So You Want To Learn How To Speak Thai?

Thailand Language People and the Thai Culture.

A lot of foreigners living in Thailand and of course Pattaya never learn the language.

It is such a different experience in Thailand if you speak at least some Thai.

Most people want to learn the Thai language so they can communicate and have a conversation in Thai.

Just give me a magic book!

It seems that the alphabet is way too difficult to learn just by looking at the Thai writing.

However it is a lot easier to learn the Thai language by studying the alphabet.

It does look a little scary since the Thai alphabet uses 44 consonants, 32 vowels and four tone marks and a variety of symbols for numbers, punctuation, etc.

On top of that, the consonants are divided into three classes. Vowels can be short and cut off at the end, or long and drawn out. Some sounds have no comparable sound in English. So you pretty much have to start learning the Thai language like a little kid.

There are three consonant classes (high, middle or low). If you don't know the class you will not know how to pronounce correctly what you are reading.

I have spent -wasted- time by trying to learn the language like I would English, German or let's say Spanish. I spent money on dictionaries and other books which use transliteration and that is simply wasted time and money.

Every Book I bought had a different transliteration system. I wish I would have known that it is a waste of time when I started to loo for the right books and audio tapes.

7 Characteristics
That Make The Thai Language Very Different From English.

• Thai is a tonal language. Mid Tone, Low Tone, Falling Tone, High tone and Rising Tone.
• Thai has no plural forms for nouns and adjectives.
• The Thai language has no articles like a, an and the.
• When the context of the subject in a sentence is understood the subject is left out (omitted)
• Thai has no verb conjugations. Tenses are understood from the context and adverbs of time.
• In Thai adjective follow the noun. For example: "house blue" and not "blue house".
• Thai has no verb "to be". "He strong" and not "He is strong".

A Great Way To Learn Thai

The best books and audio CD's for self learners are from Benjawan Poomsan Becker. I studied "Thai for beginners", "Thai for intermediate learners" and "Thai for advanced readers".

I listen to her tapes in my vehicle including the "Speak like a Thai' Volume 1-3. I also bought a Thai Keyboard and started learning how to type in Thai which may not be for everyone but I happened to enjoy it and it improved my reading and writing skills immensely.

If you are a self learner kind of person you will benefit from Benjawan Poomsan Becker's books and tapes.

Have fun in Thailand
Language learning made as easy as possible. Benjawan's books are very well laid out and simple but not easy. Learning Thai from 1st grade is fun but it is not easy. Benjawan uses a vocabulary and sentences that are useful and that you will be able to use in your everyday speech.

The reward of being able to speak Thai even if it's only some to make your self understood are numerous. Thai people are impressed when they meet a farang who speaks Thai. Enjoy your learning and the fruits of your harvest.

Other Thai language websites of interest:

http://www.thai-language.com/
This website provides information for English-speakers with any level of interest....from beginners who wish to learn a few phrases before their vacation to advanced students who may be living, working, or want to retire in Thailand someday.

http://www.learningthai.com/"