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LEARN THAI - THE FIRST THREE MONTHS

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3 December 2025

Prepared with AI assistance 

1. OVERALL STRATEGY

  • You are building a combined system:

    • App learning for vocabulary, tones and repetition.
    • Real-life immersion in Chiang Mai.
    • A structured course at We Learn Thai (Pantip Plaza).
    • A one-year Education Visa (ED visa) to legalise the whole thing.

  • This mix is sustainable.

    • Apps build foundations.
    • Teachers correct pronunciation and structure.
    • Immersion turns theory into habit.
    • The ED visa gives legality and routine.

  • ED visa = non-immigrant study visa that allows you to stay in Thailand for up to twelve months while enrolled at an approved school.

2. APP LEARNING – DAILY ROUTINE

  • Core apps:

    • Ling – structured Thai course with tones, writing and dialogues.
    • Mondly – simple conversational practice and phrases.
    • Anki or other flashcards – efficient memorising of vocabulary - no, steep setup and learning the software...other flashcards

  • Suggested three-day cycle (10–20 minutes per day):

    • Day 1 – Ling lesson plus pronunciation practice.
    • Day 2 – Mondly dialogues and tone repetition.
    • Day 3 – Anki review plus handwriting practice.
    • Then repeat the cycle.

  • Tone practice is essential.

    • Even small tone errors change meaning.
    • Short, frequent sessions beat long, occasional ones.

  • Spaced repetition = a method that shows you words just before you would forget them, to fix them in long-term memory.

3. IMMERSIVE LEARNING – REAL LIFE IN CHIANG MAI

  • Use Thai deliberately in daily life:

    • Order food and coffee in Thai.
    • Greet security, neighbours and vendors in Thai.
    • Ask simple questions in shops.
      • Example: “มีแบบอื่นไหมครับ” – do you have another style?
    • Watch short Thai clips on YouTube or TikTok.
    • Read menus and street signs out loud.

  • Practical tips:

    • Speak slowly and clearly.
    • Exaggerate rising and falling tones at first.
    • Accept that mistakes are normal; locals usually appreciate the effort.

  • Immersion = learning through repeated real-world contact, not only from textbooks or apps.

4. MONTHLY CSV VOCABULARY PACKS (APRIL–JUNE 2026)

  • You now have three CSV files, one per month:

    • April – essential daily Thai.
    • May – reading, structure and everyday problem-solving.
    • June – conversation, social life and rentals.

  • Each CSV includes:

    • Month and category.
    • Thai script.
    • Transliteration.
    • English meaning.
    • A Google Translate audio link for pronunciation.

  • How to use them:

    • Import into Excel or Google Sheets.
    • Sort or filter by month or category.
    • Click the audio link to hear the word in Thai.
    • Optionally import into Anki later, if you decide to use it again.

  • These CSV packs match the three-month plan below.

    • April file aligns with Month 1 foundations.
    • May file aligns with Month 2 structure and reading.
    • June file aligns with Month 3 conversation and rentals vocabulary.

  • CSV = comma-separated values; a simple text format that works with almost all spreadsheet and flashcard tools.

5. WE LEARN THAI – PANTIP PLAZA (STRUCTURED COURSE)

  • Established Thai language school in Chiang Mai.

  • Known for:

    • Thai courses for foreigners.
    • ED visa sponsorship.

  • What you can expect:

    • Group or private lessons.
    • Around 8–10 hours of class per week.
    • Strong focus on practical conversation, tones and sentence patterns.
    • Homework and vocabulary lists that you can sync with your CSV decks.
    • Teachers correcting pronunciation, rhythm and common mistakes.

  • Balanced view:

    • The school provides structure and accountability.
    • Real progress still depends on what you do between classes.

6. ONE-YEAR EDUCATION VISA (ED VISA)

  • We Learn Thai can sponsor your Non-Immigrant ED visa.

  • Simplified process:

    1. Register with the school.
    2. Provide passport, photos and any required forms.
    3. The school prepares documents for immigration or consulate.
    4. You apply for the ED visa:
      • Either convert within Thailand, or
      • Apply at a Thai consulate abroad.
    5. You receive an initial 90-day permission to stay.
    6. You extend every 90 days at Chiang Mai Immigration (Promenada).
    7. You keep attending classes throughout the year.

  • Requirements:

    • Regular attendance; schools must report absences.
    • Valid passport and up-to-date 90-day reporting.

  • Visa extension = renewal of permission to stay, usually every 90 days, up to the full one-year study period.

7. THREE-MONTH PROGRAMME (APRIL–JUNE 2026) – OVERVIEW

  • Purpose over 90 days:

    • Build a functional, conversational base in Thai.
    • Combine apps, immersion, We Learn Thai classes and your CSV vocab packs.

  • By end of June 2026 you aim to:

    • Manage everyday interactions confidently.
    • Understand tone rules and read basic signs.
    • Use 300–400 words actively, not just recognise them.
    • Be ready for intermediate study from July onwards.

  • Functional Thai = a level where shopping, transport and small talk become easier, smoother and less tiring.

