Ed Gets Schooled: Linguist Stu Jay Raj Critiques a Thai Conversation Part 2 [S6.E21]

In Part Two of Ed’s Thai lesson with guru Stu Jay Raj, the two push through Ed’s sample Thai conversation. Stu continues to emphasize the importance of proper pronunciation of vowels, even going so far as to say it is more important than tones themselves. But Stu also gives several examples of Ed using sentence structures borrowed directly from English that, while grammatically correct in Thai, do not sound natural to native speakers. Additionally, Ed has a habit of using phrases that could tip off a Thai person to the fact that Ed learned his early Thai in the bars of lower Sukhumvit Road, which is not exactly known as a bastion of erudition among Thais.:)

The lesson concludes with a discussion of the value of learning Thai from a teacher that speaks English and understands how native English speakers form sentences. Native Thai speakers have obvious advantages, of course, but that doesn’t mean they are the best teachers in every situation.

Listen in for some expert advice on learning Thai as a second language.

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