Thai can be a difficult language to learn mainly because it is a tonal language. One word can have several different meanings depending on the tone used when speaking. Take, for instance, the word mai…depending on the tone when said it can mean: Not, new, burn, silk, and wood. In all there are five tones used in the Thai language and they are: Low tone, mid tone, high tone, rising tone, and falling tone.

Below is some guides to learn easier Thai language

1. Try to surround yourself with the language. Definitely the best solution is to go to Thailand and live there for some time.There you will be able to hear, read, speak and thus train this language 24/7. If it’s impossible get Thai TV, subscribe to Thai papers and magazines and watch Thai movies. This will speed the process of learning Thai considerably.

2. Get Thai friends. After all you want to communicate with Thai people. You can do it either personally or over the Internet. There are many social portals you can strike up new wonderful friendships while speaking and writing in Thai.

3. Try to be like a Thai person, learn what they like, what their traditions are. This will help you to understand a fascinating Thai culture and when something fascinates you – learning it and about it is a pure pleasure. Studying the Thai language is a key to understanding Thailand.

4. Study every day and repeat often what you have learned. We learn by repetition so the more you repeat the better your command of Thai will be. Even half an hour of studying and repeating each day is much better than studying 5 hours once a week.

5. Put emphasis on writing and reading. Spoken Thai is much easier so you should find time every day to practice these two skills.

6. If you don’t understand something – ask. Find Thai language discussion forums on the Internet and ask your questions there. There will be many people there that will readily help you.

7. Talk your friends into studying Thai with you or find somebody who learns it too. Studying with other people is very motivating, effective, and simply brings much more fun.

8. Set up reasonable goals for yourself. Raising the bar to high can discourage you since you will tend to think you are making no or little progress.

9. Make studying this language fun. When you practice reading – choose something interesting, when watching a film let it be something fun, etc. You will notice then that Thai is close to you since you can express and understand things that are of interest to you.

10. Last but not least. Stay optimistic as Thai people are. Even one word learned a day is bringing you closer to your aim – communication in Thai.

English is the official language of ASEAN – The Association of South East Asian Nations. It is the language of international business and now it is the main language of the internet. This means that in Thailand there is a big demand for native English speakers to teach all age groups how to speak, read and write the English language. Coupled with that is the ever growing tourism industry and the need for language skills amongst those who service it.

Although in the past the regulation of the teaching industry has been relaxed, the only real qualification being that you are a native speaker. This has now changed not only in Thailand but elsewhere. Employers will insist on a bachelor’s degree. Oddly this is more important than either a specialized TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or a TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) certificate. The subject of the BA is not important but it must be genuine. Anyone caught using forged qualifications are now subject to law and employers will run checks with issuing colleges and universities from which the qualifications were awarded. If you are qualified then teaching can be a great way to get really involved with Thai society. ‘Sanuk’ or the importance having fun is a defining factor in social interaction. It may not always be easy, but teaching can be a rewarding and interesting experience.

When looking for work you have to decide whether you prefer to teach adults or children and what sector of the industry you want to cater to. International schools follow the curriculum of the country to which they are affiliated whether that is the UK, US or France. Teachers there would be qualified in the same way as they would in their country of origin so these jobs are in high demand since the pay is very good and employers can be very choosy.

All over Thailand there are private schools some being part of a chain whilst others are totally independent commercial enterprises. They range vastly in quality, the better ones having the pick of those they want to employ. This is another reason why being properly qualified is important. You will be paid more. There is also a great need for teachers at high schools. The pay can be quite low but generally it is a less stressful job since class times are shorter.

Often considered the most prestigious places to teach are universities. The pay is not always as high as the prestige might suggest since rates are set by the government but there is plenty of opportunity for specialization if you already have an academic background.

Private one to one teaching is a market in itself. Some teachers hate it finding it very demanding, others prefer the freedom in hours and the more intense nature of the work. It can also be a bit more lucrative than teaching a class. People will want value for their money though from the one to one experience, so professionalism and preparation are vital.

Some teachers prefer dealing with adult students and some prefer children. It’s just a question of preference. With adults many experienced teachers specialize in one area whether that is business English, medical English, tourist industry English and so on. Thailand is a country where appearance, respect and face matter. The profession of teacher or ‘kru’ or ‘ajarn’ is highly respected and certain levels of presentation are required. From men a shirt and tie at least and for women fairly formal clothing.

Teaching jobs are advertised in the Bangkok Post and increasingly on the internet.

Whatever your training and however long you plan to make a life in teaching Thailand can be an enjoyable place to do it. Teaching those keen to learn who also want to have fun is a rewarding experience.