5 comments about Thai: Learn to Speak and Understand Thai with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon and Schuster' Pimslur Language Programs: Comprehensive).

1. My significant other is from Thailand, and over the course of some shopping excursions into Thai CD/Movie/Book stores I picked up a cheap (~$20) two-CD Thai language introductory course. Over the next few months I tried to press it into the service of educating me and the sum total of what I got out of it, aside from a smattering of arbitrarily-presented and disconnected nouns, was "Where is the beer," "Where is the toilet," and "I love you." Three cheers for The Three Most Important Phrases In Any Language, but it quickly became evident that a better course was going to be needed if I wanted any kind of usable facility with the language.
   
   I sprung for the Pimsleur Thai comprehensive course - somewhere around $170 from one of Amazon's affiliate sellers (above) - and was instantly and intensely relieved at the logical soundness of its presentation. The people who created this course are not people interested in throwing together a hash of arbitrary words and phrases, they are people who *know how to teach* - something of a lost art these days.
   
   After my experience with that horrid first course - and memories of the Spanish and German classes I had in high school, which is to say: hazy - I had started looking specifically for *method* in language teaching as a necessity. A well-thought-out language course ought to match as closely as possible the epistemology we use intuitively when we're learning our native language at ages 0-6.
   
   The language student should be expending his entire mental effort in learning the building blocks of language - nouns, verbs, objects, adjectives and adverbs - while concurrently learning the rudiments of sentence structure and syntax. He should not have to waste an instant struggling against the course itself - in the best-case a language course should be utterly transparent to the user. On that score the Pimsleur Thai course is nothing short of flawless. Learning a new language inescapably requires effort and dedication, but with Pimsleur's course none of that effort is expended in wrestling with shoddy teaching methodology. You *will* see results from this course, and there is an intense sense of both accomplishment and wonder in every new level of understanding you will gain.
   
   The level of complexity advances at a consistent pace; the repetition of new terms and the period of time alotted for providing responses are perfectly designed; variations on phrases and sentences are logically and thoroughly presented. This course's strength is that it is laid out in such a way as to cultivate and reinforce the student's ability to *understand* the language, rather than merely catalog an extensive collection of canned phrases by rote memorization. You will learn basic grammar without a whole lot of head-scratching and learn to alter and apply it to varying situations. That learning, in turn, is reinforced by carefully-placed repetitions of previously-learned material, overlapped seamlessly into subsequent lessons and expanded upon.
   
   The only downside to this course - which, being that I'm only a third of the way through it I can only infer from the comments of others - is that there are as yet no followup, advanced courses. Hopefully Pimsleur will step up to the plate on that in the near future, but I'm thinking that the diligent student will be able to take the rudiments he learns here and gain an advanced, working ability at Thai with some supplementary vocabulary and grammar from books and other courses, and of course with discussion groups and direct immersion in Thai communities, either here or abroad.
   
   I'm amazed at how easily and rapidly I've progressed after my frustration with a lesser course. Presumably Pimsleur's other language courses are this good? 'Can't wait to find out. Based on my own experience I think Pimsleur should get an award for this course. Bravo!



2. Thai is a very difficult language for westerners to learn. And being a tonal language, you have to hear it spoken correctly in order to learn it. You definitely need all 30 lessons that are in the comprehensive program. They will give you a basic understanding of how the language works. It would be nice if pimsleur would come out with further lessons, but until they do you can use this program as a stepping stone into more advanced thai programs.
   
   Note: Some of the reviews here are mistaken when they say this course only has the first 10 lessons. This is the comprehensive program that has the entire 30 lessions in it.



3. This is the third language I have studied using the Pimsleur method. It is a proven method which will work if you stick with it and is worth every penny. Each course works the same way and teaches similar vocabulary. They are completely audio, making them perfect for commuters. They are very repetitive, but that is why they work. Years after completing the Spanish and German courses, I still remember quite a bit despite a total lack of practice.
   
   After completing the beginning Pimsleur course (30 lessons) of a given language, you can introduce yourself, get directions, make purchases, tell time, order food, and converse a tiny bit. The intermediate courses allow you to converse much more. I wish they would come out with an intermediate Thai course to follow on with this course.
   
   Thai is a very difficult language compared to Spanish and German. When I studied Pimsleur Spanish, one or at most 2 listenings was all I needed to move on to the next lesson. German took me 2 or 3. Thai took me up to 4 listenings. It is a tonal language and has some sounds which don't even exist in English, so don't feel inadequate if it takes you a while to master each lesson.



