Now that we were settled into our condo it was time to start school. Monday, July 14th, was our first day of school. We were given Book I and to our surprise found that it was all written in Thai, all 123 pages! That's when we found that their method to speaking is based on learning to read. Then came suprise # 2. After taking our seats in the classroom along with about 12 other students, our teacher, a young lady named Ploy, began class by having everyone turn to page 42. What?! Phyllis and I looked at each other like "what the hell is going on?" The surprise was that we just happened to join the class in progress. She started instructing in Thai and as she asked questions she would rotate from student to student for their responses. They were reading the answers from their book in Thai. So when it came to us I thought she just might pass us by, but no...we were to answer her questions as well. She did come over to help us with the questions and answers that were written out in the book. She said for now that we should just write each Thai word out phonetically in English to start with. Okay...nothing like jumping in the middle of things. We did manage to get through the first day, all 3 hours. We started our schedule with classes on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday and figured we would reserve Tuesday's and Thursday's for golf. Well this had to change as we knew that in order for us to catch up and continue on that we would need a lot of home study time. By the end of the second week we had changed our schedule to 2 hours a class, 2 days a week. That way we could still play golf and have plenty of study time. At this writing which is September 3rd we have completed the remainder of Book I and have started from the begining. Which now seems quite easy. I guess it was just getting over the initial shock. However we still spend a lot of time studying. But that is ok as that's why we're living here in Bangkok. Our priority is school for this first year. เราเป็นนักเรียน (we are students).
July 15, 2008
Walen School of Thai
Now that we were settled into our condo it was time to start school. Monday, July 14th, was our first day of school. We were given Book I and to our surprise found that it was all written in Thai, all 123 pages! That's when we found that their method to speaking is based on learning to read. Then came suprise # 2. After taking our seats in the classroom along with about 12 other students, our teacher, a young lady named Ploy, began class by having everyone turn to page 42. What?! Phyllis and I looked at each other like "what the hell is going on?" The surprise was that we just happened to join the class in progress. She started instructing in Thai and as she asked questions she would rotate from student to student for their responses. They were reading the answers from their book in Thai. So when it came to us I thought she just might pass us by, but no...we were to answer her questions as well. She did come over to help us with the questions and answers that were written out in the book. She said for now that we should just write each Thai word out phonetically in English to start with. Okay...nothing like jumping in the middle of things. We did manage to get through the first day, all 3 hours. We started our schedule with classes on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday and figured we would reserve Tuesday's and Thursday's for golf. Well this had to change as we knew that in order for us to catch up and continue on that we would need a lot of home study time. By the end of the second week we had changed our schedule to 2 hours a class, 2 days a week. That way we could still play golf and have plenty of study time. At this writing which is September 3rd we have completed the remainder of Book I and have started from the begining. Which now seems quite easy. I guess it was just getting over the initial shock. However we still spend a lot of time studying. But that is ok as that's why we're living here in Bangkok. Our priority is school for this first year. เราเป็นนักเรียน (we are students).
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quote from our website www.thaiwalen.com/the_method.php
"The initial shock"
"Some students on first being introduced to the Walen Method tend to be lost. They think they will never be able to remember all the work during the lesson. If, however, they persevere and revise for a few lessons, they soon realize that it is all quite easy and enjoyable, and that anyone can do it."
It is quite common to feel like this but before your 60 lessons (first course) is finished you will be able to read Thai in Thai as well as speak it withing the 700words range taught in Walen Book 1. Book 2 is a lot easier once you master book 1.
Enjoyed reading your comments on our school. We have a Walen school in Pattaya now as well, we opened on the 1st of September.
The idea or learning Thai in Thai is really catching on and students who tried can testify that it is easy using the Walen Method.
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