Thailand is one of Asia’s and the world’s top tourist destinations. There’s no doubt that this country attracts people from all across the globe in the millions each year.
In fact, Thailand not only attracts tourists but even English teachers from other countries who want to help locals in their quest to become proficient in the English language. The country continues to have a high demand for native English speakers although it also accepts those who are not as long as they have a bachelor’s degree and appropriate TEFL credits.
Foreign teachers working in Thailand would be able to communicate better with their students if they know the local language. Fortunately, this is not a problem as there many Thai language schools available particularly in the capital Bangkok. Those committed to staying long in the country need to find time to enroll in a Thai language course. Do remember that most locals don’t speak English at all hence learning Thai will let you interact with them.
Learning Thai can be done either online or by enrolling in a school that offers real classroom instruction.
Online Learning
With an online or sometimes called distance learning program, teachers can enroll ahead of time even before they go to Thailand. This is a very convenient way of studying a new language because it allows one to learn at his own pace and time.
The online Thai language programs may vary. They can be done in group sessions or through one-on-one tutorials. The best way to learn, though, is through one-on-one instruction. Some language specialists provide tutorials using Skype.
Being a tonal language which uses a different set of alphabets, the more experienced teachers recommend a one teacher, one student tutorial. This way, the student is able to listen well and easily learn the sound, pitch and pronunciation of the Thai dialect.
Classroom Learning
Those who are staying in Bangkok for a long vacation or for work can always enroll in a Thai language school most accessible to where they may be residing. There are plenty to choose from in the capital city.
It would be a good idea to personally visit two or three schools to know their programs, schedules, school fees, class size as well as their teaching methods. Small classes may involve only two to three students. Normally, Thai nationals are the ones teaching the local language and some of them particularly those with excellent English skills may teach English as well.
Depending on one’s preference, Thai language courses are offered on a short term and long term basis. The short term regular class requires 60 hours of study which is divided into several hours per day on weekdays for a period of four weeks. There’s also a longer program that can take up to one year.
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