Staying & Studying Thai?

Not only can a person come to Thailand to teach English or any other language for that matter, but they can also come and be a student.

What to study? Cooking? Meditation? Message? Muay Thai?

That, that, that, and that too! And, the latest hot trend is studying Thai.

The biggest obstacle that every foreigner seems to complain about is the tones.

In Thai, we have five tones so we can have four more meanings from what seem to come from just one word. Watch this!

"Pa" pronounced w/ the medium tone means "throw."

When said w/ a slightly lower one, it becomes another whole new word meaning "forest."

If you reach the second highest tone, you'll be meaning 'aunt."

As if that was not enough. A lot of Thai-Chinese kids call their father "Pa," hitting the word w/ the hignest note.

Then, we've got the lowest one of all. The lowest "Pa" means a middle-aged man who keeps a mistress or those who can afford to be a philanderer.

So make sure not to confuse your aunt w/ that type of middle-aged men. But hey, don't give up before you even start. Not every word has five tones. Many of them have only four!

Foreign students studying Thai agonize over the tones and ask us if we have ever made a mistake. Well, when we're drunk, maybe! Or, when you originated provincially and haven't quite blended in the capital city yet. (Aren't I haughty here?)

Anyway, schools that teach Thai to foreigners seem to be mushrooming, and you wouldn't have a problem finding a suitable one for yourself. I know one because a really good friend of mine teaches and coordinates courses there. Inquire, and I'll tell you where to go.

Regards,

Joe

P.S. My name comes in the second highest tone. There are three for "Joe" and they creates three different persons.