Learning the Thai Language

Vocabulary Builder Thai

IF your child's face lights up when they see a brightly colored picture, cuddly toy animal or a game, then this is for them. Vocabulary Builder Thai is designed for kids who like to be entertained. It has lots of brightly colored pictures and fun games to get your child hooked on learning. Adults love this program too!

Will it work for my child?

Vocabulary Builder Thai is designed for children aged 4-12. It's a simple piece of educational software that they'll find easy to use. It's fun, engaging and encouraging - even for children who are easily distracted.

No reading required. Vocabulary Builder is all based on spoken language and pictures, so children don't have to be able to read in order to use it.
What will my child learn?

Vocabulary Builder covers some basic words and phrases. These have been chosen to be fun as well as useful. There are around 100 words in the program - just enough to get your child started without overloading them. The topics include colors, numbers, actions, professions and simple sentences with some prepositions.

How does it work?

There are three different sections:

1. Learn what the words mean with pictures accompanied by the spoken word.

2. Three exciting memory games that get progressively harder. It's this section where they really learn to recognise and remember words.

3. Record your own story. Browse through the pictures and record the words you want to appear. You can compare your recording with a native speaker if you want. You can also string your story together with any words you want to put in, then watch your story played back on cinema screen followed by a big round of applause. This really gets them talking in a foreign language and you'll be amazed how quickly they pick up the accent.

Notes for parents:

Biologically, the earlier a child is exposed to a second language the better - studies have proven that a young mind is more receptive than an older one. Learning Thai will also improve your child's ability in other languages.
System Requirements
Windows, Mac Universal

* Windows 2000 or later
* Mac OS X 10.2 or above
* CD ROM Drive (+ computer microphone)

If you're interested in learning Irish, then check out Vocabulary Builder Thai Software. At $29.99, the program is inexpensive, easy, and fun to use.

Talk Now Thai

IF you're new to Thai, there are some basics you will have to learn, whether you're eight years old or 80, on business abroad or a tourist on holiday. Talk Now! Thai offers a simple-to-use method for you to start learning the language, whoever you are.

Will it work for me?

Lots of people have difficulty learning languages. Why? Most have been put off at school, don't have time to learn, or think they are too lazy to do it.

Talk Now! Thai answers these problems:

* It lifts the language off the page. There are no dull exercises; just encouraging games that award you points for progress.

* It fits easily into short ten-minute sessions. But if you want to push yourself you can learn the basics in a weekend.

* if you think you're lazy, think again! You'll be amazed how motivated you can be when you enjoy the experience of learning!

What will I learn?

To speak and understand enough to "get by".

You're just starting, so we won't drop you in at the deep end. There are some things you'll want to say in any language: you'll want to say 'hello', order a drink, ask for directions and so on.

This beginners program gets straight to the point. It covers food, colors, shopping, parts of the body, numbers, telling the time, countries, greetings and essential phrases.

How does it work?

Talk Now! Thai gives you easy-to-achieve goals. Learning a new language is far too big a task to tackle all at once, so we have broken it down into a series of rewarding challenges.

Play interactive language games. Talk Now! feeds you new words, along with pictures to reinforce your memory. It then tests your knowledge with fun quizzes. As soon as you start playing you start learning.

Earn points for every game you play. High scorers can go on to win bronze, silver and gold awards, which you can print out as a record of achievement.

You will hear Thai all of the time and, using the recording games, you can start speaking straight away, then compare your voice to a native speaker.

You can learn on the move. Carry on learning in the airport lounge or the ferry without a computer. Just print out the phrasebook sheets included in the program and take them with you, or upload the program's sound files onto an iPod.
System Requirements
Windows, Mac Universal

* Windows 2000 or later
* Mac OS X 10.3.9 or above
* CD ROM Drive (+ computer microphone)
* You can also upload words onto your iPod

If you're interested in learning Irish, then check out Talk Now Thai Beginner Software. At $29.99, the program is inexpensive, easy, and fun to use.

