An easy to use Thai language textbook designed for either self-study or classroom use. Teaches all four language skills speaking, listening (when used in conjunction with the cassette tapes), reading and writing . Offers clear, easy, step-by-step instruction, building on what has beenpreviously learned. Used by many Thai temples in America. Recommended books to be studied along with Thai for Beginners are Thai for Travelers (a practical Thai phrase book) and Speak like a Thai series by the same author.
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About the Author
Benjawan Poomsan Becker was born in Bangkok and spent her childhood in Yasothon, a small province in Northeast Thailand. Her family is ethnic Laotian, so she grew up speaking both Thai and Lao. She graduated from Khon Kaen University in Thailand in 1990, with a B.A. in English. Benjawan gained extensive experience teaching Thai to foreigners while studying for her M.A. in Japan with the Japan-Thailand Trade Association and Berlitz Language School, and in the US with Thai temples, Stanford University and private students. She now resides in Berkeley, California where she continues to write and publish books on the Thai and Lao languages. Her books include "Thai for Beginners", "Thai for Intermediate Learners", "Thai for Advanced Readers", "Thai-English/English-Thai Dictionary for Non-Thai Speakers", "Improving Your Thai Pronunciation", "Practical Thai Conversation DVD Series", the popular "Speak Like a Thai Series" and many other titles on the Thai language.
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More About the Author
Benjawan Poomsan Becker was born in Bangkok and spent her childhood in Yasothon, a small province in Northeast Thailand. Her family is ethnic Laotian, so she grew up speaking both Thai and Lao. She recevied a B.A. in English with first class honor from Khon Kaen University, Thailand. While obtaining her M.A. in Japan, she gained extensive experience teaching Thai to foreigners at the Japan Thailand Trade Association and the Berlitz Language School. In the United States, she taught Thai language at Stanford University, at several Thai temples, and in private classes. She operated a successful Thai and Lao translation business and is a registered Thai and Lao court interpreter in the state of California. She now resides in Berkeley, California where she continues to write and publish the leading learning books on the Thai and Lao languages. Her latest book, "The Interpreter's Journal" is the recipient of the 2011 Asian Book Publishing Award for Best Book / Best Writer on Asian Socio-Economic or Media scene.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
75 of 77 people found the following review helpful
By Bruce Dailey
Format:Paperback
This book starts out at the beginning and goes through the language rather quickly building your vocabulary and getting simple phrases down. It's not really designed to just learn a few phrases that you might use on a short vacation. It's for people that are serious about learning Thai. I don't mean to say that it's a difficult book. It's not. The phrases you learn are short and simple but well thought out so you can learn to make other sentences by substituting words. There's no sense in learning at the beginning long and almost useless sentences that you don't know how to change under different circumstances.
I've spent so much money on Thai books and tapes and have been really discouraged. I started building web page that took the best parts of different books because I knew there was a better, more efficient way to learn Thai. But I found everything I wanted in this series of books. Also, there are several words like gaw and hai that are tricky to translate and it spends time explaining all their different uses.
The last part of the book has the alphabet and is taught the way Thai children learn, "Gaw gai, kaw kai, kaw kuart". I've been trying to learn it for so long but never found it on a tape. Speaking of the tape, or tapes - there are three - they do what is expected, read the vocabulary and phrases from the book. But they are great to have to drill the sounds and different tones into your head.
Lastly, the book uses good transliteration and has Thai script, which can be quite helpful to Thai people, and it clears up confusion if you're not sure exactly what sound they're making on the tape. This is besides the obvious reason, to learn how to read Thai. Oh, they focus on that too.
I don't know what else to say. It really is a must. The best.
71 of 75 people found the following review helpful
By M. Sanford
Format:Unknown Binding|Amazon Verified Purchase
First off, I want to say that I would not recommend this book for casual students, or people who want to study a bit of Thai for a holiday. This book is people who are serious about learning the Thai language correctly. (For those going on holiday, I also strongly recommend the phrase book from Lonely Planet.)
Second off, I want to say a bit about a few 1 star ratings I see. One complains that the book does not come with the tapes or a CD. Another complains that the tapes don't come with a book. Well, yes, this is true. If you want both, you buy both. What in the world does this have to do with the quality of either, and how does it justify a one star rating? It may be a legitimate complaint that buying both is too expensive (I would disagree), but these kinds of complaints are like saying that DirectTV satellite TV is awful because it does not come with a TV to watch it on.
