How to Learn Thai

Updated 28-Jun-2024

Thai language learning happens, regardless of teaching and learning methods are used. The question is which methods are more efficient and more enjoyable. As the educator Shanahan once compared teaching methods to medicine: "The iron lung is a good intervention, the polio vaccine is better".

Theories and Methods

There is nothing so useful as a good theory. They inform our research, and research-based or evidence-based teaching methods. It is they that are discounted when there is no significance or effect size in favor of the theory. There are research areas that may impact Thai language learning effectiveness, including:

  • Developmental psychology
  • Second language acquisition
  • Educational psychology
  • Linguistics (phonetics)
  • Learning to read
  • Learning to write
  • Mnemonics and memory