The Th Sound

[HeijoshinCool]

I've had great success with using 'A' to teach the 'H' sound, correcting years of Thai "English teachers" teaching them "a-choo", but I've no luck whatsoever with the 'TH' sound.

Any brilliant suggestions?

[skybluestu]

I drew a picture showing the tongue between the teeth, it was the only thing that worked but they still foundd it difficult. I then had them practice saying the, this, that, these, those and 'I am thirty and thirsty' but most still said 'I am dirty and dirsty'. Very difficult!

[ccarbaugh]

Also, I drew a picture with the tongue actually coming up in front of the top front teeth. Everytime I hear "Da car,"... I assign them 1,000 times (2-300/day,) of "the, those, that, with, them, this, others, health,.... It takes some time for them to strengthen the tongue muscles!

[ThaiRich]

I use another method. I have them say the Thai word for market (thalat), in this example they speak the TH perfectly. Then I write many words with TH in them on the blackboard, have them say the first syllable of thalat, then I have them read the word with the TH sound. Works like a charm. The English TH sound can be duplicated in Thai.

[puchooay]

I use another method. I have them say the Thai word for market (thalat), in this example they speak the TH perfectly. Then I write many words with TH in them on the blackboard, have them say the first syllable of thalat, then I have them read the word with the TH sound. Works like a charm. The English TH sound can be duplicated in Thai.

The Thai word "talat" does not have an "h" in it. The first sound is half a "t" and half a "d". There is not a TH sound in Thai language.

Thai people in general, are shy about sticking out their tongue. With the younger kids I ask them to pretend they are licking an ice cream. As they start to pronounce "3", for example, they all raise their clenched hands upto their mouth. The tongue comes out and the sounds are very good. It makes them laugh too, so they are not too shy about it.

[skybluestu]

I use another method. I have them say the Thai word for market (thalat), in this example they speak the TH perfectly. Then I write many words with TH in them on the blackboard, have them say the first syllable of thalat, then I have them read the word with the TH sound. Works like a charm. The English TH sound can be duplicated in Thai.

The Thai word "talat" does not have an "h" in it. The first sound is half a "t" and half a "d". There is not a TH sound in Thai language.

Thai people in general, are shy about sticking out their tongue. With the younger kids I ask them to pretend they are licking an ice cream. As they start to pronounce "3", for example, they all raise their clenched hands upto their mouth. The tongue comes out and the sounds are very good. It makes them laugh too, so they are not too shy about it.

I've never met a Thai that says thalat with a th sound for market either. Think I'll use your method if I ever have to teach the younger ones again, sounds like it could work.

[ThaiRich]

I use another method. I have them say the Thai word for market (thalat), in this example they speak the TH perfectly. Then I write many words with TH in them on the blackboard, have them say the first syllable of thalat, then I have them read the word with the TH sound. Works like a charm. The English TH sound can be duplicated in Thai.

The Thai word "talat" does not have an "h" in it. The first sound is half a "t" and half a "d". There is not a TH sound in Thai language.

Thai people in general, are shy about sticking out their tongue. With the younger kids I ask them to pretend they are licking an ice cream. As they start to pronounce "3", for example, they all raise their clenched hands upto their mouth. The tongue comes out and the sounds are very good. It makes them laugh too, so they are not too shy about it.

Maybe I am hearing wrong but I swear I hear THA-LAT. But either way it works the children learn to say three, they, the........but I like your ice cream method. I am gonna try it next week. Maybe I am hearing just the normal misuse of the sounds like I always hear the L sound for โรงเรียน and นักเรียน

[phosphorescent]

I use another method. I have them say the Thai word for market (thalat), in this example they speak the TH perfectly. Then I write many words with TH in them on the blackboard, have them say the first syllable of thalat, then I have them read the word with the TH sound. Works like a charm. The English TH sound can be duplicated in Thai.

The Thai word "talat" does not have an "h" in it. The first sound is half a "t" and half a "d". There is not a TH sound in Thai language.

Thai people in general, are shy about sticking out their tongue. With the younger kids I ask them to pretend they are licking an ice cream. As they start to pronounce "3", for example, they all raise their clenched hands upto their mouth. The tongue comes out and the sounds are very good. It makes them laugh too, so they are not too shy about it.

Maybe I am hearing wrong but I swear I hear THA-LAT. But either way it works the children learn to say three, they, the........but I like your ice cream method. I am gonna try it next week. Maybe I am hearing just the normal misuse of the sounds like I always hear the L sound for โรงเรียน and นักเรียน

The Thais pronounce โรงเรียน as longlian and นักเรียน as naklian out of sheer laziness. They all know what it should be and do pronounce 'ร'(raw-rua) correctly when they need to. 'ร' (raw-rua) sounds more like a cat purring and does not have the same sound as the 'r' we use in English.

With regards to the TH sound, I usually have the students prolong and exaggerate it in all words that have TH. They find it difficult and funny at first but after a few weeks, most will use it naturally as long as you keep on their case.

[Scott]

I hate to sound pedantic, but lets stick to English script in the thread. The Thai language is only allowed in the Thai language forum.

Sorry, and thanks.

[JennyScott]

Try placing a pen from your nose to your chin and show how when you put out your tongue it touches the pen.

[HeijoshinCool]

Th-th-thu-thanks, everyone!

I started sticking my tongue out at the kids when I first got here, whenever they said hello, teacher ( okay, not every time, of course). The Thai teachers had a fit, but now the kids are starting to reply in kind, so maybe that will help by overcoming the stigma.

The ice cream idea will be put into effect on Monday.

cyaaaa

[cewing]

Try http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/# .

Craig-Ben Ewing

[Scott]

An off-topic, unhelpful, baiting comment has been deleted.

The teaching forum is for teachers and about teaching. If you do not wish to be helpful and constructive, feel free not to post here.

[rijb]

I'm going to try the ice cream trick.

My students respond well to the following video. The /th/ sounds are at 5:45. It makes them laugh and helps them to remember.

[HeijoshinCool]

Cool, thanks again!

[SlyAnimal]

I usually, and not everyone will agree with this, simply tell them that it starts the same as Thor Montho. I've never seen it at the start of a Thai word, and it's not used a lot in the Thai signs etc which I occasionally read, so it's not a common sound (E.g. might still be difficult for them at the start of a word).

However, when I've suggested it to my students for a couple of words which they were having real trouble getting their tongues around, it seemed to work well.

Edit: After posting this, my gf informed me that it's technically Tor Monto, but when I usually hear it, it's more of a Thor Montho, and it worked when my students tried it lol.

[phuturatica]

I literally drill the -TH- sound with my students until the cows come home. Drill and repeat. I kinda stole the idea of Sister Act 2 when Whoopi Goldberg is trying to make the students sing and she has them going Lalalalaaaaa until they have it perfectly. I show them the tongue between the mouth and have them copy me and repeat. It ends up being a right laugh and the students enjoy themselves and now every time they see me they do it with a smile.

I also do the same with the -V- sound.

This works with my Mathayom students and they always do it and are getting better each time.