Thai

Rating:
Summary: READ THIS BEFORE BUYING
Review: 'This program has no further Pimsleur Thai learning programs beyond this. This is the only program for Thai that Pimsleur offers (It is a very basic program). Consequently, when you decide to learn more, you can not use this as a stepping stone to intermediate language level. You will have to go to another language program and start as a beginner. No star rating below 'one' is accepted by this site, so I am forced to give one star, although zero is my desire. You will have wasted not only your money, but your time as well. You will regret buying this.'

Rating:
Summary: Great but Cut short.....
Review: First of all, I think this is the best way to learn a new language. NOW, There are only 10 lessons that leaves you short if you want to continue. That means after 10 days, you are just past the beginner stage and you have nothing else. I used this for Japanese and am fluent now, If they had more for thai I would buy it too, but they don't....

Rating:
Summary: Great but Cut short.....
Review: I have found Thai to be an extraordinarily difficult language to learn and have tried quite a few of the beginning courses. This one was the first to actually give me a working knowledge of the language on an elementary level. It has proved useful as a stepping stone to other courses which had various drawbacks for the beginner but are more comprehensible with this as a backdrop. I agree with the oft repeated criticism that this course isn't long enough, but it is so much better than anything else out there for what it does offer that I would recommend starting with nothing else.

Rating:
Summary: Still the Best
Review: I have found Thai to be an extraordinarily difficult language to learn and have tried quite a few of the beginning courses. This one was the first to actually give me a working knowledge of the language on an elementary level. It has proved useful as a stepping stone to other courses which had various drawbacks for the beginner but are more comprehensible with this as a backdrop. I agree with the oft repeated criticism that this course isn't long enough, but it is so much better than anything else out there for what it does offer that I would recommend starting with nothing else.

Rating:
Summary: Too slow, too repetitive, too boring
Review: I have listened to the first 4 lessons, and cannot continue. The pace is way too slow. The only thing taught in the first 4 lessons is: "I can (or cannot) speak Thai" or "I am (or am not) from America" Up front it seems to be promising, given the number of tapes and lessons, but in realty you are no further along by the end of the 4th lesson as you were at the end of the 1st. Save your money, see if there are any other lessons available

Rating:
Summary: Too short, but probably the best!
Review: I hope they can have 90 lessons (just like the Chinese, Japanese, French programme) for Thai, I like this learning method very well. Learning a tonal language can never be easier! You really have to listen and listen until you get used to the tones, so here's the way.

Rating:
Summary: Well Begun is Half Done
Review: I join the chorus of reviewers who recommend this course, but lament its brevity. Indeed, it's remarkable that Pimsleur hasn't seen fit to offer at least a sequel to its introductory Thai course, given the importance of the language. Next to Chinese and Japanese, Thai is probably the most important of the Southeast Asian languages. The language is well represented by native speakers in just about every major city in the U.S. I live in Las Vegas, and we already have a Thai community of over 10,000.

As for the course itself: many people are coming to understand that one doesn't start to learn a foreign language by opening a book and reading grammar, or even learning an alphabet. But, unless you learn how to make the noises that a native speaker makes, and make them the way the native speaker makes them, you simply won't be understood. This is an absolute truth in language learning. And I know no better way to learn how to do this than by taking a Pimsleur course. When I was in Thailand, I met a lot of students at Chiangmai University who were studying English (most of them do). Chiangmai University has an outstanding English department, chock full of native speakers of English, and offering courses from basic composition to Shakespeare. Most Thais know more about English grammar than most native speakers of English will ever know. But, they couldn't SPEAK English. And those who did, with few exceptions, spoke it badly. Why? Because they weren't being taught how to LISTEN, and REPEAT. So again: listen and imitate what you hear, like a parrot. That's all. Once you've starting sounding like a Thai, you can move on. In the case of Thai, moving-on means acquiring the book (and CDs or tapes), "Thai for Beginners," by Bejawan Poomsan Becker. In fact, I would recommend staying with Becker's courses. But, I repeat, do Pimsleur first.

What this course does, it does well. There are minor errors, however. At times the English-speaking moderator tells you that a tone is high when he should tell you it's rising. Thai is a mono-syllabic language, and every syllable has its own tone and length. And you've got to get both right. (For a native speaker of English, the length of the vowel is probably the greatest stumbling block, even if one gets the tone right.) So, in the case of Thai, the wrong tone is not a small matter. But again, if you just try to imitate the Thai speakers, this shouldn't be a major problem. And when you get to Becker's course, things will be clarified. Becker offers an analysis of the tone rules of Thai which is unmatched in any other Thai course I know of. In fact, that's arguably the greatest strength of her course.

Again, an excellent introduction to Thai. Perhaps one of these days Pimsleur will get the message and produce a sequel.



Rating:
Summary: Good Introduction
Review: I used this program as a refresher before going to Thailand for a month, and found it very well structured for review and learning. A shortcoming is the length. I wish there was a longer program like for other languages. The negative comments have some merit but I still would recommend this tape for someone who has never spoke Thai. Just realize there is no magic method of learning another language. It's practice and use of the language in natural settings There are several other very good programs, but I strongly recommned the FSI tapes.

Rating:
Summary: Good Introduction
Review: I used this program as a refresher before going to Thailand for a month, and found it very well structured for review and learning. A shortcoming is the length. I wish there was a longer program like for other languages. The negative comments have some merit but I still would recommend this tape for someone who has never spoke Thai. Just realize there is no magic method of learning another language. It's practice and use of the language in natural settings There are several other very good programs, but I strongly recommned the FSI tapes.

Rating:
Summary: Pimsleur Thai is great but ...
Review: I've used the Pimsleur courses with great success in a variety of different languages. I'm a fan of the method - no rewind; proper pronuciation; yada yada - rules in the car. But the Thai course is 1) far too short and 2) why no CD option. It seems that the publishers are short sighted by not improving the Pimsleur product and marketing it more aggresively. This product is great for a quick knowledge of some basic Thai, a difficult tonal language. Perfect for vacation speak. But if you want to learn the language this offering is too light. No excuse for the lack of CDs.