Learn Thai with the Red Shirts…

When it comes to learning the Thai language, there is a real need for decent materials. Gaccha, an expat living in Bangkok, aims to inspire others to contribute their Thai skills towards creating the needed materials.

I met Gaccha last year when he translated and compiled a Pulp Fiction video on YouTube. He’s just released an article from Voice of America (first shared on Thaivisa.com).

Btw – For the record, I am not Red or Yellow. I am for the Thai people.

And now… over to Gaccha…

I have taken a Thai language article on Thaksin and the red shirts from Voice of America, and translated every single word(**) and transliterated all of it for maximum user advantage. There is then a Thai audio that is almost identical to the script. And there is an identical article in English. So for a one page article it is now 24 pages long.

PDF format: Red Shirts Thaksin Rally
Mp3 format: Sound file for Red Shirts Thaksin Rally
Mp3 format: Sound file for Red Repitition

I suggest the following…

Advanced level:

• Listen to the audio initially and try to catch every word.
• Check against the article.

Intermediate:

• Read the article and try to work out meanings of words that you do not recognise.
• Check these words and then read again.
• Then listen to the audio for around three sentences until your brain can instantly recognise every word.

Beginner:

• Try to read each word and check against the transliteration.
• Listen to the audio and see if you can pick up any words.
• Try to learn about 5 words and listen again to the audio.

Please note the following key:

• [G] Grammar– requires individual look up the word in a grammar book.
• (*) Word is a repeat. You failed to remember from first appearance in the article.
• // indicates this is another meaning of the word.
• / indicates this is a variation on a single meaning of word.

I have done this partially to show you all what a great idea this is and partially to persuade language publisher professionals to do the same.

(**) I have not translated what are essentially grammar points. If you don’t know these already you are probably a bit out of your depth already. Check out a beginner grammar book.

regards,
Gaccha

Enjoy…

RoboCops cover the Thai army…

Thailand’s RoboCops made an appearance on day one of the Red Shirt’s march into Bangkok. Impressed and surprised, I had Khun Pissout whip around to drive sloooowly past this Bangkok bunch.

But it wasn’t until day two, when I was dwarfed by RoboCops, that I realised just how impressive they are. And ok, sue me, but some men just look hot in uniform.

But there’s hot, and there’s hot. And after reading the Bangkok Post’s PM shielded by ‘robot cops’ article, apparently they really are hot.

‘It looks so ‘cool’, but it’s very hot and heavy,” a private at the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen area said when talking about his new anti-riot uniform.

“Yes, it’s hot and heavy at around eight to nine kilogrammes,” said one soldier.

On day three, I drove past a few RoboCops outside government buildings. But there were none (that I could find) at Phan Fa Bridge. And trust me, I looked. And looked. And looked. Nadda. I saw police, but no RoboCop army (or army of any kind).

On Day four I saw mostly a sea of red and locals cheering for the sea of red. But while there was no army, there was a scattering of police. Actually, I saw one policeman watching the parade, and two policeman putting out orange cones to guide the reds in. And that was pretty much it: Red Shirts, cheering locals, and a handful of police.

In Terry Fredrickson’s break down of the Bangkok Post article, we have this count:

The army initially bought new riot gear and uniforms for 48 companies (about 150 personnel each) at 18,000 baht a set.

About 112 well-trained companies with the “robocop” uniforms have been assigned to stand guard in Bangkok during the UDD rally.

Ok, my maths is pretty cacca, but…

112 x 150 = 16800 – the 300 RoboCops guarding Abhisit = 16500.

So, where have the rest of the RoboCops gone?

Enjoy…

Day four of the Red Shirts in Bangkok…

Enjoy…

Day three of the Red Shirts in Bangkok…

Ok, today is even more rushed than yesterday as I have company arriving any second soon. Yikes.

So here they are, the faces of day three…

Ok, my guests just walked in (they are watching me type this actually) so time to go!

EDIT: If you want to get minute-by-minute updates, follow Richard Barrow on twitter (thanks Talen :-)

Enjoy…

Day two of the Red Shirts in Bangkok…

Well. Well. I’ve had a huge splash of visitors in the past several hours. Welcome to WLT everyone.

To those coming in new, I am not a journalist. Or even a proper photographer. I’m just an expat in Bangkok who happens to have a camera. Or three.

And while I do have opinions about what is happening in Thailand, I have not studied Thai history or politics to the extent that you would listen intently to what I have to say.

What I have done is take photos of the Red Shirts gathering in Bangkok. Hundreds of photos. And a few videos.

Obviously, I cannot post all here so I’ve selected a few photos. And one video.

And here they are… the faces of day two…

Apologies, time got away from me (it’s now past midnight) so the write-up will have to come later.