In my opinion as a fluent Thai speaker, who has looked at many systems to learn the language, this one is the best. Here is why:
1) It has you learning to read and write right from the beginning, and if you're serious about learning Thai I cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance of this. It will aid your pronunciation and understanding to the language immensely, and in the grand scheme of learning the language, learning the writing system is actually a small part.
2) While you're getting up to speed on the writing system, it's transliteration system is there to help you, and is the best in existence. It has an extended roman alphabet to accurately and consistently represent the Thai alphabet. You need to take a bit of time to learn the system, but the payoff is you will be leaps and bounds ahead of students of other systems as far as pronunciaton goes.
3) It presents the major grammatical elements of Thai in a well pased, logical way.
4) The vocabulary building is also very good, introducing common stuctural words quickly. Vocabulary is introduced in a context so many realated words can be learned at once.
I recommend this series to anyone who has an interest in learning Thai.
Second off, I want to say a bit about a few 1 star ratings I see. One complains that the book does not come with the tapes or a CD. Another complains that the tapes don't come with a book. Well, yes, this is true. If you want both, you buy both. What in the world does this have to do with the quality of either, and how does it justify a one star rating? It may be a legitimate complaint that buying both is too expensive (I would disagree), but these kinds of complaints are like saying that DirectTV satellite TV is awful because it does not come with a TV to watch it on.
In my opinion as a fluent Thai speaker, who has looked at many systems to learn the language, this one is the best. Here is why:
1) It has you learning to read and write right from the beginning, and if you're serious about learning Thai I cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance of this. It will aid your pronunciation and understanding to the language immensely, and in the grand scheme of learning the language, learning the writing system is actually a small part.
2) While you're getting up to speed on the writing system, it's transliteration system is there to help you, and is the best in existence. It has an extended roman alphabet to accurately and consistently represent the Thai alphabet. You need to take a bit of time to learn the system, but the payoff is you will be leaps and bounds ahead of students of other systems as far as pronunciaton goes.
3) It presents the major grammatical elements of Thai in a well pased, logical way.
4) The vocabulary building is also very good, introducing common stuctural words quickly. Vocabulary is introduced in a context so many realated words can be learned at once.
I recommend this series to anyone who has an interest in learning Thai.
47 of 49 people found the following review helpful
By northwoods
Format:Paperback
My husband and I tried several Thai language courses, but found each one of them lacking in the "flow" of learning. This course offers instruction in speaking, grammar, and writing. Each lesson gives you the right amount of information to keep you challenged, but not overwhelmed. The word choices in the vocabulary and sentence exercises allow you to quickly expand your speaking ability. -- It is evident that the writer has extensive experience in teaching Thai to foreigners. -- For true beginners to Thai, the accompanying tapes are also useful. These can be ordered using the form in the back of the book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
I have decided not to study the Thai language. Therefore this book is...
I have decided not to study the Thai language. Therefore this book is uselesso fo me. I suppose the thrift shop may find a use for it.
Published 28 days ago by FANG
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is very useful for individuals who want to learn the Thai...
Thai for Beginners offers beginner Thai phrases for daily use, as well as an introduction to the Thai alphabet. It is useful for learning to read, write, and speak in Thai. Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Mayer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Big help
This book is a big help for me because I am married to a Thai woman and with this book it was great to have and read while traveling and just being at home and learning.
Published 1 month ago by Robert Jeff
1.0 out of 5 stars
A purchase going to Goodwill
Like others, I want to include that the companion lesson book is not included. Come on! Just add that to the description of this product. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jump4Fun
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very helpful
This is a very good cd to practice Thai pronunciation. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I think there should be more tracks on the cd. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Eric D. Boud
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but think hard before you buy
I've been studying Thai for a number of years now from a wide range of sources, this book being one of them. Read more
Published 3 months ago by NPF
4.0 out of 5 stars
language
i bought this thai language much cheaper then rosestone translator, save me money. so i can learn when i traveral to thailand and understand them.
Published 3 months ago by kosal hang
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good
This CD has helped me a lot learning Thai and I recomend it to anyone who wants to learn Thai.
Published 4 months ago by Gretchen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thai language
pretty good, but I did not order the CD, may be looking to purchase the CD to help with pronuciation.
Published 4 months ago by 2k1civic
3.0 out of 5 stars
works on different levels
The book works well for learning Thai, and what I like is that the book works on several different levels, so you can learn as a raw beginner or you can use this book to try to... Read more
Published 6 months ago by pmllos
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