tried this out and had great difficulty. The lessons presuppose some knowledge of the language, it seems, as the lessons cruise along way too fast. First given a scenario, then a dialogue, then asked questions....can't possibly keep up. Both of us speak several languages, and learn quickly, but this course didn't help us at all to pick up Thai.



5. This program does move very quickly, but one is NOT expected to play the CD straight through for each lesson... there is a lot of reading material between the initial dialogue and the exercises. The writing aspect of the course is GREAT... Thai is not a difficult language to read, and I'm disappointed at how few courses there are that teach you that aspect of it. The tones are covered in the very beginning of the lessons, and they are clearly marked on the transliterations.
   
   As it says right on the front of the book, it "progresses quickly beyond the basics". Therefore, this course might not be the best for those that have a hard time learning new languages (particularly people unfamiliar with tonal languages). But for those who already speak other tonal languages, or are at least familiar with how they work, or even have some thai friends to help you out, this course is very good.

3 comments about Basic Thai: Learn to Speak and Understand Thai with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon & Schuster's Pimsleur).

1. I travel by car roughly 10 hours every week and I was looking for a Thai language course that I could use while driving. Pimsleur turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. Agreed, you won't learn to read or write, but you will learn to speak. Good for a start. Recommended !



2. I purchased Pimsleur's Basic Thai 3 weeks before traveling to Thailand for a vacation with my husband. I listened to each unit three times before continuing to the next unit: first a quick preview, then a slow careful study, stopping and starting the audio to make sure I knew each part, then finally a quick review.
   
   After the first 2 units, I became frustrated with the lessons being catered toward an American male. Most lessons started with something like, "You are an American male, and you've just met a Thai woman." Well, I'm female, and because everything you say in Thai ends with something different depending on whether you're male or female, and often starts with a gender-dependent word as well, I was having to convert almost every sentence before repeating it. I do understand why they did this: Most American travelers to Thailand are male. So I stuck with it, and eventually I just got over it.
   
   It was worth the effort. On our first day in Bangkok we got lost in an area where there weren't many English speakers; it was noisy, hot and hectic and we just wanted to get out of there. I approached a tuk tuk driver, and directed him, in Thai, to take us to our hotel, even getting him to stop to buy beer en route!
   
   There were some silly things in the lessons, like learning to say "I am not Thai." Well, duh! But overall it was very effective. The cd's not only taught us useful Thai words and phrases, but they gave us the foundation to put together sentences with new words we learned while in Thailand.
   
   We didn't meet any other Western vacationers in Thailand who had bothered to learn Thai at all, and the Thai people were both surprised and pleased with our efforts. I'm very happy I purchased Pimsleur's Basic Thai, and I will buy their products in the future.



3. I am a visual learner (I would rather review a colleague's email on line than over the telephone), and this method is not meant for me! (Nor am I interested in learning to say something the way a woman would, since I am a man.)
   
   If you're an auditory learner, fine. If you're not, this will be a double challenge--new language and less helpful learning style.

2 comments about Conversational Thai: Learn to Speak and Understand Thai with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon & Schuster's Pimsleur).

1. Asian languages can be a challenge for western ears and tongues. I found this program very helpful and entertaining. The 8 disk version added another level of conversation not found in the 6 disk version and I was glad I had opted for this one. I was very comfortable greeting people, conversing, bartering and asking question in Thai, though my accent often brought smiles and giggles. The Pimsleur programs work best for anyone planning a short vacation, who speaks little to none of the native languge. Coupled with a good phrase book, like Lonely Planet's, Pimsleur remains my favorite language program.



2. I have worked with this set of CD's and have found them to be both easy to use and effective. They are very well designed. It is clear to see that much thought went into the material that was selected, and the presentation of that material. I highly recomend this very inexpensive language package for anyone seeking a first time experience with the Thai Laguage.

1 comments about French Dictionary.

1. I'm in my fourth year of French, and have used this dictionary the entire time. The main reason why it's so good is because it includes argot (slang) and its irregular verb section is spectacular. I've probably memorized all 76 irregular verb forms in the back just by flipping back there so much.
   
   Overall it's a great dictionary with great definitions; nothing outmoded. However, I got one at school for about $13 while it's twice as much here. Maybe school discount, who knows.

1 comments about Speak Like A Thai Volume 2 - Thai Slang and Idioms (Speak Like a Thai).

1. some very useful phrases and words, and the bonus rude slang at the back is worth the purchase!... and the five stars...some choice naughty stuff...explicit, funny and colourful, very Thai.

5 comments about Speak Like A Thai Volume 1 - Contemporary Thai Expressions (Speak Like a Thai).

1. This is a great CD for those that can speak enough Thai to communicate, but don't want to sound like a guidebook anymore. You'll learn some of the unique idioms and phrases in Thai that you would otherwise only learn by conversation practice. I was worried before I bought it that they were going to just be quaint idioms, but most of the phrases are actually quite useful and used in everyday situations.



2. I bought this book so I could travel throgh in thailand not buy a prostitute.
   The phrases in this book are not for every day survival.



