Learn why you should learn Thai
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| Hi! |
| Welcome to Introduction to Thai. |
| My name is Alisha, and I'm joined by... |
| Hi everyone. |
| I'm Jay! |
| In this series, you'll learn everything you need to know to get started learning Thai. |
| That's right! |
| And we're here to help guide you through your journey. |
| In this lesson, you'll learn the reasons why you should start learning a new language, why you should learn Thai specifically, and how to get started. |
| Why learn a new language? |
| There are countless reasons, but perhaps the biggest one of all is that it could actually change your life! Learning a new language unlocks new pathways that are off limits to you now. |
| There are certain things that you simply cannot do without having the technical or cultural skills that come from learning a new language. |
| Like working or living in another country! |
| Knowing another language provides you with greater job opportunities. You have the freedom to move to another country halfway around the world and earn a living, or better yet, build a career from it – instead of just being stuck in one place. |
| Language allows you to visit or live in places that you may never even have considered going. Knowing another language simply gives you more options to choose from. |
| And learning a new language also helps you to be more open-minded and see the world from a new perspective. |
| Language and culture go hand in hand. The world is a big place, and by broadening your understanding of other cultures, it allows you to be more empathetic and understanding of the many different ways that people live their lives. With language, you're able to see and experience more, which helps you grow as a person. |
| Learning a new language also improves your memory. |
| Studies have consistently shown that those who study another language have improved memory as opposed to those who didn't. Learning another language also keeps your brain healthy by significantly delaying the onset of Alzheimer's and dementia. This difference can be as much as 4 to 5 more years of quality life! |
| And those are just some of the reasons you should learn another language. The list just goes on and on. |
| Now you know the benefits of studying another language, but why should you learn Thai in particular? |
| Why learn Thai? |
| For traveling, of course! Thailand is a beautiful and exotic country with a lot to discover - from breathtaking mountains and gorgeous sandy beaches to isolated local villages. |
| Tourism |
| Besides those popular tourist destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya, Thai language skills allow you greater freedom to explore remote areas and fully appreciate this rich, beautiful culture in a way the average tourists can't even imagine. Knowing the language lets you to visit sites on your own and at your own pace and without having to rely on a tour guide or interpreter. |
| And it helps you bargain and get good prices! |
| Bargaining |
| In Thailand, you have to bargain for almost everything, from buying clothes at street markets or for transport services, such as motorcycles and tuk tuk. Moreover, If you do speak Thai, the locals will know that you have spent a significant amount of time in Thailand and are experienced enough to not accept an unreasonable price offer. |
| Also, it helps you increase your chances of employment or investment. |
| Thailand enjoys a strategic location at the heart of Asia and is home to what is regarded today as the largest growing economic market. Thailand serves as a gateway to Southeast Asia and the Greater Mekong sub-region, where newly emerging markets offer great potential for business. It is the best choice for those who seek to find jobs or new business opportunities. |
| So clearly, there are many, many reasons why you should learn Thai! |
| Food |
| Okay then, we've talked about why you should start learning a language, and why you should start learning Thai, but how should they get started, Jay? |
| How to get started. |
| Well, it's as simple as learning your first word in Thai and building up from there! |
| The good news is many English words have made their way into Thai. |
| คอมพิวเตอร์ ("computer") , ออฟฟิต ("office") , มอเตอร์ไซค์ ("motorcycle") |
| This means that you already know a lot of words in Thai! |
| Let's teach you something that you might not know, but is very useful. |
| ขอบคุณ (khàawp khun) |
| It means "thank you" in Thai. |
| That's a useful word. Can you explain a little bit about what these characters are though? |
| Sure. |
| This is actually the Thai writing system that uses alphabetical letters. It is pretty similar to how English's writing system works. So, we combine alphabets with vowels to make a word. |
| You'll learn the Thai writing system eventually, but for now let's put up some romanization to help get you started. |
| This romanization will allow you to read Thai before you become familiar with Thai characters. |
| That certainly makes things easier. Well okay then, now listen and repeat after Jay. |
| ขอบคุณ (khàawp khun) |
| Now you try! |
| ขอบคุณ (khàawp khun) |
| Your turn again! |
| ขอบคุณ (khàawp khun) |
| Well done. Now you know how to say "thank you" in Thai! |
| We've covered a lot of things already, so why don't we wrap up the first lesson and recap on what we've learned. |
| In this lesson, you learned that studying another language has many benefits such as providing new job and business opportunities. Knowing Thai can help you with traveling through the country and bargaining. |
| And "thank you" in Thai is... |
| ขอบคุณ (khàawp khun) |
| In the next lesson, we're going to demystify Thai pronunciation by taking a look at the sounds of Thai, so be sure to watch the next video. |
| See you in the next lesson. Bye! |
| Bye~! |
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