Course Description

Throughout this course, students will learn how to communicate in Thai language as they develop their understanding towards Thai culture. The course will provide the environment where students will learn and practice basic skills of listening, speaking, writing, and critical thinking through the content relating to Thai culture in various aspects.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Final Consonants

What is final consonant?

To spell a word, you need the first consonant to produce the first sound of the word and a vowel. Some words have a final consonant to create the sound in the end.

For example,


In Thai language, there are only 8 sounds of final consonant:

- produce G/K/C/CK
จาก (jàak)

- produce D sound
จาด (jàad)

- produce B sound
จาบ (jàab)

- produce NG/NK sound
จาง (jaang)

- produce N sound
จาน (jaan)

- produce M sound
จาม (jaam)

- produce Y
จาย (jaaey)

- produce W sound
จาว (jaow)



VOWELS

Some vowels change form when spelled with final consonant

Vowel อะ
วะ + น
= วัน

Vowel เอะ
เจะ + บ
= เจ็บ

Vowel โอะ
โปะ + น
= ปน

Vowel อือ
ปือ + น
= ปืน

Vowel เออ

เดอ + น
= เดิน

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Midterm Project

GENERAL

The student midterm project is to be an interactive enquiry into student’s comprehension of basic skills in communication in Thai language. Students will create a “One-Day Diary” comic strip about a day in their life. The comic strip must include illustrations and dialogues related to following topics:

1. Meeting new people

2. Ordering food

3. Traveling

4. Giving directions


ASSESSMENT

The “One-Day Diary” comic strip project will account for 50% of their midterm examination or 10% of student’s final grade in the course. The content of their project will determine questions in their oral examination, which will account for another 50% in the midterm examination.


DUE DATE: Nov 25, 2010


GRADE BREAKDOWN

The student’s grade (out of a possible 10-point total) will be broken down as follows:


Content (4)

- sufficient coverage of what is required

- relevant to course content

- story that flows and that is clear

Script/Dialogue (3)

- practical and relevant to the story

- shows applications of ideas presented

- correct Thai usage

Presentation (3)

- shows neatness

- illustrations relate to the scripts/dialogues

- interesting and creative

- evidence of hard work



SAMPLE

ทิศทาง (Tid Taang) : Directions

บน (bon)
on, above

ล่าง (kâang lâang)
below

ใต้ (tâi)
under, beneath

ซ้าย (sái)
left

ขวา (kwǎa)
right

หน้า (nâa)
front

หลัง (lǎng)
back

ใน (nai)
in, interior

นอก (nôrk)
outside, exterior



CONVERSATION

ไป (pai) + ไหน (nǎi)
to go + where

อยู่ (yùu) + ไหน (nǎi)
to be, to stay + where

ที่ (têe) + ไหน (nǎi)
at + where

ไป (pai) + ยังไง (yangai)
to go + how


For example,

กินที่ไหน (kin têe nǎi)
Where to eat?

When answer, you cut the word ไหน (nǎi) out. Repeat กินที่ (kin têe) and follow by the name of the place.
กินที่บ้าน (kin têe bâan)
Eat at home


เขาอยู่ที่ไหน (khǎo yùu têe nǎi)
Where is he/she at?

When answer, you can simply say the name of the place or say...
อยู่ข้าง (yùu kâang) + บน (bon) / ล่าง (lâang) / etc.
to be, at + upstairs / downstairs / etc.


ไปห้องน้ำยังไง (pai hông nám yang ngai)
How to go to restroom?

When answer, just simply say the direction.
ไปข้าง (pai kâang) + directions
to go


Many times, you have to use more action phrases:


For example,


How to tell directions to taxi


Note:
When you want the taxi to make a U-Turn, you can just use the word U-Turn.


You can use the word "แล้วก็" (láew gôr), which means "then" to connect the phrases.

Course Objectives

After the students have completed the course learning activities, the students should be able to:

1. Develop basic communication skills in Thai as well as the critical thinking ability.
2. Learn about Thai culture.
3. Able to account what is learned in class to create new meaningful things.
3. Know how to adapt cultural context into contemporary world.