Learning Thai Made Simple

Most people would think that there's no need to learn the Thai language when you are going for a Phuket vacation or when you are going to for a shopping spree in Thailand. But there are even more beautiful and less known places in Thailand that will enchant any traveler the most. You can go to Pattaya and Hat Yai where you can have a taste of authentic Thai culture and the world-renowned Thai hospitality and warmth.

Even when the Thai people won't expect foreign speakers to learn the Thai language unless they are married or engaged to any Thai or have Thai descent, they would love to converse with people using their native language. Some of those who have traveled in the place for shopping for which it is now known said that it helps a lot to end up with good bargains when you do the haggling using their native tongue.

But Thailand is not only known for plastic surgery, great night life, and great shopping. The country is also rich in heritage and culture. You can take a peek at its revered Buddhist temples and be reminded that Thailand is one of the most devoutly Buddhist countries in the whole world. Theravada Buddhism is the major religion in the country and is spoken by about 94.7% of all Thai people living in the country. Only 0.7% of the population belongs to the other religions.

If you are serious about learning not only the rich culture but the colorful Thai literature, you can learn to speak and read in the Thai language. Then you will understand more about the Thai language as seen in the eyes of the nationally renowned Thai writers and literary geniuses such as former Prime Minister Kukrit Pramoj whose works are considered as the best in modern Thai literature and Sunthon Phu and his 19th century works. You would be able to understand why he is considered a poetic genius in all Thai communities.

Since the Thai language is a tonal language many would think that it is difficult to learn it. The truth is that it is less complicated than the sing-song Mandarin and other Chinese dialects; there are also about 25% of French and English words that are borrowed, same as some Japanese words. When you are planning to learn the language of Laos you are three-fourths of knowing it entirely as it is almost mutually intelligible to the Thai language. Besides that the Thai people are highly tolerant of foreign speakers of their language as they are good in understanding the language through context.

There's a great means for you to learn the language even more easily through Pimsleur's language learning audio which you can listen to on your iPod anytime and anywhere you want, even while you are jogging, stuck in traffic, or cleaning the house. You can get a copy of it in The Talking Bookstore.