Pattaya46 Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I started private lessons last year and I could read and write within 10 days, /.../ but please don't find it unbelievable when others do, maybe even replace your disbelief with a well done, as credit where credit is due ? Hi CaitlinHappyMeal, About the "unbelievable" part you should maybe read again the post #2 who started this sub-discussion. It was not only be able to "read and write" after 3 months (that is not "unbelievable" if you accept to barely understand half of what your read ) but it was about, after only 3 months, being "fluent in reading and writing" ! As said before there is a huge difference. Being "fluent" required to know a lot of vocabulary, expressions, grammatical rules, ... and - IMHO - required years of practice and/or language-immersion for any language for nearly all of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattaya46 Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Hi. Can be interesting to look at thes graphic below from http://www.lingholic.com/hardest-languages-learn/ You can now/still argue about it but it gives a god base with numbers for a debate. Thai Language is in the Medium difficulty category for English speakers. Proficiency would need a 44 weeks full-time school about 1 full year studying 5 days/week and 6 lessons/day... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickmick Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 ^pattaya46. According to that graphic there are only 20.4 million native Thai speakers, so I have to doubt their research and opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacWalen Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Quite an easy thing to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard W Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 ^pattaya46. According to that graphic there are only 20.4 million native Thai speakers, so I have to doubt their research and opinions.That agrees with the figures in Ethnoglue. There are four major languages - Thai 20m, Isan Thai 15m, Northern Thai 6m, Southern Thai (if that's a single language) 4m. There are also some substantial minority languages around the million mark - Northern Khmer, Malay and Chinese. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisinth Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 <script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script> Three months and I'm fluent in reading. I can't understand what it means because that involves learning vocabulary intensively and anyway over time is something you'd pick up anyway. If you don't know all the words, how can you be 'fluent in reading'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackoholly Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Don't panic. It's just an issue with immigration. It really isn't that hard, and just practising with the school will help a great deal. I've done it over 3 months and in fluent in reading and writing.3 months and fluent in reading and writing. what a load of crap. Yeah, Frank, clearly a load of old crap. If you're a student, clearly you're not dedicated to your studying. It's entirely possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fab5BKK Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Three months and I'm fluent in reading. I can't understand what it means because that involves learning vocabulary intensively and anyway over time is something you'd pick up anyway. If you don't know all the words, how can you be 'fluent in reading'? So true! "Fluent in reading" but can't understand what he reads!!! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asiaexpat Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Webster states" read verb \ˈrēd\ : to look at and understand the meaning of letters, words, symbols, etc. Knowing symbols is far from reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackoholly Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 C'mon. Let's not split hairs here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabass69 Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Trigger, don't sweat it. It's an easier language to read that you'd think, and showing a basic understanding of it- even if flawed- is what immigration will be looking for- evidence that you've tried to learn. They won't be throwing the daily newspaper at you and demanding you read it out loud. Take a moment and watch these two videos (they're about five minutes long each) - by the end of them you'll actually be able to read some basic Thai. Great videos, they totally demystify the process I'm wary of people who profess the ability to teach other languages, yet show a lack of knowledge of their first language. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex88 Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 What if the ed visa isn't for studying Thai language?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario2008 Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Same rules apply, but will be more difficult to find an approved school with an approved curriculum. In order to qualify for an ED-visa the school mut be recognised and the rogram they offer must be recognised as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex88 Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 So how can a person be expected to wrote in Thai if their course had nothing to do with Thai? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumblecat Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 So how can a person be expected to wrote in Thai if their course had nothing to do with Thai? What is it you're studying..? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex88 Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 CELTA course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumblecat Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Trigger, don't sweat it. It's an easier language to read that you'd think, and showing a basic understanding of it- even if flawed- is what immigration will be looking for- evidence that you've tried to learn. They won't be throwing the daily newspaper at you and demanding you read it out loud. Take a moment and watch these two videos (they're about five minutes long each) - by the end of them you'll actually be able to read some basic Thai. Great videos, they totally demystify the process I'm wary of people who profess the ability to teach other languages, yet show a lack of knowledge of their first language. What did you think was wrong with the Thai being taught in that video..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumblecat Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 CELTA course Imagine (or I'd hope) the school or university will have made provisions with immigration for this. I can see where some confusion might arise but if the MoE are rubber-stamping visas for these courses then I'd think it'd be unlikely you'd be asked to show proficiency in an un-related language. Far as I know that hasn't happened to anyone, although it's something that discussed quite a lot in a "what would happen..?" way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTH10260 Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 I've just come back from my language school and we have been informed that the immigration is now requiring all ED Visa holders to have a compulsory test in not only conversation but also reading and writing. As usual there was little clarification as to when this will start or how long you would need to be attending. When I asked my teacher he said it "probably" only is for intermediate's and advanced but that the school will start the writing for all classes as of next lesson! hmm - and those that are studying Muay Thay rather than English will get an immigration official as sparring partner in a public ring at Swampy??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Flint Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 The fun and games have finished, an ED visa IS FOR STUDYING THAI,NOT GETTING PISSED EVERY DAY,AND NOT ATTENDING. I know guys who have been in Thailand for over 2 years studying, and they cannot even count to 100 in thai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fab5BKK Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 (edited) C'mon. Let's not split hairs hereJust a "small detail":How can you claim that you're fluent in reading when you can't understand what you read? Just hilarious :-) Edited November 18, 2014 by Fab5BKK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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