Here's a challenge for learners of Thai (or English). The video contains spoken language; it's rather fast and a bit longer than usual. However, it is fun, interesting and a great example of the preservation of Thai culture.
Learning Thai: Protest in Milan (October 19, 2014)
The protests in Milan against Gen Prayuth weren't very big but they did get attention from both the Thai- and English-language press. Here is a Thai language example.
Learning Thai: Amanda returns to Udon (October 12, 2014)
The gold medal won by Thai-American Amanda Carr in BMX bicycle racing at the Asian Games was big news in the Thai media, but her return to Thailand was even bigger. Here is a short example.
Learning Thai: The Koh Tao murders (October 5, 2014)
There has been a lively controversary recently at Mahidol University about whether the rector should be allowed to hold the additional post of public health minister.
The speaking style of NCPO chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has caught people's attention. He can be stern, as you would expect from a military man, but he also can be funny. Here is an example. (English translation included.)
Thailand's poorly controlled surrogacy "industry" has been big news in both the Thai- and English-language media this week. Here is an excerpt from a Thai-language report with an English translation. (Audio included)
OK, you can read a Thai message in print form, but what if you get the message in handwritten form? Let's give it a try with two letters that got a lot of attention in the social media recently.
Learning Thai: A listening challenge (July 20, 2014)
เนเธฃเนเธงเน...เธเนเธญเธเธ•เธเธเนเธฒเธกเธเธฒเธ Huh? Yes, Thai teenagers seem to be inventing or distorting words, right and left, but it has always been that way and always will be, a language expert says. Let's look at some examples.
Controversial former monk Winai La-ongsuwan (Phra Yantra) was front-page news before he left for the US 20 years ago. His return was considerably quieter.
Pol. Capt. Chalerm Yubamrung had some strong words for the permanent health secretary over his failure to attend a meeting at the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order headquarters.
Learn Thai: Ticketless passenger boards NOK Air flight (April 13, 2014)
Satriwithaya 2 School marching band members' controversial funding appeal to businessman Tan Passakornatee is now under disciplinary investigation, a frequent topic in the news here.
A hero to some, a terrorist to others, Vivat Yodprasert, alleged to be the so-called "popcorn" gunman" has been arrested. Read about his arrest in both Thai and English.
Learn Thai: Ratchanok comes back to win (March 9, 2014)
The Civil Court's ruling on the emergency decree was a big new item this week. As you will see, it doesn't make easy reading in either Thai or English.
Learn Thai: The general speaks (December 21, 2013)
One of this week's most talked about video clips shows PM Yingluck breaking into tears while speaking to the media. Let's look at what she said in Thai and English.
Learn Thai: A big language challenge (December 7, 2013)
If you are learning to understand spoken Thai, this will be a BIG challenge. The same for those of you who are learning translation. Try this interview with the controvesial Aum Neko and you'll see what I mean.
Here's a story that originated in English and was translated into Thai for Post Today and then translated back to English. So, if the English seems a bit awkward, that's why.
Thai fans turned out in the thousands to buy tickets to see the Thai women's volleyball team play in the Asian final, far more than the stadium could hold, requiring some quick thinking on part of the local governor.
Learn Thai: Mourning the loss of Sayan; remembering his first hit (September 19, 2013)
The death of Luk Thung star Sayan Sanya has prompted an outpouring of grief and good memories. Khru Cholathee reflects on his loss and we take a look and listen to Sayan's first hit "Police Chief's Daughter''.
Here is a story from earlier in the week involving the Thai Airways Airbus landing accident which resulted in the closure of one of Suvarnabhumi's two runways.
Learn Thai: Thai mob (เธกเนเธญเธ), English rally (September 7, 2013)
One word you will rarely, if ever, see in the Bangkok Post’s coverage of the rubber price controversy is “mob”. People who gather for a protest are not a mob in the English sense, unless they become violent and out of control.
The parliament president's only tool is his wooden hammer called a gavel. The current president uses it often enough to be known as the "Lord of the Gavel". (In Thai and English)
(Learn Thai) Thai temple may get World Heritage listing (June 23)
The rush to name Thai newborn male babies after the leading characters of a popular Thai soap opera continues. Here's a Thai language version of the story.
