Analytical Study of the Initial Consonants which are Difficult for Thai Learners of Mandarin Chinese and Appropriate Teaching Methods

Abstract

This is a contrastive study on the Chinese and Thai initial consonants. It also analyzes the causes of difficulties in learning the initial consonants by Thai learners of Mandarin Chinese. Finally, this study proposes teaching methods appropriate to Thai learners.
After determining the difficulty in teaching and the contrastive analyzing of the sounds which are similar in Thai and Chinese, the appropriate methods for teaching is then proposed as follows: Firstly, instructors can use the techniques of teaching Thai phonetics as a guidance for the learners to understand the basic concepts and knowledge of the phonetics and the way in pronouncing each sound. Secondly, instructors present the Thai initials and the Chinese initials by demonstration of pronunciation, and uses of flash cards and pictures, etc. Finally, have students practice pronunciation and instructors then, by drills and repetition, teach the new sounds.