8. MONTH 1 – APRIL: FOUNDATIONS

8.1 Vocabulary targets (linked to April CSV)

  • Greetings, politeness and pronouns.
  • Numbers, prices and time expressions.
  • Food, transport and basic directions.
  • Core verbs: want, go, come, buy, like, can.

8.2 Tone mastery

  • Work on high, mid and low tones.
  • Practise rising and falling tones daily.
  • Use Ling plus teacher drills for at least five minutes each day.

8.3 Grammar patterns

  • Subject plus verb plus object.
  • “Want to + verb” structures.
  • Questions using ไหม (mai) for yes/no.
  • Basic classifiers: glasses, bottles, people, animals.

8.4 Immersion tasks

  • Order coffee or food in Thai every day.

  • Greet neighbours and security in Thai.

  • Read ten signs per day around your condo.

  • Ask prices and simple questions in markets.

  • Balanced view:

    • In April, confidence and habit matter more than perfect accuracy.

9. MONTH 2 – MAY: STRUCTURE AND READING

9.1 Vocabulary targets (linked to May CSV)

  • Health, appointments and banking language.

  • Directions and more complex instructions.

  • Weather, household items and locations.

  • New verbs: bring, take, need, must.

  • Vocabulary block = a cluster of related words learnt together for faster recall.

9.2 Reading introduction

  • Thai consonants, grouped by mid, high and low classes.
  • Core vowels and tone marks.
  • Tone rules as they appear in written Thai.
  • Reading simple menus and signs (ตลาด, ร้านกาแฟ, เปิด, ปิด, etc.).

9.3 Grammar patterns

  • “Have / not have”.
  • “Before / after / while”.
  • Comparisons: more, less, same.
  • Polite softeners: หน่อย, ด้วย, หน่อยนะ.

9.4 Immersion tasks

  • Ask open questions (why, how, which).

  • Try one short Thai-only conversation per day.

  • Watch 5–10 minutes of Thai news or social media daily.

  • Use Thai in Grab rides and in Rimping or local markets.

  • Balanced view:

    • Reading feels hard at the beginning.
    • Knowing even ten to twenty letters massively boosts listening and guessing what’s going on.

10. MONTH 3 – JUNE: CONVERSATION AND CONFIDENCE

10.1 Vocabulary targets (linked to June CSV)

  • Work, travel plans and hobbies.
  • Feelings and opinions.
  • Everyday problems: water, electricity, internet, repairs.

10.2 Conversation skills

  • Build longer sentences from known pieces.
  • Summarise your day in Thai.
  • Talk about plans using “will”, “want” and “going to”.
  • Express likes, dislikes and preferences.

10.3 Reading skills

  • Short menus.
  • Condominium notices.
  • Street signs and business names.
  • Simple messages in chat apps.

10.4 Immersion tasks

  • Have a weekly Thai-only block of two to four hours.

  • Write three or four simple Thai messages to friends or vendors.

  • Visit at least two places where almost no English is spoken.

  • Balanced view:

    • By June you are not “fluent”.
    • But you can hold real conversations that actually work in daily life.

11. WEEKLY CLASS PLAN – WE LEARN THAI

  • Each week you aim for:

    • Two to three classes (group or private).
    • Regular tone drilling.
    • Conversation practice on real themes: rentals, cafés, markets, travel.
    • Vocabulary reinforcement, aligned with that month’s CSV file.
    • Reading support as you start Thai script.

  • Teacher focus:

    • Correct tones and mouth shape.
    • Build consistency and confidence.
    • Choose vocabulary that fits your real lifestyle.
    • Track attendance for ED visa compliance.

12. DAILY APP ROUTINE – SUPPORTING THE PLAN

  • Ling (10–15 minutes per day):

    • Structured lessons.
    • Tone audio and dialogues.

  • Anki or other flashcards (5–10 minutes per day):

    • Use the April, May and June CSV lists.
    • Review 20–40 cards per day.
    • Focus on Thai script plus sound, not only transliteration.

  • Mondly (optional):

    • Use for quick practice when out and about.

  • Balanced view:

    • Apps do the repetition work.
    • Teachers and real people correct technique and usage.

13. ADMIN PREP FOR ED VISA (MAY–JUNE)

  • Documents you will typically need:

    • Passport copy.
    • Passport photos.
    • Completed school and visa forms.
    • Acceptance letter from We Learn Thai.
    • Proof of course fee payment.

  • Process:

    1. Register at We Learn Thai in May.
    2. Let the school prepare visa documents.
    3. Apply for ED visa in-country or at a consulate.
    4. Receive an initial 90-day stay.
    5. Extend every 90 days at Chiang Mai Immigration for up to a year.

  • Schools usually advise starting paperwork four to six weeks before your desired visa start date.

14. SUMMARY AND NEXT STEPS

  • Use April, May and June CSV vocab files as the backbone of your study.
  • Run the daily app routine for short, consistent practice.
  • Use classes at We Learn Thai to correct your speech and keep you accountable.
  • Immerse yourself in Thai each day through food, markets, chats and signs.
  • Line up your ED visa application so that your study rhythm and your legal status support each other.

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