Product Description

Comprehensive Thai includes 30 lessons of essential grammar and vocabulary -- 16 hours of real-life spoken practice sessions -- plus an introduction to reading.

Upon completion of this Level I program, you will have functional spoken proficiency with the most-frequently-used vocabulary and grammatical structures. You will be able to:

* initiate and maintain face-to-face conversations,

* deal with every day situations -- ask for information, directions, and give basic information about yourself and family,

* communicate basic information on informal topics and participate in casual conversations,

* avoid basic cultural errors and handle minimum courtesy and travel requirements,

* satisfy personal needs and limited social demands,

* establish rapport with strangers in foreign countries,

* begin reading and sounding out items with native-like pronunciation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #725201 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-06
• Format: Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 16
• Binding: Audio CD

About the Author
Dr. Pimsleur devoted his life to language teaching and was one of the world's leading experts in applied linguistics. After obtaining his Ph.D. in French from Columbia University, he taught French Phonetics and Phonemics, and supervised the language laboratory at UCLA. He went on to become Professor of Romance Languages and Language Education, and Director of The Listening Center at Ohio State University; Professor of Education and Romance Languages at the State University of New York at Albany; and a Fulbright lecturer at the University of Heidelberg. Dr. Pimsleur was a member of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), American Educational Research Association (AERA), Modern Language Association (MLA), and a founding member of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). His many books and articles revolutionized theories of language learning and teaching. After years of experience and research, Dr. Pimsleur developed a new method that is based on two key principles: the Principle of Anticipation and a scientific principle of memory that he called Graduated Interval Recall. This program incorporates both of these principles to provide you with the most simple and effective learning method possible.

Customer Reviews

Pimsleur Thai Delivers
This set of language tapes is a good introduction to Thai. For those familiar with Pimsleur-method tapes, the format and execution are identical to lessons from other languages. I have previously used the German I set with some success, and I am pleased with the Pimsleur Thai. The method of teaching and learning is very effective, given in approximately 30-minute lessons. You begin learning simple phrases, repeating after the speakers, and answering questions. This is much better than some tapes I have tried to use, which begin with (impossible-to-learn) recitations of the Thai alphabet and such. Using the Pimsleur, you gradually develop a conversational ability. My only complaint regarding the product is that it is too short, and a complete Thai I course (30 lessons) is not available. The Compact edition is too short to develop any more than a very basic level of conversational ability. On a positive note, my wife is Thai and she reports that the accents are good (native Thai speakers). That is the second best thing about Pimsleur Audio tapes (for any language) - you develop great pronunciation by repeating after native speakers. The best thing about the tapes is that the format is conducive to learning the language well.

Well Begun is Half Done
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.

Learn Thai the right way
At long last they have decided to offer Pimsleur Thai in a comprehensive course. Having learned German solely through Pimsleur programs I can attest to how firm a foundation these programs can give.

You do not need to study boring books or listen to vocabulary tapes over and over with no real results. Instead you listen for 30 minutes a day and simply repeat what the speakers are saying. The Pimsleur method uses anticipated recall which allows you to converse without fully having to think or remember what you are trying to say. You simply speak naturally.

I can think of no better course for anyone to start their study of Thai than with this one. You hear native speakers using a very clear central dialect. They repeat words and pronunciations often without making it too overly boring.

You will feel comfortable practicing the language as you progress. After the full 30 lessons are finished you will have a very strong base in Thai. It will allow you to speak to others without feeling too intimidated. Thai is a tough language to learn. If you want to do it right give yourself one of the best language tools available, Pimsleur.