One of my former students, Emil Vøhlert has written an e-book called

“Thai Language. Straight To The Point”

Where he has shared tips and tricks on how to learn Thai language.

4 years of learning Thai language, including 93 lessons learning Thai with me in 2010. The e-book has boiled down to less than 40 pages.

I haven’t got a chance to review the e-book yet, but I will for sure ASAP.

Download the book here

Please feel free to give any comments and suggestions

Getting to know the author of the e-book Emil Vøhlert

Part 1 (July 2011)

Part 2 (September 2011)

Interviewed part 1(July 2011)

Interviewed part 2 (July 2011)

Interviewed part 3 (July 2011)

Emil sings Thai national anthem (blindfolded, December 2011)

Emil sings Thai mother’s day song (August 2012)

Emil lives in Hua Hin, Thailand (May 2012)

That makes “noodle” and “school” sound like “nooden” and “schoon” until we get used to the sounds.
I freely confess that we don’t have the rigid distinctions between R and L that the English do.  Fact is, we prefer not to be rigid about most things.  We can say the letters, but we’re comfortable being a little casual about them.  Every Thai can say the important word “อะไร/ à-rai” (something, what, etc) with a beautifully trilled ร/R, but when we’re talking fast and need a repeat, we’ll say อะไรนะ/à-rai ná (huh?,what was that ?) and to a foreigner it will sound a lot like อะไลนะ/à-lai ná.  It’s not because we can’t say the ร/R – we’re just comfortable and flexible.
This can lead to some สนุก/sà-nùk/fun.  Ask any Thai person you know to say “library” and see if you can hear the different between “ R” and “L”.

It’s took me years to say it correctly but if I say it without thinking, I will still make the mistakes “ liblaly” lol
There’s a new stationery store sign in my town of Chiang Mai that’s getting some double takes. It says, in big letters, ล้านเครื่องเขียน/ láan krêung kǐan.  To a Thai who isn’t listening carefully will sound just like ร้านเครื่องเขียน/ráan krêung kǎan.

ร้าน/ráan means store.  เครื่อง/krêung are instruments or supplies, and เขียน/kǐan is writing, which all leads to a very ordinary name for a stationery supply house.  But /ล้าน/láan (which in casual speech sounds a lot like ráan ) means a million.  So the store’s been cleverly named A Million Writing Supplies. Most Thais won’t catch it until they look at the sign and notice the spelling. It took me a few second to figure it out and took a snap shot.

Let’s me sum it up for you,
ร้านเครื่องเขียน /ráan krêung kǎan/a stationery supply house.
ล้านเครื่องเขียน/ láan krêung kǐan/A Million Writing Supplies.
Make sense?!  pretty cleaver, isn’t it?

Fun with the written word, and yet another reason to learn to read Thai!

Don’t forget to ask your Thai friend to say “library”, let me know what you hear?

On 29 July 1962 at the Faculty of Arts, During the discussion, His Majesty urged everybody, to be aware of the proper use of the Thai language.

The king speech

“เรามีโชคดีที่มีภาษาของตนเองแต่โบราณกาล จึงสมควรอย่างยิ่งที่จะรักษาไว้ ปัญหาเฉพาะในด้านรักษาภาษานี้ก็มีหลายประการ อย่างหนึ่งต้องรักษาให้บริสุทธิ์ในทางออกเสียง คือ ให้ออกเสียงให้ถูกต้องชัดเจน อีกอย่างหนึ่งต้องรักษาให้บริสุทธิ์ในวิธีใช้ หมายความว่า วิธีใช้คำมาประกอบประโยค นับเป็นปัญหาที่สำคัญ ปัญหาที่สาม คือ ความร่ำรวยในคำของภาษาไทย ซึ่งพวกเรานึกว่าไม่ร่ำรวยพอ จึงต้องมีการบัญญัติศัพท์ใหม่มาใช้…สำหรับคำใหม่ที่ตั้งขึ้นมีความจำเป็นในทางวิชาการไม่น้อย แต่บางคำที่ง่ายๆก็ควรจะมี ควรจะใช้คำเก่าๆที่เรามีอยู่แล้ว ไม่ควรจะมาตั้งศัพท์ใหม่ให้ยุ่งยาก”

Translation

“We are fortunate that we have had our own unique language since ancient times. It should therefore be carefully preserved.  This can be accomplished in several ways.  The purity of pronunciation should be maintained with great accuracy.  Words should be used appropriately in sentences. The key issue is the richness of the Thai language.  We should not think that the Thai language is somehow inadequate and that we frequently need to create new words.  Although some new words may be necessary for technical or academic usage, most words should remain simple.  We should use the words that already exist and not add complications by creating new words.”

To recognize His Majesty’s concern for the proper use of the Thai language, National Thai Language Day has been observed since 1999.

