Learning Thai as a teacher in Thailand

Why teachers often end up with very little Thai

• Your job is English. You're there to speak English, so most of your day happens in it.
• Colleagues switch for you. Thai staff are kind and want to help, which often means answering in English.
• Timetables are full. Lessons, marking, extra classes. Learning Thai drops down the list.

None of that means you can't do it. It just means learning has to be on purpose and in small pieces.

What to learn first

Start with the Thai you'll use in the school day and the hours after it: greetings, thanks, politeness, food and getting around. Men end sentences with ครับ khráp, women with ค่ะ khâ. Getting that right makes even simple Thai sound respectful, which matters at school.

Thai	Say it	Meaning	When you'll use it
สวัสดีครับ	sà-wàt-dii khráp	hello (man speaking)	Greeting staff, students and parents
สวัสดีค่ะ	sà-wàt-dii khâ	hello (woman speaking)	Greeting staff, students and parents
ขอบคุณ	khòp-khun	thank you	Add ครับ or ค่ะ to make it polite
ไม่เป็นไร	mâi bpen rai	no worries	When a colleague apologises or thanks you
พูดช้าๆ	phûut cháa-cháa	speak slowly	When a parent or colleague speaks too fast
ไม่เผ็ด	mâi phèt	not spicy	The school canteen or lunch out
เท่าไหร่	thâo-rài	how much	Markets and shops after work

Every word in Ravela has a Thai voice to hear first and a tone mark on every syllable.

Why tones matter more than you'd think

Thai has five tones, and the same syllable said with a different tone is a different word. You might be understood at a market stall with the wrong tone, but with colleagues and parents you want to be easy to understand first time. Ravela's Pronunciation Lab draws your voice next to a native reference, so you can see what your tone is doing and fix it.

A 15-minute routine that fits a school day

1. Before school, 5 minutes: a few new words, heard and said out loud.
2. At lunch or on the commute, 5 minutes: your review, so yesterday's words stick.
3. After school, 5 minutes: a couple of words in the Pronunciation Lab, in a quiet room.
4. Every week: use one new phrase for real with a Thai colleague, and keep going even if they answer in English.

Questions teachers ask

Do I need Thai to teach English in Thailand?

Usually not to get the job. But everyday Thai makes life outside the classroom much easier: colleagues, admin, parents, landlords and getting around.

How can I fit learning in?

Little and often. Ten to fifteen minutes a day does more than one long session at the weekend.

Should I learn to read Thai?

Start by speaking, using romanised Thai with the tone marked. Add reading when signs, menus and school notices start to matter. Ravela has an optional reading and writing track you can switch on any time.