Thai is the official language of Thailand and is spoken by around 70 million people as a mother tongue or second language in Thai communities in Thailand and around the world. The study of Thai gives students a unique access to Thailand today and to knowledge of its culture and society. Our ANU courses balances learning to effectively communicate in Thai with promoting students’ abilities to access the rich cultural resources available in Thai literature, film, culture, and society. Students develop Thai language skills in conjunction with an understanding of relevant socio-cultural, political, and historical contexts. The Thai courses foster both students’ personal goals and Australian national interests by preparing graduates for a discerning engagement with Thailand and its culturally diverse settings. Studying Thai as a major can also lead to opportunities outside the classroom and students are encouraged to spend time studying in Thailand through a variety of in-country courses including semester and year abroad options. Competitive scholarships are available to qualified students.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop and apply critical thinking skills to understand how the socio-cultural context impact communication in Thai and the ways in which the language, culture and society are intertwined in discourse in Thai.
- Read, understand and discuss Thai texts such as news, magazines, and modern Thai literary texts.
- Engage with, understand and discuss different media types such as spoken word broadcast, television, music and the cinema in order to analyse the contents and exchange ideas with others.
- Communicate in spoken and written Thai using a full range of grammatical structures, expression, and thematic vocabulary relevant to the areas of personal and academic interest.
- Express themselves confidently in spoken and written Thai in informal and formal registers that reflect an understanding of the situation and the materials used in terms of content, context, and underlying issues.
Other Information
Students with previous “language experience or exposure” are required to take a language proficiency assessment to ensure enrolment at the most appropriate level. This major cannot be taken by students who have pre-existing language competence at or aboveTHAI2003
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 proficiency assessment 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 2021 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.
International students who are studying all or part of their program on a student visa are advised that this major is only available for online study. Under the Education Services for Overseas Student Act 2000 (ESOS Act), international students on a student visa cannot do more than 33% of their study online. International students interested in enrolling in these courses should contact the CAP Student Centre (cap.student@anu.edu.au) for advice prior to enrolling.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
The Thai Language Major consists of 48 units, which must include:
36 units from the following compulsory Thai Language Courses:
THAI1002 Thai 1
THAI1003 Thai 2
THAI2002 Thai 3
THAI2003 Thai 4
THAI3002 Thai 5
THAI3008 Thai 6
Students who receive an exemption through a Language Placement Assessment (LPA) may choose from the following lists of courses to complete their major. Students cannot receive an exemption through a LPA for THAI2003, THAI3002, THAI3008
A minimum of 6 units from the following research courses:
ASIA2100 Linguistic Histories in Asia and the Pacific (L)
ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)
A minimum of 6 units from the following associated language courses:
ASIA3108 Research Topics in Asian and Pacific Languages (L) *
LANG3001 Translation across Languages: the translation of literary texts **
LANG3002 Translation across Languages: specialised material **
*The course is offered in semester 1 each year. Students may enrol in this course code up to 4 times, under different topics of Indonesian to be included in this major. Enrolment in this course is subject to the availability and agreement of an appropriate supervisor. It is a requirement that students confirm the approval of the potential supervisor before enrolling in the course.
**These courses must have a course topic of Thai to be included in this major.
6 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| THAI3008 | Thai 6 | 6 |
42 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA2103 | Language in Asia and the Pacific (L) | 6 |
| ASIA 3006: Prac Assign in Asia Pacific | ||
| BURM1002 | Burmese 1 | 6 |
| SKRT1002 | Sanskrit 1 | 6 |
| SKRT1003 | Sanskrit 2 | 6 |
| SKRT2103 | Sanskrit 3 | 6 |
| SKRT2104 | Sanskrit 4 | 6 |
| SKRT 2105: Sanskrit 3A | ||
| SKRT 2106: Sanskrit 3B | ||
| INDN 3004: Readings in SEA Culture | ||
| INDN 3005: Adv Readings in SEA Cult | ||
| THAI1002 | Thai 1 | 6 |
| THAI1003 | Thai 2 | 6 |
| THAI 1004: Thai 1A: In-Country | ||
| THAI2002 | Thai 3 | 6 |
| THAI2003 | Thai 4 | 6 |
| THAI3002 | Thai 5 | 6 |
| THAI 3006: Mod Thai Prose | ||
| THAI 3012: Mod Thai Prose: In-Country |
