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[tjansen]

I want to delete this post.  Something happened to the font.  I reposted my comments about HST.

Edited by tjansen, 2011-08-04 13:32:36.

[tjansen]

I don't recall exactly when I bought HST, maybe a year ago as a guess.  It could be longer.  I have tried a couple of other programs including one that I really like because it is fun, but I have settled on HST as my learning-Thai tool.  

I made it through about eighteen or nineteen vocabluary lessons, then got bogged down for several weeks or a couple of months without doing much.  A few weeks ago I got the energy, inspiration to finish all forty lessons.  Here is the email that I just sent to Vincent, whom I have found very sincere, open, and responsive.

By the way, I am now on lesson 24 of the Vocabluary Section.  I have learned much much more Thai with this program than I did while working with and being around Thais for the previous two years.

My two summary comments:
1)  I recommend this course without reservation
2)  I suggest, early on, finding the instructions on how to study in the High Speed Thai ebook (pdf) and designing a study plan for yourself.  I experienced a lot of frustration early on floundering around in different folders not knowing what I was doing or where I was headed.  Now I can go right to the folder I am working in that day and do my lesson.  The course is definitely not a "push the Start Button and Go" affair, but once I settled down and read Vincent's instructions, I found them very useful in progressing on my way.

Here is the email, in quotes, that I just sent to Vincent, whom I have found to be very sincere, open, and responsive.

"Hello Vincent, I put  this study plan together from your instructions in the ebook without including  "extra practice" type things you mention, and I have been using it for a few weeks. Could you please comment on any essentials that I am missing?

I spend eight days on each unit, which means I should finish the course before the end of the year.
Day 1 Quick Review, following along with the appropriate text from the ebook, with some repetition as needed.
Day2 Section 1 Vocab until words are in short term memory
Day 3 Section 1 Learning with repetition as needed.
Day 4 Section 2 Vocab
Day 5 Section 2 Learning
Day 6 Reading Test using Anki
Day 7 Speaking with repetition as needed
Day 8 Anki Master File review

When you are ready to send me your updates (including male and female  speakers, clickable pdf, etc, I would like some help / advice on both  incorporating these new things into my folders as well as incorporating  them into my current study plan."

Tom

[mandilu]

My two cents - I think its an amazing course. That there are a few errors here and there that others have mentioned is trivial - they are not spelling or syntax errors and Vincent is incredibly quick to respond to e-mails and queries that I have had. I run mine on a Mac and also on my PC at school - no problems. I've learned to read and write, and my Thai is coming along very well. I hired a private teacher to help me with pronounciation because with any self study programme, especially in a language with unfamilar sounds, you need the direct feedback. That was about a quarter of the way through the programme. I love the way that each lesson builds on another so you don't forget things you learn early on. Its clear this was not a big budget production, which means that Vincent developed this immense amount of material and carefully structured lessons with a huge investment of his time. I don't think its over priced at all for the amount of work he must have put into it. I recommend it to people all the time so if you've come to the forum to figure out if its worth it..it is!

[bct73]

Has anyone bought this download and downloaded it onto more than one pc/laptop. i'm really keen to buy but i also need to know that i can have it on more than one computer based in different locations. What i obviously don't want to do is have to buy it for each computer...thanks for help/advice suggestions.

[LuckyMisfit]

bct73, on 2011-12-22 19:17:32, said:

Has anyone bought this download and downloaded it onto more than one pc/laptop. i'm really keen to buy but i also need to know that i can have it on more than one computer based in different locations. What i obviously don't want to do is have to buy it for each computer...thanks for help/advice suggestions.

I've being using HST for about 6months now.

At the moment for convenience I have High Speed Thai installed on both my home and work laptops without any issues.
During the 6 months I've also I've moved job and I wrote off one personal laptop. As such I've made a total of four installs with no issues in this period.

One thing to note is that all installations have to be activated so I assume there is a limit on the amount of activations (of some of the audio files). All files are also watermarked with your personal details.

The only issue I've come across with multiple installs is that the anki user data is not synchronised. It's not a real issue as Anki is only one part of the programme and if I know the information, re-completing an exercise just reinforces my learning, and I can fly though it.

Overall I have found this to be an excellent programme which I would recommend.

