Samsung Thai Language Apps – Learn Thai Lite
Having recently armed myself with a new Samsung mobile phone I have decided to try out a few of the Thai language apps available. To start off my pursuit to improve my Thai language skills I’ve been playing around with an app called Learn Thai Lite, and it’s available free by download from Google Play.
Learning Thai with Samsung apps…. Learn Thai Lite
Learn Thai Lite is not an app marketed for accomplished Thai speakers but one for beginners and those with very basic Thai language skills. So do I fall into Learn Thai Lite’s targeted market or not?… well, yes and no really.
No first… the free app has six categories listing over 200 different words and phrases in both Thai script and transliteration. My Thai is at best a bit above basic and the categories contain very few words and phrases new to me as far as their transliteration goes, although the Thai script is way over my head. Despite the script, this part of the app (transliteration) is of limited use to me. I already know most of the words and phrases and when I do finally get around to seriously learning to read and write Thai I think a specialist tool will be of far more use to someone like myself. If you are thinking Learn Thai Lite is getting a big thumbs down from me then you’re wrong, because the ‘yes’ now comes into play.
The yes part… each word and phrase also has an audio file which can be set to a male or female voice. Thai is very much a tonal language and my limited Thai is spoken largely in monotone. And so this is where the Learn Thai Lite app is really kicking in big benefits for me. Thai tones are all important in beating the language barrier but they are all too often ignored…. and in the past learning them has been for me a long-winded and seemingly impossible task. However, the Learn Thai Lite app really has begun to help.
Learn Thai Lite word and phrase categories
- Greetings –
Phrases include: How are you?, Nice to meet you, My name is… - General conversation – Phrases include: Please say that again, Can you speak slowly, Can you speak English?
- Numbers – Learn to count 0-100 and say 1,000, 10,000 etc.
- Directions and places – Includes: Left, Right, Where is the toilet?
- Transportation – Phrases include: I’d like to go to the airport, Please stop here.
- Eating out – Includes: Breakfast, Chinese food, Seafood, Very delicious!
Learn Thai Lite free app features
- No internet connection required.
- Audio recordings by native speakers (could be slightly louder).
- Bookmark favourite words and phrases.
- Search by keyword.
- Thai language learning tips (very basic).
The best feature for me is the simplicity of this language app. You click a category, choose a word or phrase and sit back and learn. The Thai script and transliteration pop out, and the audio file instantaneously speaks your chosen transcript. The ease and transparency of Learn Thai Lite’s menus are a big bonus and being a freebie… what more could you want.
Learn Thai Lite is a good app for anyone wishing to take their first tentative steps to learning Thai. It also includes an option to buy the extended pro version for £3.59. I haven’t exercised that right yet but I will probably do so. The pro version includes 400+ new phrases and 12 added categories which include Tourist attractions, Shopping and Dating.
The Learn Thai Lite free app is the first Thai language app I have tried and my rating for it is a very solid and respectable 6.5/10.
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Martyn, I don’t know anything about the non iOS market for learning Thai so for me, this is GREAT! And needed. More please 🙂
Catherine – I’m planning a few more Samsung Thai language app reviews. It’s great to now have a mobile that can handle these wonderful language apps. I think they are going to improve my Thai one hell of a lot.
Hi Martyn, Agree with the tonal challenges of the Thai language. A part of me would like to at least achieve a basic level of conversation after 2 years in Thailand, but another part is glad that I am not competent enough in the language to “participate” in family conversations. I do get the gist of some of the conversations and that is enough to irk me as it is. But I think with Heng growing up fast, I need to be at least at his level of proficiency in Thai or Isaan. Looks like a useful app but my last android phone drowned in some liquid substance over 2 years ago. I hardly carry a mobile with me these days.
How – My apologies to you and Catherine for replying so late but I’ve been working a fair bit lately.
Likewise, I’d like to get my Thai language skills up to a decent level but I’d be a bit afraid of a few conversations I might overhear and understand.
With Heng at such a young age it might be a good time for you both to learn Thai together.
Hi Martyn, Thanks for the mobile phone suggestion. I will stick with my current one or get something for 590baht. I just need something to receive calls and for texting “back home in 5 minutes.” The current smartphones are way too smart for me.
Eating goldfish-that’s a new item on the menu but I will probably pass on it. I do get visitors admiring the koi but not sure whether they are visualizing them as dinner or as ornamental objects.
How – I googled ‘Can you eat goldfish’ and there was a few things listed. It seems they are a type of carp fish and so you can eat them but they are rather bony.
Wow this sounds like a great app! My friend recently started teaching at a language centre here in Singapore and I signed up to be the first guinea pig. They’re giving complimentary lessons for new registrations now =) Learn Thai In Singapore
Hopefully I can at least learn some basics in 10 weeks =p
Calvin – Best of luck with your Thai language learning site and enjoy a bit of love link from The Juice.