Learn Thai online ? For beginners ?

Learn Thai online as a beginner: an overview of the advantages and disadvantages. Which providers are suitable for beginners and which are not?

The Thai script is indeed something special. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it is also deeply connected to pronunciation. Each character provides information about how the word is spoken. The five tones are of central importance here. If a word is emphasised incorrectly, its meaning changes completely, leading to misunderstandings.

Learning the Thai language is an aesthetic act. You learn not only vocabulary, but also a creative discipline. Singing forms the basis, as it teaches melody, rhythm and the finest nuances of sound. Painting, on the other hand, is the essence, as it reveals the beauty of the characters as artistic creations that carry meaning in themselves. It is the symbiosis of these two arts that reveals the true essence of the Thai language – it is not just communication, but a creative process.
(Michael Klissner, 2025, article: Learn Thai Online Checkup)

Transcription (also transliteration)

Transcription is very important for learners of Thai, and is often referred to as “running text”, although this is not correct. It is a system in which Thai characters and sounds are reproduced using the Latin alphabet (i.e. the letters we use in English). Many transcriptions are based on English and are therefore of little use to English speakers.

What is the purpose of transcription?

• Learning aid for beginners: Transcription enables people who are not yet proficient in Thai script to read and pronounce Thai words. It serves as a bridge to help them get started with the language.
• Pronunciation: It attempts to represent the various vowels, consonants and sometimes also the tones of the Thai language, which do not exist in English.

Problems and challenges of transcription:

• No uniform standard: There are several transcription systems, such as the official Royal Thai General Transcription System (RTGS) or other systems commonly used in textbooks. Since these are not always identical, the same word can be written differently in different systems (e.g. “Sawatdee”, “Sawasdi”, “Sawasdee”). This can be very confusing for learners.
• Tones and nuances: Thai is a tonal language with five tones. A transcription can often only represent these tones inadequately or with additional symbols (e.g. accents, numbers). Therefore, perfect pronunciation can hardly be learned with a transcription alone.
• Only an approximation: Transcription can only approximate the unique Thai sounds and vowels. It is never a complete substitute for the original Thai script.

Transcriptions are a useful tool for beginners taking their first steps in learning Thai. However, for a deeper and more accurate mastery of the language, especially pronunciation and reading comprehension, it is essential to learn the original Thai script and its rules.

Here is a video from Thailernen.net where Silko explains this very well:

Thai lernen für Deutschsprachige

Poor online courses for Thai beginners

Many online courses are often not well suited for beginners and can quickly lead to overwhelm. A typical problem is that vocabulary is tested that has not yet been covered, or that entire sentences are presented in Thai script that are to be translated, even though the learner does not yet know a single character.

Such experiences can quickly lead to giving up after just a few minutes and writing off the money invested as a loss. Therefore, it is important to look for a money-back guarantee when purchasing a course or subscription. This way, you can simply return the course if you are dissatisfied.

Courses that are suitable for beginners and offer success

However, there are some providers that explicitly target beginners and offer a step-by-step introduction to the language. So it definitely makes sense to learn Thai online if you find the right course.

Hier sind einige Optionen, die sich gut für den Einstieg eignen:

• thailernen.net: As you will see for yourself, thailernen.net offers a basic course. It is often praised for its free video Thai course and the opportunity to have your pronunciation checked by a correction service, which is a great added value for beginners.
• online-thai.com: This provider places great emphasis on the basics and is aimed at people with no prior knowledge. The course “Thai Course A1 – Basics” systematically introduces Thai script and pronunciation, which is often neglected by beginners. The aim is to be able to read and form simple sentences after completing the course.
• Ling-App: This app is specially designed for beginners who want to learn in a fun way with short, effective lessons. It offers comprehensive lessons for vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, with a focus on authentic Thai spoken by native speakers. Learning can be flexibly integrated into everyday life.
• LingQ: It is a flexible language learning platform that allows you to upload your own texts, books, articles or even podcast transcripts and edit them directly in the target language. While reading, you can simply click on unfamiliar words or phrases to get an instant translation and automatically save them as flashcards. Much of the content also comes with accompanying audio, allowing you to practise your reading and listening comprehension at the same time. The platform adapts to your individual learning style, as you are not limited to a set sequence of lessons but can use your own material. With statistics, daily learning goals and revision exercises, LingQ supports long-term language acquisition and motivates you to make progress every day.
• AmazingTalker: Instead of a pre-designed course, this platform offers individual one-to-one lessons with tutors. This is particularly beneficial for beginners, as the teacher can tailor the lessons precisely to your needs and learning pace. You can practise the basics of pronunciation and tones directly with a native speaker, which is particularly important for Thai.

