Tone Training That Actually Works
Thai has 5 tones that change word meaning. Most apps treat tones as optional pronunciation details. We make them a core part of every card.
Why Tones Matter More Than You Think
In English, pitch conveys emotion. In Thai, it conveys meaning.
The syllable "mai" can mean wood, new, not, burn, or signal a question—depending entirely on tone. Get the tone wrong, and you've said a completely different word. Not an accent issue. A comprehension issue.
Most language apps treat tones as an afterthought. They might mark them in transcriptions, but they don't test you on them. They don't help you hear the difference. And they definitely don't explain why words have the tones they have.
The "Mai" Example
One syllable, five meanings:
Without correct tones, you're guessing.
How Jam Kham Solves This
Tones aren't an add-on. They're built into every aspect of the learning system.
Dedicated Tone Cards
Cards that specifically ask you to identify the tone of a word and explain WHY it has that tone (consonant class + tone mark + syllable type).
Minimal Pair Drills
Practice distinguishing words that differ only by tone. Hear ข้าว (rice) vs ขาว (white) and learn to tell them apart instantly.
Dual-Speed Audio
Every word includes both normal and slow-speed audio. Hear the tone contour clearly at half speed, then at natural pace.
Separate Tone Tracking
Your tone accuracy is tracked independently. See exactly which tones you struggle with and get targeted practice.
Understand WHY Words Have Their Tones
Thai tones aren't random. They're determined by a system: consonant class + tone mark + syllable type = actual tone. Our tone cards don't just test recognition—they reinforce the underlying rules.
Research-Backed Approach
Tone perception training for adult learners is well-studied. Key findings we apply:
- Minimal pairs work. Wayland & Guion (2004) showed that high-variability phonetic training with minimal pairs significantly improves tone perception in adult L2 learners.
- Production training helps perception. Research shows that practicing tone production improves perception accuracy—which is why we include production cards.
- Spaced exposure beats cramming. Tone discrimination improves more with distributed practice than with massed training sessions.
Related Features
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