Talk More Thai

THIS program teaches basic conversational phrases with structures that can be adapted to fit different situations. It also tackles one of the main challenges in learning a foreign language: building the confidence to speak it. Talk More's recording function allows you to compare your accent with that of a native speaker. Perfect for building a learner's spoken confidence.

Will it work for me?

If you know some basic Thai, but you don't think you could handle a full conversation, Talk More will get you talking. Because it's aimed at recent beginners, everything you hear will be clearly spoken at a speed that you can easily keep up with.

What will I learn?

In this program you'll start putting together complete sentences, as opposed to learning individual bits of vocabulary. We've selected a range of phrases you commonly need abroad, including many that you might find essential: for example, "I'd like to pay by credit card", "My camera has been stolen", and "Where is the pharmacy?"

Topics cover greetings, shops and restaurants, getting around, hotels, phone calls, emergencies, leisure and the basic vocabulary of business and technology.

How does it work?

Watch and learn! See and hear how to speak Thai by watching video footage of native speakers.

Build confidence on a computer. Before testing your new speaking skills in the real world, record yourself, then play back to compare your pronunciation with that of a native speaker. (Note that we don't use electronic voice analysis: the human ear is usually much more accurate.)

Play interactive games. The comprehension quiz prompts you to react to real life situations, while a challenging recording quiz tests your knowledge and pronunciation.

You earn points for every game you play. High scorers can go on to win bronze, silver and gold awards, which you can print out as a record of achievement.

You can learn on the move. Carry on learning in the airport lounge or on the ferry. Just print out the phrasebook sheets included in the program and take them with you.

System Requirements
Windows, Mac Universal

* Windows 2000 or later
* Mac OS X 10.3.9 or above
* CD ROM Drive (+ computer microphone)
* QuickTime 6 or higher

If you're interested in learning Irish, then check out Talk More Thai Conversational Software. At $29.99, the program is inexpensive, easy, and fun to use.

Talk The Talk Thai

TALK The Talk is designed with teenagers' social lives in mind. It concentrates on the words and phrases young people need for social conversation, including plenty of useful, up-to-date vocabulary. It then builds their spoken confidence, allowing them to compare their accent to that of a native speaker.

Will it work for me?

This program is best suited for teenagers who are beginning to get to grips with Thai. It's best if you know some basic vocabulary before you start.

Because it's aimed at recent beginners, everything you hear will be clearly spoken at a speed that you can easily keep up with.

What will I learn?

To talk about the things that are relevant to you. We won't bother you with lots of information you won't need or don't find interesting.

Talk The Talk teaches phrases like "I'll send you a text message later" and "we won the game on penalties". Topics include family, school, hobbies, traveling, home, technology, work and sport.

How does it work?

Watch and learn! See and hear how to speak Thai by watching video footage of native speakers.

Build confidence on a computer. Before testing your new speaking skills in the real world, record yourself, then play back to compare your pronunciation with a native speaker. (Note that we don't use electronic voice analysis: the human ear is usually much more accurate.)

Play interactive games. The comprehension quiz prompts you to react to real life situations, while a challenging recording quiz tests your knowledge and pronunciation.

You earn points for every game you play. High scorers can go on to win bronze, silver and gold awards, which you can print out as a record of achievement.

You can learn on the move. Carry on learning in the airport lounge or on the ferry. Just print out the phrasebook sheets included in the program and take them with you.

System Requirements
Windows, Mac Universal

* Windows 2000 or later
* Mac OS X 10.3.9 or above
* CD ROM Drive (+ computer microphone)
* QuickTime 6 or higher

If you're interested in learning Irish, then check out Talk The Talk Thai Beginner Software. At $29.99, the program is inexpensive, easy, and fun to use.

World Talk Thai

IT'S easy to be fazed when you start a conversation in Thai and the person you're talking to replies using lots of words that you haven't learned yet. World Talk prepares you for these real-life situations with addictive listening games. It will teach you to recognise key words in everyday situations and broaden your vocabulary.

