Can Anyone Recommend A Thai Language Workbook?

[nelson111]

I was wondering if anyone knows of some decent Thai workbooks?

I've been through the Benjawan series and my spoken Thai is fairly decent (intermediate, I reckon) but I'd like to find some workbooks to help improve my reading and writing, and to help expand my vocabulary.

I've had a look at a couple of bookshops in Chiang Mai and there's a wealth of the kind of stuff that Thai kids use to learn in school. Can anyone recommend a particular set of books?

I'm in Thailand for another 6 weeks or so then my (Thai) wife and I will be going back to England for a couple of years so I'd like to buy a bunch of books to mail over so I can keep improving the written side of things, even if my speaking gets a bit rusty.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Cheers.

[jolos]

well after u finished the benjawan beckers books for "thai for beginners", ".....intermediate" and "....advanced learners" u could use the

benjawan series "speak like a thai" volume 1 to 6

or work thru more advanced material like the books from sriwilai ponmanee "speaking thai for advance learners" and "45 thai stories"

after that try to read the thairat news online

good luck

[meadish_sweetball]

There has long been a shortage of material for intermediate learners and I have yet to see any really good books - I have to confess I have not kept track of the market for the past 3 years though, so perhaps things have changed.

If not, I would recommend Bangkok Post's online lessons with both conversations and translations of newspaper articles (scroll down to 'Focus on Thai'):

http://www.bangkokpost.com/education/index.htm

Also, Seasite is a great resource. (If you have problems with viewing the Thai in there, they have a page for downloading the correct fonts.) http://www.seasite.niu.edu:85/thai/

If you are really up to the challenge, you can try your hands on 'live' newspaper articles like jolos suggests.... but newspaper language tends to be rather heavy with slang, shorthand and jargon, so it can be challenging at first.

That being said, it is possible to get a fair idea of the contents of an article by copying and pasting the article into both www.thai2english.com and Google translate.

The text translated by Google will not necessarily make a lot of sense, but if you then proceed to look up individual words and phrases using both of these services, physical dictionaries and web forums such as Thaivisa to ask about the passages you are unsure about, you will come a long way. Of course, if your wife speaks decent English or if you understand enough Thai to receive explanations directly in Thai, she may be able to help you a great deal as well.

...and finally, Thaivisa is always here if you want to ask something or discuss what you are learning.

[kokesaat]

I was wondering if anyone knows of some decent Thai workbooks?

Cheers.

The 54 lessons, including pdf files and crystal clear audio files, at http://siamwestdc.com/thaireader-UH/index.htm work for me. It's sort of a more advanced Mary Haas series. Supposedly used (or was used) in a University of Hawaii intermediate Thai program.

[bapak]

I was wondering if anyone knows of some decent Thai workbooks?

Cheers.

The 54 lessons, including pdf files and crystal clear audio files, at http://siamwestdc.com/thaireader-UH/index.htm work for me. It's sort of a more advanced Mary Haas series. Supposedly used (or was used) in a University of Hawaii intermediate Thai program.

Have looked around to buy this with a distinct lask of success. Any suggestions?

Cheers, Bapak

[Briggsy]

The AUA books.

[meadish_sweetball]

I was wondering if anyone knows of some decent Thai workbooks?

Cheers.

The 54 lessons, including pdf files and crystal clear audio files, at http://siamwestdc.com/thaireader-UH/index.htm work for me. It's sort of a more advanced Mary Haas series. Supposedly used (or was used) in a University of Hawaii intermediate Thai program.

Have looked around to buy this with a distinct lask of success. Any suggestions?

Cheers, Bapak

If you need a physical copy I think you can contact the University of Hawaii, as it says on the website - unless you've already tried that, of course.

[bapak]

I was wondering if anyone knows of some decent Thai workbooks?

Cheers.

The 54 lessons, including pdf files and crystal clear audio files, at http://siamwestdc.com/thaireader-UH/index.htm work for me. It's sort of a more advanced Mary Haas series. Supposedly used (or was used) in a University of Hawaii intermediate Thai program.

Have looked around to buy this with a distinct lask of success. Any suggestions?

Cheers, Bapak

If you need a physical copy I think you can contact the University of Hawaii, as it says on the website - unless you've already tried that, of course.

AUA and University of Hawaii have not yet responded to inquiry. Time will tell.

Cheers, Bapak

[PawyiLee]

Thai-Isan-Lao Phrasebook with sound tracks: www.thai-isan-lao.com

[nelson111]

Thanks for the tips, people, and sorry about the delayed resonse. I went down south the day after I posted and managed to stay away from computers until today. I believe that's a personal best for me!

I'll have a proper look through when I get back up north.

Cheers.