Learn Thai with Audio Books
Reasons to Learn Thai
Even though Thai is not one of the most popular languages for people to learn, you will still find a lot of different formats and resources for helping you in this pursuit. Maybe you are planning a vacation to Thailand or marrying into a Thai family or maybe your company is sending you to live in this Bangkok. Regardless of why you want to learn to speak Thai, you will find that it is a pretty but complex language. Internet classes and audio books are a great way to learn or to supplement more traditional classes. Before you know it you'll be saying "sa-wat dee" (or "hello") to your new mother-in-law.
50 Mio. Native Thai Speakers
As you join the nearly 50 million Thai speakers worldwide, you will learn a language that is beautiful in both its spoken and written form. You'll find that Thai is a lilting language that contains sounds not found in English. Since this is a tonal language, pronunciation is crucial. Using the wrong tone can change the meaning of a word entirely. But it is really worth the effort to learn so that you can leave the tourists in Bangkok and go into the smaller communities. Bartering for jewelry and silks in Thai you get you a better deal. It'll also be much easier to order the amazingly spicy food and visit the ancient temples without a guide. Don't be afraid to try to speak Thai with the locals, they'll appreciate the effort.
Thai Language with Unfamiliar Sounds
It's really easy to find websites that will help you learn basic Thai. Just type "learn to speak Thai" into your search engine and you'll have your choice of great sites. Some even allow you to learn Thai free. Since this is a tonal language with lots of unfamiliar sounds, look for one that allows you to hear the words. Pronunciation is key so find a site that spells words phonetically as well. You can do the lessons at your own pace in your own home. You can also take your laptop to the local coffee shop to do your Thai homework.
Using an Audio Book to Learn Thai
Another option for learning basic Thai is to download an audio book. Because Thai is likely to pose more of a challenge than, say, Spanish, you might try the Pimsleur series. This method was created to help people learn to speak Thai with their ears, rather than through endless grammar drills. When you load the lessons onto your mp3 player it's like having a language teacher in your pocket. You can take it anywhere and listen at any time. If you have the lessons playing in the background while you work or walk on the treadmill your ears can become accustomed to the new sounds.
poot tai geng - Speak Thai Well
Even though learning Thai is a big job, it's one you can tackle easily with the right tools. Use the internet to find websites that allow you to listen to the spoken language. Download audio books for more portable options. Regardless of which tools you use, you'll "poot tai geng" (speak Thai well) in no time.
By using the Search function in the top left corner you can find more language courses by Pimsleur available from this site.
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