The AUA Thai Studies Department was established in 1985 to meet the language and cultural needs of foreigners working, visiting, or residing in Chiang Mai and the North of Thailand. Its purpose is to promote understanding between Thailand and the world community by sponsoring the language programs. Our curriculum is certified by the Provincial Education Office of Ministry of Education.

The teaching methodology employed for the AUA Thai courses is an outgrowth of the philosophy that for the students to speak Thai well they must be able to understand and produce the tones of the language correctly and accurately. In order to accomplish this goal, a method of "focused practice" is used. Practical vocabulary and grammar patterns are introduced and drilled before students are asked to engage in short or long dialogs and conversations. A large percentage of the class is spent in having the teacher model sounds, patterns and sentences and the students practicing those drills. Language items are not initially introduced for communicative purposes, but to introduce to the learner the problem sounds and patterns to increase fluency. Within each lesson, dialogs are practiced to help the students to be conversational in order to function outside of the classroom. Communicative activities are added when necessary to integrate the language items learned.

The role of the teacher, other than presenting the material in a logical and non-threatening way, is to not only provide the sounds but also monitor the performance of the students so that mistakes are corrected in a timely and non-intrusive manner. The student must take an active role in producing the sounds through repetition and substitution drills. In all activities the student must work cooperatively with the other students in the class to practice the patterns and for longer dialog and conversations be creative by adding items needed in real situations.

The AUA method of focused-practice results in students who can understand and produce the language both accurately and fluently.

The AUA Thai Language courses consist of beginning and intermediate levels as well as courses of a specialized nature-individual instruction. The course is recommended for those with a serious interest in learning to understand, speak, read and write Thai properly. Classroom work is demanding and rigorous. Students are encouraged to devote one to two additional private hours per day to the study of the language.

Our group classes are taught by experienced native-speaking Thai instructors. The classes are kept small (size ranges from 5 to 12) to allow the maximum participation. English is used in the texts and in the class by the teacher when necessary but fluency in English is not a requirement.


In class, students practice by speaking the language in a controlled setting. As a student you will be expected to actively participate in the learning process-interaction not only between teacher and student but between fellow students. Words and grammar patterns are presented for understanding and repeated to ensure proper pronunciation and tone habits. Dialogs are also practiced to increase fluency.

BEGINNING SPOKEN THAI

Our beginning spoken course is divided into 2 books, AUA Thai Course Book 1 and Book 2. The emphasis at this level is on SPOKEN Thai with the objective being to assist the learner in acquiring a good foundation for further fluency. Special stress is placed upon control of the sound system and good tone manipulation and production, while using and recognizing the basic vocabulary and sentence patterns of the language.

THE INTERMEDIATE COURSES

Our intermediate course continues to develop fluency in the spoken and written language. “Small Talk” (AUA Thai Course Book A) provides ways for students to start and sustain conversations and “chat” in various social situations, while “Book 3” offers learner more complex patterns of Thai language. “Basic Reading and Writing” introduces the writing system, the tone and spelling rules and provides practice in the mechanics of reading and writing. “Reading and Writing More” gives students more practice in reading with meaning, and writing at the sentence level and short paragraph.

SPECIAL INTEREST

Courses to meet the special language needs of groups or individuals, like Northern Thai and Preparation for Pratom 6 (Basic Literacy Level) Exam, can be organized with sufficient notice.

COURSE FEES AND DATES

GROUP INSTRUCTION

Classes meet at AUA 2 hours per day, either at 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon or 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Course Offerings	Number of study hours	Fee
Book 1	approx. 60 hours	Bht. 4200
Book 2	approx. 60 hours	Bht. 4200
Book 3	approx. 60 hours	Bht. 4200
" Small Talk"	approx. 60 hours	Bht. 4200
" Basic Reading &Writing"	approx. 60 hours	Bht. 4200
" Reading & Writing More"	approx. 60 hours	Bht. 4200

Note:
1. Full payment is due before class begins. To ensure a place in the class, we suggest a deposit, or confirm your reservation with the office.

2. Each group class must have at least 5 fully - paid students to open. If there are less than 5 students, the class may be canceled or the individual rate applied.

3. If the class is canceled, full deposit or payment will be refunded upon return of the AUA receipt. NO refunds once the class begins.

4. The number of study hours for each group class is approximated since Thai holidays are included in the course schedule.

 

INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION

Class times and days are made upon the student and teacher 's availability, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday for the on-site class. For the off-site class, the tuition fee is possibly higher, depending on the distance of the place. The minimum of 25 hours of study is suggested. 1 - 4 students can study on an individual basis.