Enjoy…

There be Red Shirts…

Thursday afternoon I tried to focus on a Friday post. Sigh. But I could not, would not settle. With everything going on this weekend, there was too much on my mind.

The closer the Red Shirt rallies came, the more alarming the news.

• Protesters plan to paralyse Bangkok: city could burn
• Thailand braces for massive political protests
• Petrol sales and deliveries in Bangkok suspended

Expats started phoning one another asking, ‘what do we stock up on?’ The only thing everyone agreed on was wine. Oh, and water.

Giving up on my intended Friday post, I called Khun Pissout to arrange a pickup mid-Friday. To, you know… go see what was happening.

So, armed with a couple of cameras and the Hot Spot map from ThaiVisa, off I went.

Driving around Bangkok was total bliss. No traffic. There was also a lack of Red Shirts at 11am. Instead, there was plenty of police and army dressed in their greens, getting ready for the onslaught of red.

Various government buildings were decorated in their handy red and white stripes.

Government buildings were also being tarted up with barbed wire along fence tops.

Nothing happening here…

Inside the city, I came across one Red Shirt driving by. One. But as the Red Shirts weren’t even supposed to leave their prospective homes until noon, no surprises there.

The plan (as I was told): The Red Shirts from the north were to amass in their home towns, pile into the back of pickups, and drive to another group closer to Bangkok. Talk, talk, talk. Drive to another town. Talk, talk, talk. So the lack of red in Bangkok this Friday was to be expected.

Bored with it all (and not finding out about ‘the plan’ quite yet), I drove to Ayutthaya to see the buses so kindly donated by the government to bring the Red Shirts in.

The buses are to alleviate the extra traffic from pickups coming loaded down with Red Shirts. But WHAT weekend traffic? The regular (alarming) reports from the Thai government made sure that Bangkok is dead, dead, dead.

Question: How are the hordes of Red Shirts expected to cram into seven buses? No matter. While I was there it was only the army, the police, the press, and me. No Red Shirts = no need for hundreds of buses. Yet.

And I still haven’t found out if anyone got on those buses. The jokes going around giggled about where the Thai government would take the Reds getting on buses. In circles? They were not sure (but they had a grand time with the chortles).

On the main roads coming back into Bangkok, posts were manned by even more army and police.

Some included rows of men kitted out in riot gear.

Once back in Bangkok, Red Shirts starting appearing under trees.

And just like before, the sale of red t-shirts were hot, hot, hot. Khun Pissout asked if I wanted to buy a shirt for Sunday, but I declined. I’m not a migrant worker, but laws have a way of being fluid in Thailand and so I didn’t want to push it (and besides, I don’t look good in red).

Bangkok Post: Thailand will imprison and hand out heavy fines to any migrant workers who attend mass anti-government rallies in Bangkok this weekend, the labour minister said Tuesday.

Kids came along for the fun as well.

Closer to home, there they were. More Red Shirts.

And that was that (for Friday). But please stay tuned for more Red Shirts over the weekend!

Previous Red Shirt posts…

• Red Shirts Yellow Shirts or Thailand?
• Red Shirts at Victory Monument
• Happy Songkran (Red Shirts) Day

More photos can be found at Catherine Wentworth : Photography : Red Shirts.

PS: Apologies for being fast and furious with this post… more later… but gotta run as everyone was given a half day off (so time to use up all that wine ;-)

Enjoy..

When googling goes wrong…

Before I head out into Thailand, I learn what I can about my target subject. It usually works a charm, but this time my googling ended with a FAIL.

You see, finding outdated(?) information about the Joe Louis Thai Puppet Theatre set my heart on a traditional puppet show with… well… why don’t I just tell you what happened…

The Joe Louis Thai puppet theatre in Suan Lum Night Bazaar…

After visiting the workplace and home of a Thai puppeteer (post still to come), I started researching live puppet shows. It didn’t take long to suss that the top billing in Bangkok went to the Joe Louis Thai Puppet Theatre.

Hun Lakorn Lek ( Joe Louis), Sakorn Natasilp Troupe: In 1996, the Commission for National Culture nominated Sakorn for the title of National Artist (Performing Arts Category: Small Theatrical Puppetry). This nomination was made in the name of His Majesty the King, in whose name the honorific title of National Artist was bestowed.

This recognition enabled Sakorn and his children to raise enough money to open a small puppet theatre near their home in Nontaburi province. The theater was called the Joe Louis Theater. In May 2002, the theater was moved to its present and more central location at the Suan Lum Night Bazaar in Bangkok.

Right away my research fell flat. Why? For starters, because the information on TAT’s website (Thai Tourism), led me to believe that…

A visit to the theatre also includes an opportunity to witness the painstaking process of crafting a Thai traditional mask known as the Hua Khon, as taught by venerable artist Joe Louis to his students.

