'optional' tapes are required, April 6, 2004
Reviewer: A reader
Just to make it real clear and easy for everyone trying to figure this out: Yes, you need to buy the tapes too. The typical way language courses are taught is with a) a book, AND b) tapes and/or instructor. There is no way anyone can learn Thai pronunciation from just reading a text, especially this one. That is the purpose of the tapes, which are a lot cheaper than hiring a live instructor to do the same thing. Amazon sells the book and the tapes separately but in this case they were not designed to be used that way.

That said, the Becker series (Thai for Beginners; Thai for Intermediate Learners; Thai for Advanced Readers) is the best I've seen for learning Thai, and I've prowled a lot of bookstores in and outside of Thailand over the past three years.

Extremely helpful if you are serious, September 23, 2003

I've been studying Thai for a year and a half. I have used this book a lot. It moves on from the most basic phrases and basic vocabulary. It shows how to begin to construct basic Thai sentences, and how to use the most common Thai constructions. It is still very, very basic.

Unlike some other, overly simple books, this one is for people who are serious about learning Thai, and are willing to do some real memorizing, and to apply themselves. This book is not a quick-fix for people who want to learn Thai in 7 days.

Pluses of the book:
1. The focus of each lesson is extremely practical, aiming at teaching Thai as it is actually spoken.

2. Doing the exercises requires reading in Thai! (This is really essential. Spelling words out in our alphabet is helpful only for people who do not plan to study the language.)

3. Each chapter offers loads of normal, day-to-day vocabulary.

Drawback of the book:

1. The exercises are very few and incredibly brief. So although you are presented with good information, it doesn't offer much chance to practice using it.

I bought my copy with the tapes. But six months later I have gone through the book twice, and still have never listened to the tapes, so I can't comment on them.

Very Valuable, August 9, 2002

This book can help one build on what they learned in the Beginner series, or one can use this book and tape set, if they never studied under the first set to begin with. Tons of useful vocab, phrases, and contextual dialogues are in here. In real-life, you can use what you learn here, and the writing, reading, and listening sections will help a person adapt to the short and long vowels and tones quicker, it seems, than those who just work on the language on their own.

A very good intermediate textbook, August 26, 2001

There are not many textbooks for the intermediate Thai student, so it's our good luck that this is a good one. Ajaan Becker has lessons on most of the really puzzling idiomatic usages of the language, such as "^hay" (to give, basically, but lots of other things, like "~phom ja tham ^hay"), "gaan", "khwaam," and many other useful things including the all important particles such as 'na and ^na. There is a list of all the 76 provinces of Thailand, which is very useful. A suggestion for future editions: associate the list of provinces with a map or maps of Thailand. Another very good aspect of this intermediate book is that it strongly encourages you to make the leap from Thai in transliteration to Thai in Thai script. Another tool you might consider if you are serious about learning Thai is the Linguaphone Thai Course. It's always good to surround yourself with lots of Thai-learning materials in any case. Highly recommended!

Second part of a great series, February 21, 2001

Once again, Benjawan Becker has written a great book on reading, writing, speaking and comprehending the Thai language. Lists of streets, provinces and names provide great references, and are taught in the context of conversations. Emphasis is placed on learning to give and take directions, hold conversations, and express impressions and emotions. Altogether a natural and beneficial follow up on her first book. Highly recommended for anyone serious about learning the mechanics of the Thai language.

Typically Thai, September 4, 2000

The book starts with a section on Thai place names and has sections on Thai names and food. Why they are in here I do not know other than to practice your Thai reading. They take up valuale space.

There is a little grammar follwed by excercises, but I could have done with more grammar. It's typically Thai - half done.

This is a follow up book to "Thai for Elementary Learners", though how you go from elementary to intermediate in one step I don't know. You don't in learning English.

That said it is one of the better books around. But I'd love a good one.