Choosing a Thai Language School in Bangkok
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Planning a Thai course in Bangkok? Here's how to choose a school, class or tutor, and the part you can start tonight on your own: reading Thai, ten minutes a day.
See how Thai reading actually works
Read your first Thai word free →No account, no card — just the alphabet.
Start reading Thai today, whichever school you choose
You've decided to learn Thai, and the city around you is written in Thai script. Read your first word today, and you'll soon start spotting words you know on menus and shop signs.
Say them fast and they blur. Written down, a different consonant (ก or ข) separates chicken from egg, and a tone mark separates egg from fever.
Class time is best spent speaking. Reading is solo practice that fits into ten minutes a day, and Read Thai teaches the script and the tone rules for one payment, yours to keep.
See how Thai reading actually works
Ten minutes a day fits around any class timetable.
Try the free demo →No account, no card — just the alphabet.
How to choose a Thai school in Bangkok: the short version
School, group class or private tutor?
Learning Thai in Bangkok usually means one of four set-ups. Each suits a different learner.
Group classes at a language school
Good for: Lower cost per hour, a fixed schedule, and classmates to practise with.
Worth knowing: The group sets the pace.
Private tutor, in person
Good for: Full attention, your own pace, and correction the moment you need it.
Worth knowing: Usually the highest hourly rate, and quality depends on the person, so a trial lesson matters.
Private tutor, online
Good for: No commute, easy to fit around a busy week, and usually the lowest hourly rate.
Worth knowing: You can't point at a real sign mid-lesson, but Bangkok gives you plenty to practise on afterwards.
Employer programmes
Good for: Often subsidised or included as a benefit, sometimes with colleagues in the same class.
Worth knowing: Usually general-purpose Thai, and the schedule is set by your employer.
How Bangkok schools approach reading Thai
Schools differ in when they bring in the Thai script. The common patterns:
- Speaking and listening from the first class, with reading and writing sold as a separate course.
- Conversation levels first, with the script added a few levels in.
- Script from the start, taught alongside speaking.
If you'd like to read alongside a speaking-first course, that's the part you can do on your own.
Questions to ask before you enrol
Ask each school the same questions, so you can compare them fairly.
- When does the course bring in Thai script?
- Is tone taught with rules, or picked up from conversation?
- What happens in a typical class: a planned lesson, or open conversation?
- Is there a trial class before you sign up?
- What does the whole course cost?
- How flexible is the schedule if work or travel gets in the way?
- If you need an education visa, does the school offer one, and on what conditions?
Making the most of learning in Bangkok
Being in Bangkok means you can try before you commit: book a trial with two or three schools or tutors, and go with the one that suits you. Our guide to choosing a Thai tutor covers what to look for in a trial lesson.
It also means real Thai is all around you between lessons: signs, menus and conversations on the BTS. Reading practice fits into a commute or a lunch break, and every street gives you something to try it on. For more on settling in, see learning Thai as an expat.
Already taking classes?
Reading Thai lets you follow what goes on the whiteboard and in the notes your teacher shares, and read the words you hear around the city. Ten to fifteen minutes a day fits around any class schedule.
Know some Thai already? Reading may help the words you hear in class stick, because the spelling shows you what to listen for. Your teacher still trains your ear. See getting past the intermediate plateau.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Thai language school in Bangkok?
We don't rank or endorse schools. Bangkok has a lot of good options, and the right one depends on your schedule, your budget and whether you want a group class or one-to-one lessons. Ask two or three schools the questions on this page, and book a trial class before you sign up.
How much do Thai lessons cost in Bangkok?
Rates vary a lot by teacher, school and format, and online lessons are usually cheaper than in-person ones. Group courses are usually sold as a block of hours, so compare the whole course price, and ask for a trial lesson.
Is it better to learn Thai in a group class or with a private tutor in Bangkok?
Group classes cost less and give you classmates to practise with, and the group sets the pace. A private tutor costs more per hour, corrects your own mistakes as you make them and moves at your pace. Some learners do both: a group class for structure, and a private tutor for one-to-one correction.
Do I need to know any Thai before enrolling in a Bangkok language school?
No. Schools and tutors take complete beginners. If you'd like a head start, reading is the easiest part to begin on your own. Read Thai's demo has you reading your first word in about a minute, and the first three modules are free.
The alphabet is the same at every school. Start it tonight.
Read Thai teaches the script and the tone rules, alongside whichever school or tutor you choose. It's one payment of $49, yours to keep, and the first three modules are free.
Start reading Thai today
About 10–15 minutes a day, whenever suits you.
Start the free modules →First 3 modules free — no card, and they don't expire.