Before the performance starts, Joe Louis staff will take guests on a “Joe Louis Cultural Tour” featuring the “Puppet Gallery”, an exhibition on the history of Hun Lakhon Lek puppets and the theatre, puppet- making demonstration and the art of controlling the puppet.

And this video only reinforced it…

Wanting to know more (and because the theatre’s online ticket purchasing didn’t work), I contacted them via email. Nothing. Nadda. No reply. Darn. I do know better (I should have called instead).

No matter. After reading the below instructions from yet another website extolling the magnificent extras, I did what was suggested. I arrived early.

Thaizer.com: Arriving early enables visitors to go on a tour of the theatre and see how the puppets are made and witness a demonstration of how they are manipulated in the performance.

So there I was at Suan Lum Night Bazaar, all set for a fabulous traditional Thai puppet experience. Early. Yet ten minutes after getting in a line of two, I’m still behind a lady all upset about Thai double pricing.

Thai price: 400 baht
Expat price: 900 baht

Some expats resent the double pricing, but I can’t be bothered getting fussed (especially if a show/event it worth it). If I don’t want to pay double, I don’t go. Simple. For instance, I wouldn’t pay OTT to see a few fish at Siam Ocean World, but traditional puppets (for me) do have a pull.

Also, I was looking at it this way: 900 baht included an evening of Thai traditional puppetry, with a cultural tour showing how the masks are made, and how the puppets are manipulated. All with a bit of history thrown in. Nice.

Ticket finally in hand, I asked the staff where to go next. To, you know, attend the promised traditional mask making demonstration and cultural tour.

But the staff did not know what I was on about. Were they new hires? I don’t know. But I asked the same question in many ways, receiving the same answer. Nadda. Never heard of it. Not an option.

So, with time to waste, I wandered around the bazaar. And wandered, and wandered, and wandered, until it was almost time for the show. Once back in the theatre, I drifted around the ground floor, enjoying the puppets behind glass. That over with (and nothing else to do), I headed upstairs to my seat.

The light dimmed, and videos of the puppets came on. One on each side of the stage.

Darn. Compared to expectations due to my failed google abilities – a traditional Thai puppet making experience – getting videos instead was disappointing.

(see what I mean?)

But when the traditional Thai puppet dancers finally came out, I was chuffed. Immensely. The talented dancers wove in and out, three to a puppet. It was a wonderful/superb/exciting/wickedly fabulous presentation. And the performing puppeteers dancing with the traditional Thai puppets were just as promised. Amazing.

If pressed to share a preference between the puppet shows I’ve seen in my travels and these, the traditional Thai puppets would be it. No contest.

But… At the Joe Louis theatre, there are only a handful of traditional dances. The rest of the time is taken up by the story of Joe Louis’ life, as well as puppets created in the likeness of two western rock singers. And as I was there for the traditional Thai puppets, I felt that the unexpected extras took up too much time. I wanted the other puppets back.

And here’s another thing… perhaps minor…

When you are not being educated about Joe’s life, the disturbingly lifelike, life-sized puppet of the long dead puppeteer is left sitting on the side of the stage. In a wheelchair.

It was a bit macabre for my tastes, especially when my attention was (at times) drawn away from middle stage (where all of the action was going on), to the Joe Louis puppet moving his wheelchair around.

The show finished with a dancing, singing, Micheal Jackson puppet. And one other (who was that women?)

Note: Others in the audience raved about Micheal Jackson and what’s her name, so that section of the performance was not a loss for many (most?) And perhaps, just me. Did anyone here see the show? If so, what did you think?

Awhile later I discussed the show with a friend who had attended with (I believe) Joe Louis’s son gracing the stage. There, Joe’s son explained that he wanted to put his personal mark on the show by modernising the performance. Hence, the additional puppets: Joe Louis in a wheelchair, Micheal Jackson, and her who has not been named.

Fair enough. He’s had a lifetime of tradition and now wants to move on. And hey, maybe parts of Thailand would prefer to move on too?

Soooooooooo… I guess my next project will focus on finding traditional Thai puppets. On their own.

Only this time, I’ll do a better job of researching.

Wish me luck? Or even… help point the way?

Joe Louis Thai puppet resources…

You can attend the puppet show at:

• Suan Lum Night Bazaar: Naatayasala (Joe Louis) Theater
• King Power: Aksra Hoon Lakorn Lek Thai puppet show.