When it’s come to Thai grammar and Thai way of like thing are quite not the same.

Like, in Thai greeting “wâi” some might think “I know how to wai , you put your hands together” Well, partly true but not that easy.

Check out how to greet like a Thai here and listen to Thai greeting podcast here

Similar

คล้าย/ kláai/ to resemble ; similar ; alike

Variation

1.คล้าย/ kláai

2.คล้ายกับ/  kláai gàp

3.คล้ายกันกับ/ kláai gan gàp

4.คล้ายคล้ายกับ/  kláai  kláai gàp

All mean “similar”

Pattern

Example

1.ภาษาไทยคล้ายภาษาลาว

2.ภาษาไทยคล้ายกับภาษาลาว

pa-să Thai kláai gàp pa-să Lao.

3.ภาษาไทยคล้ายกันกับภาษาลาว

pa-să Thai kláai gan gàp pa-să Lao.

4.ภาษาไทยคล้ายคล้ายกับภาษาลาว

pa-să Thai kláai kláai gàp pa-să Lao.

Thai language is similar to Lao language.

Note: Thai and Lao language are just similar but the same.

Note 

-คล้ายกับ/  kláai gàp

is not the same as

-คล้ายกัน/  kláai gan

คล้ายกับ/  kláai gàp+ noun,noun phase.

คล้ายกัน/  kláai gan is use at the end of sentence.

Example

1.  ภาษาไทยคล้ายกับภาษาลาว

pa-să Thai kláai gàp pa-să Lao.

Thai language is similar to Lao language.

2.ภาษาไทยกับภาษาลาวคล้ายกัน

pa-să Thai  gàp pa-să Lao คล้ายกัน

Thai language and Lao language are similar.

The same as/like

 เหมือน/ mĕuan / like ; as ; the same

Variation

1.เหมือน/mĕuan

2.เหมือนกับ/ mĕuan gàp

3.เหมือนกันกับ/mĕuan gan gàp

4.เหมือนเหมือนกับ/mĕuan mĕuan gàp

All mean “like, as, the same ”

Pattern

Example

1.บ้านคุณเหมือนบ้านผม

bâan kun mĕuan bâan pŏm

2.บ้านคุณเหมือนกับบ้านผม

bâan kun mĕuan gàp bâan pŏm

3. บ้านคุณเหมือนกันกับบ้านผม

bâan kun mĕuan gan gàp bâan pŏm

4. บ้านคุณเหมือนเหมือนกับบ้านผม

bâan kun mĕuan mĕuan gàp bâan pŏm

Your house is like/similar/as same as my house.

All 3 sentences have the same meaning.

Note 

-เหมือนกับ/mĕuan gàp

is not the same as

-เหมือนกัน/mĕuan gan

เหมือนกับ/mĕuan gàp+ noun,noun phase.

เหมือนกัน/mĕuan gan is use at the end of sentence.

Example

1. บ้านคุณเหมือนกับบ้านผม

bâan kun mĕuan gàpbâan pŏm

Your house is like my house.

2. บ้านคุณกับบ้านผมเหมือนกัน

bâan kun gàp bâan pŏm mĕuan gan

Your house and my house are the same

All other languages have slang, the same is true with Thai. Native speakers understand and know when to use it appropriately. For those who learn it as a second language, the thin line that distinguishes slang from profanity is fragile.

Awareness is extremely necessary when it come to the use of slang.

Slang สแลง is the use of informal words, phrases and expression that is used between a certain group of people or used at a specific time. It’s not considered standard in the speaker’s language or dialect.

Just to name a few examples:

Profanities (คำหยาบ: kam yàap)  , such as swearing, cursing, coarse language or simply inappropriate language, is language that is impolite or offensive in many situations.

Thai profanity words may vary according to the language of the social level and dialect. The use of words depends on the agenda and communicating parties.

Categorized such language in three levels:

Level 1

Commonly spoken but sometimes inappropriate for official communication. However, normally used by some social groups.

For example:

Level 2

Popular with a group of closed friends and found in some movies. However, it’s not appropriate for official communication.

Level 3

Not commonly used and often prohibited.

For example:

Learning the Thai language can be challenging enough, but I advise students to use slang words with awareness and caution.

Learn the proper Thai with Maanii books and stay out of trouble are my 2 cents. จริงๆ jing jing

p.s. Just for a laugh, read the funny article and learn how to pronounce the different between “to ride ” and  “poop” in Thai

Did you know??

August 12th is one of the most revered days of the year for Thai people?
Not only it’s The queen birthday but also

Thai Mother’s Day

When I was a little girl, of course I love my mom every days but Mother’s day it’s very special for Thai people. Thais even have a Mothers Day songs…2 songs actually

1. ค่าน้ำนม : kâa náam  nom : Value of Breast Milk
wanna hear this song check out womanleanthai site.

