Studying Thai

[Ahsan]

I have lived in Thailand 2-3 years ago and I finally reached a point where I want to properly study it so I wanted to ask everyone here what resources you use from internet to books to apps on phones etc. Would love to see a list of links etc here! Thank you very much! (Haven't found a thread for learning of the language so maybe this would do haha ^^)

Currently using:

http://www.thai-language.com/lessons

and

How to read Thai in 10 days by Arthit Juyaso (Bingo Lingo Books)

 

[xodxo]

While I don’t have any direct resources to help but I do find it helpful if you have any native Thai friends or people you know and try having actual conversation with them. That to me is the best way to learn Thai. I took a few semesters of Thai in college 555555555 but my reading still sucks lol but my speaking and listening is 90% good! Lol

So yes, I suggest doing conversations otherwise try YouTube for advice and tips. Learning a new language requires more oral speaking than anything else to actually learn it.

 

[Ahsan]

So currently im on the alphabet part, was thinking if anyone has mnemonics would be awesome haha XD or well whatever is easiest to learn all this XD i worry most about pronunciation to be fair haha, my girlfriend is not confident to teach me XD but yea i agree, through real practice its a lot more easier

 

[PrincessKarina]

I just googled the Thai dictionary for words or phrases. That’s how I kind of start learning!

 

[Thookatha]

And one of the hardest part about the Thai language is that it is tonal based. You could end up saying something completely different than what you meant just bc the word is phonetically spoken the same but carries a different sound. For example: suay and suay...you are either “pretty” or considered an entity of “misfortune” or bad luck. Lol

 

["peace"]

And one of the hardest part about the Thai language is that it is tonal based. You could end up saying something completely different than what you meant just bc the word is phonetically spoken the same but carries a different sound. For example: suay and suay...you are either “pretty” or considered an entity of “misfortune” or bad luck. Lol

agreeeeeee the most hard thing that i couldn't get in the thai language is the Tone you need a real teacher not just the internet i really found it so hard to learn thai just through the internet site or dictionary , if you practice alone you wouldn't be able to know if the tone is correct or no

http://www.thai-language.com/ref/tones

http://thai-tones.com/

i felt paralyzed when i saw this vdo i lost all motivation to learn thai cause it was quiet hard for me to even differentiate between this slighhhhttttttt difference especially the high tone/raising tone

 

[Thookatha]

agreeeeeee the most hard thing that i couldn't get in the thai language is the Tone you need a real teacher not just the internet i really found it so hard to learn thai just through the internet site or dictionary , if you practice alone you wouldn't be able to know if the tone is correct or no

http://www.thai-language.com/ref/tones

http://thai-tones.com/

i felt paralyzed when i saw this vdo i lost all motivation to learn thai cause it was quiet hard for me to even differentiate between this slighhhhttttttt difference especially the high tone/raising tone

Hahahaha. And that’s not even factoring in the playful tones which are not official but it is getting more common with the newer generation.

 

["peace"]

Hahahaha. And that’s not even factoring in the playful tones which are not official but it is getting more common with the newer generation.

oh god *sigh* i so badly want to learn thai but it's truly no way to get it if you don't have a thai speaker to teach

 

[xodxo]

I can speak and understand Thai really well but omg my reading sucks so bad, let alone my writing lol I would stare at the writing til my eyes wanna cry lmao! I hate it!!

No use taking 3 semesters of Thai (more like beginning and elementary levels only) lol, but at least my Thai peers tell me I’m close to sounding like a native lmfaooo

 

[Ahsan]

its a struggle but we are all in this together

 

[Ahsan]

https://mega.nz/#F!uVxl0BAR!6u-XvkdTqWG_xbHcOXTo5A

Alot of material here if anyone wants!

 

[72701]

I find that Thai Rapid learning really helps me remember the alphabet and sounds. Full course too expensive though, but what's free is still helpful.

 

[Thookatha]

oh god *sigh* i so badly want to learn thai but it's truly no way to get it if you don't have a thai speaker to teach

Yeah, I think the only way you can pick up a tonal language is to use it with a native speaker...well, it is the easiest. make a lot of Thai friends and you will be fine. Lol

I can speak and understand Thai really well but omg my reading sucks so bad, let alone my writing lol I would stare at the writing til my eyes wanna cry lmao! I hate it!!

No use taking 3 semesters of Thai (more like beginning and elementary levels only) lol, but at least my Thai peers tell me I’m close to sounding like a native lmfaooo

Omg, I’m propably worse than you with writing. I was raised in the US so my priorities were organized differently...and by the time I actually cared, it was feeling like I’m already in the impossible now...lol...