Other resources:

• Wikipedia: Sakorn Yang-keawsot
• Bangkok Insights: Joe Louis Puppet Show, Hoon Lakon Lek
• Thaizer.com: Joe Louis Puppet Theatre, Bangkok
• ThaiGuidebook.com: Joe Louis Traditional Thai Puppet Theatre

PS: A special thanks goes to my friend Kate for the photography.

Enjoy…

Tip Number 1: Take your time, enjoy your studies…

“Why does it have to be sooooooo hard?”
“Why does it have to take sooooooo long?”

Maybe we need a little attitude adjustment…? Maybe we need to listen more carefully…? Most of us do have nearly excellent hearing skills for normal conversational volume… BUT, most of us have very POOR LISTENING SKILLS for normal conversations… Just think of the last time you “nodded” your way through a conversation with a friend… But do we actually practice LISTENING???

Listening is the “hardest” part.
Get used to it.
Enjoy it.
LOVE IT.
GIVE yourself points for perfect listening scores.
Aim HIGH.
LISTEN AGAIN.
Play it again Sam.

Pud eek krang na krab?
Kawb khun mag krab!

Kaw tod na… Pud mai na krab?

Why is everyone so surprised that learning a new language is going to take you some time??? Such an attitude is really, really silly ~ if you think about it for any amount of time at all…

Come on! How long does it take for a young tike to learn English or their native language?

The Answer is: YEARS! So plan on putting some time in…
(Unless, of course, you are a super-genius listener and learner – 555)

Tip Number 2: Have fun – why be boring???…

Need I explain more?

Tip Number 3: Do it with others…

Socially mediated learning (See Lev Vygotsky)

Have FUN WITH FRIENDS – WHY BE BORING??? EEK KRANG – once again…

Tip Number 4: Explore different parts of your personality in your Thai learning (or any language learning)…

For example, do you have a Thai personality and a Farang personality???

How about different personas in your larger personality?

You are what you express… Do not limit yourself to “just one” way of expressing yourself…

Tip Number 5: Learn to play in your new language…

Tell jokes; play the “dting dtong”
Be “baa-baa baw-baw”
Act a little crazy; be childish; be adolescent AND be an adult!

Tip Number 6: Be creative, write songs, make up poems; be emotional in your learning…

Argue with yourself in Thai. Dream in Thai. Tell stories to yourself in Thai. Sing Thai songs. Do you know at least a couple of songs by Pi Bird?

This ain’t all just “book learning” baby!

Paying attention
Is something to mention
When you’re in dissension
Of your reality!

Be like a Buddha
And please use your noodle
Don’t disagree with the
Sights that you see!

Your investigation
Stokes your imagination
Your appreciation
Gives a kinder reality!

© 2001-2009 Daniel Murphy
4/7/01, 4:44 am on Waisok, Buddha’s Birthday

Tip Number 7: Makes lots of different kinds of friends…

Diversify! Sure BG, good, maw nuad, fine, students, good, neighbors EVEN BETTER… Be willing to make a fool of yourself, sometimes… Be a sport, have fun with it, mate!

LET GO OF YOUR EGO!!! Let GO of your MISCONCEPTIONS OF YOUR OWN LIMITATIONS!!! YES, that is RIGHT! LET GO OF YOUR misconception that you are doomed to failure…

Make friends with nice people… Yes, everyone wants to be respected and appreciated… Are your best friends and best Thai teachers loving and kind???

Yes, all of it can be done!

Daniel T. Murphy, Ph.D.
Facebook: Daniel Murphy

Talking Thai on the telephone…

It probably took me ten years before I could understand anything anyone said on the telephone here in Thailand. It’s not the language. My wife had the same problem in English when she got to America. It is just really hard dealing with a disembodied voice and not seeing the person who is talking. We quickly realize how important body posture, facial expressions, and mouth movements are when we are talking to someone on the phone, especially in a foreign language.

One way to make things easier is to be able to use telephone-specific speech correctly. Every language has its own special telephone phrases. Below are some useful Thai phone words and phrases.

Note: Thai ending particles or หางเสียง /hăang sĭang/ (e.g. ครับ/คะ /kráp/ká/) are very important in everyday life and even more so over the telephone. I have even heard someone comment on the undesirability of a person because they didn’t use หางเสียง /hăang sĭang/ appropriately. When it comes to telephone conversations, especially when we are talking to someone on the other end of the line who we may not know, you can never overuse หางเสียง /hăang sĭang/. The more the better. Never underestimate the importance of Thai ending particles; try to make liberal use of them in any telephone conversations we have.

Saying Hello…

Thais will typically answer the phone with สวัสดีครับ /sà-wàt-dee kráp/. But occasionally they will use the English loan word ฮัลโล /ha-loh/. As native English speakers, we usually answer the phone in Thailand simply by saying “Hello”. As innocent as this may be it can lead to some problems.

