Koh Samui Thai Language Lessons

Ok let's be realistic. If you had any serious intentions about going on holiday to Thailand for two weeks and wanting to speak the language, then you would have taken lessons long before you came here! The one thing you are not going to do is to spend two weeks in a resort where everyone speaks English anyway and then go out to a language school everyday!

The Thai language is at the same time simple, very logical, easier in structure than any Latin-based languages, and yet frustratingly difficult to master!

There are no complex tenses to learn, one-tenth the vocabulary of English, no (well hardly any!) exceptions to the rule and no plural nouns. Have you ever thought that every single word in the English language has to be memorised because it has the stress on a different syllable? Well the Thai language has solved that one by firmly stressing the last syllable on every word!

But there's a snag. Due to the reduced vocabulary the Thai language uses tones, you have to learn how to sing it. Thus the word "ma"' means dog, horse or come here, depending on how you sing!  It's is hardly any wonder that Thai people sometimes screw up their faces when we try to talk to them in Thai.

The best way to learn Thai is to take a year's course back home. with conversational Thai being at the core. The next best way is to learn a few useful Thai phrases (thank you, good morning and so on) and sprinkle that in with your daily conversation when you are here. The staff at your resort will be pleased (and amused) at your efforts and will delight in helping you on your way.

But, if you are staying here for more than a week or two then you will really benefit from studying the language. There are not many language schools on Samui, but the one of note is Mind Your Language in the old monkey road in Bo Phut. Mind Your Language has it's own website and with a typically delightful Thai approach to matters, on its front page, this site will present you with the Thai translation of the proverb "nobody lifts the dog's tail when it defecates" which means "self praise is not recommended". For more useful Thai phrases, when on Samui, phone +66 (0) 7796088 (office) and +66 (0) 872846582 (mobile).