Thai Alphabet (อักษรไทย)

Although, I thought I would never be able to learn the whole of the Thai alphabet, after all there's 44 consonants to contend with for starters and once you'e committed these towards memory then there's the 15 vowels to grapple with. Of course, for someone who can easily remember pictures and symbols it shouldn't be too much of an issue. However, I know when i was learning I wanted to commit all the consonants and vowels to memory as fast as possible so that I could start identifying them in signs, newspapers etc and progress with reading Thai.

If you're looking to streamline learning the Thai alphabet, then I'd suggest downloading some software that can help you visualize the alphabet characters and also provide audio clips on how they should sound. So if you've got the cash to invest in your learning, you may want to give 60 minutes to learn the Thai alphabet a go. There's plenty of features on there that will expediate the whole process. Or if this is out of your budget, kids books and the tables i featured on my first post are a great way to start learning as well.

ขายขี้หน้า/เสียหน้

For many westerners the concept of 'losing face'/'saving face' is something strange and unusual, as for many of us before coming to asia it was a novel concept. However, here in lots of asian countries it's very important for the locals to maintain the harmony and not to lose face or make other people lose face. Often in Thailand, you may hear the term 'sĭa nâa ' เสียหน้ used as an equivalent of 'losing face' 
and when you hear this you just hope Thais aren't talking about you. 
In Taiwan, the concept of face is also important and maintaining the harmony. 

พอดี - Just about right/Just enough

I was over at Thaivisa.com on the language section, and there was an interesting thread about พอดี Go Here To Read It.
In the case of พอดี when put at the start of the sentence the phrase it takes on a completely meaning to instances where we might hear this phrase used out in public (usually in the just right/just enough context). 
As Katana points out, when พอดี is put right at the start, followed by a verb in the future tense then it takes on the meaning of just about to do something.
But, you will usually hear พอดี used in these kinds of scenarios:
น้ำตาลพอดืไหม  - is there enough sugar?
ใส่เสื้อพอดีไหม  - is the shirt a good fit?
คุณมีโซดาพอดีในแก้วของคุนไหม - do you have enough soda in your glass?


In Thai contemporary pop there's also a number of songs that contain พอดี in the title for extra practice on different contexts of the phrase, which have karaoke versions on youtube.
เบิร์ด ธงชัย (Bird Thongchai) - พอดี Fit 

Golf Mike - ไม่พอดี ไม่ดีพอ.

พอแล้วสำหรับวันนี้  

Learn to Speak Thai like a Thai

I've stumbled an easy to use application which might be good for some learners here, which guides you through the Thai language with visuals, sounds and phonetics to make learning Thai all that more easier. I shall be putting up a proper full review in the coming weeks, when my schedule quietens down a bit more. However, if you did want to check it out it's compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista and there's a new and improved version being launched in the next couple of days for only $39. At this sort of price it's a bargain and certainly cheaper than getting private lessons or studying at a school/University. Click to start learning

Podcasts

I've recently rediscovered the joys of podcasts and how they can be instrumental in the beginnings of learning a new language, and indeed whilst your still developing your vocab. and proficiency in the language podcasts are still very useful and shouldn't be neglected. I'm posting about this, because as you know I'm starting to learn Chinese and I've found the newbie lessons from Chinesepod.com very useful indeed. I think what makes these particular podcasts perhaps more interesting and perhaps easier to digest is that you get to hear the conversations 3 times, then there's an explanation of what the dialogue means, the context is used in and perhaps on what other instances/occasions you can use particular words/phrases, and then you get to hear the conversation another 3 times - this time having a better understanding of what's going on. The onus of these podcasts, as well, are not so much on the individual words/sentences, but rather the patterns that go on in chinese. By the radio presenters not over analyzing the words, context etc. it's not too overwhelming for a beginner. I just wished I had discovered  podcasts and used them when I was learning Thai, maybe it would have helped.

Reading materials online

One of my favourite online news sites has to be Matichon Online, it's great for picking up bits of good vocab. and expressions and really challenging yourself. Although when I read it my understanding is not quite 100% it provides me with words/phrase I then need to go away and check in the Lexitron online dictionary: http://lexitron.nectec.or.th/2009_1/.

Here's a link on the Matchion site to a news story about Robbie Williams and his previous addiction to prescription drugs, after it came out the Michael Jackson died from a drug overdose from a cocktail of  prescription drugs. http://www.matichon.co.th/news_detail.php?newsid=1255336425&grpid=01&catid=

Here's some words/phrases I've picked out that might be useful:
ติดยา = drug addict
วันนั้น = on that day
ผมเล่นยาหลายประเภท = i tried many kinds of drugs
โคเคน = cocaine
เฮโรอิน = heroine
ยาบ้า = ya ba/metaamphetemine
ยาแก้ปวด = painkiller(s)
"ไมเคิล แจ๊กสัน" ราชาเพลงป็อป = "Michael  Jackson" King of Pop.
นักร้องหนุ่ม = young singer
เกี่ยวกับเรื่อง = story about

ภาษาจีน

พมกําัลงเร้นภาษาแมนดารินยากมากคร้บ
I'm learning Mandarin, it's very hard.


So it's been a couple of days into my chinese mandarin learning. I haven't found a place to study yet, just doing some traveling before I still down and find a school. I think its a better situation here, because not many people seem to speak English so I will be forced to speak chinese on a daily basis to convey what I want.


Mandarin has 5 tones, which a new learner first has to get to grips with if they're not familiar with tonal languages.
Coming from learning Thai it's not such an issue. Some of the sounds are quite hard to imitate particularly, and gonna take me a while to get a hold on. I have to say one major incentive for me learning, is that the girls here are seriously cute :) So one day would be nice having a conversation with them that extends beyond the basics.