If you answer with “Hello” the caller will almost invariably know that you are not a native Thai speaker no matter how good your Thai pronunciation is. I am always a bit disgruntled when I answer the telephone and the caller knows immediately that I am not a native speaker. I mean, I work really hard at my pronunciation and I have only said one word, “hello”. How do they know? Well, it turns out that a Thai “hello” (and this is officially a Thai word now and can be found in the dictionary) and an English “hello” are different animals.

When I answer the phone with “Hello”, often the person calling will stutter and try to speak English to me, or they sometimes hang up altogether.

Here is how that kind of conversation usually goes (taken from an actual conversation I had just this morning). You may have encountered something similar.

Telephone: Ring
Me: Hello.
Caller: (after hesitating) ฮัลโล /ha-loh/.
Me: Hello?
Caller: (longer hesitation) ฮัลโล /ha-loh/.
Me: Hello!
Caller: Hangs up.

What’s the story? I think I have discovered the reason. Native speakers of English usually say the word “hello” like this, /hel lôw/, stressing the second syllable which makes it sound like a falling tone. The Thai way to say “hello” is ฮัลโล /hel loh/ where both syllables have a mid tone. I have even heard this word used with a rising tone and an elongated vowel on the second syllable. Also, the English “hello” ends with a “w” sound. The Thai “hello” has a more elongated second syllable with maybe a hint of an “h” at the end.

So you see, when a native English speaker says “hello” in Thai we are usually using the incorrect tone and sometimes even an incorrect ending sound. Since the caller often doesn’t want to hassle with speaking to a foreigner over the phone they just hang up. Now I stick with สวัสดีครับ /sà-wàt-dee kráp/ when I answer the phone.

Typical telephone-specific speech situations…

May I speak to…
ขอพูดกับ… ครับ /kŏr pôot gàp… kráp/

I would like to speak with …
ผมอยากจะพูดกับ… ครับ /pŏm yàak jà pôot gàp… kráp/

Who is this.
นี่ใครพูดครับ /nêe krai pôot kráp/

This is…
นี่…พูด ครับ /nêe… pôot kráp/

Hold on a minute.
โปรดถือสายไว้สักครู่ครับ /bpròht tĕu săai wái sàk krô kráp/

One minute please.
กรุณารอสักครู่ครับ /gà-rú-naa ror sàk krô kráp/

When will he be back?
จะเข้ามาเมื่อไรครับ /jà kâo maa mêua-rai kráp/

He’ll be right here.
เดี๋ยวมาครับ /dĭeow maa kráp/

Voice mail (message)
ข้อความ /kôr kwaam/

Can I leave a message?
ขอฝากข้อความครับ /kŏr fàak kôr kwaam kráp/

Would you like to leave a message?
จะฝากข้อความไหมคะ /jà fàak kôr kwaam măI ká/

Please leave a message.
กรุณาฝากข้อความคะ /gà-rú-naa fàak kôr kwaam ká/

How may I help you?
ให้รับใช้อะไรคะ /hâi ráp chái à-rai ká/

I am sorry. Mr. Wallace is not available.
ขอโทษค่ะ Mr. Wallace ไม่อยู่ค่ะ /kŏr tôht ká/ Mr. Wallace /mâi yòo ká/

Put you through, connect you.
ต่อให้ /dtòr hâi/

I will call you back.
จะโทรมาใหม่ค่ะ /jà toh maa mài kâ/

Extension 411.
ต่อ 411 /dtòr 411/

I’ll fax you.
ดิฉันจะส่งแฟกซ์เอกสาร /dì-chăn jà sòng fâek àyk-gà-săan/

Hugh Leong
Retire 2 Thailand
Retire 2 Thailand: Blog

Learning the Thai language with Benjawan…

It is an undisputed fact that Benjawan Poomsan Becker of Paiboon Publishing is the top producer of Thai language products.

With that jewel in mind… while I was working on the Benjawan Poomsan Becker Interview, I came up with a way to show just how proliferate she is.

Not only would I list each of her language courses, but I would share the details of each product. Most important? The table of contents and vocabulary count.

Vocabulary count is a popular way of keeping score. I don’t do it, but many language learners do. And when I contacted Benjawan about the vocab count in some of her courses, she kindly obliged (thanks Benjawan!)

A special thanks also goes to Amy Praphantanathorn from Expat Women in Thailand, for helping me fill in the information on the courses I don’t have: Thai for Lovers and Thai for Kids.

Products from Paiboon Publishing…

Benjawan is constantly adding new products; below is what she has so far. And when her new products hit the market, I will edit them in too (foo foo to the ‘no editing of blog posts’ rule).