These beginner courses focus initially on pronunciation and the tone system before moving on to more complex grammar and sentences. This is essential, as tones in Thai can change the meaning of words. So it definitely makes sense to learn online if you choose a course that teaches these basics from the outset.

Thailernen.net offers the first lesson, Introduction (Part 1), free of charge.

The classic alternative

Face-to-face lessons: For example, two Thai courses are currently offered on Fridays at the Pattaya Community Centre.

• Speaking Thai
• Writing Thai

Registration is requested. You can find the exact dates in the weekly programme of the Pattaya Meeting Centre. Participation is free of charge, but a donation for the meeting centre is requested – oops, requested 😂 555

Personal experiences

Thailernen.net

Without the lessons from Thailernen.net, which teach you not only the script but also the grammar step by step, I would probably have given up long ago.

The concept is like a school curriculum that has been put online. The biggest advantage for me is that I can tell how a word is pronounced from the script. And when I need to work quickly, I use the transliteration to take notes easily.

I find it particularly valuable psychologically that you are not overwhelmed with learning content that you have not yet learned. You are not presented with multiple-choice questions in Thai script that you cannot possibly read – instead, you learn step by step and build up a real understanding.

With the knowledge I have acquired at Thailernen.net, I may not be able to translate multiple-choice questions from other providers 100%, but I understand the content and can give the correct answer.

The learning material is excellently prepared and can be downloaded directly with the exercises from the lesson. The exercise sheets for writing Thai characters are particularly helpful – they are somewhat reminiscent of calligraphy lessons at school, but are incredibly effective.

High, medium and low consonants as well as vowels are clearly grouped by colour and are consistently displayed in this way, which makes learning much easier.

At the end of each lesson, homework can be completed and sent by email for correction. Feedback is usually very quick and extremely helpful.

Face-to-face lessons at the Pattaya Community Centre

Every Friday, a volunteer teacher gives two hours of face-to-face lessons: first an hour of speaking, followed by an hour of reading and writing. The advantages are obvious. Even though the lessons are also based on a manuscript that is worked through, they offer additional opportunities that make learning much more effective and practical:

• If anything is unclear, I can ask questions directly and receive an immediate answer on the topic.
• I have the opportunity to repeat the pronunciation and receive feedback.
• If I don’t understand something, I can ask for a more detailed explanation.
• In addition, I receive information and explanations as to why a word is spelled a certain way – for example, with endings that change in pronunciation.
• I can review what I have learned with other course participants during the breaks.
• I am given practical tools that are also actively used by the teacher – for example, hand movements when speaking a word with rising intonation (hand up) or falling intonation (hand down).
• The different pronunciations of the other course participants also train my ear and increase my tolerance for recognising words correctly.

At the moment, I am using Thailernen.net a little less and focusing more on classroom lessons in order to consolidate and further refine what I have already learned.

Why, for example, Sprachenlernen24.de, Mondly, etc. are unsuitable for complete beginners in Thai

Learning Thai is a real challenge for many: a completely new script, five tones and a grammar that bears little resemblance to European languages. This is precisely why beginners need a clear, structured introduction. Platforms such as Sprachenlernen24.de and Mondly advertise flexible and easy learning – but those starting from scratch will quickly reach their limits here.

The biggest problem with Sprachenlernen24 is the lack of basic instruction. Instead of introducing writing step by step, the platform focuses heavily on vocabulary and example sentences. For beginners, this means that they tend to memorise words rather than understand how they are constructed. This approach comes back to haunt them when they start reading and writing.

Pronunciation also poses difficulties. Although there is audio material, explanations of tone rules and sound formation are largely absent. Those who have never dealt with a tonal language before will find it difficult to pronounce the words correctly – and small mistakes can cause major misunderstandings.

Mondly is structured similarly: the app mainly offers short lessons with vocabulary and phrases and a focus on playful learning. Unfortunately, it also lacks a more in-depth introduction to Thai writing and the tonal language. This is particularly insufficient for beginners with no prior knowledge, as important basics are not taught systematically.

In addition, the learning concept of both providers relies heavily on memorisation. As a result, grammar, writing and phonetic basics quickly fall by the wayside. For complete beginners in particular, this often leads to frustration and the feeling of not really making any progress.

Conclusion: Sprachenlernen24 and Mondly may be helpful for learners with some experience or for those who have already developed a feel for languages. However, those starting Thai with no prior knowledge should opt for methods that teach the basics step by step – only then will getting started be truly feasible.

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