I have to disagree with the idea that you will learn to pronounce Thai properly from reading – especially for beginning learners. Reading will help you to learn “how a word is supposed to be pronounced”. The only way to get it really right is to hear a word and say it as you hear it.

It must be remembered that writing (of any language) is merely an approximation of what we are saying, since the spoken word always comes before the written word. But we are fairly lucky, and because of this we can get close to the correct pronunciation, because written Thai is quite phonemic (although, sadly, with a lot of irregularities). Speaking of irregularities, I wouldn’t try to know an English word’s pronunciation by reading it.

I myself almost never say anything unless I have heard it first. But if I do, I will say the word or phrase, and then immediately ask my listener if I am pronouncing it correctly and if I am using it in the correct context. Luckily I have หน้าหนา / nâa nǎa / thick face, a Thai idiom meaning in part that I am not afraid of what people think.

Later, when you have more experience in Thai, then you can read a word and get pretty close to saying it correctly. But I do not think that this works well for beginners. It will never take the place of listening.
.-= Hugh Leong´s last blog ..Annual Checkup =-.

“don’t learn anything that a native wouldn’t know” – Good idea. I’m always getting sidetracked with academic talk about the Thai language and I just don’t need it at this point. It’s interesting, but it does not add to my understanding.

Out of Ian’s suggestions, I like this one overall: If the vocabulary is useful and relevant, by all means learn it. If it’s not, don’t bother because it will only slow you down.

So the trick would be to get a Thai course tailor-made. And chuck the rest.