This really depends at what level you are at present. Rossetta Stone I certainly do not consider a "beginner level". I bought it a few years ago while still living in the US. I did not use it - because I found it too difficult at first.
I used it approx 4 months ago - and I feel it was more useful in increasing my level of Thai - reading Thaiscript, comprehension, vocabulary etc. - than 30 Private lessons I took approx 6 months ago - at about three times the price.
If you are interested ...
+1 to that. I bought the Rosetta Stone program years ago when I was a beginner and thought it was terrible and almost useless, so I shelved it. I picked it up again out of curiosity a few months ago, and was surprised at what I found. If you already speak at an intermediate level and can read and write, the Rosetta Stone is pretty awesome. It is definitely not for beginners, but if you have been studying for long enough to understand basic grammar and you can read and write then you will probably get a lot out of it.
I have just started a new blog and twitter feed called Tweet Yourself Thai.
Please drop by and have a look.
Follow the Twitter feed at @AjarnPasa and visit the blog at www.tweetyourselfthai.wordpress.com
Both are designed for the intermediate learner and include reading practice and vocab based around situations and topics. Short timely lessons for the Thai learner on the fly.
If you can read Thai and want practice listening as you read, here's a nice Thai music site with the lyrics embedded in the video (in Thai, not in 'karaoke' phonetics). LikeThai music videos
Here's a nice example of "pop as social commentary" that manages to get through the whole song without once using the expression รักเธอ! Enjoy. Sw
Can anyone update on a good latest software dictionary (thai-end-thai) for a Windows Mobile 6.1 phone?
I have used PPClinks E-dictionary reader for WM in past and found it good. It doesn't seem to work on later versions of WM though. My HTC phone came with Lexitron Pack but the software seems very simple, albeit works. Any others experienced?
Studying a language has never been easy especially for a person like me who just want to have fun learning a language. I bought books, even engaged myself in Teach Me tutorials in the internet but none of them excites me, except for L-lingo (http://www.l-lingo.com/). It’s very affordable (other tutorials and books cost too much, and leaves you hanging) learning a language for us using L-lingo is quick, fun and easy because learning doesn’t have to be that hard.
My favourite is Its4thai.com. Very good interface with easy to use tutorials and lessons. I have never had face to face lessons only tried to teach myself. Would anyone recommend face to face tutoring rather than solely online and teaching yourself or is there enough resources on the web to teach yourself?
This is addressed mainly to Intermediate students looking for further reading materials:
After finishing up the Thomas Gething intermediate reader series (56 lessons with pdf and mp3 files, available free online), I settled on นิทานพื้นบ้านอีสาน, (isbn 978-974521684-6) (a series of folk tales with at least one other volume for southern folk tales). I have a neighbor record individual stories onto a small mp3 player, then I use audacity (a free sound system) to listen to the files and extract parts to include in my anki flashcards.
Granted, the folk tales will use 'folk-tale' kinds of vocabulary (Once upon a time, etc), but as I do more and more stories, I find common vocabulary threads throughout the stories. That was one of the nice features of the Gething series.....repeated vocabulary.
The book is available for 60 baht at most bookstores that supply schools/students.
Can anyone update on a good latest software dictionary (thai-end-thai) for a Windows Mobile 6.1 phone?
I have used PPClinks E-dictionary reader for WM in past and found it good. It doesn't seem to work on later versions of WM though. My HTC phone came with Lexitron Pack but the software seems very simple, albeit works. Any others experienced?
This word in hand dictionary by Paiboon Publishing might do the trick. It works on Windows, Iphone and Palm OS. It's a superb 'speaking' dictionary that allows you to search by English, Thai script and phonetic sound for a word. It incorporates all the major phonetic systems being used to teach Thai (you can set it on the one you prefer) and has an aray of user friendly features. I think it's a a game changer. Thoroughly impressed. Click on link for more details and free trial.
Hi - I've looked at many of the sites mentioned here but can't find one that will translate a Thai sentance into English? am I missing something? I'm not looking for a Dictionary but a rough translation.
Hi - I've looked at many of the sites mentioned here but can't find one that will translate a Thai sentance into English? am I missing something? I'm not looking for a Dictionary but a rough translation.
Thai2english.com used to do that; I think it still does, but I stopped using it a couple of years? ago after they changed the interface to something unusable.
If you just want a machine translator - with all the dubious veracity that that implies - try frengly.com
Hi - I've looked at many of the sites mentioned here but can't find one that will translate a Thai sentance into English? am I missing something? I'm not looking for a Dictionary but a rough translation.
Thai2english.com used to do that; I think it still does, but I stopped using it a couple of years? ago after they changed the interface to something unusable.
If you just want a machine translator - with all the dubious veracity that that implies - try frengly.com
Google translate does that. I cut/paste Thai Rath newspaper articles into google translate.......the rough translation gives me a good idea of what the article is about. Another nice feature is to move your cursor over a 'translated' portion of the text (on the right side of your google translate page). Thai will appear above your translated sentence.
It's not a perfect solution, but it's far better than anything else out there (IMO).
You can also type Thai/English into the left side of the screen and the right side will show the translation as you type. Again, not perfect, but it's a nice feature. It helps to know how to type Thai!
Tap sap: Thai word or phrase that's been adapted from another language, usually from English.
English language doesn't have a word equivalent for the Thai word 'tap sap'. Maybe English should adapt the word tap sap. It's a bit less of a mouthful than saying 'a word used in English adapted from a word taken from another language.'
Anyhow, the most comprehensive list of Thai tap sap words & phrases is a book called '700 Thai Words Taken From English' It's available in some stores as a paperback, but the easier way to get it is as an ebook. Also has several other chapters which facilitate learning Thai quickly and easily.
I'm looking for a decent Thai-English dictionary, Hardcopy, in book form. I hear the Chulalongkorn University Press are good. Can someone recommend a website to purchase from? Thanks
Anyhow, the most comprehensive list of Thai tap sap words & phrases is a book called '700 Thai Words Taken From English' It's available in some stores as a paperback, but the easier way to get it is as an ebook.
The Thai Royal Institute also have a dictionary of loan words. It can be downloaded as multiple PDFs free from here:
Any favorite Android dictionaries (offline preferably)? I have http://www.thana.info/android that is free, so-so, and was wondering if others have any favorites?
A new online course has just been launched. Learn Speak Thai Online offers interactive beginner and intermediate online courses in Thai and Isaan Thai.
The online lessons have clickable audio text and slideshows and there are 100's of audio flash card and matching words games to help your learning along. At the moment they're offering access to about 100 free lessons and games for FREE , no sign up or purchase necessary. Worth checking out!
Hi - I've looked at many of the sites mentioned here but can't find one that will translate a Thai sentance into English? am I missing something? I'm not looking for a Dictionary but a rough translation.
One of the best translation programs now is Google Translate. But if you use it, don't write anything more than a very short sentence or the Thai gradually gets messed up. And from Thai to English -- you will probably be lucky just to get the gist of what Google spits out. Why? Because Thai grammar is hugely simple compared to English, and it doesn't normally use pronouns like "He" or "it" -- GT just sticks stuff in or uses crazy passive expressions. But it's better than nothing.
And I'm not sure if anybody put it here already, but I use thai-language dot com a LOT (can't post the link for some reason. Sorry). It gives the roman transliteration, example sentences and even tells you the tones you should use (M= mid tone, etc). But if at all possible, if you're serious about a woman, then learn to read Thai. It will only take a few weeks to do, then you can use one of the MANY iPhone / iPad / Android Thai dictionaries out there. Good luck!
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Parvis, on 2010-04-10 22:16:21, said:
