Who likes getting ripped off because you don’t know the language? Hmm, no one’s raising their hands… Seriously, though, if you plan to be in Thailand for any length of time, it really behooves you to learn the Thai script and make some Thai sounds with your mouth.

Enter the White Guy

Yep, the white man. He’s not here to keep you down, but get you set up with knowledge. The e-book has 30 chapters in all – if you spend an hour or so on two or three chapters, you’ll be through the book in a couple of weeks.

How much is it?

It’s $49. I’ll let him explain more here.

 What makes it worth it?

• A general, no-BS attitude (the same sort of approach I took in writing Korean Made Easy)
• Things are broken up into bite-site pieces and set up in a logical order, while the 600+ flash cards enable your own system.
• Access – beyond the PDF, there’s also has a web version to peruse.
• A familiar sort of teaching / learning style – the Western way isn’t perfect, but it sure as hell isn’t a cram school.

It’s not just the e-book – it’s the flashcards…

I wasn’t familiar with Anki before I had the chance to review this package. It turns out that while the Android, Windows, and Mac versions of the flashcard program are free, the official Anki iOS app is an additional $25. There’s no easy, official way around that, but if you’re serious about learning languages, flash cards and a SRS (Spaced Repetition System) are a great way to do it. Speaking of apps, his iPhone app covering much of the same material is online for $4.99.

Two downers…?

If you’re the sort that needs graphic design, head elsewhere. This looks and feels a bit on the minimalist side – personally, I like the focus on what you’re paying to learn, not the fluff of a swanky color design.

Also, there is zero transliteration in the book. It certainly may not be needed after a certain level, but when first starting out I’ve found it a useful crutch to lean on.

Conclusion

To be clear, there are plenty of ways to learn Thai, and anyone with some discipline could probably use any number of strategies. If you’d rather focus your energy at learning Thai, this way’s hard to beat. Head to his website, learntoreadthai.com, to check it out for yourself.

Recommended for beginners of Thai.

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Disclaimer: Chris in Thailand received a review copy of the flashcards and e-book.