4. The Pimsleur method is definitely easy compared with more formal learning methods. I studied Indonesian at night school for 2 years and it took me till the end of the first year to feel confident in using it in real life. Just listening and responding to the Pimsleur CD's while I drive has given me a good working knowledge of the language in a reasonably short time. Ofcourse, the real test will be when I inflict my language skills on the Thai people,but after just a few weeks I am already feeling fairly confident.



5. Pimsleur is an average method. It works for some people, but not for others. Learning a language by only listening to it is not the appropriate method. Any method must include reading and the problem with Pimsleur is that it does not even have a booklet in most languages. 200 USD for just a few CDs? Come on! You can download the MP3 versions of this anywhere online either through one of the Bittorrent or the file sharing (emule) sites. Why spend 200 bucks????

3 comments about A.U.A. Language Center Thai Course: Reading and Writing--Mostly Reading.

1. This is a great workbook besides the fact that I cannot find the reference book that goes hand and hand with it. If you want to learn Thai script and the alphabet this book is good, but like I said the referene book is a big part of it.



2. I have tried other books in my mission learning to read thai, but this is far the best one. The workbook is nowhere to be found on the web, but I don't feel it's a problem. I like the phonetic system used in all AUA thai books.



3. It may still be possible to obtain the workbook from AUA in Thailand. I recently (2008) contacted them about another book in this series and was told they still had it available for sale, so they probably have the workbook too. AUA email address obtainable from their website.

5 comments about Making Out in Thai: Revised Edition (Making Out Books).

1. Usefull words in Thai. But when you miss the tones of this Thai words - you never get a chance in Thailand that the people will understand you. Why the author forgot the tone signs?



2. I actually found this book useful for learning quick Thai. The phrases and words in the book were current with everyday situations that a foreigner would encounter if he or she was staying longer than the typical tourist holiday in Thailand. Thai people actually thought I was proficient and fluid with the language even though I only know 30 words and phrases. There are no references to tones but I think the author does not want the reader to get hung up on the correct tonal pronounciation,just learn the words. The local people will correct your pronunciation trust me! I was fortunate because I speak a little Mandarin therefore the tones are not much of a problem for me. The book is great if you want to learn useful Thai on your flight over to the Thailand. Unlike other phrase books you are not burdened with phrases like "The tree is tall" instead you know how ask someone on a date or tell them that you are not a dumb tourist.



3. I have been learning Thai from numerous books and Tape sources for over two years (with limited success). Without living there it is difficult to pickup direct slang, colourful or romantic language, however this book provides many of the missing words and phrases that the young at heart really need. Although lack of tone marks is a major handicap... once corrected by locals the book provides more than enough to deal with all aspects of daily life. In fact my young Thai friend just kept my copy so she could obtain the English wording!



4. This book is very handy in getting a smile from Thai's.
   The ladies appreciate that you try to speak the language!
   I wouldn't reccommend this for a person seriously attempting to learn the language...afterall it is not a coursebook, but it is a good supplemental to have. This is a great communication starter and will teach you some interesting things to help during a vacation (nightlife, foods, shopping, etc.) This book can help you learn those words that most liberal coursebooks see as Taboo. Overall a decent book. Glad I bought it.



5. This is a phrase book for people who go to Thailand to do what most people go to Thailand to do. It covers a wide range of social situations from "What's up?" to "Do you have a condom?" Please do not think this a just a bunch of crude and rude phrases tell to Mr. or Mrs. Right now. It is more than that. It shares with us the those special sweet nothings that Thais tell the people they love. While it does contain some off color remarks, this is not the focal point of the phrase book. Moreover, those comments (when it is not obvious) are clearly marked as being vulgar-- so you won't accidentally use it with the wrong company.
   Whether you are making small talk, telling time, making friends, going out, or just spending time with the one you love-- this book will come in handy to fill in the voids left by other phrase books.
   P.S. The revised version has the phrases written in Romanized Thai with tone marks and real Thai fonts, so the Thais can read what you are trying to say.
   3.5 stars

No comments about Let's Speak Thai (Lets Speak).

No comments about Berlitz Thai: Phrase & Dictionary (Berlitz Phrase Book & CD).

5 comments about .NET Framework Essentials.

