United States Foreign Service Institute
   Thai Basic Course - Level I

Learn Thai - Speak Thai

Though it's not really necessary to get by, you will undoubtedly have an easier and more enjoyable experience in Thailand from any time you spend learning Thai. Most Thais don't expect a foreigner to be able to speak any of their language, and are often visibly surprised if you can string a few sentences together. It's also encouraging how many people will tell you that you poot tai geng (speak Thai well), no matter how limited your command of the language really is. Even with only a fairly small vocabulary, you will find it a lot easier to get discounted prices at shops and markets (rah kah poot tai dai, "Thai speaker prices) and to make friends amongst the locals.

Why You Need To Use FSI Language Programs

FSI, or the Foreign Service Institute has been producing government sponsored language programs for over forty years! Developed as a tool in training the United States Government’s top agencies, the programs expansive coverage has provided the much needed tools in educating some of today’s most esteemed government leaders. Ambassadors, Diplomats, and CIA Agents have all agreed that FSI’s programs for language learning are second to none!

FSI’s success in educating top officials and agents is now available to you! Whether you are a beginner or just brushing up, the courses offer a proven and time-tested methodology for discovering your language potential! These audio courses offer a learn at your own pace developmental system that will have you well on your way to speaking any language within weeks of purchasing your’ program!

Educators agree that FSI’s language programs provide the necessary tools in effectively educating the second language student or business professional! Whether you’re a recent high school graduate on your way to Europe or a CEO leading your company into the next great marketplace you will be amazed at how effective FSI programs are at releasing your language abilities! With just a few dedicated minutes a day you can be on your way to enjoying your new language!

About The Foreign Service Institute

As any seasoned vacationer, jet-setting businessman, soldier, diplomat or weekend warrior will tell you, traveling to a foreign country is a truly exhilarating experience. From the moment you first set foot on foreign soil, you're surrounded by a new, exotic world, full of unique sights, sounds, tastes and adventures. Your senses are in overdrive as you feel both excitement about what awaits you, and anxiety about adhering to local laws and customs. It is at this moment--when you desire to make the very most of this experience--that you realize your true barrier to this new world is not a cultural one, but rather one of basic communication. Learning the local language can be the difference between frustration and relaxation on a vacation. It can spell success or failure in a business meeting. It can help insure a safe, fulfilling and enlightening trip for virtually anyone, anywhere. The family of language courses assembled by Learn How To Speak.com is the answer.

Learn-How-To-Speak.COM has been granted exclusive access to the original language courses developed by the Foreign Service Institute the United States Government's primary institution for training diplomats and other officials for assignments in foreign countries. Now you can benefit from the very same programs that America's most distinguished foreign servants have trusted for decades.

Learn-How-To-Speak.COM's exclusive foreign language courses are designed for individuals who desire to learn, experience and enjoy foreign cultures. They are comprehensive, in-depth and most importantly, proven. If you are considering a trip to another country, aiming to strengthen business relationships with foreign counterparts, or just wanting to learn something new, then our courses are for you. Don't just be another tourist; travel with respect, style and the peace of mind that only comes from knowing you can accurately communicate in any situation.

About the Thai Language

Pronounced As: ti , formerly Siamese, member of the Tai or Thai subfamily of the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. The official language of Thailand, Thai is spoken by approximately 50 million people in Thailand, Vietnam, and the Yunnan province of China. It has several dialects. Although most of the words are monosyllables, a number of them are polysyllabic. Because there is no inflection, word order is important for showing grammatical relationships. The Thai language is also tonal, and the tones serve to distinguish meanings of words otherwise pronounced alike. There are five tones: high, middle, low, rising, and falling. Over the centuries Thai has borrowed many words from Chinese, Khmer, Pali, Sanskrit, and, more recently, from European languages such as French and English. The Thai language has its own alphabet, which ultimately goes back to a script of S India and which was adopted in the 13th cent. A.D. Thai is written from left to right.

Thai Reference Links

» U.S. State Department
» U.S. Embassy - Bangkok, Thailand
» U.S. Central Intellegence Agency - Factbook
» U.S. Department of Energy - Country Analysis

» Pimsleur Language Programs from Plurality Language