ling-app-shadow-icon02
  • Start Learning

Blog » Thai Blog » No Thai On Duolingo?

No Thai On Duolingo?

Published by Connor A Connor A at April 16, 2020
Why is there no Thai option on Duolingo?

As you can imagine, I like to stay up to date with the language learning scene. In doing that, I came across what is now one of the more popular language learning app: Duolingo. I like to try these out for myself to see what it is like and whether it is a good tool for learning. I was scrolling through the list looking for the language I am most interested in learning (Thai, if you couldn’t guess) only to discover that there is no Duolingo Thai course. Duolingo also doesn’t have some other languages such as Khmer, Tagalog, Cantonese, Serbian etc. You can imagine my disappointment, so I decided to look into this a bit more.

Why Is There No Duolingo Thai Course?

This is the big question I want to get my head around. Thailand is by far one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, so surely there is no shortage of people looking to learn. So why does Duolingo not offer Thai as an option to learn for native English speakers? It’s also interesting to know that there is also no Thai on Babbel or Rosetta Stone either. 

One thought that crossed my mind was that maybe they think Thai is too difficult to learn. As we looked at before, this is not the case. Much like learning any other language, if you put enough time and effort into your learning, you will succeed. 

Then I was thinking that the Thai Alphabet might be the reason why. Would that scare people away? However, they already offer languages like Chinese and Hebrew, which both use their own script. Adding to that, once you understand the basics of the Thai Alphabet, you can start reading and writing quite quickly.

From what I have read, there is actually an option for Thai speakers to learn English on the app. At least there is one being worked on. So why is there no Duolingo Thai option for English learners? I guess we will never know.

What Are The Alternatives To Duolingo?

Ling

I am glad you asked. There is one very obvious recommendation that can be made here, and that is the Ling Thai app. Ling uses native Thai speakers to help you learn Thai, just like it will sound in the country. 

Through the gamification of learning, it also makes the whole process much more engaging. You can see yourself progress as you make your way through the different topics and tests that come along with it.

Then there is the chatbot feature that simulates conversations and makes for great practicing your Thai language skills. For an introvert like me, it helps to build up my courage to eventually feel confident enough to use it when out and about.

While these mobile apps do share a common goal of making language learning fun and accessible, what sets Ling apart is the focus on practical vocabulary, sentences and phrases that you will use in everyday speech. 

Simply Learn

This one is actually a part of the same family as Ling. Simply Learn Thai is a phrasebook in app form, giving you all the benefits that come with that. You can listen to the words and phrases being spoken by native Thai speakers, along with the Thai and phonetic spellings of the words. 

It makes for a great companion both when practicing and when you are in Thailand. It makes use of flash cards and the spaced repetition learning technique that is said to really improve language learning.

It may not be the top choice if you are want a deep understanding of the language, but helps you start out with pronunciation and basic grammar like word order. 

Other Resources

There are quite a few different apps and websites that work great with helping you to learn Thai. Each one goes about its own way to replace the hole made by the lack of Thai in Duolingo. Ultimately, it is a case of finding which option works best for your case.

Like we said before, it is good to make a language learning plan and mix things up if you are serious about learning Thai. If you are just looking for a more casual experience to learn a few phrases before travelling, then apps might be the best option for you.

Find Your Way To Learn Thai

It is a shame that Duolingo doesn’t offer Thai as an option. However, this is a good opportunity for you to consider and try out some of the other options on the market. While we highly recommend for you to try the Ling Thai app, we understand that everyone has their own preferences. There are many great resources for learning Thai available so have a look around. Try some of them out and you may just find your new favorite language learning app.

Ling Thai offers some lessons for free to let you try it out. Download the app today.

Simya Solutions Ltd.
Free 100 Common Thai Phrases
Please correct the marked field(s) below.
  Thank you for Signing Up
Fun mini-games and quizzes help you mastering a new language quickly.
Practice hundreds of dialogues on the go. Talk to our chatbot about daily life topics.
Master the language with extensive grammar tips and instructions.
Start Learning
StartLearning Thaifor free now.
Share
Connor A
Connor A
Language Specialist & Professional Content Writer @ Simya Solutions Ltd.

Related posts

How to say good morning in Thai
February 24, 2021

Good Morning And Good Night In Thai


Read more
Free resources for learning Thai
February 20, 2021

Free Resources For Learning Thai


Read more
Thai currency and its history
February 19, 2021

Thai Currency And Its Fascinating History


Read more

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ling app

Learn a new language today. Free!

  • Ling Learn Afrikaans
  • Ling Learn Albanian
  • Ling Learn Arabic
  • Ling Learn Armenian
  • Ling Learn Bengali
  • Ling Learn Bosnian
  • Ling Learn Bulgarian
  • Ling Learn Burmese
  • Ling Learn Cantonese
  • Ling Learn Chinese
  • Ling Learn Croatian
  • Ling Learn Czech
  • Ling Learn Danish
  • Ling Learn Dutch
  • Ling Learn English
  • Ling Learn Estonian
  • Ling Learn Finnish
  • Ling Learn French
  • Ling Learn Georgian
  • Ling Learn German
  • Ling Learn Greek
  • Ling Learn Hebrew
  • Ling Learn Hindi
  • Ling Learn Hungarian
  • Ling Learn Indonesian
  • Ling Learn Irish
  • Ling Learn Italian
  • Ling Learn Japanese
  • Ling Learn Kannada
  • Ling Learn Khmer
  • Ling Learn Korean
  • Ling Learn Lao
  • Ling Learn Latvian
  • Ling Learn Lithuanian
  • Ling Learn Malayalam
  • Ling Learn Malaysian
  • Ling Learn Marathi
  • Ling Learn Mongolian
  • Ling Learn Nepali
  • Ling Learn Norwegian
  • Ling Learn Persian
  • Ling Learn Polish
  • Ling Learn Portuguese
  • Ling Learn Punjabi
  • Ling Learn Romanian
  • Ling Learn Russian
  • Ling Learn Serbian
  • Ling Learn Slovak
  • Ling Learn Slovenian
  • Ling Learn Spanish
  • Ling Learn Swahili
  • Ling Learn Swedish
  • Ling Learn Tagalog
  • Ling Learn Tamil
  • Ling Learn Telugu
  • Ling Learn Thai
  • Ling Learn Turkish
  • Ling Learn Ukrainian
  • Ling Learn Urdu
  • Ling Learn Vietnamese
© 2020 Simya Solutions. All Rights Reserved
    • No translations available for this page