Though ‘The Value of Breast Milk’ is considered the most important and recognized song on Mother’s Day in Thailand, there is another well-known song called

2. ใครหนอ: krai nŏr : ‘Guess Who?’
which I would like to recommend to those who are learning Thai. This is to show how much Thai people place importance on their Mother’s Day.

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Since 1976  , the  National  Council  on  Social  Welfare  of  Thailand (NCSWT)  has  been organizing an activity called National Mother’s Day in which the awards will be presented to outstanding mothers – also regarded as model mothers.

In National Mother’s Day 2012, the awards will go to 214 outstanding mothers.

Furthermore, the awards will also be presented to those who have expressed their gratitude to their mothers and reciprocated with high royalty.

How to select the nominees ?

For those of you who want to be selected you must fit these criteria

1. Paying constant attention to parents and taking good care of them
2. Lightening the load of their parents’ burdens
3. Obeying the parents’ instructions
4. Adhering to moral precepts and admiring their families
5. Making good contributions and being accepted in the society

See!!! it’s not that hard…..

We all have mother..no matter what the circumstances are….
No matter how is the relationship between our mother is like..
She is still our mother…

Thai mother’s day song

When I think about my mom the first thing comes to mind is her beautiful face and her beautiful voice especially when she sing to me.

She used to be a professional singer. As you can see in the VDO, I probably got some of the talent from her more or less..

what about you?

what is the most memorable moment of your mom?

  Hey Everyone!

I’m so excited!  I just had one of my dreams come true.  I’ve wanted to talk to  Ratchanee Sripaiwan, the author of the Maanee มานี books, for as long as I can remember    and it finally happened.  I was enthralled to finally meet her.

It took almost two months to find her.  When I wasn’t having much success in my initial attempts I called the Ministry of Education.  They were very protective of her privacy and I certainly understood that.

I told the Ministry it would mean a great deal to me to meet Ms. Sripaiwan in person.  Her books inspired me as a little girl and I’m sure they inspired many other young Thai girls.  To me, Ratchanee Sripaiwan is a legend.

Even though Thai schools have stopped using the Maanee books, I use Maanee to teach foreigners to speak and read Thai.  That means the audience for  Maanee has grown beyond the borders of Thailand.  I wanted to let her know how much influence her books have had on me and other learners of the Thai language.

Finally after a great deal of prodding they put me in contact with Ratchanee Sripaiwan’s daughter-in-law.   I called her and explained my desire to interview Ms. Sripaiwan.  At first she was hesitant.  I’m sure she wanted to make sure I was genuine.  After a couple of minutes on the phone I finally found myself speaking with Ms. Sripaiwan herself!  It was such an inspiring moment.

I asked her for an interview and she said yes.  How can I possibly describe my feelings when she agreed to meet me?  I wanted to talk to her about her books and my project to translate it into English for foreign Thai language students.  But more than anything else I wanted to meet her to say hello.  She has always been one of my heroes.

The interview was very pleasant.  Her voice was sweet and kind.  She reminded me of an old time Thai teacher, which she is of course.  In fact, she is now in her ’80s!

I’d always wanted to ask her about the illustrations in Maanee  She said she commissioned an artist to do the pictures when she was writing the book.  Each picture was drawn according to her specifications and she was so happy they turned out as she envisioned them.

She was also very excited to hear about my project to translate Maanee and use it to teach foreigners about Thai language and customs.

She was so excited she showed me some original copies of the first Maanee books published, a set of 12.  Can you believe these books originally cost 4 baht each?  Now they are antiques.  To buy the whole set now would cost 6329 baht!  My jaw dropped and I wanted to cry when she signed a book and gave it me.  I felt incredibly honored.

She wanted to know how I was using the Maanee books.  I told her I was posting them on my website free for anyone to use.  They would have the original Thai words with audio available for non-speakers to hear the speech.  There would also be an English translation of the words on each page to aid foreign learners of Thai.  She was really excited to hear that.  She also told me she had heard from other teachers using the Maanee books to teach Thai overseas.

I’m still feeling over-joyed to have spent time with Ms. Sripaiwan.  I met her as a wide-eyed fan glad to meet a celebrity. She was every bit as sweet and wonderful as I had imagined. We had a great discussion about our lives and the book.  Now we’re building a friendship.  I sent her a gift after our meeting and we’ve agreed to get together again soon.

I’ve discovered Ms. Sripaiwan is a wonderful person and now she’s a valued friend.  I hope you’ll think of her each time you use Maanee to learn Thai.

Learn more about my passion for Maanee’s books

Download 12 free Maanee books at www.womenlearnthai.com

”wow, he must be a genius if he was able to learn Thai by himself after a year of reading books and listening to DVDs”.

I thought to myself, it will be very challenge to teach a student with so much experience, however when we finally met, It only took me less than 10 minutes to figure out that I would have to start from scratch, teaching him the basics just as I would with an absolute beginner.

