People in Thailand can speak English relatively well—well, at least the people you’re likely to encounter as a tourist. Which makes sense: Anyone who depends on foreign visitors to get by needs to know how to communicate with them.
On the other hand, there’s value to having some abilities in phaasaa Thai—and I’m not just talking about “Sawasdee” and “Kob Khun.” Though of course, showing this basic of common courtesy will get you a long way.
In this post, I’ll not only continue to make the case for studying Thai. I’ll also help you decide where to learn Thai, whether or not you plan to be in Thailand soon.
Why I Finally Decided to Study Thai
When I started by search for where to study Thai, it was somewhat out of necessity. It was December 2016, you see, and Donald Trump had just been elected US president (the first time). Unlike the majority of left-leaning Americans, I was serious when I said I wanted to leave the country if that orange oaf won. When I began making plans to do so, Thailand was the only destination I seriously considered.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d need to stay in Thailand and, out of fear more than anything, did not want to risk coming in and out on a tourist visa exemption stamp a dozen (or more) times each year. As a result, I took steps to obtain a longer-term education (ED) visa, which required me to sign up for Thai lessons at a local language school. I’d always wanted to learn Thai, to be clear. It just wasn’t until I had to do that I did!
How (and Where) to Learn Thai
At a language school in Thailand
There are many language schools in Thailand, whether you’re searching for a large one or a small one, and no matter where in Thailand you want to study. All should be able to facilitate an ED visa for you, though this can require more or less legwork on your part, depending upon how helpful the staff is.
From a private Thai tutor
This can be the best option for learning Thai in Thailand if you truly want to master the language. Do keep in mind, however, that individual tutors usually can’t sponsor an ED visa for you. As a result, you’ll want to have an alternate means of being in Thailand legally for the duration of your studies.
At a university in Thailand
If you’re obtaining a degree at a Thai university (or studying abroad there on an exchange basis in conjunction with a university in your home country), you may be able to study Thai on campus. Depending on your language level, you may also be able to complete ordinary coursework in Thai, in addition to or even instead of your own language.
Using a language application
If you don’t have the funds to study Thai in Bangkok, or even to travel in Thailand, try not to worry. You can technically study Thai independently, even if doing so is challenging. Note that as of the time I’m writing this article, the world’s most popular language app (Duolingo) sadly does not offer Thai.
Dating or marrying a Thai person
Take it from someone married to a Thai: Having a Thai partner will necessitate speaking Thai a lot more! On the other hand, this can have limited utility outside of your relationship, given that you’re often speaking very informal and even broken Thai with your spouse or significant other.
Is Learning Thai Really Necessary?
Even though I’ve now spoken Thai (well, more or less) for almost a decade, I find myself amazed by how easy it is to get by entirely in English, especially on Thailand’s tourist trail. In fact, when I was first studying Thai and trying hard to get fluent, my main problem was that people would reply to me in English, even if I’d first spoken to them in Thai. It was extremely frustrating—I literally had to travel off the beaten path to practice!
Although I studied in Bangkok, I would imagine this is also the case if you’re considering studying Thai in Chiang Mai or another major city. Of course, when it comes to northern Thailand, you don’t have to go too far out into the countryside for English to be completely worthless. All of which is to say that while learning Thai isn’t necessary, it’s more helpful than you might think.
Other FAQ About Learning Thai
Is Thai an easy language to learn?
Thai is easy in some ways, namely that it doesn’t have grammar in the way we think of that. On the other hand, many foreigners find the “tones” of spoken Thai difficult to master, and have difficulty reading and writing the Thai alphabet.
Can I learn Thai with Duolingo?
Duolingo does not currently offer Thai language, though I don’t consider this a huge tragedy. While Duolingo can teach you vocabulary and help you learn basic words and phrases, I’ve never found it to be useful for achieving conversational fluency in a language.
How can I learn Thai by myself?
Thai is a difficult language to study on your own, particularly if you’ve never studied an Asian language. In particular, it can be difficult to grasp the “tones” required to pronounce and understand Thai, unless you have a human instructor (or, at least a real Thai person) to demonstrate them.
The Bottom Line
I hope you’ve now got a clearer idea of where to learn Thai—and why, if you’re still on the fence. Being able to speak Thai has many benefits, from lessening the chance that you’ll get charged the “foreigner price,” to making it easier to explore destinations in Thailand off the beaten path. If you want to stay in Thailand long-term, Thai language ability can make it easier to buy property, to get a job or even to date or marry a Thai person. Plus, it’s a fun language to speak (and to read and write, if you’re into that!). Need personalized help figuring out where and how to learn Thai? Consider enlisting professional help.