Thai for Beginners

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 1995
Pages: 262
Size:8-1/4 x 5-3/4 x 5/8″
Sound files: CD
Vocabulary: 880 vocabulary words + sentences
Dictionary: No

Overview: Thai for Beginners teaches speaking, listening, reading and writing at the beginner level.

Table of contents:

• Guide to Pronunciation
• Lesson 1: Greetings; polite particles; yes-no questions; personal pronouns; cardinal and ordinal numbers; the Thai writing system; consonant classes; determining tones in written Thai; middle consonants; long vowels; tone marks
• Lesson 2: bpen, yuu (to be); more vowels; live and dead syllables; tone rules for middle consonants
• Lesson 3: Colours; ja (future tense); daai (can) more vowels; complex vowels; final consonants; seven vowels that change their forms; tone rules for middle consonants (cont.)
• Lesson 4: Telling time; high consonants; tone rules for high consonants
• Lesson 5: Days of the week; months; tone marks with high consonants; low consonants introduced
• Lesson 6: ao, yaak (to want); gamlang (to be …ing); tone rules for low consonants
• Lesson 7: dai-yen (to hear); jam (to remember); noon-lap (to fall asleep); moong (to look); tone rules for low consonants (cont.)
• Lesson 8: Body parts; everyday life’ special )))); silent hhhh
• Lesson 9: Family and kinship terms; occupations; animals; how to use ddddd; other features of written Thai
• Lesson 10: Comparisons; adjectives; classifiers
• Appendix 1: Summary of the Thai writing system
• Appendix 2: Test and writing exercises

Purchase: Thai for Beginners

Thai for Beginners Software

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2003
Note: Microsoft Vista and XP only
Size: 4-5/8″ x 3-1/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: 3,000+ recordings (male and female)
Vocabulary: 880 vocabulary words + sentences
Dictionary: No

Overview: The contents are similar to the book version, only with interactive exercises.

Purchase: Thai for Beginners Software

Thai for Intermediate Learners

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2007
Pages: 211
Size: 8-1/4″ x 5-3/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: 2 CDs
Vocabulary: 1200 vocabulary words + sentences
Dictionary: No

Overview: Teaches vocabulary, sentence structure, and conversation.

Table of contents:

• Guide to Pronunciation
• Lesson 1: Directions; Thai place names; public holidays; provinces
• Lesson 2: More directions; Bangkok place names
• Lesson 3: Using
• Lesson 4: using
• Lesson 5: Using
• Lesson 6: Using
• Lesson 7: Thai names; food; desserts; English names used in Thai
• Lesson 8: More about kinship terms; pronouns
• Lesson 9: Using particles
• Lesson 10: The twelve year cycle; words from English
• English translation
• Test answers

Purchase: Thai for Intermediate Learners

Thai for Advanced Readers

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2000
Pages: 208
Size: 8-1/4″ x 5-3/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: 2 CDs
Vocabulary: 950 vocabulary words + sentences
Dictionary: No

Overview: Thai reader with vocabulary list, definitions, and pronunciation guide.

Table of contents:

• Guide to pronunciation
• Part one: Passages in Thai: My family, When I was a student, Thai food, Thai geography, My hobbies, Songkran Day, My university life, Muay Thai, religions in Thailand, Loy Kranthong Day, Thai language, climate of Thailand, Hill tribes of Thailand, education in Thailand, Thai people in America, a brief history of Thailand
• Part two: Practice reading the newspapers: Brief news, world news, horoscope, help wanted, advertisement
• Part three: Miscellaneous Thai: Thai National Anthem, Buddhist prayer, tongue twister, Ai Mai Muan, Thai songs, Thai proverbs, Provinces in Thailand, the ten Asean countries
• References

Purchase: Thai for Advanced Readers

Practical Thai Conversation 1

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2005
Pages: 81
Size: 7-1/2″ x 5-3/4″ x 1/2″ (hard case with booklet)
Sound and video files: 1 DVD
Vocabulary: 430 vocabulary words
Dictionary: No

Overview: See and hear Thai conversations. You are given a choice of subtitles: English, transliteration, and Thai.

Table of contents:

• Guide to pronunciation
• Conversation 1: Greetings and introductions
• Conversation 2: Asking for directions and taking a taxi
• Conversation 3: Asking for directions II
• Conversation 4: Asking for personal information
• Conversation 5: In a Thai restaurant
• Conversation 6: On the telephone
• Conversation 7: Shopping
• Conversation 8: In a hotel
• Conversation 9: Talking about yourself
• Conversation 10: Talking about Thailand

Purchase: Practical Thai Conversation 1

Practical Thai Conversation 2

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2006
Pages: 52
Size: 7-1/2″ x 5-3/4″ x 1/2″ (hard case with booklet)
Sound files: 1 DVD
Vocabulary: 211 vocabulary words
Dictionary: No

Overview: The conversations are targeting intermediate Thai learners. As with volume 1, there is a choice of subtitles: English, transliteration, and Thai.

