| Faidenk |
20-03-2013 07:52 PM |
Re: Cambodia (Phnom Penh)
Quote:
Originally Posted by potatoskin
(Post 8694991)
Clap clap, 10 years ago , I learn thai, now can speak and sing thai, now trying to learn khmer
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Learnt Thai 25 years ago in Sydney, of all places but that is another story.
Been here 2 years and a few months now, started learning only after a year or so, the 'easy' way, with the assistance of a long-haired walking dictionary (WD). Well, there are both pros and cons with this path. The pros being the WD is able to be on call most of the time; you are able to learn words commonly used by the countryside and seldom the city folks , which, used by a foreigner like myself, never ceased to cause mirth among the Cambodians; dirty words, lame pickup lines, stuff like that, things never taught in classrooms.
The cons being the WD can develop an attitude and give you lip; the WD I have speaks no more than 10 words of English so there's a limit to what she can teach me. To get around this, I go online to get the word I need translated online, then get the WD to read off the screen the Khmer script.
The process is slow and at times tedious but there's no big hurry. I learned that you have to use the words you learned or it will be forgotten, fast.
There's a new method of learning Khmer by the Natural Khmer school. Lessons at $4 per. No books, no notes, nothing. And you're not even supposed to speak Khmer in class! You have 2 teachers. They have a subject matter of the day e.g. At The Market, and these 2 teachers will play roles of buyer and seller, you know, asking for prices, bargaining etc, all in slow Khmer. Every lesson a different subject. You don't need an appointment, just sit in whenever. Comments are quite favorable. Check it out here naturalkhmer.com. I may want to go for that 1st free lesson to see if I can pick anything up. |