 

[jellybeans]

I know how you feel, I guess you can say I'm self-taught also. I studied the Thai alphabet plus watched a bunch of Thai series and I was lucky enough to make friends with native Thai speakers in my community. I'm not done learning since I can't write properly yet, but I'm able to read novels at a slower pace, can understand 90% of what I read. I still rely on my friends to explain some stuff to me when the word is too difficult. Also your determination/goal as to why you're learning plays a big factor, well in my case at least... I wanted to read Thai novels. And I'm very glad I learned how to read, it's true in every culture, the novel is better than the tv series.

 

[xodxo]

I know how you feel, I guess you can say I'm self-taught also. I studied the Thai alphabet plus watched a bunch of Thai series and I was lucky enough to make friends with native Thai speakers in my community. I'm not done learning since I can't write properly yet, but I'm able to read novels at a slower pace, can understand 90% of what I read. I still rely on my friends to explain some stuff to me when the word is too difficult. Also your determination/goal as to why you're learning plays a big factor, well in my case at least... I wanted to read Thai novels. And I'm very glad I learned how to read, it's true in every culture, the novel is better than the tv series.

Yes it’s true determination and just pure motivation. I never ever even dreamed of that I would be able to speak/understand Thai haha cuz I was h3ll no... lol then I I fell in love with dramas and started having Thai fever for beautiful Thai stars hahha like Mark Prin LOL and back in the day was Noon Kob and Aum LOL so I started following him all religiously and eventually somehow realized I could understand what the heck they’re saying lolol

Noon was my girl back then! I learned sooooo much Thai bc of her lakorn, talk shows and events! She was my idol. Lol

Now, I got to chasing Mark lmao and know every bit of him inside and out! Lmao. Jkjk

writing is still the hardest part lolol but if you can understand and speak, viola! 70% problems solved. Hehe good luck in your studying and learning of Thai. It’ll be fun and a memorable journey!

Listen to lots of good old Thai songs or just Thai songs in general with lyrics and KARAOKE words. They really do help with pronunciation and sounding words out!

 

[jellybeans]

Yes it’s true determination and just pure motivation. I never ever even dreamed of that I would be able to speak/understand Thai haha cuz I was h3ll no... lol then I I fell in love with dramas and started having Thai fever for beautiful Thai stars hahha like Mark Prin LOL and back in the day was Noon Kob and Aum LOL so I started following him all religiously and eventually somehow realized I could understand what the heck they’re saying lolol

Noon was my girl back then! I learned sooooo much Thai bc of her lakorn, talk shows and events! She was my idol. Lol

Now, I got to chasing Mark lmao and know every bit of him inside and out! Lmao. Jkjk

writing is still the hardest part lolol but if you can understand and speak, viola! 70% problems solved. Hehe good luck in your studying and learning of Thai. It’ll be fun and a memorable journey!

Listen to lots of good old Thai songs or just Thai songs in general with lyrics and KARAOKE words. They really do help with pronunciation and sounding words out!

Everyone has their own goals, that is so true. I see that this forum doesn't have a lot of 'my kind', but seeing how everyone loves Thai stuff I couldn't help but read the forum. Your inspiration was to understand your favorite idols, mine was... like I said to read Thai novels, but I don't think I should say the type of stuff I read. It doesn't seem to fit with the 'taste' of the people here.

 

[xodxo]

Everyone has their own goals, that is so true. I see that this forum doesn't have a lot of 'my kind', but seeing how everyone loves Thai stuff I couldn't help but read the forum. Your inspiration was to understand your favorite idols, mine was... like I said to read Thai novels, but I don't think I should say the type of stuff I read. It doesn't seem to fit with the 'taste' of the people here.

I’ll tell you Thai novels are HARD to read if you don’t already speak the language! But if you’re determined to learn, you can over come it!! I don’t like reading novels that much cuz TBH they’re HARD!! The only time I’ll make an exception is when it’s related to Mark lmaooooo like right now I’m forced fed MHIL lmaooo cuz Mark and Mew are getting casted in that. Lol

 

[jellybeans]

I’ll tell you Thai novels are HARD to read if you don’t already speak the language! But if you’re determined to learn, you can over come it!! I don’t like reading novels that much cuz TBH they’re HARD!! The only time I’ll make an exception is when it’s related to Mark lmaooooo like right now I’m forced fed MHIL lmaooo cuz Mark and Mew are getting casted in that. Lol

I have lots of Thai novels that my friends sent me from Thailand. I started reading them about 5 years ago, so I can say I can read Thai well for someone that doesn't live in Thailand. It's just the genre that I read is... 'different' from the interest of the people here. I'm more interested in BL stuff versus mainstream stuff. I'll give you a link to one of my favorite novels online, if you read it, you will understand what I mean. This author has written around 20 novels, I've read almost all of her work.

http://www.tunwalai.com/story/1426/รักโคตรๆโหดอย่างมึง-ภาค-1-yaoi-boys-love