3. This book has practical phrases that you can use to speak with Thai people. I listen to the CD in the car and try to memorize the phrases. As it is said in the booklet, this program is good for speaking in real life situtations. It is not really designed for tourists. My Thai friends also like it because they can learn English from this program as well. All volumes of Benjawan's Speak like a Thai are fun to use.



4. This book brings into question immoral behavior and is insulting to the Thai community and culture.



5. As a Thai language teacher, I would say that this book is a great supplementary material for serious Thai learners. I have about 15 books and dictionaries that I bought to teach the Thai language, but I ended up using Benjawan's books. The reason is that they are all easy and fun to use. It's not likely for a person to learn a language from just one book and be fluent. The Speak like a Thai series is an excellent idea for a more subtle way to express yourself in Thai. The phrases are useful because they are actually used by the Thai people. I especially like Volume 4 which explains how to use the word "heart" in Thai. I recommend this book to my friends and students.

5 comments about Thai for Beginners.

1. This is a good textbook, I guess, if you have an instructor. By yourself even with the companion CD, it will not get far at all. If you want to check my work, buy it.



2. This is a very good Thai language book for beginners and it's very easy to use. It's not a perfect textbook. I have to use other books to teach Thai to my students, but this book is the best I found to start with. I got it in Thailand for 300 baht. The price is very reasonable. There are also many other titles written by the same author that can be used as supplementary learning materials. I especially enjoy her Speak like a Thai series.



3. This is a book for the person who is serious about learning thai and willing to put in the time to do so. This is not a quick phrase-book; it is a systematic way to learn the letters, sounds, and vocabulary. This is a tool that should be used with a spoken audio program (I like rosetta stone myself).
   
   This appears to be the only textbook I have found (and I have searched through many), that actually gives you practice and quizzes for writing and making sure you remember what you've learned.
   
   Consider this a workbook with explanations designed to build vocabulary and help navigate the Thai writing system with the help of a well explained transliteration system.



4. This is a great book for those wanting to learn to speak, read, and write the Thai language. I am Thai myself and never had a constant exposure to the language. This book and CD (sold seperately) helped me a lot to regain my culture. My grandmother is a full blood fluent Thai speaker. Even she though this book was great. The minute she opened it, she had a big grin stuck on her face. She read a few things out of it to me and seemed very satisfied with it. This is a must have to all those wanting to learn the language.



5. 'Thai for Beginners' is probably your best option, if you want to learn Thai and you can't find a class (because, of course, interacting with a native speaker is always the best way to learn a language). The course is seriously flawed, however. The lessons are little more than lists of vocabulary. Though this works all right with an isolating language like Thai, where you don't need to learn inflexions, the all-important example sentences are short and few, and the exercises are worthless: little more than a revision of the word-lists. The one thing I wholeheartedly praise is the book's emphasis on the writing system, which, I admit, is very difficult but is essential for the beginner to master quickly. Many -- I dare say most -- other teach-yourself courses for Thai introduce the writing system far too late or ignore it completely, condemning the learner to tears and frustration.
   
   While 'Thai for Beginners' certainly is not perfect, it will do to tide you over until you can find a live Thai class. Considering how parched for quality the selection of solo-learner Thai language books is, a class is probably your best bet.

5 comments about El principito (Spanish).

1. A BOOK THAT INFLUENCED MY LIFE
   
   The book that has influenced my life is "The Little Prince". This book iis basically about a little blond boy that meets an adult with who he will become friend, somewhere in the world, dunno where.He discovers, during a trip, adults, who will allow him to understand adults world and life on hearth In the begining of the story, the pilot crashes in a desert and thers were the story begings.This story has many characters, but the two main ones are the pilot (the narrator), and the little prince.One of the main settings are the dessert were the pilot meets the little prince, and the planet were the little prince lives, but this story has many settings.
   
   I read this book because my mother told me that every kid must read this book, so she gave me the book and i read it when i was almost 12 years old. This book has influenced my life in many ways. Every time i read this book it makes me think, about pepole and friendship, it makes me cry, laugh, and be a better person and a better friend. It also makes me be more pacient, and this is a thing that im not so good at, but every time im in a cituation were i have to be pacient, since i read that book, I have teach myself to try to understand people, and why they are like that. This book is in a prose/chatter way written, in this way it was easier for me to understand the meaning of the words. This book you have to read it more than once to get the meaning of the words.
   
   
   
   By Avira Arreola.



2. This is a lovely story, and I wanted to own the book to follow while I listen to the story in Spanish on my ipod. Children's stories in Spanish are a delightful way to study for the mid-level student.
   
   T.William Waltrip, M.D.



3. It's been one of my favorite books since I was in 6th grade, great life values in this story! Great for kids! and people of any age.



4. It is definitely the best book I have ever read, and I read many great books throughout my life. I read it about six times, the first one when I was little. I still remember. Now I got it for my own children. It has amazing principles, and wonderful teachings. I wich we could all see life the way "El Principito" does. What a great lesson!



5. Creo que uno de los libros mas lindos que he leido. Es un libro que podes leer a cualquier edad, tendo 18 años y recien lo lei.
   Es una aventura muy linda que algun dia espero poder leer a mi hijos :)
   Les recomiendo este libro a todo mundo.

