Quick Verdict (for serious learners)
If you’re serious about actually speaking Thai well, skip the struggle:
👉 Go with a dedicated Thai tutor — everything else works best as a supplement.
Option 1) Learn Thai by Yourself
Best for: ultra-low budget, casual curiosity, or testing the waters
👍 Pros
- Free or cheap (apps, YouTube, podcasts etc. can be found easily online)
- Flexible schedule (learn anytime at your own pace). No precommitments required 🥳
- Good for basic phrases and exposure
👎 Cons
- No correction for tones ❗❗ Thai has 5 tones so this matters a lot. Pronounce things wrongly and you might say a totally different thing from what you intended.
- No accountability ❗ Tendency to be lazy and give up learning easier
- Unable to clarify doubts properly, resulting in a poor foundation.
My Honest Verdict
Self learning via free online materials are:
✔ Good as a supplement to your Thai language learning journey
❌ Weak as your main strategy if you want to build real life Thai conversation skills
Many beginners say: “I just want to speak, not write.”
However, self-studying Thai using a mish mash of resources makes it harder, not easier, to learn Thai. This is because speaking Thai correctly requires feedback, especially on tones and rhythm. If you ever want to progress beyond “sawatdii ka/kap” or saying very simple phrases like “I love you” in Thai, you will struggle 🥺
Click here to learn what sawatdii means and how to use it
Option 2) Sign Up for Thai Courses in Singapore
Best for: structured learners who like classroom environments
👍 Pros
- Structured curriculum (good for discipline)
- Social learning (practice with classmates and you can make friends with the same interests as you!)
- Some are SkillsFuture-eligible, which means you don’t pay a single cent out of your own pocket 🥳
👎 Cons
- Fixed pace (may be too slow or too fast)
- Limited speaking time per student ❗
- Harder to focus purely on conversation as the syllabus requires you to learn Thai reading and writing along with Thai speaking.
- Less flexibility (miss a class = lost progress)
Click here to find out when you should learn Thai reading and writing
My Honest Verdict
Courses are great for:
- Foundation: master the basics from proper teachers
- Consistency: once you sign up, you are commited to learn for the next e.g. 4 months
But if you want to confidently hold a conversation in Thailand?
You’ll still likely need extra conversation practice. What you learn in the classroom setting is unlikely to help you build confidence for real life Thai speaking 🥺
Click here to see the list of Thai language courses in Singapore (with SkillsFuture)
Option 3) Engage a Dedicated Thai Tutor ⭐ – Recommended
Best for: serious learners who want fast, correct, conversational fluency
👍 Pros
- Immediate correction on tones & pronunciation (this is critical)
- Lessons tailored to your needs (travel, dating, business, etc.)
- Learn at your own pace. Feeling confident? Lessons can go faster. Feeling overwhelmed? More practice and revision sessions can be scheduled in.
- Flexible scheduling (especially for students with shift work)
👎 Cons
- Costs more per hour (~$20–$50 depending on platform/tutor)
- Experience will vary depending on the tutor. Does the tutor make the process enjoyable? Can the teacher explain things properly?
- Still requires commitment and consistency for you to pick up Thai speaking skills.
Why this is the best option (especially from beginner level)
Thai isn’t like learning Spanish or French. If you get tones wrong early, you:
- Reinforce incorrect speech patterns
- Become hard to understand later
- Need to “unlearn” mistakes (which is harder)
A tutor fixes that from day one.
Addresses common beginner concerns from Singapore learners:
- “I’m starting from zero” → tutors are actually best for this
- “I only want conversational Thai” → tutors can skip reading/writing and focus only on speaking
- “I want flexibility” → flexible schedules at convenicent locations can be arranged with tutors.
- “I’m not sure where to start” → tutor gives structured path without rigidity
Decision Guide for New Thai Language Learners
| If you are… | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Just curious / trying it out | Self-study |
| Want structure + casual learning | Group courses |
| Serious about speaking Thai well | 👉 Private tutor (Option 3) |
Recommended Path To Learn Thai (Most Efficient for Beginners)
If you want a smart hybrid approach:
- Start with a tutor immediately (weekly or biweekly classes at the start to build momentum)
- Use self-study apps for reinforcement
- (Optional) Add a course later if you want structure or community or to learn more advanced Thai
Get help with learning to read, write and text in Thai today! 🥰
About the author – see the About page for more information
Joanne Tan is an aspiring polyglot and has so far mastered English, Chinese and Thai languages. She first started learning Thai in 2015 before staying in Bangkok for 5 months, and then continued studying Thai up to Advanced Levels at the National University of Singapore. In 2017, Joanne was awarded ‘Advanced Thai Proficiency’ by the Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute of Chulalongkorn University. Today, Joanne freelances as a Thai language teacher in Singapore and helps her Thai friends actively promote Thai culture.
