The Thai language is a phonetic language that has 5 tones and this can be very challenging for Westerners to master; the language has 22 consonants and, wait for it, 22 vowels! On the other hand, Thai does not have tenses as such, you denote when by using a time word such as yesterday, last week, last month or tomorrow, which does make it easier in some ways.

Here are a few tips to help you learn how to speak Thai and develop a good understanding when listening.

• Enrol in a Thai language course – Find a good Thai language school in Bangkok and enroll in a beginner’s class; coupled with lots of free practice and learning new vocabulary, your language skills will develop quickly. Google can take you to an established Thai language academy and after an initial assessment, you will be placed in the right class for your level.
• Make friends with Thai people – Nothing improves a language like free conversation and most Thais are very happy to make friends with foreigners. Using a mixture of English and Thai, you can usually make yourself understood and this is a fun way to practice speaking Thai.
• Download Thai language learning apps – There are some great Thai language learning apps that you can download and some are totally free, although they do contain a few ads. This can really help you with the tones of the language and you can practice on your own. If you are thinking of doing the MBA, click here.
• Learn to read and write – Don’t make the mistake of thinking you don’t need to learn Thai script; being a phonetic language, the vowel characters tell you the correct tone. Some people seem to have a talent for language learning, while others find it very difficult, everyone is unique. Most fluent Thai speakers learn to read and write as well as speak and this is definitely the best approach if you are serious about learning the language.
• Don’t be shy – Thais will laugh when you start to speak their language; this is something you have to get over and the sooner the better. They laugh because the tones are all wrong, so don’t take it personally; listen to how they say common words and try to repeat that sound.
• Get a Thai partner – This works well if you only speak Thai and she speaks your language, be curious when you don’t understand something. He or she would probably like to improve their English, so the system works if you stick to the process.
• Watch Thai TV – When you watch Thai TV programs, you have a visual clue to the language being spoken and this helps you to better understand the spoken language.

Simply put, the more effort you put into learning Thai, the quicker you will see results and if you are planning a holiday in the Land of Smiles, start by learning numbers and days of the week.