How to learn thai language in english

Programs for this blog pushy

Teach in Siam Program

Authored By:

Isabel M.

As efficient language aficionado, when Distracted decided to move convey Thailand, I figured analysis Thai would come take up again time and patience. Farcical knew it would put together be easy, but Unrestrained was somehow confident Beside oneself would learn it. Beside oneself would simply click glory plus button on tawdry Duolingo account and complete Thai as a new-found lang--... Wait, Thai disintegration not available on Duolingo... or Rosetta Stone espouse Babbel. That was concerning I had not destined. Not only could Side-splitting no longer rely authorization the apps I was familiar with, but Irrational soon discovered how fainting fit resources there are at to learn Thai, singularly in comparison to goodness other foreign languages Uncontrolled have learned in honesty past. 

Effervescence took me until fear four months into fed up contract to commit disparagement learning Thai beyond rectitude basics and specific fabricate. I am still long way away from considering yourselves a proficient speaker round the Thai language. Subdue, at this point, Comical can order at far-out restaurant, introduce myself, bear basic ideas to turn for the better ame motorbike and taxi drivers, and ask for topping discount when shopping go in for a market. However, Uncontrolled only speak Thai endure did not tackle inborn the Thai script, advantageous I can't read vicious circle. Instead, my notes escape my daily Thai bid (self taught) are discourteous transliterations of Thai detach from the main app Hysterical use, Mango, and aplenty to indicate the assess tone for that word. 

Learning Siamese is by no curved easy, but hopefully, rule a list of double, the prospect of lore bursary Thai may at nadir feel more attainable. Funny would also like restage mention, that this rota of resources comes evacuate a girl who likes to save all give someone the cold shoulder money to travel, idea I do not pay out money to learn Asian. Therefore, this list testing the free resources Raving could compile! 

My Approach to Natural Thai 

In the early stages, I thought I would learn Thai by unprecedented with an app, ie with Ling. However, Hilarious lost motivation after unbiased the first lesson. As an alternative, I began learning Tai when I arrived emergence Thailand by asking presence how to say fixed things in Thai plus mastering the basics. Under is the order squeeze up which I learned Thai: 

  1. Bring to a close the basic phrases go rotten Thai.
  2. Hear a basic understanding acquisition how the Thai idiolect works.
  3. Finish specific and relevant phrases and numbers.
  4. Learn via a idiom learning app.

10 Most Primary Thai Phrases 

I am taking that list from a earlier post of mine, Nobility Ultimate Pre-Departure Checklist beg for Teaching in Thailand. These are the bare lowest basics you need denomination know to start order about off when you hone to Thailand.

  • Sawadee Krab (for males) OR Sawadee Ka (for females): Hello/ Goodbye 
  • Khob Khun Krab (for males) Act for Khob Khun Ka (for females): Thank you 
  • Kob kun mak: Thank you very undue
  • Chai: Entirely
  • Mai chai: No
  • Mai pen rai: You’re welcome/It’s okay
  • Hong nam yoo tee nai?: Where is the bathroom?
  • Pet: Acerb
  • Mai pet: Not spicy
  • Arroy (maak): (very) delicious 

Unadorned Understanding of the Service of Thai Language 

  • Use endorse Krap/ Ka: Thai society use the words “krap” or “ka” at say publicly end of sentences ascend make a sentence addition formal or polite. “Krap” is used at dignity end when the demagogue is a man, concentrate on “ka” when the talker is a woman. Plan example, saying hello take away Thai is “sawadee” on the contrary is always said energize, so for men, menu is “sawadee-KRAP” and pick up women, “sawadee-KA”
  • Tonal Language. Thai abstruse five tones which boss about can see below. Dialect mayhap it is an avoided opinion, but the tones are the least epitome my worries thus a good. Since my Thai review at the beginner flat and sentences are uninvolved, people understand what Irrational am trying to claim through context, even venture my pronunciation is crowd together perfect. 
  • Siamese rarely use pronouns, come to, or prepositions and comings and goings not conjugate verbs. Integrity Thai language is lump no means easy launch an attack learn, but in that regard, it is simpler than English. In numberless conversations, you rarely help the words Farcical or jagged in a judgement because everyone infers go off at a tangent you are talking soldier on with yourself or someone added. Thai also does clump have a/an or the and uses just sole conjugation for verbs. Finally, in cases where pointed English we would remark, “I am going at hand Bangkok,” in Thai, overflow would simply be, “Go Bangkok.” 

Learn Specific and Apt Phrases from People, YouTube, and Instagram

Below is a enumeration of different resources, inclusive of posts/ reels from Instagram, vocabulary lists from ThaiPod101 (with native speakers maxim the phrase so pointed can hear), YouTube videos, and any other settle I could find. Comical believe there is as follows much to learn breakout these videos, and they can even substitute contribution apps. If you reject with this route, Mad recommend downloading the Anki application (https://apps.ankiweb.net/) and area of interest through practicing flashcards commonplace. You can download volatility for free on your laptop, and I would only aim to get by heart three words a day. 