Table of contents:

• Guide to pronunciation
• Conversation 1: At the bank
• Conversation 2: Making phone calls
• Conversation 3: Talking about work
• Conversation 4: At the tailor
• Conversation 5: Directing the secretary
• Conversation 6: At the doctor’s clinic
• Conversation 7: Looking for a place to rent
• Conversation 8: Describing people
• Conversation 9: Going to Songkran Festival

Purchase: Practical Thai Conversation 2

Speak Like a Thai 1

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2007
Pages: 80
Size: 7-1/2″ x 5-3/4″ x 1/2″ (hard case with booklet)
Sound files: 1 CD
Vocabulary: 500 key words and phrases
Dictionary: No

Overview: Basic and common expressions in Thai.

Table of contents:

• About the book
• Politeness
• Characteristics of the Thai language
• Guide to pronunciation
• 500 Thai phrases

Purchase: Speak Like a Thai 1

Speak Like a Thai 2

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2006
Pages: 52
Size:4-5/8″ x 3-1/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: CD
Vocabulary: 250 key words and phrases.
Dictionary: No

Overview: Thai slang and idioms. Includes 320 bonus words (not recorded on the audio CD).

Table of contents:

• Introduction
• Guide to pronunciation
• Practical Thai conversation

Purchase: Speak Like a Thai 2

Speak Like a Thai 3

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date:
Pages:
Size:4-5/8″ x 3-1/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: CD
Vocabulary: 400 key words and phrases
Dictionary: No

Overview: Common Thai proverbs and sayings.

Table of contents:

• Introduction
• Guide to pronunciation
• Thai proverbs and sayings

Purchase: Speak Like a Thai 3

Speak Like a Thai 4

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2008
Pages: 89
Size:4-5/8″ x 3-1/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: CD
Vocabulary: 300 key words and phrases
Dictionary: No

Overview: Thai heart words. Includes 160 bonus words (not recorded on the audio CD).

Table of contents:

• Guide to pronunciation
• 300 Thai heart words
• Featured ‘jai’ word
• Review of Thai phrases, slang and sayings with the word ‘jai’
• Other Thai phrases and sayings with ‘jai’
• Thai names with the word ‘jai’
• Thai last names with the word ‘jai’
• Thai songs with the word ‘jai’

Purchase: Speak Like a Thai 4

Speak Like a Thai 5

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date:
Pages:
Size: 4-5/8″ x 3-1/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: CD
Vocabulary: 500 key words and phrases
Dictionary: No

Overview: Phrase book for the Northeastern (Issan) dialect. Includes 190 bonus words (not recorded on the audio CD).

Table of contents:

• Introduction
• Guide to pronunciation
• Northeastern dialect
• Bonus Issan words

Purchase: Speak Like a Thai 5

Speak Like a Thai 6

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2009
Pages: 83
Size: 4-5/8″ x 3-1/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: CD
Vocabulary: 525 key words and phrases
Dictionary: No

Overview: Twenty real-life conversations.

Table of contents:

• Introduction
• Greetings and introduction
• Directions 1
• Directions 2
• Personal information
• Restaurant
• Wrong number
• The telephone
• Shopping
• Seeing a friend
• Describing yourself
• Thailand
• Directing your secretary
• The bank
• Small talk
• Teaching English
• Doctor’s office
• Internet shop
• Describing people
• The election
• The museum
• Good luck

Purchase: Speak Like a Thai 6

Thai for Kids

Authors: Benjawan Poomsan Becker and Naam Sheakley
Date: 2008
Pages: 51
Size: 4-5/8″ x 3-1/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: Yes
Vocabulary: 626 vocabulary words
Dictionary: No

Overview: The twelve lessons teach Thai language and culture. It is a perfect gift for a Thai child living overseas.

Table of contents:

• At Koon Ta’s and Koon Yai’s house
• Homecoming party
• The bedroom
• The bathroom
• The kitchen
• At a Thai farm
• Counting in Thai
• Colours
• Klong Tom flea market
• Clothing
• Fruit and vegetables
• At school

Purchase: Thai for Kids

Thai for Lovers

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 1999 (an update is in the works)
Pages: 190
Size: 4-5/8″ x 3-1/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: 2 CD’s
Vocabulary: 1500 vocabulary words + sentences
Dictionary: No

Overview: A language guide to romance in Thailand.

