Hi all,
I've been in BKK for several yeras now so may not be a newbie in terms of living in Bangkok, but I've never posted on a forum, so please be gentle...
I've been in Thailand for a few years now and working in an environment with lots of Japanese and Thais. I'd say my level of spoken Thai is intermediate, but my writing and reading never got past the alphabet and tone rules.
I now have some free time (I quit my job) and I'd really like to improve these so am thinking about studying for the Por. 6 exams in Dec.
Has anybody taken this exam, and has it made a difference? Is Por. 6 level of Thai useful in your work and life in Thailand?
Thanks,
Esky
I don't mean to sound rude, but you'll not have a chance of passing the G6 exam this December.Originally Posted by 3sky
I think you need a lot of free time to prepare for the "Primary 6 Thai Language Exams" in December. Think about this: 6 years of primary Thai language education covers about 1,200 hours contact hours for native speakers.
The number of foreigners residing in Thailand that have passed this test is small but they are tremendously respected among Thais and foreigners.
Follow the link to have an idea about the tests: Thai Government Primary 6 Thai Language Exam (1)
Good luck.
Stamp
the average score in the P6 government test this year was 33%. good luck.
Reminds me of a 'Thai who wants to learn English in 3 months.
Too long in Exile, too long not singing my song.
Too long like a rolling stone, Too long in exile
Too long in Exile, baby you just arent my friend.
Too long in Exile my friend, Baby you can never go home again.
Is there a reason for you getting the qualification? Like a job specification or pay rise or is it just for your own back slapping?
If there's no real need for getting the qualification, then just learn what you want to learn.
Seeing that makes you realise how English looks to Thai kids.
Last edited by Cawphad Guy; 16th May 2008 at 19:11. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
You know what really chaps my ass though?
I spent my life savings turning my van into a dog.
The alarm alone cost me two hundred.
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Have a few friends who have passed it. Difficult. They spent several years doing it. (about 3 after fairly fluent in oral language.) Good luck. I am learning reading and writing. It is a goal of mine, but not in December. Maybe in 2011.
“It is the problem of the leftwing: they clean up the vomit after the cocaine party of the neocons, who go into rehab and then come back to reap the benefits,” --
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.
I passed it around 4 or 5 years ago. It took a lot of study but it was worth it as it has opened many doors for me.
It would probably take you at least 6 months of full time study to have a chance of passing it.
Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris? Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.
Whether the examination is useful or not is not the main point; do you or don't you want to improve your written Thai? I'd say that once you can read and write Thai, your vocabulary will come on leaps and bounds, and that has got to help your prospects. Giving up work to study is my dream too... I suspect it will remain a dream, though..
__________________
In the sentence "It's one of those things that happen", the antecedent of that which is the subject is not one and so the primacy of one doesn't dictate using the verb 'happens'. Is that explanation correct?
Damn that test uses a lot of academic language... I mean the second question was asking to identify a verb in a sentence, nearly did my head in.
I have to agree that December might be a bit too quick, since not only will you have to come up to speed with the reading but you will also need to learn and comprehend academic language.
As for the usefulness of having Por 6 well ask yourself, would you be impressed by someone with a grade 6 level of English? I think those jobs that need a high level of Thai would be looking at at least Mor 3.
Good Luck.
This is what I was told too, if you already have the requisite reading and writing skills.
I hear that most of the major language schools run intensive P6 prep courses from Sep to Dec. Any idea how many hours a day?
Good luck with your goal 3sky, it's one that I hope to accomplish in the future as well.
4 hours per day/5 days a week.I hear that most of the major language schools run intensive P6 prep courses from Sep to Dec. Any idea how many hours a day?
Doing it for personal satisfaction is great. not to sure it will enhance job opportunities. study is everything. 6 of my P6 students got over 70% in the English P6 government exam but the same students got 45% or less in the thai exam. for me it comes down to reading, reading and reading. i didn't spend one hour preparing kids for the P6 test. they got their scores because they learn through their books. Kids bomb out on the P6 test because it uses so muchover formal language that kids learn once but in reality never use. they get to the exam and can't read and understand the questions that are written in overformal Bangkok thai. Good luck
No, far from it. I haven't taken it, but have a friend who studied for it full-time at a language center 2 hrs a day for three years. He failed it once before finally passing it on the second try with a score of 50. He said the test is really a bitch. One part of it is taking dictation. Thai phrases and sentences are read over a long speaker and you have to write in Thai what you hear. Another part is writing a letter (don't know whether it is personal or business) in Thai. Besides a few mutiple choice exams about vocabulary and grammar usage, you have to write an essay on 2 or 3 Thai topics. Unless you are a superman or extremely gifted in languages, I doubt whether anyone would be able to pass it this year if they only know the Thai alphabet now. My friend who finally passed it has been married to a Thai for more than 30 years and exposed to the Thai language that long. Compare yourself to him and see if you have a shot of passing the exam. I remember my friend writing essays in class for months and studying all of the Prathom Thai books 1-6 before taking the exam.
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