1. Very well written primer on the .Net framework, internal workings of the CLR and language fundamentals. Great book.



2. IMHO, OReilly tends to have the best technology books (I own many) but this book isn't one of them. This book is lightweight even as an introduction. This book is certainly fine for managers, senior architects, and business types, but if you plan to design and write software I recommend Jeff Prosise's "Programming Microsoft .NET" and Jeffrey Richter's "Applied Microsoft .NET Framework Programming", though a bit dated, both cover the .NET framework essentials and then some.



3. This book delivers exactly what it promises - an excellent overview of essential .NET Framework. Easy to read format, good chapters on IL,Framework,COM+ Interop. Unfortunately very little or no .NET serialization, memory management or threading. But a lot of information for the size of this book. Gives excellent foundation to learn upon.



4. As the title says, this book gives the essentials of the .NET framework. It is not an exhaustive treatment, rather, it touches on the main features of .NET. The book assumes that the reader is fluent in object-oriented and component-based programming. Overall, the book was fairly well written with the main features of the .NET framework being clearly explained. The book has no distractive "fluff" in it, so one can easily dive into learning about .NET. The authors give an overview of .NET, and then present a description of the common language runtime (CLR). The common programming model and working with .NET components follow. XML data and web services are clearly explained with a lot of code snippets being given. The book concludes with chapters on ASP, Windows Forms, and mobile devices. The appendices are useful, as sometime acronyms aren't defined in the main text, but are explained in the appendix.
   
   Overall, I found the book well written. The coverage of topics is actually fairly decent. The authors have done a good job of focusing on the essential aspects of .NET. If you're looking for a book that gives gives an overview of the heart of .NET, this is a good book. If you're looking for an exhaustive reference, than you'll probably want something else.



5. I went to my local bookstore to get a functional understanding of ".NET". My previous readings had been hit and miss and provided little understanding of the new platform.
   
   This book provided that understanding. The writeups on the CLR, assemblies, garbage collection, net components, web services, etc. were skeletal but quite good. I came away with some understanding of what .NET is, why it was developed and why I believe it should leapfrog Java in the web development world.
   
   It wasn't an easy read since it provided good understanding with little detail, and takes some thought; but again, it serves it's purpose well.

5 comments about Thai-English Student's Dictionary.

1. If you are just beginning to learn Thai, or an intermediate learner, then this dictionary is probably not for you. Don't get me wrong, it is a great dictionary. But, if you are new to Thai, it is more than you will probably ever need. If you are looking for a convenient dictionary to use on a regular basis (and maybe something you can slip easily into your pocket or back pack) I would highly recommend one of the Dictionaries by So Sethaputra. (My wife, who is Thai, calls him the Webster of Thai Dictionaries.) His New Model Pocket dictonaries, are easy to carry and extremely easy to use. Mine cost me about four bucks at a University (where they teach Thai). If you buy them in Thailand, they are even cheaper than that. So, Get the Hass book for an good shelf-reference, but for practical use get one of So Sethaputra pocket dictionaries.



2. I am buying my second dictionary because I wore the first one out. It is simply the best dictionary for those who want to read and write Thai. We use this book in my Thai class at Wat Thai Los Angeles because it is the most complete dictionary available, complete with colloquial terms.
   I travel to Thailand often and have never found a better book in more than 5 years.



3. I agree with the other reviews! Useless if you want a tourist "get-me-by" quick reference. Incredibly useful -- in fact, a must have if you live in Thailand or develop any level of competence in Thai. I found the "idioms" particularly helpful when living in Thailand. This helped me truly communicate almost more than anything else I did. I would read a new idiom every day from Mary Haas, then ask Thai people how to use the idiom. I was astounded how many times those idioms were used and how much more insight they gave me into the culture and how much they improved my ability to communicate. If you're going to live in Thailand, don't leave home without it!
   
   The downside is that there is no way to look up a word in English and/or have a Thai person help you get the English word out of your head and turn it into something the Thais will understand. You will definitely need another dictionary for this.



4. As a guy who emails with my Thai friends on a regular basis, I'd be lost without this book. Yes, I use it to look up new Thai words, but the book is a great resource beyond that. Sometimes I first look up words in my English-Thai dictionary, then cross-reference the Thai words in this book. The usages of given words here are exhaustive, so I know if I'm using the Thai right or not. And since I'm learning to read Thai, this is just a great book to practice with; it's a good read all on its own, and certainly a real vocabulary builder. A bonus is the description of Thai language in the front pages; it's exceptional. A must have for the serious student of Thai.



