Thai FAQs
What are the Benefits of Learning Thai?
Thailand is culturally rich and diverse, having 71 languages including 62 officially recognized domestic languages. Also called Siamese or Central Thai, Thai is the official language of Thailand.
One benefit of learning Thai is that it makes your tour to Thailand super easy and fun. Also, learning a less spoken language makes you stand out from the crowd.
Here are some benefits of learning Thai:
About 88% of Thailand speaks Thai
When you travel to Thailand, you'll find that most signboards, food menus, and transport tickets are written in Thai. If you happen to lose your way while exploring Thailand, your knowledge of the language can come in handy.
Also, it's common to find locals hike the prices of commodities when the person buying can't speak the language. With Thai classes, you can learn the language and bargain like a local. Learning Thai can make your stay in Thailand more worthwhile as you can explore the rural parts of Thailand without a tour guide.
It helps you understand the people of Thailand and their culture
A language is no doubt closely connected to culture. You can't separate the Thai language from its culture where it derives its roots. This implies that when you have a good understanding of the Thai language, its expression, vocabulary, and nuances, you understand the culture better.
The primary way to understand how the people of Thailand are, their customs and traditions, is to learn Thai. You can decide to get Thai hybrid classes which are a combination of physical and online classes or find a Thai tutor near you.
Learning Thai makes you unique
Unlike French, Spanish and English, Thai isn't a commonly taught language in schools. There are a few people who learn Thai and having to speak it fluently makes you stand out.
Additionally, there are job opportunities for people who can speak less common languages like Thai. Thailand is one of the best places to reside in Asia and is a growing hub of IT experts. People from all over the world come to Thailand for job opportunities and being fluent in the language is a plus.
Non-native speakers who aren't keen on teaching English in Thailand are often advised to learn Thai. Being proficient in Thai gives you an edge when seeking jobs in prospective companies.
How Many People in the World Speak Thai?
Approximately 60 million people worldwide speak Thai and this figure also includes 88% of Thailand's population as well as groups of people in China, Singapore, and Laos.
The Thai language is believed by many to have its root buried in the China and Vietnam border. However, there are ongoing debates as to whether the people of Thailand actually originated from that particular area.
Furthermore, most native speakers refer to Thai by its native name, ภาษาไทย. It can also be referred to as Thailand or Siamese.
How Many Countries Employ Thai as an Official Language?
According to worlddata.info, about four countries including Thailand have a reasonable percentage of their residents speaking Thai. For instance, in Laos, Over 567,000 people speak Thai as a second language.
Likewise, it's common to find Singaporeans learning Thai as some parts of Singapore speak Thai. You can always secure a Thai tutor in Singapore if you're interested in learning Thai.
Also, you can find a sizable Thai community in places like Japan, the U.S, the UK, Taiwan, Germany, and some parts of The United Arab Emirates.
Is Thai Difficult to Learn?
Whether you learn Thai online or you have a private tutor, Thai can come off as difficult because of its uniqueness. It helps to know that Thai is a tonal language and has some relaxed rules on grammar that may seem different from that of the English language.
Furthermore, different things influence how you perceive the Thai language. For instance, if you have the right resources to learn Thai, it should be pretty easy for you.
Thai has five tones and pronouncing Thai words can be difficult if you're an English native speaker. The tones you use when speaking Thai can influence the meaning of the words you're saying. Also, the Thai script can be a bit confusing as it's not the standard English alphabet that's similar to French.
How can Beginners Learn Thai?
Like every language, to learn Thai, you need to be enthusiastic about it. Enthusiasm will drive you to keep learning when learning the language becomes difficult. Also, it's important you have a Thai tutor, as practicing with a native can help you to be partially immersed while learning Thai.
As a beginner, you can start learning Thai with the grammar basics like the verb, object, and subject. With time, you can put together pieces of grammar you've learnt and start voicing those phrases in Thai.
Additionally, you can improve your knowledge of Thai by watching Thai movies or reading books in Thai. Although most Thai shows are in the standard Thai dialect, you can also get exposed to other common Thai accents and dialects.
Watching Thai movies is an interesting way to improve your Thai pronunciation skills as well as your vocabulary. Although it may take a while to become fluent in Thai, don't be scared to make mistakes as it's part of the learning process.
