Syllabus: This course will provide students with an in-depth knowledge of Thai language and culture including values, beliefs and attitudes that are widely held in Thai society today. The course will also enhance students' Thai language skills. By studying traditional Thai literature, students will increase their understanding of the complexity of Thai culture. Topics covered will include Thai values and attitudes in the spheres of politics, economics, religion, and international and cross-cultural relations, tracing these back to their social and historic roots.  Students will be expected to engage with parts of relevant texts without necessarily having an in-depth knowledge of the texts in their entirety. The themes which these texts illustrate will form the basis for further discussion and further insight into the character of contemporary Thai language, values and beliefs. In addition, the course will introduce additional sources of historical and contemporary materials, including contemporary works from various Thai writings, cinema and drama, traditional and modern Thai sayings, idioms and proverbs.

Students will be introduced to a range of Thai literature, both historical and contemporary, over the course of the semester.

By the completion of this unit the students will be able:

• To read and become familiar with different historical and contemporary Thai literature and writings.

• To become familiar with a wider range of text types, especially those found in an academic context.

• To gain knowledge and in-depth understanding of the complexity of Thai language and culture.

• To understand the importance and roles of the core institutions in Thai society.

• To understand the character of traditional and contemporary Thai language, values and beliefs.

• To conduct research by searching for and identifying relevant Thai documents in areas of your discipline in both the university and national libraries and through Thai websites as well as the documents recommended by the lecturer.

• To become familiar with differences between spoken and written language.

• To be able to discuss issues in an academic context.

• To acquire a more specialised vocabulary.

• To give oral presentation.

• To write essays in an academic context.

Attendance and class participation (15%); Weekly short written assignments of 500 words in Thai (25%); two class presentations (5% each = 10%); translation into English (15%); minor project of 3,000 words in Thai (15%); and a major essay of 4,000 words in Thai (20%).

Contact Hours: Four hours per week

Prerequisites: THAI3002 Thai 3A or permission of coordinator (based on third year level proficiency in speaking and reading the Thai language)

Preliminary Reading: Thailand: The Worldly Kingdom. Maurizio Peleggi. The University of Chicago Press and Reaktion Books, Chicago, USA.  (2007).  

Very Thai.  Philip Cornwel-Smith. River Books Press, 396 Maharaj Road, Tatien Bangkok, Thailand. (2007).  

A History of Thailand. Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. (2005).