Thai Language and Culture for Beginners Book 1 Paperback – November 30, 2007

This book is what got me through my first year of learning Thai at Ohio University. I love everything about it and I would definitely recommend it!

I have been studying Thai language for years, but was going in circles until I found this book and was fortunate enough to take a class that used it. It’s the only book I’ve found that provides a systematic approach to learning Thai that integrates grammar and vocabulary and includes helpful cultural notes. Reviews that suggest this book is not for beginners have a point, though. Other sources are better for the basics such as learning vowels and consonants, writing the alphabet, and tone rules. However for everyday vocabulary and spoken syntax ( which is challenging for native English speakers) this is tops. Gaining access to online audios is essential for learning from this book.

Having taught Thai to heritage Thai learners and Americans for the past 15 years, this book covers both grammatical structure and usage. Along with its videos, which can easily be found and downloaded online, I believe this book is suitable for you if you have a Thai teacher helping you along and practice Thai with you. Typically, I normally have to use other books in my Thai class. However, since this book addresses grammar and usage concerns, I find myself not having to make copies of other books in my class. I highly recommend Thai Language and Culture for Beginner.

Maybe if you already have some familiarity with the Thai language this would be a pretty good lesson book, but for anyone who's starting from scratch (hence the "beginners") this book doesn't make it easy in the slightest. Pronunciation is explained in a very arcane way such that if you try to follow what they tell you vs. what's on the CD, it doesn't seem to match up in the slightest. In many example phrases, they will leave out the definitions of certain words in the "vocabulary" section so you're left to guess what the meaning of a word is (or look it up online).Speaking of the CD, it doesn't come with the book. I had to download it from a website, and not one that was sanctioned by the book either.I do like how it explains elements of Thai culture, though, and if I can get past the first section and figure out how to pronounce the English scripts that they write, I might be able to get some use out of the book.Overall, for the price, and from the perspective of a "beginner," I would recommend you look elsewhere if you need an introduction to Thai, because this book just doesn't cut it.

Both Volumes 1 and 2 writen by Ms. Yuphaphann hoonchamlong, are excellent in comparison to a growing number of Thai language instructionnal materials. As a former University if Hawaii Thai language student back in the late 1970's, I can readiily see the vast improvement made in the text books presently being used. I am eagerly awaiting to see what Ms. Yuphaphann's work books are like as they are invaluable for this type of language training. Overall my investment was well worth the price.

This book is not for the beginners. You have to be on an intermediate level to grasp what's in there. I already know the vowels and consonants in the Thai language and can read and write in the Thai language so since I'm at that level I give this book 5 stars. Better than the books I bought in Thailand!

I have been attending SEASSI at UW-Madison for the last two summers and I have been disappointed at the lack of a decent textbook provided by the Thai program. This textbook has been a great find and it is a great resource to have when studying Thai (in a formal setting or on your own). I plan on buying Book 2 to keep up with my studying!

I have no idea where to find the required CD / DVD. This is going to be a cultural study with no help learning the language.

I expected an original book, but it is reprinted, with print quality blurred, and b/w illutrations. For this price, I expected an original one.

This book is a good book for beginners learning Thai. Please note that on page 224 stories is written instead of storeys. There is also another mistake on page 152 it should read "?ìik hâa naa-thii sǎam thûm ..... I also would like to highlight that the book did not come with either CD's or DVD's and the online listening version of the song on page 154 is missing. In Unit 5 lesson 3 page 218. It should be "Bangkok is the capital of Thailand." not "Bangkok which is the capital of Thailand."

great book. can be little confusing but as posted for book 2. no cd or dvd as advertised and no instructions where to download from