Bangkok Podcast 67: Peter Tuinstra

In our continuing Thai language series, we are pleased to welcome
film and television actor, translator, and all-around nice guy
Peter Tuinstra. Peter's path to learning Thai was a bit different
than most students as he studied under the watchful eye of the
U.S. Air Force at the elite Defense Language Institute; 8 hours a
day, 5 days a week for 1 year. 


Peter tells us what methods were used by a US government program
with 60 years of proven success teaching languages. He goes into
detail about how different styles of learning affected different
people in his class, what worked and what didn't work for him,
and how his brain handled the intense 40-hours per week.


Peter also talks about what methods he would recommend a newbie
try out, why he thinks it will be a verrrrrrrry long time until
computers become as good at translating as humans are, and the
difficulties of acting in Thai when you have to use the words
that someone else wrote for you, without taking any of your own
creative shortcuts.


Also, don't forget to check out our sponsor, A Village In The
City, and remember to come and down and say goodbye to the
podcast on September 10th at Basilico on Sukhumvit 33.