Tod,
Thanks for a good thorough review of AUA Bangkok.
I wanted to make a comment on the ALG methodology which I thought was rather crazy even when Marven Brown tried to explain it to me. One thing, and maybe the most important, is their basic premise is probably erroneous. Children do not learn languages the way that is explained in the methodology. They do not sit passively and listen all day to adults talking. They continually experiment and try to talk too. Any parent knows this. In fact, just the other day I was talking to a mother holding her 10 month old and as we were talking the baby was going “gaa, goo, gaa gaa”. He wanted in on our conversation. We acknowledged him with some smiles and hugs and “gaas” and “goos” of our own.
And yes, there are lots of listen and repeats all the time. Most Thai babies’ first word is “mum” which is Thai baby talk for eat. A Thai Momma, as she puts the food to baby’s mouth says “Mum mum”. The thousandth time she does this the baby then says “mum”. Sounds like listen and repeat to me.
Please note that AUA Chiang Mai does not use the ALG methodology. I have talked to a number of people who have studied both and have not run into one who prefers ALG to the more conventional methodology. For those interested there are lots of YouTube videos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYuk92lvCvg)showing how this class works. It just might be perfect for you but remember, you won’t be able to say anything for about the first 600 hours. I can’t keep quite for more than 6 seconds so this method was not for me.
I did like the “walk around the street with a mentor” program. That kind of stuff really works for me.