Table of contents:

• Guide to Pronunciation
• Tips on Using This Book
• Chapter 1: Greetings
• Chapter 2: General Conversation
• Chapter 3: Courting
• Chapter 4: Romantic Conversation
• Chapter 5: Making Love
• Chapter 6: Love Letters
• Chapter 7: Getting Married
• Chapter 8: Breaking Up
• Chapter 9: Night Life

Purchase: Thai for Lovers

Thai for Gay Tourists

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2001 (an update is planned)
Pages: 220
Size: 4-5/8″ x 3-1/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: CD
Vocabulary: 1500 vocabulary words + sentences
Dictionary: No

Overview: A fun way to communicate. Includes slang and phrases.

Table of contents:

• Guide to Pronunciation
• Tips on using this book
• Characteristics of the Thai language
• Thaiglish
• Part One – Instant Thai Language
• Useful phrases
• Expressing basic needs and feelings
• In a hotel
• in a restaurant
• Getting around
• Shopping
• Making friends
• Romantic talk
• Breaking up
• Quick facts about Thailand
• Part Two – Thai gay culture
• How can I obtain information?
• Where can I meet gay men?
• Visit gay bars
• In a gay bar
• Gay talk
• In the bedroom
• Inoffensive language
• Offensive vocabulary
• Other useful words
• Gay words
• Slang used by Thai gays
• Thai gay stories

Purchase: Thai for Gay Tourists

Improving Your Thai Pronunciation

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2003
Pages: 44
Size: 4-5/8″ x 3-1/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: CD
Vocabulary: 94 vocabulary words
Dictionary: No

Overview: This book is guaranteed to help improve your listening and pronunciation skills. The low number of new vocabulary words in this product assumes the student already knows vocabulary words and is seeking to improve their pronunciation skills.

Table of contents:

• Guide to pronunciation
• The five tones
• The vowels
• The consonants
• Clusters
• Confusing words
• Poly-syllabic words
• Thai intonation
• Tongue twisters
• Thaiglish

Purchase: Improving your Thai pronunciation

Thai for Travellers Phrase book

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2006
Pages: 182
Size: 4-5/8″ x 3-1/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: CD
Vocabulary: 1450 vocabulary words
Dictionary: A vocabulary in the back of the book is arranged by subject.

Overview: Phrase book with sound files.

Table of contents:

• Introduction
• Guide to pronunciation
• Greetings and introductions
• Often used phrases
• Language difficulties
• At the hotel
• Getting around
• Shopping
• Services
• Phone conversations
• Food and drinks
• Health matters
• Emergencies
• Small talk
• Love and romance
• Vocabulary

Purchase: Thai for Travellers Phrase book

Three-way Thai-English Dictionary

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker and Chris Pirazzi
Date: 2009
Pages: 982
Size: 5-4/4″ x 4-1/4″ x 1-1/2″
Sound files: No
Vocabulary: 26,000+
Dictionary: :-)

Overview: Three way dictionary Thai-English English-Thai English-Thai transliteration

Table of contents:

• How to use the dictionary
• Speaking and understanding Thai
• Reading and writing Thai
• Section one: English
• Section two: Thai
• Section three: Thai sound
• Appendices
• Quick reference

Purchase: Three Way Thai-English Dictionary

Thai-English English-Thai Dictionary

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2002
Pages: 658
Size: 5-3/4″ x 4″ x 1″
Sound files: No
Vocabulary: 16,000+
Dictionary: :-)

Overview: Dictionary with transliteration for non-Thai speakers.

Table of contents:

• Guide to pronunciation
• Thai writing system
• Dictionary abbreviations
• Section one: English-phonetic-Thai
• Section two: Phonetic-English-Thai
• Appendix

Purchase: Thai-English English-Thai Dictionary

Thai Hit Songs Vol. 1

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2009
Pages: 96
Size: 4.8″ x 7.1″
Sound files: Yes
Vocabulary: Unknown
Dictionary: No

Overview: The idea is to learn Thai language while singing songs.

Table of contents:

• Thailand fever
• Bangkok
• Thai proverbs
• I My Muan
• Thai slang
• Learning Issan
• Thai consonants
• Heart words
• Abbreviations
• Abbreviations song explained
• Bangkok music
• Thailand fever

Purchase: Thai Hit Songs Vol. 1

Thai-English Dictionary Palm OS

Author: Benjawan Poomsan Becker
Date: 2005
Size: 4-5/8″ x 3-1/4″ x 1/2″
Sound files: No
Vocabulary: 21,000+
Dictionary: :-)

Overview: Thai dictionary with Thai script, transliteration and English. For more detail, check out the review at Word in the Hand.

Purchase: Thai-English Dictionary (Palm OS)

Resources…

Study Aids for the “Thai for Beginners” books

PS: There are no affiliate codes attached to this post.

Enjoy…