How long does it take to learn conversational Thai with regular classes and what are some good language schools in Ao Nang or Hua Hin?

I learnt everything I know from a text book, a note book and locals in a village in isaan 15 years ago. Took me 3 months to be conversational but bear in mind I was really immersed, no internet, no foreigners. I used to bring my text book and sit with locals in the evening after my shift at the local school. They were more than happy to help me read and understand common phrases of which I'd write down. Reading I took upon myself, it came naturally after probably 3 months, again from a book. . I still say I'm primary school level at reading and middle school level at speaking but it's enough. I don't read the news. Just enough to understand it conversationally and get by.

It is one of the hardest languages to learn. RUSSIAN WAS EASIER.

36 yrs ago I learnt to speak Thai, in a gymnasium, yep, a gym. 3hrs a day, 6 days a week for 6 months. No books, No script, No teacher. It was a remote location and nobody at the gym spoke English beyond the basic greeting of hello, and there were no other farang in the gym, ever, so I was forced to speak Thai to communicate. Everybody at the gym wanted to talk to me because I was different & Thais just cant help but be curious, friendly and hospitable, its their genetic makeup. I could not avoid speaking Thai. It was difficult at first but I felt real results each new week. After 6 months I had to depart Thailand to attend a family emergency. 2 months later when returning to Thailand I found myself responding in Thai to everyone from customs staff and airport personnel to local citizens. It just came automatically. I really was amazed at how much I had learned. After 2-3 months further I started answering to telephone, at my wifes family business, occasionally making appointments for people to come to the office for meetups. Often when I greeted them on arrival they immediately broke into their best possible English when they saw a white man and asked for Ben. I'd say I'm Ben, their response (english), no Ben a Thai man I spoke to on the phone he said to ask for him. Yes, I am Ben. I am the man on the phone. They couldn't believe it until I would then break into Thai conversation to ease their disbelief. (I can't deny that I got a small high of ego boost - just quietly). I was now contributing to the community & the family business, I was finally useful again, that scored me points with the inlaws. Bottom line is... because I learned by ear, face to face, not book, script or teacher, I learned street Thai, everyday common conversation without the formal pronunciation, just straight up common Thai. The formal language came later... hardly use it in reality - nice to know but barely necessary day to day, unless watching a news broadcast.

Bottom line, I learned Thai by mimicking the sounds by ear, not by difficult to interpret script, eg., farlang is truely pronounced as fuh-lung... big difference. This is true of many words. So, in all my years of experience with the Thai language I have learned 4 things.

1) you can only learn true pronunciation by ear to ear learning (particularly tones)

2) you will learn the language 10 x faster & accurately by being in the country and not learning from abroad

3) it helps if you have a purpose for learning. Perhaps it retirement in Thailand or your spouse is Thai or children. Etc., it helps if your purpose for learning is meaningful, however that be so.

4) reading and writing is greatly important early in the process... because you will read every street sign and menu that you see, and that sticks in your mind. And if reading correctly the tones will serve to polish your pronunciation.

I have never looked back and learning the language has served me in many, many ways, in business and in day to day living... DO IT !

chohg dee na 🙏

I went to Thailand 40 years ago and went to language school in Bangkok for 1.5 years, 4 hours a day. I also lived among Thai people. Back in those days, there was very little to zero English in Thailand. I was immersed and forced to learn. On top of this, I was involved with a church that gave me many friends that forced practice on me daily.

Learning to read is critical. Reading helps you understand the tones. Getting the tone correct is critical and pronunciation of the short and long vowels are critical.

The older you are the more difficult learning becomes due to responsibilities in life. Taking Thai language classes helps reach “small talk” possibilities.

Thai is spoken in many ways. This can be challenging. There is “street talk,” “formal talk,” “Lao language talk,” “loan word adoptions,” “slang,” and if you can go deep, “religious talk,” as well as คำคู่ (synonyms). All these ways have their own dynamics.

What you learn in school will be different outside on the streets. (This is with all languages.)

When foreigners say they can speak Thai, they most likely cannot. They only know small talk and their annunciations are poor. And this is OK! Thai people respect those who try!

I am sorry this is long. In short, make sure you focus on tones. Develop a community of Thai friends and practice daily. Do not get discouraged at the time it takes to learn. It takes time. Much time. Learning any language from scratch takes time.

The more you can understand, the more joy and depth you will experience in relationships with Thai people. It’s not about the sites and fun. It’s about the people.

Good news! Thai grammar is very easy. No conjugations, no genders, no cases, simple. But, spelling can be challenging due to the Sanskrit foundation.

More good news! Most words are short. However, the tone is critical. 44 characters. Vowels are in front, above, below, and behind the consonants.

Have fun! 💪

It will take you 1-2 years to reach “small talk conversation.” (if you are practicing daily).

I read and write Thai daily. I am fluent in speech with a good accent. Been speaking Thai 40 years… yet, still… there are times I feel, I don’t know anything! 😂

My chinese teacher said it took him 3 years. He even writes and understands some slangs. He's also learning Spanish so i guess language skill is a gift. Meanwhile i also know some other Chinese who've been here for nearly 20 years who can get by on a day-to-day convo. So it's different for each individual

Immersion is the key.

I already learned 40 hours in Bangkok baan aksorn and it will need at least another 40 hours to get a basic conversation level.

Alongkorn is between Krabi and Ao Nang. I am going to be attending there this fall. I researched to area and they have great reviews and were very helpful. They can help with visa also if required, but i plan to do that myself.

Learning to speak is much easier than understanding spoken Thai. I recommend learning the Thai alphabet and inflections used as early as possible. It’s taken me about 1 year to be able to have full on conversations with Thai friends… the more you learn the faster it comes to you. Now working on my Issan!

For me, what helped me the most , is to learn the akson thai. When you can read words in thai, your pronunciation improves greatly and people understand you way better.

I’ve started classes at the end of April, 2h per day, 3 times a week. I also study by myself after class.

About six weeks in and I can get by ordering food and having basic conversations, get situated in time… whereas before starting I could only say "hello and thank you".

The beginner level at my school is 3.5 months, but I’m already using Thai in everyday life. It’s not perfect but I get a few words here and there when watching videos and listening to people talk.

It really depends on how much time you invest in learning and how much you practice.

2 years. Sporadic lessons. Enthusiasm helps.

You learn speaking only ? No writing no reading?

@Min***

everyone's different and took me ages

I gave up, couldn't find a Thai teacher who understood English completely.

You will be able to talk to taxi drivers giving directions

Basic small talk in bars

Order food, order coffee

Stuff like that

The real education begins when you start to read and write it

They will only start with karaoke Thai not real Thai script

I went to Duke Language School in Bangkok. Their beginner class is 60hrs which is 3 hrs/day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. There is also homework.