Women Learning Thai: Thai Language Learning

Back, back, back to kinder…
Going back to kindergarten. Hmmm. But, if that’s what it takes to read Thai, then so be it.
Thai is a tonal language, so being able to listen while you read is especially important for those clinging to training wheels (like me). And (I hear) even for intermediate readers.
Some Thai-English [...]

I first came across Stuart Jay Raj when I took his entertaining Cracking Thai Fundamentals course. As shy as I am (he certainly gets you hopping!), I enjoyed it so much that I took it twice (as did others).
Stu is one of those enviable polyglots who couldn’t stop at a handful of languages, but went [...]

I’m not much of a New Years Resolution type of gal. But, as WLT posts generally go midweek (usually on a Wednesday)… and as this Wednesday is New Years Eve… no real excuse not to.
To get a jump on this post, I created two to-do lists.
My New Years Resolution…

Study Thai first thing (before answering [...]

And a happy subliminal Xmas to all…
It’s Xmas day. You’re feeling fat and sassy. You’ve either been working on Thai, or thinking about working on Thai. Or you wouldn’t be here.
And one night when I was feeling sassy too, I looked into subliminal Thai.
And why not? It was after 11pm. I was tired of [...]

Booking a cultural Christmas…
With exactly one week to go before Xmas, there is just enough time to shop for the Thai language learner in your life.
And while these books are not about learning Thai, they are about Thailand. Equally important.
About the list… I asked friends and forums for their favourite books on Thailand and [...]

Learning any language takes a lot of work, and Thai takes the cake. But, there are ways to make it easier. Call them cheat sheets. Call them shortcuts. Whatever. I call them mighty fine.
Thai language cheat sheet (free download)…
This intensive and well-researched cheat sheet includes classes, tone marks, clusters, symbols, final consonants and more (beginners [...]

เเม่ ยาย ไม่ ช่วย รวย เอง ก็ ได้
mae yaai mâi chûay ruay eng gôr dâi
Even if my mother-in-law doesn’t help, I’ll get rich on my own.
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

รู้ หน้า ไม่รู้ ใจ
róo nâa mâi-róo jai
You might know his face, but you don’t know his heart.
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

ขยัน [...]

เมีย ชึ้อ สอด รถ ชึ้อ ผ่อน
mia séu sot rót séu pòn
He paid the dowry in cash, but got a loan for his car.
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

มี หมา เป็น เพื่อน ดี กว่า มี เพื่อน ใจ หมา
mee măa bpen pêuan dee gwàa mee pêuan jai măa
Having a dog as a friend is nicer [...]

So there really is a Thai Alphabet Song…
In a previous post, The Thai Alphabet Poem, I made the comment that it was more of a poem than a song. But after skimming through YouTube…

Here’s little Hanna singing along to what sounds like a Thai Alphabet Song on CD.

Aren’t they just the sweetest things?
And here it [...]

‘Tis the season. Again…
So, what does one get for the budding Thai language learner this year? Or even for yourself, as a pat on the back for all those Thai lessons you’ve slogged through in 2008?
T-shirts with Thai script are not too shabby of a stocking stuffer. And if the gift matters, here’s [...]