Here is the very latest news from Insight English language schools.
Learning Thai in a Group
Some people prefer to learn a new language individually, but for others being part of a group can be a more rewarding experience, as it enables greater interaction with other students and can actually be much more fun than a one-to-one session. At Insight English, learning Thai in a group is a cost effective way to pick up the language quickly, and you might even make a few new friends along the way. There aren't masses of homework either, but you are encouraged to practice a little each week and try to review what you've learnt at home.
We place all of our students into a group of similar ability, so don't worry that you'll be left behind or won't be as proficient as your peers. Many people worry that they can't read or write Thai but Insight emphasises conversational Thai, which means that speaking the language is considered much more important than being able to read it. We also have small class sizes - typically only 5 or 6 students in a session, so there is ample time for each student to ask questions and practice together.
Students learning Thai at Insight's language centres tend to come from many backgrounds and age groups - this is partly what makes the lessons so interesting as everybody has different perspectives and experiences to share. One of our advanced groups at the moment has participants from Sweden, Canada, France, and the UK, who come to our Hua Hin centre twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Insight is thrilled when our students show steady improvement - each week a few new words and phrases are introduced, giving them the ability to speak confidently with the locals.
Anybody that joins a group Thai language course at Insight will be pleasantly surprised just how quickly you can pick up the basics, so why not come and take a look - it's free to join a trial class, to see if learning Thai might be for you...
How Hard is it to Learn Thai?
Learning any new foreign language can involve difficulties, however, mastering the Thai language can prove to be more complicated than most. Upon entering a Thai language course you will discover that not only does the Thai alphabet contain 44 characters, every syllable can hold up to five different tonal sounds.
The initial trouble when trying to read Thai is that all words within a sentence are joined together making it difficult to differentiate between separate words; as well as this, there are many irregularities which can only be learnt by memorisation.
A key reason why you should apply for a Thai language course with a qualified teacher rather than learning yourself at home is that tones are vitally important in Thai. There are 5 different tones in Thai; the mid tone, high tone, low tone, rising tone and falling tone. Depending on which tone you use greatly changes what you are saying in Thai.
A great difference between the Thai and English language is that in the Thai language there is a great importance to differentiate between consonant sounds. For example, in Thai, there are consonants for the sounds; ‘t’, ‘th’, ‘p’, ‘ph’, ‘k’ and ‘kh.’ In English it may not be necessary to emphasise the pronunciation of these sounds, however, in Thai the pronunciation of these consonants changes the meaning of the word completely.
Although there are many difficulties with learning the Thai language, it is not impossible. If you are committed and eager to learn Thai there are courses available all over the world from recognised schools, but before signing up and parting with your money, ask if you could try a free demonstration class so you can be sure that the teaching method is suited to your needs.
My Personal Experience Learning Thai
When I first came to Thailand in 2010, I decided to try and learn Thai - initially just the basics so that I could speak with the locals and order food from menus. Learning to speak Thai is a very rewarding experience and immensely useful for those staying in Thailand for any length of time. Whilst some foreigners prefer not to learn any Thai, it can be a beneficial skill to have and helps break the ice in many situations.
Depending on your ability and aspirations, Insight English can recommend a course appropriate to your needs and experience. It’s possible to learn the basics independently using phrasebooks and online resources, but I found that going to a language school really helped my Thai come along leaps and bounds. Now I can just about read the subtitles on local TV (well, they go a little too quickly but I can usually read most of it!)...but don't worry about reading first - the important thing is to dive in and learn a few words. A friend of mine is in his 70s, and he's picked up the basics in no time....impressive!
Many people assume that Thai is very hard to learn because it’s so unlike European languages and has what seems like a very peculiar alphabet. With a little perseverance however, it’s possible to pick up the basic phrases quite quickly and start to appreciate how the language works. Thais usually appreciate the effort you’ve made to speak their language no matter how few words you can manage, and seem quite impressed when you’re able to have a real conversation. The best advice I can give to anyone trying to learn is to practice a lot and speak some Thai every day.
Once you’ve mastered the basics it can be good fun learning to read and write Thai, which comes in handy especially in remote places where English is not widely understood. At my weekly class at Insight, there's no pressure to learn to read Thai, but you might be surprised just how easy it is. And it's true that a little perseverence really pays off!
I can definitely recommend Insight English as a good place to start learning Thai.
