Let's talk about language learning. I could rant for ages about the many difficulties in learning Thai, writing it is a near guaranteed headache, but I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It's come through changing teachers. Well, I liked my first teacher, she was an older christian Thai lady who was very sweet and teaches most of the staff here. Really, the problem's not with her, it's just that I couldn't concentrate for 2 hours straight in a one on one tutoring situation. So I would begin to visibly drift asleep by the end of the first hour, regardless of all my good intentions.
After 5 months of this, dreading every class more, I decided I needed to try a group class. With all the farangs (foreigners) around, you'd think this would be easy, but since I work a full day I was looking for night group classes, and no one seems to do that here. Do all of the other farangs have such easy schedules????
Finally I've joined in Cornerstone, taking lessons 3 days a week from 1pm-3pm, where I'm in a 'group' class with one other Korean man who has trouble with his 'y' syllables...and my thai slang is improving greatly! Basically the first day I came, I met Debbie, who is another missionary from Drummoyne Presbyterian in Sydney - I had heard of her from a mutual friend but we had never actually managed to meet up, and it turns out this is her language school too and she hangs out with the teachers - who are mostly young women in their 20's and 30's. My 'Khruu' (thai for teacher) is extremely cute with big eyes that widen when she's saying certain syllables and she bobs her head in the direction of the vocal tone so I never really have to work hard to guess which one it is...she looks about 16 but is actually 23. She's invited me to go to a party at her place in a couple of weeks...although everytime I ask what the occasion is, the only answer I get is 'big party'.
But the hanging out has opened to door to the final goal in learning Thai for me- being able to make friends with Thai people. Here's what I've learnt already.
khlang khlang = to tease someone
jing jing = serious
mai churr = I don't believe you
mai dii = you're naughty
mai jamben = that's not necessary (Debbie taught me that to say if they told me I needed to sit a test)
ourre= fat
You see what kind of vocab I will end up with?!!
After 5 months of this, dreading every class more, I decided I needed to try a group class. With all the farangs (foreigners) around, you'd think this would be easy, but since I work a full day I was looking for night group classes, and no one seems to do that here. Do all of the other farangs have such easy schedules????
Finally I've joined in Cornerstone, taking lessons 3 days a week from 1pm-3pm, where I'm in a 'group' class with one other Korean man who has trouble with his 'y' syllables...and my thai slang is improving greatly! Basically the first day I came, I met Debbie, who is another missionary from Drummoyne Presbyterian in Sydney - I had heard of her from a mutual friend but we had never actually managed to meet up, and it turns out this is her language school too and she hangs out with the teachers - who are mostly young women in their 20's and 30's. My 'Khruu' (thai for teacher) is extremely cute with big eyes that widen when she's saying certain syllables and she bobs her head in the direction of the vocal tone so I never really have to work hard to guess which one it is...she looks about 16 but is actually 23. She's invited me to go to a party at her place in a couple of weeks...although everytime I ask what the occasion is, the only answer I get is 'big party'.
But the hanging out has opened to door to the final goal in learning Thai for me- being able to make friends with Thai people. Here's what I've learnt already.
khlang khlang = to tease someone
jing jing = serious
mai churr = I don't believe you
mai dii = you're naughty
mai jamben = that's not necessary (Debbie taught me that to say if they told me I needed to sit a test)
ourre= fat
You see what kind of vocab I will end up with?!!
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