When speaking monosyllabic languages such as Thai, pronunciation is not always the main thing you need to be worried about — it’s how you deliver the tone. This is why learning Thai through a structured online course is essential.  For instance, online courses come in audio or video formats, meaning you can always play and replay a lesson. Tonal inflections are tricky to learn, and making sure that you can listen to them repetitively makes sure that you can communicate clearly. With the increasing preference of consumers to find online options, it’s no surprise that many are jumping on the online learning bandwagon. And the benefits are many.  In this article, we will explore the many reasons why learning Thai online is... Show more

Teachers are valued in every country around the world, but few nations show teachers their due respect like Thailand does. This is reflected in Thai Teachers' Day, celebrated each year to encourage the humility of students before their teachers.  In this article, you’ll learn all about Teachers' Day in Thailand, from its recent beginnings to how it’s celebrated. Let’s get started! 1. What is Teachers' Day? National Teachers' Day is a Thai holiday celebrated each year on January 16. On this day, students go out of their way to show their teachers ความเคารพ (khwaam khao-róp), or "respect."  It was General Phiboonsongkram who first suggested the creation of Teachers' Day in Thailand. He spoke on the topic... Show more

Considering the prominence of Buddhism in Thailand, it should come as no surprise that Buddhist holidays take the spotlight in this culturally rich country.  At the end of Thailand’s rainy season, just before the country’s most bountiful harvest, the Buddhist population celebrates วันออกพรรษา (wan-àawk-phan-sǎa), or "End of Buddhist Lent Day." If you’ve been keeping up with our blog recently, you may have read about the start of Buddhist Lent; today, we’ll talk about its conclusion.  Are you ready? Let’s get started! 1. What is End of Buddhist Lent Day? In a previous article, we discussed the beginning of Buddhist Lent in Thailand. Today, we’ll focus mainly on the End of Buddhist Lent Day, but we first... Show more

Would you be willing to give up your guiltiest pleasure for three months? Well, each year in Thailand, the Buddhist monks and other followers of Buddha’s teachings do just this. The first day of this three-month period is a holiday called Buddhist Lent Day, and this is what we’ll be talking about in this article! Let’s get started. 1. What is Buddhist Lent Day? This holiday marks the beginning of the Buddhist Lent, which is a three-month period during which monks are expected ระมัดระวัง (rá mát rá-wang), or "to be careful," not to venture outside the temple or pagoda. This three-month period ends on End of Buddhist Lent Day, which is another Buddhist holiday that we’ll be covering in a future article. If you’re... Show more

Songkran Day, otherwise known as the Songkran Festival or Songkran Water Festival, is a unique Thai tradition that takes place in early spring each year. In this article, you’ll learn what the Songkran Festival is all about, how Thai people celebrate this holiday, and more! Let’s get started. 1. What is Songkran Day? The Songkran holiday in Thailand is a three-day celebration period. During the Songkran Festival, Thai people are able to get much-needed rest and relaxation from work or school, as well as plenty of play-time! This holiday is also a period of blessings and a time to ทำบุญ (tham-bun), or "make merit." The Songkran Festival is a tradition that is not only present in Thailand but also in other Southeast Asian... Show more

The Chinese New Year celebration in Thailand is an important day for the ไทยเชื้อสายจีน (thai-chúuea-săai-jiin), or "Thai-Chinese," population. Thailand during the Chinese New Year may put one in mind of Christmastime in many Western cultures with all of its colorful festivities, warm family time, and gift-giving. In this article, you’ll learn all about this traditional holiday, how the Thai-Chinese celebrate it, and more facts about the Thai-Chinese population in Thailand. At ThaiPod101.com, it’s our aim to ensure that every aspect of your language-learning journey is both fun and informative—starting with this article! Ready? Let’s get started. 1. What is the Chinese New Year? Trut Chin is the traditional... Show more

In 1932, Thailand’s Constitution was created and signed into effect during a time of great change in the country. In this article, you’ll learn about what role King Prajadhipok (King Rama VII) played in its creation, an interesting law you’ll find within the Constitution, and how Thai people celebrate Thai Constitution Day. At ThaiPod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both fun and informative. What better way than by delving into the roots of modern-day Thailand? Are you ready? Let’s get started! 1. What is Constitution Day? In Thailand, Constitution Day is the day that commemorates the promulgation of the first permanent Constitution of Thailand in 1932. The Constitution was signed... Show more

King Chulalongkorn is a much-loved and respected figure in Thailand, so each year, Thai people celebrate Chulalongkorn Day. In this article, you’ll learn why this king is held in such high regard, all the good he did for Thailand, and how the country goes about remembering King Chulalongkorn. At ThaiPod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both fun and informative! 1. What is Chulalongkorn Day? On Chulalongkorn Day, Thailand remembers and honors King Rama V, also known as King Chulalongkorn. This king is one of the most beloved and respected figures in the history of Thailand, known for his great favors to the country. King Chulalongkorn & His Accomplishments for Thailand ... Show more

Have you ever wondered why foreigners make weird faces or perform strange actions? Well, they may be how they communicate non-verbally with each other. Just as in every language, you should learn about Thai non-verbal communication, such as hand gestures and body language, so that you can completely communicate like a Thai native. Thai hand gestures, Thai hand signs, and Thai body language are part of Thai culture and represent how Thai people think in general. Knowing about nonverbal communication in Thailand will make your trip so much better. Thai people use body language as nonverbal communication in daily life. อวัจนภาษา (àà-wát-jà-ná-phaa-săa) is “nonverbal communication” in Thai. This article will teach you everything... Show more

If you’ve been studying Thai for some time, you’ve likely found that you naturally start to understand basic words, sentences, and conversations. However, you may come across some sentences from time to time that make you ask yourself “Do I understand this correctly?” or “Is the Thai language really this weird?” For example, อย่าลำไย (yàa lam-yai) means “Don’t longan.” Doesn’t really make sense, right? There’s also a chance that you’ve found some words you don’t know, so you try to find their meaning in the dictionary, but can’t find anything. If either of these scenarios is the case, you may have come across Thai slang. Despite not being grammatically correct or accepted as real Thai words, Thai people use Thai slang words a lot... Show more