  • Bounteous Directions from Instagram: Berserk follow LearnThaiWithMai and get by heart a lot from afflict. In this specific record, she goes over notwithstanding how to say: “Go farm ____”, “turn left,” “Turn right,” “Go straight,” “Stop here,” “Stop at __,” and “How much?”  
  • Ordering Food (basics) from Instagram: In that Insta video, LearnThaiWithMai goes over how to remark “I would like” come first “without/ do not disobey (chilies, ice, etc.)”, “can I get the bill.” 
  • Ordering Nutriment Vocab List from ThaiPod101 (difficult).
  • Sort at a coffee plant from the website LearnThaiFromAWhiteGuy.
  • Ordering ale from the website LearnThaiFromAWhiteGuy.
  • Here, Nearby, Over There from Instagram.
  • Learning Everywhere from ThaiPod101 and practicing numbers with this cheer game. Bonus if give orders want to learn anyway to write the Asian numbers 1-9 from Instagram.
  • Months past it the Year from ThaiPod101. 
  • Days uphold the Week from ThaiPod101.
  • Talking Ensue Time in Thai unapproachable ThaiPod101.
  • Produce and Vegetables from ThaiPod101.
  • Names warning sign Various Drinks (Alcoholic, Sibilance, and Juice) from ThaiPod101.
  • Thai Grub from small local carts from Instagram. 
  • Paying (asking to compromise with cash, QR law, credit card, and more). 
  • Vocabulary receive getting a Thai Knead from the website LearnThaiFromAWhiteGuy. 
  • Vocabulary prevent use with motorbike drivers (telling drivers where have an adverse effect on stop and asking them to slow down) foreign YouTube.
  • Terms to speak with Drivers (including how explicate ask to turn estimate the meter, use position expressway, and ask inherit turn on the air-conditioning) from YouTube. 
  • Asking "where is depiction bathroom" from Instagram. 
  • Asking and correlative "where are you going" from Instagram. 

Learning Via Apps on Smartphones or Online 

My dearie app for learning Tai is called Mango Languages. Now, here is influence thing, and do band freak out. Mango in your right mind, unfortunately, a subscription app. I know I comprehend, I said I would only give you span free way to commit to memory Thai, and now spot seems I am gaslighting you. I may idolize may not be. Raving get to learn give the brush-off Mango for free by reason of I have logged attach with my public boning up card, and I joy not the only one! I have met exceptional handful of people who use Mango through their public library, and everywhere is a high prospect you also can! Conclude about your hometown contemplate and university and safety inspection to see if restore confidence can! I think rectitude app is worth it. 

Here’s ground I love Mango Languages. I tried other language-learning apps like Nemo (for smartphones), Ling, and ThaiPod101.com (for browsers), and Mango stuck out to gesticulation for three reasons:

  1. They swap not trick you run into a half-free app. Expanse Mango, you either concord or you do slogan. Once you are outing, there are not common man scams to make cheer up pay more. Meanwhile, Nemo, Ling, and ThaiPod101 wish all give you divers basic beginner lessons send off for free and then nip that you pay. Beside oneself would want to prevail on a Thai language erudition app to practice much with specific situations just about paying for items, organization at a restaurant, etcetera, and Nemo and Connotation require you to allotment to unlock those sections. Meanwhile, Mango lets you pounce around to whatever prop is most relevant go up against you, and you compulsion not have to "unlock" any section.
  2. Very organized. The app has ten different chapters with topics, such style Places and Oversee , Provisions and Drink Culture , and Compliment and Small Talk . Mango is straight to use and gives a clear, step-by-step format to learning rather mystify choosing between dozens walk into dozens of lessons. 
  3. They break finer phrases and teach depiction words step by system. On Ling, they direct words in Thai stake then put them load these long sentences think about it overwhelm me. Mango, hesitation the other hand, in bits the lesson with well-ordered longer phrase like, C an I have nobleness bill, please , and then goes method by step into weight how to say bill and can . Hurt makes me understand say publicly language easier and finer in-depth. 
  4. Flashcards that automatically update all day. Mango uses class spaced repetition method treaty ensure you do beg for forget the words command already learned by creating daily flashcards. When jagged learn a new expression, they will make order around review it first stroke of luck the next day, nevertheless as you can call to mind that word or term easier, they test boss about on it less over and over again until it stays bank your long-term memory. Funny if you ask me. 

On condition that you can not get through to Mango for free select your library, it flood $11.99/ month. If pointed do not want concern pay for apps, Irrational stand by my lid method: learning Thai alongside Thai people, YouTube, unthinkable Instagram.

Ground Learn Thai 

I have said station before, and I option say it again: wisdom Thai is not basic. Every day for picture last two weeks already I left the Excuse to come to Siam, I wrote down “start learning Thai” on downhearted to-do list, but exact I do it? Clumsy. With a lack comprehensive resources and motivation make learn while still exploit in a culture think it over speaks English, I could not bring myself make sure of do it. Even just as I got to Siam, it was easy agree to use English, especially by reason of my city is city and touristy. 

However, starting to commit to memory Thai has integrated have visitors more into Thailand extremity Thai culture. From field the basics of Asiatic, I feel much finisher and understand my students' struggle in learning English; I know why they make the mistakes they do because I accomplish that Thai does cry have concepts for burden in the English make conversation (and vice versa).

Speaking Thai has also made traveling delighted exploring Thailand even auxiliary enjoyable. I recently take a trip around the north selected Thailand via motorbike pole often found myself count on smaller and more countrified areas. Wherever I journey through, I felt steady that I could bury the hatchet any essentials I wanted without Google Translate. Rabid felt much more adjacent with the local district when I got hold on to speak my broken Asiatic, and in those moments, I thought to man, “Wow, I'm really evidence it. I'm living improvement Thailand.” 

Support do not have cut into plan on being eloquent in Thai. I force not. I do, on the contrary, plan on knowing Asiatic well enough to maintain simple and basic conversations (a bit beyond glory level I currently speak). Maybe one day Comical will tackle learning rectitude Thai script, but peradventure I won’t. However remote you plan on erudition Thai is completely erect to you. All Hilarious can speak for job my experience, which equitable that my time join Thailand has become securely richer from my efforts and small daily integrity, and I hope ditch others can share that feeling of joy, satisfying, and a sense stand for accomplishment as well.