RESOURCES FOR LEARNING THAI
Here are the resources I consider essential to learn how to speak Thai.
NATIVE
SPEAKERS:
36,000,000
OFFICIAL
LANGUAGE IN:
THAILAND
Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
FAVORITE COURSES AND APPS TO IMPROVE YOUR THAI
ThaiPod101 - Offers an innovative, fun, and easy to use language learning system that is designed to get you speaking from the very first lesson. Learn at your own convenience and pace with our short, effective, and fun audio podcast lessons, a comprehensive, state-of-the-art Learning Center, and a vibrant user community.
Glossika Thai - Sentences and repetition are used to teach. Glossika teaches you Thai in context by combining the "mass sentence approach" with an innovative spaced repetition system. This course is ideal for upper-beginner to advanced students.
Assimil Thai - The Assimil method for teaching foreign languages is through the listening of audio cd's and the reading of an accompanying book, one side native language, one side foreign language. This method is focused on learning whole sentences, for an organic learning of the grammar. It begins with a long passive phase of only reading and listening, and eventually adds active exercises.
Ling - Learn and play with Master Ling, an interactive platform filled with language courses, quizzes, and fun mini-games! Lessons are taught through engaging games, such as picture matching, flashcards, and sentence arrangement to keep you up and going. Plus, it’s got an engaging chatbot you can practice with!
Mondly - Is a great starting point for beginners, but it’s also full of lessons for intermediate and advanced students! Improve your Thai pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary with this handy app, as it arranges its lessons into short, digestible units. Complete with games and an achievement leaderboard, it’s the perfect platform to study and practice with! On top of that, you can use Mondly’s hands-free format to record and practice your speech.
Mango Languages - Mango utilizes its proprietary methodology, engaging interface, and easy, intuitive interactive tools to deliver practical conversational skills and valuable cultural insight for new languages. Lessons include strategically placed memory-building exercises to help users remember what they are learning in addition to critical thinking exercises, which help them to intuitively understand the language and adapt it to similar conversations.
Bluebird Languages - Bluebird uses the proven “spaced repetition” learning method to optimize both acquisition and retention. This, combined with instruction in 97% of the world’s most-spoken languages and our special building-block approach, will have you speaking and understanding the language of your choice in record time.
THAI TUTORS: PRACTICE WITH NATIVE SPEAKERS
My method to learning a new language is to speak it from the beginning. I recommend the following tool for this:
Italki - On Skype, it links you with native Thai speakers for spoken practice. You may pay for (affordable) one-on-one video sessions with Thai teachers or discover a free language exchange partner! This link will take you directly to the site's Thai instructors.
LEARN HOW TO READ AND WRITE IN THAI
Colloquial Thai - Colloquial Thai provides a step-by-step course in Thai as it is written and spoken today.
Teach Yourself: Complete Thai Beginner to Intermediate Course - A Teach Yourself Guide provides you with a clear and comprehensive approach to Thai, so you can progress quickly from the basics to understanding, speaking, and writing Thai with confidence.
RESOURCES FOR INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED THAI LEARNERS
Clozemaster - Answers the question: after Duolingo, what's next? Clozemaster aids in the quick expansion of your vocabulary by allowing you to learn Thai in context. You'll utilize the Cloze technique to fill in the blanks in thousands of Thai phrases. The sentences you'll learn are far more practical than the ones you'll learn on Duolingo.
THAI LEARNING WEBSITES YOU MUST USE
In your Thai study sessions, you'll come back to these materials again and again.
Forvo – Find out how to pronounce any Thai word. Simply put the word you're looking for into the search bar in Thai!
START SPEAKING THAI RIGHT NOW
Pimsleur – The Pimsleur method is perfect for you if you want to start speaking right away. Learn anywhere, anytime in just 30 minutes a day. Learn a language while cooking, commuting, exercising and more! Have the flexibility to practice when it’s convenient for you.
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