Thai Language and Culture Specialisation

Total units 24 Units

Areas of interest Asian Languages, Asian Studies, Asia Pacific Studies, Language Studies, Asia-Pacific Studies
Specialisation code THAI-SPEC

Academic career Postgraduate
Academic Contact Chintana Sandilands

Thai courses foster both students’ personal goals and Australian national interests by equipping graduates for deep and positive engagement with Thailand, Southeast Asia and other culturally diverse settings. Students develop Thai language skills in conjunction with an understanding of relevant social, political, cultural and historical contexts. The specialisation employs an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach, supporting the growth of analytical and other scholarly skills. Over the course of the specialisation, students can develop competencies that will enable them to access valuable native language resources, engage constructively in a broad range of social and professional contexts, and effectively share their academic insights.

Students in this minor are encouraged to spend time studying in Thailand. This can be done either through intensive in-country study in the summer or winter breaks, or through a year of study in the Year in Asia program. Competitive scholarships are available to qualified students.

A student may not take a course if that course is a prerequisite for another course which they have already passed, or a course that is a lower level than a course they have already passed.
Students with prior knowledge of the language will be required to take a placement test and may be exempted from the compulsory course.

Career opportunities

This specialisation will advance your career in language-related and cross-cultural work in government and non-government organisations, language technologies or as an independent language practitioner or researcher.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate confident, accurate recognition and production of Thai phonemes, including tones, to distinguish accurately between close pairs in listening and in speech and to use intonation appropriate to various scenarios.
Recognise and use transliteration; recognise various Thai script fonts and use a Thai computer keyboard.
Recognise and use vocabulary drawn from readings and discussions using royal language and Thai-Lao terms.
Read and easily comprehend longer documents that employ a wide range of structural forms, including markers to indicate linking of ideas and arguments.
Communicate personal views and offer descriptions in impromptu language situations, drawing on a base of known patterns.
Demonstrate a familiar understanding of cultural practices and beliefs of higher and lower echelons of Thai society, past and present.

Other Information

Students with previous “language experience or exposure” are required to take a language placement test to ensure enrolment at the most appropriate level.

Relevant past experience includes:

- Previous study of the language (both formal and informal, for example but not limited to, at school, or, home, or through online activities, etc.)

- Being exposed to the language in childhood via a family member or friend

- Travel or living in a country where the language is spoken

- The language being spoken in your home (even if you do not speak it yourself)

Students who are not sure if they need to take a placement test should seek advice from the course or language convenor.

Students who intentionally misrepresent their language proficiency level may be investigated under the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 as having failed to comply with assessment directions and having sought unfair advantage. This may results in a penalty such as reduced grades or failure of the course.

Students are not permitted to enrol in a language course below one that they have already successfully completed, except with permission of the language and/or course convenor.