How Can I Memorize the Thai Alphabet?
The Thai alphabet is nothing like that of the English language. The Thai alphabet has 15 vowels symbols with 32 vowels known as สระ, Sara and 44 consonants known as พยัญชนะ, phayanchaná.
Unlike Arabic, when reading Thai, you read from left to right. Also, in Thai, you have consonants below and vowels resting on top of the consonants. While learning the Thai alphabet, you'll learn the five tones namely, rising, falling, high, mid, and low. However, there's no tone mark on the mid-tone.
Furthermore, there are some rules you're to keep in mind while learning how to speak Thai. Firstly, in Thai, there are no uppercase or lowercase letters. Also, unlike English, it doesn't require spacing and punctuation.
You can memorize the Thai alphabet with consistent practice with your private Thai tutor.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Thai Fluently?
To be fluent in Thai requires commitment on your part. To achieve a beginner level in the Thai language, you'll need to study for about 25 hours weekly for 20 weeks. It may seem like a long and tedious process but with a private tutor, it's easy.
There are some skills you need to master when striving for fluency in the Thai language. For instance, in listening, you'll need to master the following:
- Phrases people use in daily conversations.
- Short and simple sentences
- Important phrases used in social interactions.
Furthermore, an important aspect of learning Thai is how to read Thai. You should be able to do the following:
- Memorize Thai vocabulary that people use daily
- Read and understand some basic signs in Thai
- Memorize all Thai script characters
- Read and understand basic instructions and orders written in Thai
Additionally, to achieve an advanced level in Thai, you'll need to spend at least 2500 hours learning the language. This is about 25 hours a week for 100 weeks.
What are the Fastest Ways to Learn Thai?
When striving for fluency in Thai in a short period, you have to use the approach of a child. Imagine it's the only language you can speak and use it for your daily communication. Although this seems practicable, it requires that you have a native speaker around you. Thankfully, all TUTOROO Thai private tutors are native speakers.
Furthermore, the fastest way to learn Thai is through full immersion. This means you'll have to reside in a Thai-speaking community or travel to Thailand. Here are some tips to help you achieve fluency in Thai quickly.
- Listen to the news in the Thai language
- Read Thai online newspapers
- Watch Thai shows and movies
- Read books in Thai
In addition to the above tips, it's important you set goals for yourself. Your goals don't have to be big, however, they should have a time limit. Also, you can discuss your goals with your Thai private tutor.
Are There Tests to Show My Proficiency in Thai?
The Chulalongkorn University Proficiency Test of Thai as a Foreign Language is otherwise known as CU-TFL. It is Thailand's most common language examination for nonnative speakers.
It has four sections which include tests on speaking, reading, listening, and writing. Also, CU-TFL breaks down the tests into five groups: novice, intermediate, advanced, superior, and distinguished.
Can My TUTOROO Tutor Prepare Me for Thai Proficiency Tests?
TUTOROO Thai tutors are generally native speakers with firsthand knowledge of the Thai language. With most of them having certifications to prove their proficiency in Thai, it'd be easy to prepare you for Thai Proficiency Tests like CU-TFL.
Also, foreigners and international students have nothing to fear as TUTOROO Thai private tutors who are experts can better relate to your experiences. Also, they can tutor you on the four skills that will be tested during the CU-TFL test. Rather than preparing alone, having a native speaker can give you insights into what to expect when sitting for the test.
How Can I Become a TUTOROO Private Thai Tutor?
To become a private Thai tutor at TUTOROO doesn't necessarily require that you have certifications to show you're fluent in Thai. In fact, all you're required to have is the ability to teach your native tongue, which in this case is the Thai language, although our team will test your proficiency prior to onboarding you. Once you pass the test, your profile becomes visible to prospective students. See our FAQs on becoming a tutor at TUTOROO here.
You can choose to either tutor online or take one-on-one physical lessons in the city where you live. Typically, our most famous tutors earn as much as $8000 monthly. You can make tutoring on TUTOROO a steady source of income and earn as much. As long as you're available and passionate about teaching your native tongue to foreigners, you'll get your tutoring schedule full every week.
To get started, sign up here and we'll be in touch in a maximum of three working days.