Learn Thai at ALA Language School in Bangkok

To most Western people (me included) learning Thai language seems to be a scary undertaking. Not only is Thai a tonal language which means that there are five tones, but Thai also has 44 consonants and 30 vowels which makes learning it a challenge for foreigners. However, on the level of grammar Thai seems to be simpler than most European languages like English or German since Thai has fewer grammar restrictions and exceptions. Thus, forming sentences in Thai appear to be easier and much more straightforward.

Learning Thai at Asoke Language Association

Well, let me include some of my own learning experiences with Thai language. First of all, I must admit that I’m not proficient in Thai and that I have only basic knowledge. I’m a native speaker of German and I’m also a language instructor for German and English. However, until this day I haven’t mastered Thai language. This is due to different reasons, first I was not thaught Thai as a child (meaning I didn’t grow up with Thai). When I was very small though, like four to six years old, my dad thaught me a bit of Thai. However, later we didn’t speak Thai at home at all and since I grew up in Germany there was also no urgend need to learn the language.

Welcome to ALA Asoke Language Association

So the years went by and it was until much later when I was in my early 30s that I wanted to learn some Thai. Thus, I enrolled in two courses at the community college in Hamburg, Germany. I guess I did up to level A 2. After that I didn’t continue learning Thai because I hardly ever used the language and I rarely travel to Thailand. For this reason, there was only little or no opportunity to actually speak Thai. Hence, the courses at ALA language school also sound interesting to me, if I’d decide to go to Thailand!

Classroom at ALA in Bangkok, Thailand

There are some advantages of speaking Thai as a foreigner. Firstly, you will be more accepted by Thai people if you know their language and it also help you to understand Thai culture and colloquialisms better. In this way, you will be able to understand some basic aspects of Thai culture like grengjai (being gracious). Knowing Thai it will also be easier for you to make Thai friends, to find a Thai partner and to get integrated into their community. What is more, learning Thai might also increase your chances as a foreigner to find employment in Thailand.

Learning Thai for travel and work at ALA

After all, it might not be so difficult to learn Thai language! First, it is possible to learn Thai without learning to read and write. That might be sufficient knowledge for traveling. Only in a second step, if you decide to get more into depth, you can learn the Thai alphabet. Now you may ask ‘How to learn Thai the best way?’. Well, firstly it is important to find a helpful teacher or a good language school respectively.

Learning Thai is fun at Asoke Language Association

Thus, I’d like to present you the Asoke Language Academy (ALA) located in Bangkok (Asoke/Nana). ALA is a newly established language school that focuses on helping international students learn Thai as a second language while they are in Thailand for work, play, or travel. The school offers group classes as well as private instruction which students can take advantage of.

ALA Language School Logo

The curriculum is flexible and can also be personalized for each student. In this way, it is more of a personalized learning experience. Thus, before starting a course, ALA likes to learn why the students want to learn Thai and how they intent to use the language. Hence, it is possible to personalize the students’ experience. ALA offers the most current curriculum, custom school textbooks, daily news as well as videos from the internet.

Learning Thai at ALA

What is more, ALA also offers an ED-visa course that can allow students to stay in Thailand studying Thai with the school while traveling around Thailand or visit the Bangkok area with the 6-months or 1-year programs available. This might be very valuable since it allows them to immerse themselves in the language during their learning experience.

Nice atmosphere at Asoke Language School

Finally, we may say that it is really recommendable to visit the Asoke Language Academy when you want to learn Thai in Bangkok while travelling or for work. There you have the opportunity to get a personalized curriculum as well as an ED-visa course which might be of interest to many foreigners not only from Western countries but also from Asia.