How to Learn the Thai Language in Chiang Mai
For English speakers, the Thai language may prove more difficult to learn than others because of the tonal quality of the language, which relies on rising and falling speech to denote the differences among words. This requires face-to-face instruction with an interactive teacher who can tell you precisely how to produce each sound and judge the quality of your speech. There's no better place to receive this instruction than in culturally rich Chiang Mai in Thailand.
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Instructions
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Sign up for a college course at Payap University. You can learn the language in 60-hour modules. You study with 5 to 11 classmates for three hours a day, Monday through Friday, for about a month, minus any public holidays. You then receive a certificate attesting to your skill.
You can combine your Thai language studies with a certificate in Thai and Southeast Asian Studies, which teaches you more about Thai culture and language. The school also offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees in computers, business and linguistics, which are all held in English.
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Combine learning with living at the Chiang Mai Thai Language Center, which has been recommended by "Lonely Planet" since 1996. Though classes are as small as those at the university, they are held in a relaxing atmosphere. During the course of your study, the Language Center can also arrange home stays with a Thai family in a traditional village near the city.
A home stay lets you practice your newfound skills 24 hours a day even when you are away from class. In most cases, your host family won't speak English, so you'll be forced to communicate in Thai even for such basic requests as food, water and bus trips.
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Hire a private tutor. A private lesson removes any worry about slowing down for the least accomplished learner or being left behind by faster students. On the downside, you do not have anyone at your language level with whom you can practice.
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