Learning the Thai Language - Key to Understanding the Art of Muay Thai

So are you looking to live in Thailand?...or reside there for a while? Well stop being ignorant and learn some Thai! Aside from being able to get around more efficiently, some of the perks of just learning basic Thai will:

1. Save you money from getting ripped off!
2. Show appreciation for the culture and the people.
3. Diversify your resume.
4. It's EZ! Unlike English, words do not change to indicate tense, purity, gender, and there are no articles. Words are also no longer than 2 syllables.
5. Broden your mind.
6. Help you pick up Thai Chicks, or lady boys, whatever your heart desires.

...and most importantly

7. Understand when the Muay Thai instructors yell, "MAI DI MAI DI! SABAII SABAII KAAP LINH TRUONG DAI MAI KHRAP! So you don't understand? Mai Kao Jai Mai Khrap? Then how the FUCK do you plan to learn Muay Thai? You think 'just hitting the pads, gassing out, and having the instructor fix your technique here and there is enough for you to truely grasp the principles and wisdom of Muay Thai? Are you a poser? You think you can learn everything the Thais have to offer with goddamn sign language?

As I was saying, if you want to learn Thai in a short period of time(at least basic Thai), check out the Pimsleur Course on Thai. It is an audio and visual course that takes you through 30*30minute lessons. Each lesson builds on the previous lessons, and by the end you will have the capacity to understand very basic Thai including talk about traveling, order food, engage in small talk, count, handle yourself in shopping situations, tell time, and even construct your own sentences. With enough commitment, you can accomplish this in 10 days!

The program is very easy to follow. You practically just listen and repeat, of course, don't expect not to think. And having a pen ready helps a ton.

I also suggest picking up a Thai Phrase Pocket Book. If already in Thailand you can find one of these buggies all over Thailand at a book store (eg. Tesco Lotus should carry some). Even if you have problems pronouncing the word when speaking to a Thai, you can always point to the Thai scripts next to the English. The book I am using is by the Lonely Plant. This one is real good because it also consists of a 2-way dictionary. :. worthy of 2 Thumbs up.


Lonely Planet: Thai Phrase Book

Pimsleur Thai

I just recently purchased the Rosetta Stone on Thai. I have been hearing and reading great things about this program. Supposedly, upon completion you should be able to write and speak at a grade 3 level. Sounds good to me. I'll provide you with some more personal experience details once I get around to starting this.

Conclusion? Pimsleur, good. Lonely Plant Phrase Book, good. Rosetta Stone, supposedly real good. However nothing beats plunging in and speaking with the Thais.

Chok dee,

Baoy

Visit Learning to Speak Thai in Chiang Mai for my Thai instructor recommendation.