Thai Language: Three Tips on How to Learn Thai

I am fluent only in English.  I grew up with Cantonese spoken in my household, and it’s one of my regrets not to have attained fluency in Cantonese.  So one of my goals in mini retirement is to learn Thai.  Two years into my stay here, I can say I’m still a Beginner.  I can order drinks and food – and or give some basic direction to my Grab driver or masseuse – but that’s pretty much where I’m at.  All of this to say: I’m still learning and this post is certainly a work-in-progress.

I want to share three tips I have picked up in language learning.  Note that this post covers only conversational / spoken Thai, not reading or writing (which I believe to be completely different).  I have focused solely on speaking/listening, so that I can make basic conversations in the few years I have lived here.  

Tip #1: Focus on phrases you use frequently

This is fairly obvious, but not exactly how Thai language classes are structured.  In the first few months of learning Thai at one of the Chiang Mai language schools, I spent a lot of time remembering and practicing how to say words like ‘sweater’ and ‘police department’ – but easily fell into the trap of forgetting a word as soon as I learned it in class.  This is no knock on the language schools, given they have to follow a curriculum for bureaucratic reasons.  But I decided that I would be more proactive in choosing phrases I would want to practice.  I started with the most common phrases I would make with Thai locals – which was at the cafe and restaurants.  Then I moved on to other situations: with Thai friends, with Grab drivers, and with masseuses.  

Focusing on high-use phrases such as ‘Cup of coffee, please’ or ‘Can I pay by credit card?’ has several benefits.  First, you can put them into practice immediately.  This of course increases use and retention.  Second, by focusing on phrases (instead of words) allows you to switch out words easily, such as ‘Cup of coffee, please’ to ‘Cup of pineapple juice, please.’ – which accelerates use, because you more frequently practice the phrase while adding new vocabulary.  Last, you also absorb listening skills more quickly, because you will pick up the phrase (for example, when hearing friends using the same phrase while ordering) but then be able to pick up an unfamiliar word they use, which gives you an opportunity to ask (‘that dish you ordered; how do you say that again?’).

Tip #2: Ask locals to check your Google phrases

Google Translate is a powerful tool – but it isn’t perfect.  The app often errs on the side of formality, versus what is more colloquial / commonly spoken.  Given Thai is a high-context language, meaning one’s phrasing changes based on the context of the situation (e.g., saying hello to a younger acquaintance at a language exchange versus an older friend you have known for years), it’s very important to double check the applicability and appropriateness of your phrases.

One simple way to do this is to ask Thai locals you meet at language exchanges.  Given that many of the language exchanges I have attended (in Bangkok and Chiang Mai) are informal, unstructured, and more of a social than a language exchange, this approach also gives you a way to engage with others.  I ask Thai locals for help – “how would I say ‘congratulations’ to a person who just graduated?’ or ‘how would I say ‘good luck’ to a person who is about to take an exam?’  And I have learned very quickly that what Google Translate tells me is often too long or not appropriate given the context.  

Another way to ensure your phrases are appropriate is to watch Thai films or series – and observe phrases used within the given context.  When I hear a phrase I don’t recognize, I put on the Thai subtitles and take a screenshot from my iPad, copy the phrase into Google Translate and note the meaning and the context.  This helps ensure that my phrases are both correct and applicable (given the context).

Tip #3: Use Anki flash cards to practice

I have used several apps, and believe that when it comes to memorizing a language (listening and speaking) – Anki is the best.  Why?  Besides being customizable and easy to use for reviewing flash cards, it has the Enhanced: Natural Spoken Text (TTS) deck format, which integrates with Google Translate and therefore allows you to listen to the tones (of the phrases you’re trying to remember).  Why is this important?  Because Thai is a tonal language – with five tones – knowing which word uses which tone is critical, because it changes the meaning of the word.  Anki will help you figure out the tone (by listening to the phrase on the flash cards) and through repetition, I’m able to remember the tone tied to the phrase.

Until Duolingo adds Thai, or another developer is able to gamify the naturally spoken tones of Thai, I’ll continue to use Anki to program and practice my phrases.

Summary

I hope you picked up a few tips in learning and practicing Thai.  Thailand is too beautiful and its people too welcoming for me to miss out on learning its language.  More doors have certainly opened for me as I continue to practice my Thai – and it’s been such an enriching (and humbling) experience to converse with Thai locals.  I wish you the same enrichment to your life here.

~Lester T