Learning Thai: Tiger hopes for an end to Garcia conflict (June 5)
We can't let David Beckham's farewell football match go unnoticed. Here are some details many English-language stories left out – the boots he wore, for example.
Learning Thai: Royal Ploughing Ceremony (May 16, 2013)
The Prime Minister says her speech in Mongolia shouldn't be considered controversial since it was merely an exchange of experiences with the international community.
Learning Thai: Legal team visits PM (25 April, 2013)
The legal team handling Thailand's Preah Vihear case at the International Court of Justice may work as equals, but not in the eyes of Thai photographers.
Learning Thai: Death of the Iron Lady (12 April, 2013)
The death of a former world leader like Great Britain's Margaret Thatcher always generates expressions of sadness from current world leaders. Here are some examples in both Thai and English.
There has been much talk in the news that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra might be replaced by a substitute. How does PM Yingluck herself feel about this?
Learning Thai: The general speaks his mind (24 March 2013)
General Prayuth Chan-ocha had some harsh words to say to those willing to consider reforming the Thai monarchy. Let's look at an excerpt in both Thai and English.
Maggie Rosenberg, a native of Brooklyn, New York says she can’t speak Thai, but she certainly can sing Thai. Her delightful music video is making her many friends here in Thailand and we’ll use it for our “Learning Thai” lesson today.
In Thai, speaking about royalty requires special vocabulary known as rachasap (เธฃเธฒเธเธฒเธจเธฑเธเธ—เน). As this story illustrates, this is true even when speaking about royalty from another country.
The December 21 "end of the world" was covered just as heavily in the Thai media as was in the international media. Here is an example from Post Today.
For Thais throughout the country last Wednesday, watching His Majesty the King slowly, but determinedly, addressing the nation, must have been an emotional experience. Here is that speech again, together with the text in both Thai and English.
Gen Boonlert says he is finished with "mobs" (more likely to be called large political protests in the English sense) and explains his reasons for ending the Pitak Siam rally.
This story contains Seh Ai's famous remark that the governnment's tough measures to control his rally would actually help "invite (attract) guests" to his rally. He was wrong, but his statement is still interesting to read for both learners of Thai and English.
Spoken Thai can be even more challenging than written Thai. Here's an example that most learners would find very difficult except for the transcript/translation we have provided.
American voters have now declared their choice for president, but who would Thais have chosen if they had the chance? A Suan Dusit conducted just before the election gives the answer.
Cabinet changes are a regular part of Thai politics and all require endorsement from His Majesty the King. Here is an introduction to a story on the most recent cabinet reshuffle.
Here’s a follow-up story on the death of former King Sihanouk. Once again the Thai is extremely respectful, following the tradition of using special language for royalty.
If you read about the Thai parliament, you are going to see a special set of vocabulary. Here's a short story excerpt which contains several of the most useful words.
YouTube video clips are becoming a major news source here in Thailand as they are in other parts of the world. Here's an example that will likely lead to a court case.
A YouTube clip featuring the mother of the Police doctor arrested in a multiple murder case has caught the interest of both the Thai- and English-language media.
Take a mysterious death, a wealthy and famous actress of the past and suspicious relatives and you have a front-page story. That happened last week. Here is the opening a Post Today story on the subject.
Getting to know Trang 1: เธเธญเธเธซเธฃเธญเธขเน€เธกเธทเธญเธเธ•เธฃเธฑเธ (14 Sep 2012)
Roast pork or moo yang, a Trang speciality, is the subject of today's Thai/English lesson. Since this is a very southern story, once again Ajaan Sunee Khaenyuk is doing two versions, one in the central dialect and one in phasaa pak tai.
Local Thai-language news stories are often full of abbreviations, making life difficult for learners of the language. This is especially true of crime stories like this one.
Today we'll go one step beyond what we normally do, giving you a chance to listen to both a central Thai version of the story and a version using the southern Thai dialect. And, of course, we'll include an English version.
Big-name signing for BEC Tero Sasana (05 Sep 2012)
We now have thousands of readers using stories from the Bangkok Post each day to learn English, but our sister newspaper Post Today can be just as useful for those of you who are learning Thai. Here is an example.
