Many foreigners believe that learning Thai is difficult because the language has more characters than English, the language is tonal, and the script is written without spaces in between words. The current cost, as of 2023, in order to take the requisite courses in Thailand to receive a 14-month Non-Immigrant ED visa is around $1,300 (44,500 baht) if you go with a school such as The Knowledge language school in Bangkok.Ĭontact the language schools for more information. You can check out the various costs via Numbeo for Bangkok and Thailand, which itemizes based on crowdsourced data. You can knock at least 25% off the cost if you live in Chiang Mai, and it’s cheaper still to live in smaller cities like Korat, Ayutthaya, or Chiang Rai. I also had a gym membership, and I went out to eat for every meal. I had a modest but furnished studio apartment with WIFI, air-conditioning, and TV just 10 minutes from the city center. All in all, if you’re frugal, you can get by on $1000 per month you can live quite comfortably on $1800 per month. You can eat at local restaurants for $2-5 per meal, and you can go out for a pint for around $2-3. In Bangkok, living is a bit more costly, but you can get a modest studio apartment with WIFI, TV, and air conditioning for about $325-$400 per month outside of the city center. Thailand is an affordable yet comfortable place to live. As many Thai workers aren’t so great with English, while at the same time many Thai companies engage in international business and need people who can speak English well, you can be quite valuable to companies if you’re fluent in English and your Thai is very good. Thailand suffers from a lack of skilled English speakers, and it regularly ranks near the bottom in international comparisons of English skill. My studies have helped me to be able to answer the phone in Thai and read simple documents and emails without having to ask someone in the office to translate for me, which often comes in handy. I’ve been learning Thai for about 3 years now, and I can chat with people for most of an evening, listen to some news programs and watch movies, and read some news stories and other texts. Whether you’re working as a teacher or working in a company, knowing Thai will make you very important to your employer. It’s difficult to find foreigners who can speak Thai even in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and it’s rarer still to find foreigners who can read and write Thai. If you’re interested in living in Thailand long-term, learning the language is a huge asset. You can chat with people you meet on the street, you can try out plenty of local restaurants and order with assurance, and you can instantly gain the respect of just about everyone you meet. Knowing the language allows you to confidently enter many situations that you would shy away from if you could speak only English. Learning Thai is, of course, one of the best ways to get to know Thailand. ![]() Immerse Yourself in the Culture and Build Your Career ![]() ![]() For an investment of about $1300-2000, you can get a year of Thai language lessons as well as a 1-year visa to live in Thailand. Whether you plan to start a teaching stint, build a career in Southeast Asia, or simply try out living abroad, Thailand is a great place to begin your journey. It’s the best country to stay in as a gateway to Southeast Asia, as it’s cheaper than Singapore and Malaysia but more comfortable and developed than Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Whether you’re a traveler who’s been on the road for months and is finally looking to settle down for a while, or you’re looking to move abroad but want a soft landing in a new country, Thailand can be an attractive place to live. Studying Thai in Thailand: Learn a Language and Live for a Year Abroad Study Abroad Student Writing Contest 2014 Contest 2nd Place Winner
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