intro:
I took the 2 weeks speaking Thai intensive course for 50 hours including certificate. I was visiting Ko Samui for 4 weeks this time. The school has other courses in English, Italian & German to offer. The school is a long running business and the 1st language school in Ko Samui to my knowledge.
methods:
The teacher/owner of the school has developed a simple and yet effective method called TMC: transformation, muscle memory, combination. This is adapted to Thai language with its simple grammar and for westerners difficult to pronounce and to remember idioms, phrases, etc. It works.
tools:
The handouts for learning were to the point, good structured and easy readable. Nothing fancy. They present the examples from real life you will then elaborating for some hours on and hopefully try out in real Thai life after some days.
learning experience:
The course itself was funny, entertaining, demanding – and of course intens(iv)e. There were tons of real life examples given in formal and colloquial Thai with two assistant teachers, doing the questions and answer games and also pronouncing these “stranges words” in different ways and dialects. They use varied, diverting examples and exercises – a very good way to step into Thai language. You can smell and feel the long term didactic and teaching experience (16 years) of the teacher. The courses are in “family atmosphere” with 4 students max.
personal reception:
Owner and management are on professional level. period. The steer this with good humor and also steering of the group itself was fine. You can feel their passion. There is no mechanical learning experience. Thank you. They use a combination of methods, different speed levels, changing of topics. Switching between tough and more relaxed sessions lead to good results for improving with your language abilities. The Thai teacher has a very good command of English, a clear pronunciation and always finds examples in your own language, even if it be German (my mother tongue), Dutch, French, Japanese. A real talent. From my perspective there is definitely no need to search for alternative schools. This one is the one.
environment:
A nice school in a calm environment, off the main road. Tea, coffee, cookies are available for little money. Eating Thai around the block also feasible. Very friendly team & a grumpy dog which you can bribe with some small food goodies.
other:
To have some minimal knowledge of the language to start with helps, but is not mandatory depending on your talent. 🙂 It is necessary (my advice and painful own experience) to follow-up with all sessions and do some homework in the evening daily. So to speak, for 2 weeks, put your focus on this one. You learn a lot more than you think you can.
Udo Blasel
From Frankfurt, Germany