5. This is the most complete Thai to English dictionary in my experience. It is only from Thai to English, written in the Thai alphabet. I added tabs for each letter.
   
   It is a good way to read a Thai newspaper, or translate materials written in Thai. Nothing else works for this.

1 comments about Thai For Kids Pictionary (Volume 1).

1. This book is a must if you (or your kids!) are trying to learn Thai. As a 27 year old English speaker (UK) I bought it to teach myself Thai vocabulary and it has been fantastic. All the essentials are covered and the best bit is that you have a cd so you can listen to pronunciation and copy it outloud. I love this book as an adult and I am sure kids will love it more, with quirky illustrations and games, it would definitely make learning fun. Grammar is not covered so I would suggest something different for that but if you are just looking to improve familiarity and vocab in a clear, fun way this is the book for you. I love the way everything is written in English, roman script Thai and actual standard Thai so you can learn all three. Very impressed! Can't wait for volume 2!

3 comments about Improving Your Thai Pronunciation.

1. I was delighted when I first bought this book and CD in Thailand. It is not just for beginners but for us old timers too! It is a handy reference tool to all those difficult to pronounce vowels and tones. The tongue twisters are a bonus. The chapters include:

   Guide to Pronunciation
   The Five Tones, The Vowels, The Consonants
   Clusters, Confusing Words, Poly-Syllabic Words
   Thai Intonation
   Tongue Twisters
   Thaiglish

   The series of books written by Benjawan are well worth the investment.




2. First here is what you get:
   
   One CD and one small booklet.
   the course covers:
   
   1. Guide to pronunciation
   2. The 5 tones, the vowels, and the consonants
   3. Clusters, confusing words, poly-syllabic words
   4. Thai intonation
   5. Tongue twisters
   6. Thaiglish
   
   This is a mixture of new material and material available in other programs by Poomsan Becker. It was a great idea and a very tough task to go after. It falls short of my expectations. First the material seems a little skimpy and at times goes too fast. There could have been more exercises. Also sometimes it is hard to follow along with the reading material. You have the English, the Thai phonetic and then the written Thai. It is very easy to lose your place and then the audio beats you to the punch.
   
   I have mixed feelings about recommending this product or telling people to stay away. It may help but it is no miracle worker by far.



3. It offers just that which the Poonsawan-Becker courses, like all other Thai courses, omit; attention to tone and pronounciation, and only that.
   
   Apart from the question: shouldn't it be in 'Thai for Beginners' one other remark: much more space is available on any cd to add more practicing material.
   
   Resuming: Although unique and necessary in it's approach, it lacks in variety and number of exercises.
   Nevertheless, my advise to anyone interested in learning to understand Thais speaking and understanding Thai language in general: Buy and use it. Even Bangkok languageschools never focus so much and so efficienly on this.
   
   Michael

2 comments about Oxford-River Books English-Thai Dictionary.

1. An amazing piece of work! It is probably the only one of its kind in the market. It is particularly good for Thai speakers, but it can also help non-native learners trying to learn Thai. Although it is just English-Thai (with no Thai-English section), as long as you can manage to read the Thai (no transliterations) you can get a lot from it. Each entry has many examples of both literal-like (real, but close to the English in their form) and (more interestingly) "functional" Thai equivalents to the English. And these examples seem to be quite real and natural (linguistically "trustable" Thai friends report). Other Thai dictionaries often present Thai sentences that are so improvable... It has been cleverly made to include many multi-purpose sentences in most entries; so in entries like, say, "do" you find very useful Thai equivalents to "Do something to someone", "Is there anything I can do to help?", "Have nothing to do", "What is that/he doing here?", "What am I going to do?" and so on.



2. At last an excellent and truly comprehensive English Thai dictionary. Arguably its best feature is the wealth of common expressions it includes under most listed words, expressions that frequently have no literal construction or translation but are essential to easy and natural conversation. The alphebetically positioned special explanation panels - eg. forms of address in letter writing, the use numerals etc. - are a very worthwhile inclusion as well. One suggestion for the next edition would be a phonetic rendition of the primary Thai translation of the listed English word - given the implied vowels that feature in many Thai words this improvement would be warmly welcomed and at least for this reader would immediately propel his rating from four to five stars.