How do I start learning Thai?

[PJ_Quek]

Is there any websites for Thai people to learn English?

[kin0]

Sawatdee khrab! Did I use it correctly? Good day to all. I am trying to pick up Thai now and I would like to know if it is necessary for me to learn all the consonants before I can proceed or I can start learning about the different words?

BK

[djaidee]

If you just want to learn some Sentences in Thai for your Holiday Conversation then it is not necessary to learn the Alphabet.

If you want to get a deeper look into the Thai Language and learn a little bit more than just "Hello", "How are you?" and so on, then I recommend that you learn the Alphabet (including Reading/Writing) just from the beginning.
To really learn a Language which has other Alphabet then Roman using Transliteration/Romanization is a big waste of time.

So it depends on your Learning Goal.

[djaidee]

The problem with different Font-Styles will eliminate if you become more fluent in reading and have a much bigger Vocabulary.
Then it will start that your eyes are not looking for every single Consonant, every single Vowel or even every single Tone Mark. Your eyes will recognize the Word as a Unit, sometimes even a whole Sentence as a Unit.
If a Sentence starts with some words your mind already might know how it ends.
At this stage if your eyes recognize Words and Sentences as a Unit it is no problem to recognize different Font Styles.
Same thing is with difficult Handwriting, when you are able to recognize things as a Unit you don't necessary have to recognize every single Consonant, Vowel or Tone Mark of the Handwriting because you have certain pictures of Words in your Mind and how they look and this way your Mind will know which Word you see even if you don't recognize everything that is written down.

[kin0]

Hi djaidee,

Thank you for your prompt reply. I want to learn more than just "Hello", "How are you?" and be able to converse in Thai with the people. My short term goal is to be able to speak to the Thai in Thai and to be able to understand what they are speaking. Is it possible to just learn to be able to speak and listen without learning the Alphabets? But I think you make a lot of sense that since I want to know more than just "Hello", "How are you?", then it is better that I learn all the Alphabets from the beginning.

Thank you for the prompt reply.

[knightrd]

It's possible to converse pretty well in Thai without knowing all the details of the language. I studied for under 9 months before going, as life allowed, and I still managed to pick up a lot despite 80-100 hours a week devoted to school and work.

Never found myself unable to communicate.. but not always well. The best thing is when you meet a fluent Thai speaker who knows some English. You can teach each other...

I found people willing to help me... assisting me with tones... and teaching new words. Every day was a new adventure and I learned much about what I needed to study.

Unfortunately as good as the materials available may be, it's much different to experience it. Download a lot of Thai podcasts or broadcasts and learn how full speed Thai sounds... I've been using Changkhui.com a lot since I came back: http://www.changkhui.com/

[djaidee]

Hi kinO !

If you really want to learn Thai seriously you have to learn the Alphabet including Reading/Writing just from the beginning.

My first 2 Thai Courses were just using Transliteration/Romanization no learning of Thai Script at all.

After that (my 3rd Thai Course) I was learning the Thai Script (Reading/Writing) in just 3 months and I realized after that the first 2 Courses were a big waste of time and of course money too.

If I just have learned the Thai Script right from the beginning I would be on a much higher Level right now.

[kin0]

Hi Djaidee,

Sorry for the late reply. I think you make a lot of sense specially if I am serious in learning the language. Then it will be better that I start with the Thai Script from the beginning.

Are you in Thailand right now?

[djaidee]

No, I live in Berlin/Germany.
But last year I stayed the whole year in Thailand and every year I try to travel there for 2-3 months.

Twice a week I take private Teaching with a Thai Teacher here in Germany.

We are 3 Students.

A lot of fun; Thai has become more like a Hobby for me

[seamas]

just keep working on the alphabet and keep coming back as teh trick is to avoid getting discouraged; build up to the mnemonic sentences very slowly by committing to memory the english phrases first using a story which links toghether all the various memory words - it's slow repetitiious memory work and it has taken me two years to remember them all. One point i would make is that because it is so boring one tends to be a smart alec and tend to do other things at athe same time like listening to musicand this slow s things considerably. So set aside half an hour at a time without any distractions and select a small part of the problem and write them out over and over until it sticks - I carry a notebook around with me and spend ten minutes when \I am free; memory tricks are essential especially when you are fifty; you build it slowly,first the characters, then the character words in english then in thai and it seems to go for ever.
The classic mistake especially when you are younger is trying to do too much too soon as when you are learnign thai it is equivalent to struggling when you are in quicksand as you will simply sink more quickly.PATIENCE!!!!