Doraemon Comics in Thai + NED Comics on iPad

Doraemon Comics in Thai

This article was originally posted on WomenLearnThai.com.

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Doraemon Comics in Thai…

In the last Successful Thai Language Learner’s interview, Rick Bradford’s mention of reading Doraemon Comics in Thai got me interested so I contacted him for more:

The Doraemon comics are a good way to get a first foot on the ladder of reading Thai.

They’re aimed at children, so the vocabulary is fairly basic. Equally important, the speech bubbles contain only a few words each, so you aren’t faced with a block of daunting impenetrable Thai script.

The stories are quite funny, as well.

In my rush to leave Thailand I briefly stopped by a few bookstores to see what Doraemon Comics I could source. Asia books was closed at the time but I did managed to pick up a Doraemon Thai language edition by Ned Comics. The books are large, the Thai script is a nice size, the covers are matt laminated, and the artwork is easy on the eye.

Then at Villa Market in Aree I found an English-Thai set, also by Ned Comics. Again, the covers are matt laminated (I like). Learning English is the focus so the English is in the speech bubbles with tiny Thai script translations across the top and bottom of the individual cartoons. The script might be too fiddly for beginners to suss some of the words.

Curious about the English-Thai versions, I went back to Rick:

The ones I bought are all in Thai, published by Nanmee Books.

The Thai script is very clear in these, and I started reading these from a basic level.

I think these may be a cut above some other versions given the price (90 baht) and some extra educational text (described as เสริมความรู้) which is added to some of the stories.

For example, a story called ผจญภัยในร่างกาย. there is extra text and diagrams about the circulatory and digestive systems which was probably added to turn the books into a semi-educational resource.

I bought mine at B2E, I think.

This week I’ll look for Nanmee’s version of the Doraemon Comics in Bangkok and leave an update in the comments. Asia books is a good bet. There’s also a Thai book fair at Queen Sirikit’s National Convention Center: Book Festival for Thai Youth: 13-17 July 2011. I absolutely plan on attending the book fair but I need to kick this cold first (oh, the joys of international travel).

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NED Comics Application for iPad…

Everyone seems to be getting on the iPhone / iPad wagon. Excellent.

NED Comics Application for iPad NED Comics - NINENED Comics Application for iPad NED Comics Application for iPad
Price: Free
Author: Ned Comics
Date: 10 March 2011
Version: 1.1
Size: 400+ mgs

Classic Thai legends are now available in iPad from NED Comics, a subsidiary of Nation Multimedia Group Thailand.

NED Comics Free app comes with popular Thai manga.

Key features:
• The application comes with popular Thai manga.
• You can read the first chapter for free!
• You’ll have access to constantly growing library of brand new and exclusive titles.
• Once you delete the comics you have bought, you can download again from the server for free.

Note: I haven’t had time to review this app (it’s still downloading) so I’ll leave my comments until later. Ok? But if you do get a chance to play around with it please let me know what you think in the comments.

10 thoughts on “Doraemon Comics in Thai + NED Comics on iPad”

  1. Hey gang, I came across more Doraemon Comics by the same company. Again, at Villa Market. It’s a set called English World. The comics are for Thai, Chinese, and Japanese speakers. One is like a dictionary on speed the other has phrases + vocabulary. All in English, Thai, Chinese, and Japanese. I’m now intrigued at what else they have on offer…

    Reply
  2. Comics sound like a great idea. I’m also going to hunt down some children’s books that use แบบเรียนเร็วใหม่ …my teacher was using extracts during our last classes, similar to the Manee style readers.Baby steps, baby steps 🙂

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  3. Keith, there are some decent online stores but for the comics for teens + you need to know how to read Thai to find them as well as order. I started a post on ordering from a Thai site… maybe I’ll finish that baby… But buying when in Thailand is a better solution though 🙂

    Reply
  4. The problem is, not living in Thailand, many of these things are virtually impossible to get hold of. My family are convinced I have flipped when I sit there reading Winnie the Pooh with intense concentration and letting out the occasional whoop of delight when I have managed to read and understand a whole sentence! Comics would be the next step towards a sort of inverted senility. Must stock up when I am in LOS in a couple of weeks

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  5. Lawrence, I quite like the Thai only version and I’m picky too.

    Martyn, Comics are great but I’ve mostly ignored them so far. I have a growing stash. I just need to find the time.

    Reply
  6. Catherine – Comics are a perfect source to start reading Thai, in fact most children’s books would be too. I did have a learning English for Thai kids book here in the UK but when my friend brought his Thai wife to the UK I gave the book and accompanying CD to her.

    I have noticed (in rural Thailand) that most Thais prefer comic type books to traditional ones, perhaps the message there is get to grip with the basics before tackling the real heavy stuff.

    Reply
  7. I’ve never read Doraemon comics personally. The problem I have always had with comics in general is that all the text is hand written. I guess this is good practice considering a lot of the Thai you will be reading will be written, very sloppily, by a native Thai. But when you are use to reading nicely printed Thai, it’s difficult to read variations of the consonants that you have come to recognize so easily.

    Reply
  8. This is perfect Catherine, thank you. It was only last night when I was listening to some old Bangkok Podcasts I thought reading comics be a good place to start learning the Thai script. I’ll download the app and start giving it a go.

    Reply

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