Number of students	On-site class	Off-site class (in town only)
1-2 students	Bht. 290/hour	Bht. 330/hour
3 students	Bht. 330/hour	Bht. 380/hour
4 students	Bht. 400/hour	Bht. 440/hour

Term	Registration due date	Start	End
1*	January 2	January 3	February 8
2*	February 13	February 14	March 21
Summer*	March 26	March 27	May 7
3	May 13	May 14	June 24
4	June 27	June 30	August 8
5	August 11	August 13	September 23
6	September 26	September 29	November 7
7	November 11	November 12	December 23

* - The class meets for 2 hours 15 minutes per day, Monday – Friday.
** - AUA offers only regular group classes from March 24 – May 2.
*** - AUA would provide only Book 1 and Basic Reading/Writing in the summer term.

Visa Concern

AUA is not authorized by the Thai Government to offer anyone the student's visa. Upon request and 50 percent deposit of the whole tuition fee, we would issue only a letter addressing to the student's name and saying that he is accepted as an AUA student for the specific period. The letter will be sent to the student, not to the Embassy or Consulate. However, this kind of letter may not prove as enough evidence in some places. Should you need the letter from AUA, please check well with the Embassy/Consulate.

Our Location

We are located near the downtown area, only 100 meters west from Thapae Gate, the biggest town gate of Chiang Mai. The phone number is 0-5327-8407 or 0-5327-7951. The Information Office is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Accommodation

AUA does not provide the accommodation service, and we do not have any further details about the rates, or the quality of the rooms. The following list is made only to give you convenience for the first few days or weeks. The name marked with P is within walking distance to AUA.

Hotels

Downtown Inn :
172/1-11 Loi Kroh Rd. Tel 0-5327-0662 Fax 0-5327-2406
P Montri Hotel :
2-6 Ratchadamnern Rd. Tel 0-5321-1069-70 Fax 0-5321-7416
e-mail: montri_hotel@hotmail.com
website: www.norththaihotel.com/montri.html
Royal Lanna Hotel
119 Loi Kroh Rd. Tel 0-5381-8773-5, 0-5381-9002-13 Fax 0-5381-8776
SP Hotel
7/1 Moonmuang Rd. Soi 7 Tel 0-5321-9402-4 Fax 0-5322-3042
e-mail: mail@chiangmaisphotel.com
website: www.chiangmaisphotel.com
Thapae Place Hotel
2 Soi 3 Thapae Rd. Tel 0-5327-0159 Fax 0-5327-1982
Top North Hotel
41 Moonmuang Rd. Tel 0-5327-9623-5 Fax 0-5327-9626
e-mail: topnorthhotel@hotmail.com
Traveller Inn Hotel
40 Loi Kroh R. Tel 0-5320-8484 Fax 0-5327-2078

Condominiums/Apartments

Chiang Mai Pacific Mansion (service apartment)
16 Hassadhisewee Rd. Tel 0-5340-4515 Fax 0-5321-6662
e-mail: chiangmaipacific@hotmail.com
website: http://www.pacificmansion.com

Doi Ping Mansion
148 Charoenprathet Rd. Tel 0-5327-0634-43 Fax 0-5327-0646

Grand Apartment
24/1 Ratchapakinai Rd. Tel 0-5321-7291

Nice Apartment
15 Soi 1 Ratchadamnern Rd. Tel 0-5321-0552

Veerachai Court
19 Thapae Soi2 Tel 0-5325-1047-54 Fax 0-5325-2402

Guest Houses

Gap’s House
3 Ratchadamnern Rd. Soi 4 Tel/Fax 0-5327-8140
Lai Thai Guest House
111/4-5 Kotchasarn Rd. Tel 0-5327-1725 Fax 0-5327-2724
Smile House
5 Ratchamankha Rd. Tel 0-5320-8661-2 fax 0-5320-8663
e-mail: smile208@loxinfo.co.th
website: www.smilehousechiangmai.com
Libra Guesthouse
28 Moonmuang Rd. Soi 9 Tel/Fax 0-5321-0687
e-mail: libra_guesthouse@hotmail.com
The Chiang Mai Whitehouse
12 Ratchadamnern Rd. Soi 5 Tel 0-5335-7130

Real Estate Agency

First National Real Estate
316 Chiang Mai Land, T. Changklan, A. Muang Tel: 053 204400
E-mail: info@firstnationalthailand.com
Web site: www.firstnationalthailand.com

Better Homes (Ms. Thanya Stevenson)
Mobile 0-1881-8055 Tel 0-5326-2588 Fax 0-5385-4144
E-mail: thanya@loxinfo.co.th
Web site: www.better-homes.com

Phuping Realtor Professionals
145 Huay Kaew Rd. Tel 0-5389-4143-4 Mobile: 0-1716-2375
Web site: www.professionals.co.th

Contact Information

Phone: 053-278407, 053-277951, 053-211377
Fax: 66 53-211973
E-mail: chiangmai@auathailand.org(English Course)
              cm-thai@auathailand.org(Thai Course)