5 comments about Thai: Lonely Planet Phrasebook.

1. This is an excellent phrase book, easy to carry, easy to read and broken into easy to find section. Combined with a short language program this book carried me across Thailand comfortably. I mentione the language program because the pronunciation is a bit tricky to break down phonetically, altho Lonely Planet does a great job of it. I have used lonely planet phrase books for all of Asia and Northern Africa, but I must admit I use Rick Steve's phrase books for European travel. Lonely Planet Guide Books are also very good, especially for the bargain traveler.



2. I bought this book before spending 3 weeks in Thailand last year. I only cracked it a couple of times and had difficulty deciphering the phonetics. However, having just completed a Beginning Thai course offered by my county's adult ed department the book makes a lot more sense to me and I find the grammar notes and pronunciation easier to understand. I am headed back to Thailand next week and feel a lot more confident that I will be able to communicate if/when I come across non-English speakers. But for as good as this book is, I agree with the other reviewer that it helps to at least take a basic Thai course or listen to CDs like Pimsleur so you can hear the language. And as others have noted, top marks for including the Thai script along with the English phrases so you can just point if necessary.



3. This is a great little reference book if interested in learning Thai. Using some kind of on line or person audio assistance is necessary since Thai is tonal.



4. I am a huge fan of lonely planet guidebooks however I am not a big fan of phrasebooks in general. I have this phrasebook and can honestly say that i have never used it. The problem with phrasebooks is that no 2 are alike. Different phrasebooks give slightly different pronunciations (and with Thai slightly different tones) but again this all has to do with translation from one language into another which is not the best way to learn a new language( acquisition is proven to be the most effective but takes time!). However with this said, phrasebooks are practical for people who do not have time to study a particular language such as Thai which is very difficult for westerners and lonely planet is just as good as any other phrasebook that I have seen on the market to meet the needs of holiday travelers.



5. I've been to Thailand twice now and am planning to live there for a few years. This book has taught me the basics and beyond. I recommend it because the tone marks and pronunciations are easy to understand and the book teaches you the rules so that you can figure out different variations of a word. There is also an English/Thai, Thai/English dictionary in the back and the book is small enough to fit in your pocket. Thai script plus phonetic thai is included. The only downside I can see is that the words are so tiny that it's sometimes hard to see thai script vowels and tonal marks.

5 comments about Thai-English English-Thai Dictionary for Non-Thai Speakers, Revised Edition (Dictionary) (Dictionary).

1. Just big enough to to fit in your back pocket, but thick so it feels like you have a lift. What can I say? It's a dictionary.



2. The book seems to cover most of the words I might need. The problem that I am having is the transliteration font is too small and light.



3. Hands down the best dictionary there is. The reasons are 1- it uses Benjawan's transliteration system, which is the best there is. If you are using other things by her (Thai for Beginners, Speak Like a Thai, Practical Thai Conversation etc. or Thai for Lovers (not by Benjawan)) it will be intuitive to use. 2- The dictionary is broken into English-Thai, then a whole equal (almost) section on PHONETIC English into Thai and then written Thai, into English. Having that phonetic section is incredibly useful, especially before you know how to ask how something is spelled in Thai. My dictionary (as well as many other people's that I have seen in their hands) is beat up!... because you -really- use this little sucker. The only down side is that I wish there was a larger version with more words and with the classifier words associated with each noun within the text of the dictionary. Having said that, I have personally by -no- means "outgrown" this dynamic resource. So, I think it is just fine as is, for its intended purpose. Plus, it is small enough to put in a cargo pocket. Even the electronic dictionaries can not rival its usefulness for 10 fold the cost!
   
   There are a lot of other helpful things in the dictionary as well, including a list of those "measure words" or "classifiers" which are critical to proper speaking and there is an explanation of the written components of Thai that is very succinct and well done.
   
   Until Benjawan comes out with something bigger and better, this is -the- best dictionary on the market. When I go out into the streets of Thailand, with complete confidence to face any situation, I leave my electronic dictionary and my phrase books at the hotel and the only thing I carry is -this- book..... and a few Baht ;-)



4. I was a volunteer teacher in a very remote part of Thailand in a school where I was the only Westener. English was barely spoken by just a few people. The dictionary was a life-saver. I just wished it had been more complete. But it is a compromise: nobody wants to carry a ten pounds book around. The dictionary is a "three-parter": English-Thai, Thai-English and phonetics Thai-English. Being able to find the meaning of words just by the way they sound is terrific. I also recommend Pimsleur Thai, even if you go to a non-BKK speaking part of Thailand (which is most of the country ;-)).



5. I bought this dictionary a couple of years ago.
   
   I believe it is genereally good (as most of Benjawan's books), especially for the beginner, although it lacks some important words here and there.
   
   Unfortunately the book cover fell off (poor glue maybe?) the first time I opened the dictionary, which was a bit annoiying.
   
   It would be cool with a more thorough all in one thai-english and english thai dictionary for the more serious/advanced learner. The phonetic part may be left out for my sake.