This article was originally posted on WomenLearnThai.com.
Benjawan Poomsan Becker and Paiboon Publishing…
When it comes to all things Thai language, Benjawan Poomsan Becker (Paiboon Publishing) is an amazing powerhorse. I do not know where she gets all her energy.
Benjawan is also as generous as all get-out to the Thai language learning community. Her most recent contribution came about during WLT’s ninth year celebration where she gave permission for me to record and release the vocabulary for her three classic Thai courses: Thai for Beginners, Thai for Intermediate and Thai for Advanced Readers.
Below you’ll find the downloads for audio files and spreadsheets. I’ve created spreadsheets for Flashcards Deluxe but they can also be used for Anki. If you are interested in creating Anki files please let me know via WLT’s contact form.
Using the materials, a manageable 100 words at a time, John Smith is contributing to the collection by creating Memrise courses. Thanks John!
Spreadsheet Downloads: Thai for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced…
The spreadsheets are in Excel and Numbers (Mac) formats. The Beginners sheet gives a choice of Thai script and transliteration. The Intermediate and Advanced spreadsheets are without transliteration.
Thai for Beginners: Download audio and spreadsheets (11.7mg)
Thai for Intermediate: Download audio and spreadsheets (10.8mg)
Thai for Advanced: Download audio and spreadsheets (9.4mg)
I use Flashcards Deluxe but the spreadsheets and audio files can be sucked into most flashcard software/apps. They’ll come in handy when studying with Benjwan’s books, or on their own. Please note that I have not checked the spreadsheets against the books so if you do find snafus just let me know via WLT’s contact form.
If you can’t find the books in your local book store, in the US you can order online from Paiboon Publishing.
Memrise:Thai for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced…
Taking up the gauntlet, John Smith is using the materials to create Thai courses on Memrise. Memrise is a popular language learning platform with a website, iOS and Android apps.
John Smith: I’ve always found Memrise to be, hands down, the best way of learning vocabulary. It’s free, it’s engaging, and the high score aspect can even make it somewhat competitive.
Each course I’ve uploaded has 100 words. After I finish each course, I print out a list of all the words in English. I review the vocabulary until I can give the Thai translation for every single word from memory. Then it’s time to move on to the next course.
I’ve made some really amazing progress with this method so far and I would love to see some other people using my courses!
I’m at the “advanced beginner” to “intermediate” stage of learning, so this is what these courses are geared towards. It’s not every vocabulary word from every book, just the ones I didn’t already know. I’ll continue making courses and posting the links to them as I progress. Enjoy!
Thai for Beginners: Thai Vocab Builder 1
Thai for Beginners: Thai Vocab Builder 2
Thai for Beginners: Thai Vocab Builder 3
Thai for Beginners: Thai Vocab Builder 4
Thai for Beginners: Thai Vocab Builder 5
Thai for Beginners: Thai Vocab Builder 6
Thai for Beginners: Thai Vocab Builder 7
Thai for Beginners: Thai Vocab Builder 8
Thai for Beginners: Thai Vocab Builder 9
Thai for Beginners: Thai Vocab Builder 10
Leave a comment below if you’d like a spreadsheet listing the words John has not included.
Here’s a detailed tutorial showing you how to create a course on Memrise.
More from Paiboon Publishing and Word in the Hand…
For iOS and Android apps, one of the best Thai-Eng-Thai dictionaries out there comes from Paiboon Publishing and Word in the Hand. Don’t let the price scare you off – it’s worth every bit of that and more. To see what I mean, just check out the features here: Talking Thai <> English Dictionary+Phrasebook.
iOS: Talking Thai <> English Dictionary+Phrasebook
Android: Thai <> English Dictionary
Paiboon Publishing also has an iOS app for those studying with Thai for Beginners. It’s nicely designed and perfect for those short trips via taxi, standing in line, whatever.
iOS: Thai for Beginners
Quote: For beginning Thai students, or those who want to improve their basic Thai. Clear recordings of native Thais speaking each of the 3,000 words and phrases. Examples of the five tones. Increase size of text. Show or hide English text. No data charges once you download the app. Play a phrase over and over, or autoplay an entire lesson. Test your knowledge with built-in exercises. English voice can be turned on or off. Each item is presented in Thai, transliteration and English. Detailed HELP section.
And Benjawan isn’t done yet! As a professional interpreter Benjawan saw the need for more Thai interpreters in the US and other countries so she launched Paiboon Language Academy, an online interpretation and translation school for Thai speakers. If you are curious here’s the Paiboon Language Academy Press Release.
Website: paiboonlanguageacademy.com
Facebook: Paiboon Language Academy
I just can’t wait to see what Benjawan comes up with next.
This is great work, thank you!
However at the advanced stage I feel that learners shouldn’t be learning words in isolation – people have so much more capacity to learn words in context and 2 or 3 at a time. Therefore creating sentences with vocal built into those sentences works better for me, and I’m sure it’s helpful for others too! This isn’t a criticism btw and WLT is such a great resource and the hard work that has gone into it over the years is second too none in the Thai language community! Massive thank yous!
The Memrise adaption is good timing for me cuz I just started two nights ago going over my Becker Beginners iOS app which I’ve had for years and haven’t looked at for almost as long. Funny that Mr. Smith’s vocab list is literally from A to Z (ie it starts with ‘also’ and ‘about’ etc. and moves along to ‘bear’ and ‘bat’ and so on and so forth) but why not? Thanks to you both.
Thanks back Dave. Benjawan’s Thai vocab for the beginners section came to me alphabetical. Going through the list to put everything in the order of the book would take hours but if someone wanted to take on the challenge that’d be great to have as well.
Glyn – you are welcome 🙂
Fantastic resources.
Kob Khun krub