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Thai Language at Ohio University

Thai / ภาษาไทย

Ohio University offers language instruction in beginning, intermediate, and advanced Thai.

img5Thai is the official language of Thailand, a kingdom of roughly 60 million people. Thai, a monosyllabic and tonal language, is unique in that it bears little resemblance to any of the neighboring languages of East or Southeast Asia, including Chinese, Burmese, Khmer, Vietnamese, and Malay. Thai belongs to the Tai language family. Apart from the Thai of present-day Thailand, the Lao peoples of the Republic of Laos, and the Shan, who inhabit northeastern Burma, speak a related Tai language, bringing the total number of Tai speakers in Southeast Asia to approximately 80 million.

Why study Thai at Ohio University?

  • Ohio University is home to the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, one of only nine programs in the United States designated as a National Resource Center and funded by the Department of Education. Thus, Ohio University offers not only language instruction in Thai, but courses in Thai history, culture, philosophy, literature, politics, and much more.
  • Ohio University Libraries houses one of the largest collections of research materials on Southeast Asia in the United States. In addition to its world-class Malaysian Resource Center, and renowned Indonesian collection, Ohio University Libraries is home to the David K. Wyatt Thai collection. Consisting of more than 15,000 volumes, about half of which are in Thai, the David K. Wyatt Collection includes most of the standard works on Thailand, a substantial number of Thai royal chronicles, King Chulalongkorn’s (1868-1910) diaries and letters, and an extensive array of monographs, memoirs, and cremation volumes. The Wyatt Collection is one of the largest private library collections ever acquired by Ohio University.
  • Ohio University offers a growing number of undergraduate study abroad programs, internships, intensive language programs, and graduate student scholarships dedicated to the study of Thai and Thailand.
  • The study of Thai can “open doors.” Hundreds of international organizations, NGOs, American businesses, and U.S. governmental agencies operate in Thailand. Some knowledge of the Thai language, which is always in high demand, positions one well for a rewarding international career in Thailand.
  • … but above all, Thailand is a fascinating country, noted for its unique history, magnificent scenery, extraordinarily rich culture, and undeniably charming people.

The Thai Classroom

Our approach to teaching Thai at Ohio University is both dynamic and multifaceted. The Thai courses embrace all aspects of language: speaking, listening, reading and writing. In addition, the model of Thai language instruction used at Ohio University emphasizes the importance of culture. Students learn about and are exposed to Thai culture in a number of ways: Thai literature, films, lectures, interacting with native Thai students and other members of the local Thai community, learning how to cook Thai food, field trips to the Thai Buddhist temple in Columbus, Ohio, singing, dancing, and more. In sum, Thai language instruction at Ohio University is all-embracing.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE THAI LANGUAGE PROGRAM AT OHIO UNIVERSITY CONTACT

Pittaya Paladroi-Shane @

paladroi@ohio.edu

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