Will it work for me?

If your Thai is good enough to follow basic conversations, but you still need to practice, World Talk is for you.

Everything you'll hear in the program is in Thai, but you don't need to know every word before you start. Listen for key words that you already know, then pick up new words in the same way you would when talking to a native speaker.

What will I learn?

To keep on listening. When a word comes up that we don't recognise, we often stop listening because we're focusing on that one word and nothing else. This program lets you grasp the gist of what someone's saying without getting hung up on the words you don't understand.

You will develop your practical knowledge of Thai. There are 10 different games covering numbers, conversations, descriptions, sentence building, directions and dictation practice. These activities cover a wide range of subjects and give you important practical skills that you can use immediately.

How does it work?

Play interactive language games and earn points for every game you play. High scorers can go on to win bronze, silver and gold awards, which you can print out as a record of achievement.

Speak and write in Thai. Record yourself and compare your pronunciation with a native speaker, then test your written Thai with four dictation exercises.

You'll start to think in Thai! World Talk is an 'immersive' experience: in this program you will only hear Thai. You'll learn to associate the language with memorable images - not just the equivalent words in your own language. This means you'll start thinking in Thai, which will make you quicker at understanding and recalling words.

System Requirements
Windows, Mac Universal

* Windows 2000 or later
* Mac OS X 10.3.9 or above
* CD ROM Drive (+ computer microphone)

If you're interested in learning Irish, then check out World Talk Thai Intermediate Software. At $29.99, the program is inexpensive, easy, and fun to use.

Talk Business Thai

PICTURE yourself doing business with someone who doesn't speak your language. The chances are you'll need more than "holiday level" conversation to get by. That's why Talk Business was developed. It teaches you basic business vocabulary so that you can concentrate on the important stuff and not waste time searching for the right words.

Will it work for me?

Talk Business is aimed at people who already have some experience of the language. You must feel confident enough to start up a conversation and keep it going.

The specialist phrases in Talk Business Thai are clearly spoken at a speed that you can easily keep up with and copy.
What will I learn?

Talk Business Thai gives you essential vocabulary for the workplace. It covers basics such as "what is your website address?" and "my computer crashed and I lost all my files" as well as more advanced discussion of exchange rates, product guarantees and marketing budgets.

Topics covered are: - Trading, buying and selling - Marketing, advertising and PR - IT, Internet, e-commerce and communications - Banking, finance, stock exchange and accounting - Business meetings - Business travel - Careers - Negotiations - On the phone - General business vocabulary

How does it work?

Watch and learn! See and hear how to speak Thai by watching video footage of native speakers.

Build confidence on a computer. Before testing your new speaking skills in the real world, record yourself, then play back to compare your pronunciation with a native speaker. (Note that we don't use electronic voice analysis: the human ear is usually more accurate.)

Play interactive games. The comprehension quiz prompts you to react to real life situations, while a challenging recording quiz tests your knowledge and pronunciation.

You earn points for every game you play. High scorers can go on to win bronze, silver and gold awards, which you can print out as a record of achievement.

You can learn on the move. Carry on learning in the airport lounge or on the ferry. Just print out the phrasebook sheets included in the program and take them with you.

System Requirements
Windows, Mac Universal

* Windows 2000 or later
* Mac OS X 10.3.9 or above
* CD ROM Drive (+ computer microphone)
* QuickTime 6 or higher

If you're interested in learning Irish, then check out Talk Business Thai Beginner Software. At $29.99, the program is inexpensive, easy, and fun to use.

The purpose or the present work is to outline the main structural features for standard spoken Thai, the official language or Thailand, and also to elaborate by sub-classification and example those structural features which are least covered by existing grammars and dictionaries. In this latter category are the numerous minor form-classes or Thai ('sign-words,' 'functional words,' 'empty morphs,' etc.) consisting of lexical items whose arrangement and conditions or occurrence are not easily described In terms or quickly understood grammatical labels, and whose largely non-referential meanings are not easily translated, or translatable only In terms so broad as to be almost meaningless. An index or these minor form-class members is provided at the end or the grammar.