[BillMakatowicz]

After a few months of enjoying the Highspeed program I have to say that its value is absolutely redicolously high relative to what it costs. This is for the simple reason that the program offers support, is easy and well constructed. All the questions that I have been asked has been answered satisfactory. This actually saves you 100 of dollars as you would have to take private Skype lessons in order to straighten out your questions and concerns. I am really happy that I went with the high speed program and cannot imagine that I could have found a better alternative. The course is built up in a way that makes it very easy to learn. All you have to do is follow the instructions and you will be fine. They have really managed to make an extremely complex language surprisingly easy to learn. All it takes now is a little patient and determination. I'm pretty sure that I would have given up or gotten to a point of deep demotivation had it not been for this course. I know that this sounds to good to be true, but I encourage people to contact me if they don't believe it. The producers of this course deserves all the best.

[submarine123]

I bought the High Speed Thai course about 9 months ago, and have now finished it. There is one word which springs to mind " care". it has been carefully structured and thought out, all the words are carefully chosen, and if you need to contact Vincent, the owner, he is responsive, helpful and seems to care greatly that your query is dealt with. It is not one of those courses with chapters on going to a restaurant, buying a ticket at the train station, booking into a  hotel etc. The aim of the course is to build a foundation to enable you to converse with Thais in a natural day to day manner. When i first came to Thaialnd i did not think I would ever be able to read it and speak it so quickly but thanks to vincent I am now able to do so. Excellent I simply cannot fault it, and great value for money.

[XOL123]

UPDATE:  1 year and 4 months after using HST

Well I finish the course in about 1 year, and I can say that the money spent on this course wasn't wasted,
I have learned a lot from this course, I can have a basic conversation with native Thais, plus if I have a problem speaking the correct tone of a word I can write it down,
this is a very well put together course, it isn't a course that was put together overnight,

Now I have started reviewing the course about a month ago, and there are few words that I have forgotten and with the review the words are coming right back to my brain and hopefully stay there.
and while doing the review I have open the media player and have increased the speed to 2, and I'm able to catch every word, this is a big difference from when I started, that I could only let the media player play and didn't even dare to speed up the m player,

Overall this is an excellent course that will give you a good foundation to learn Thai, after I finish reviewing, I believe I'll have a much better understanding on the Thai language structure,

Because I don't live in Thailand I'm not able to use my Thai on a daily basis, so after I finish reviewing HST, I'll try to find other courses to further my study of the Thai language.

Vincent if you are reading this, GREAT JOB! on creating this course.

[tjansen]

XOL123, on 2012-03-22 22:18:46, said:

UPDATE:  1 year and 4 months after using HST

Well I finish the course in about 1 year, and I can say that the money spent on this course wasn't wasted,
I have learned a lot from this course, I can have a basic conversation with native Thais, plus if I have a problem speaking the correct tone of a word I can write it down,
this is a very well put together course, it isn't a course that was put together overnight,

Now I have started reviewing the course about a month ago, and there are few words that I have forgotten and with the review the words are coming right back to my brain and hopefully stay there.
and while doing the review I have open the media player and have increased the speed to 2, and I'm able to catch every word, this is a big difference from when I started, that I could only let the media player play and didn't even dare to speed up the m player,

Overall this is an excellent course that will give you a good foundation to learn Thai, after I finish reviewing, I believe I'll have a much better understanding on the Thai language structure,

Because I don't live in Thailand I'm not able to use my Thai on a daily basis, so after I finish reviewing HST, I'll try to find other courses to further my study of the Thai language.

Vincent if you are reading this, GREAT JOB! on creating this course.

Has anyone tried LTP, Learn-Thai-Podcast?  Any comments on it?

Thanks,
Tom

[cyrilmadrid]

Actually, I bought both HST and Learn-Thai-Podcast (first HST, then LTP). I try to progress in both. Overall I would say I prefer LTP, I like the iTunes based video method, I like the How to Read and grammar videos. After doing a series of LTP videos, I go back to HST to read the equivalent lessons to consolidate. Customer Service at LTP is also quite good, although maybe not as responsive as Vincent. One issue with LTP is that the access to the website is limited to 1 year, but its not a big problem as you can from the very first day download all videos from beginner to advanced.
But as I advance more, I will need Skype based one to one lessons to correct pronunciation and develop conversation. Because the problem with both HSP and LTP is that no one will correct your pronunciation mistakes.