The problem with learning Thai from a book, or a collection of DVDs, or even i-phone/-pad applications is that you don’t have anyone to help correct your pronunciation. When you learn new words from a book, you are likely to make pronunciation mistakes in the beginning, and without anyone to correct you, it is likely that you will repeat your mistakes over and over again.

We have all heard the expression “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, “ไม้อ่อนดัดง่ายไม้แก่ดัดยาก” *** this is also true when learning languages. It is actually far more difficult to teach a student that has learned to speak incorrectly than it is to teach a beginner.

This student found himself arriving in Thailand after a year of learning Thai at home from books and DVDs, and when he attempted to speak to the locals, nobody could understand him. While he had an extensive vocabulary and he knew what he wanted to say, his poor pronunciation was impossible to understand.

Thai is a tonal language, and if you make just a slight mistake with the tones it can completely change the meaning of what you are trying to say, and nobody will understand what you are talking about.
The only way to learn to speak Thai properly is to practice your pronunciation with native Thai speakers. It is easy to find people to practice with if you are living in Thailand, however if you are trying to learn Thai in your home country, you can seek help from Thai people at Thai restaurants or Thai temples. Most Thai people will be eager to help foreigners that show an interest in learning about Thai language and culture, especially Thai monks.

If you are living in the USA, you can use thebuddhagarden.com for a reference
Learning Thai online is not only possible, it is also very effective and not nearly as difficult as you might think. My method of teaching students 1 on 1, using Skype, is a great way to learn to pronounce the tones correctly. After only a few months of lessons, my students find themselves having conversations, with the ability to not only speak and understand, but also read and write.

If you are interested in learning Thai online, feel free to contact me for more details:

***ไม้อ่อนดัดง่ายไม้แก่ดัดยาก máai ón dàt ngâai máai gàe dàt yâak  means

• Transliteration: Mai on dat gnai mai gae dat yak.
• Literal: Young trees are easier to cut than aged trees.
• Meaning: You cannot teach an old dog new tricks.

One day, one of my students tried to impress me with the new word he learnt over the weekend.

He said, “You will be so proud of me, Mia….I learnt a new word last weekend”

I smiled and excited, “อะไรค่ะ??” (à-rai ká : what??)

he looked so proud and said…..

“ ผม มี แฟน “ pŏm(I : for male speaker) mee  fan (boyfriend, girlfriend) : I have a girlfriend

“เขา มี บ้าน”  kăo(he or she) mee bâan (house or home) : he/she has a house

“คุณ มี ความสุข” kun(you) mee kwaam soòk (happiness) : you have happiness (literally mean you are happy)

Then he said “I looked up more words then came up with this last sentence..actually I loved it when I was in Thailand…..ready???”

“ผม ขอบ ขี้ ช้าง” pŏm (I) chôb (to like) kêe chaáng (elephant) 

I laughed (of course not out loud) then tried to pull myself together and gently explained……

“Well, what you need in this sentence is ขี่ (kèe) with low lone…..it means to 
ride”

“BUT what you said was ขี้ (kêe) with high tone…..its changed the meaning”

He was lost for a second….I could see he was thinking very, very hard

“What you meant to say was I like to ride an elephant…right???” I said

“Yeah??????” he replied (he still did not get what was wrong)

I held back my laugh and said ”BUT what your sentence means….I like elephant Sh*t!!!! ”
(Forgive my French)

He laughed at his mistake then quickly said   “Well, I think I need more fiber”

I simply said ” Now you know why Thai pronunciation is extremely important “

Vocabulary
อะไร               à-rai              what
มี                   mee               to have or has
ชอบ               chôb              to like
แน่นอน           nâe non         absolutely, certainly
ผม                 pŏm              I (for male speaker)
แฟน               fan                boyfriend, girlfriend
เขา                kăo                he or she
บ้าน               bâan             house or home
คุณ                kun               you
ความสุข     kwaam soòk      happiness
ช้าง               chaáng          elephant
ขี่                  kée                to ride
ขี้                  kêe               shit or poop

Sentences
ผมมีแฟน               pŏm mee fan                   I have a girlfriend
เขามีบ้าน               kăo mee bâan                 he/she has a house
คุณมีความสุข         kun mee kwaam soòk      you have happiness (literally mean    you are happy)
ผมชอบขี่ช้าง          pŏm chôb kèe chaáng     I like to ride an elephant
ผมชอบขี้ช้าง          pŏm chôb kêe chaáng     I like elephant poop

ps. Thai don’t use ขี้ kêe as swear word.
FYI : Sh*t is one of my favorite swear….please dont tell my students!

Time to practice…..

The guy is ridingขี่ (kèe) an elephant..while the elephant is ขี้ (kêe) pooping