The approach to classification or grammatical features attempts to follow current techniques or American descriptive linguistics or the 'item-and arrangement' school. Certain insights directly attributable to other grammatical techniques (transformational, traditional, etc.) have been exploited, but the results are presented In terms or morphemes and order. From the point or view or general method and special categories the most useful hints have been gleaned from descriptions or languages with structures similar to Thai.

If your interested in learning Thai, then check out Thai Reference Grammar

Learning Thai Language - Why You Should Learn to Read and Write it From the Start

By Michael Edgerston

Learning a tonal language is not easy, especially if you were brought up speaking a European language. Western languages have few tones which consist of simple things like raising your tone at the end of a question sentence. But you will normally be understood by a Western language speaker whatever tone you use.

The Thai Language is as hard as any, and has five basic tones. These tones are high, low, middle, rising, and falling. A single word can have five different meanings which depend upon the tone used with it. Thai Language also has three classes of consonant; high, middle, and low. Each class has either three or five tones. And there are 44 consonants.

There are 32 Thai vowels, some of which represent sounds that do not exist in Western languages. The Western student almost has to contort their mouth and tongue to pronounce some of these vowels. They seem to require an unnatural, almost contortionist-like movement of the face and tongue muscles!

Normally, when someone starts learning the Thai Language, it is after they have spent some time in Thailand and picked up a few words of Thai. Perhaps they have spent a lot of time in Thailand but find that they still can not understand what Thais are saying. However, they do know a number of words that they have picked up.

It is likely, however, that their pronunciation of words is incorrect. Sometimes Thai listeners can pick up what these people are trying to say, but more than likely they will struggle to understand. It is usually at this time that the serious person will start formally learning the Thai Language.

They will come to class with a list of words they know and find that they are not saying them correctly. Because the Thai Language is so different from other languages, Thai Language teachers have introduced a phonetic system that consists of Arabic (Western) lettering and five tone marks. The tone marks are represented by lines going in the direction of the tone sound or pitch.

A student will often spend many months working with this phonetic system, only to emerge needing to start from scratch again; this time with Thai characters and tone symbols. For those who are willing to make the effort, it is better to learn Thai lettering from the beginning. It will save you a lot of effort.

The key reasons for learning Thai Language reading and writing from the start are:

Firstly, for the serious student it saves a lot of time not having to learn the phonetic words which do not give a truly accurate representation of the Thai sounds anyway.

Secondly, one of the best ways to accelerate your Thai Language skills is to be able to translate street and shop signs that are written in Thai lettering, into English. Of course, this is if you are in Thailand. If you spend a lot of time travelling in taxis, buses, or motorcycle taxis in Bangkok you will find that there are constant opportunities for translation. Your Thai Language skills will grow much more quickly if you practise translation in this way.

Thirdly, learning to write down the Thai words when you hear them spoken to you, or dictation, helps you learn the language quickly. You learn the rules that apply to written Thai Language and how that makes the language sound the way that it does. You will learn to listen for tones and consequently, become far more aware of them through the process of writing down what you hear in Thai.

There is really no good reason to learn phonetic Thai Language if you are serious enough and have the discipline to learn the Thai scripts from the start of your language training. But the drawback is that it does require a lot of extra effort at the start to master the consonants, vowels, and tone symbols in the Thai script. You will have to remember sounds and relate them to unfamiliar symbols, and this is hard in the same way that learning Ancient Greek is hard.

Michael Edgerston lives in Thailand and writes on Thailand related subjects. He has a Thailand Travel web site under development at http://www.ThailandTravel.net. He also has a Thai Language Blog at http://thai-language-blog.blogspot.com which discusses learning Thai Language as he progresses through his Thai Language training.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Edgerston


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