Thai Parents

How do Thai parents raise their children, and why do so many Thai adults go on to support their parents later in life? This lesson looks back at farming life in the past, when big families meant more land and more help in the fields. It then follows the shift to factory work, school fees, university degrees and changing parenting styles. You’ll also hear about the Thai value of gratitude towards parents, the lack of retirement welfare for many older people, and why some foreign husbands are surprised by how much support Thai families give each other.

Thai Vocabulary:
กตัญญู (gà-tan-yuu) – Gratitude towards one’s parents
เกษตรกรรม (gà-sèt-tra-gam) – Agriculture
รับราชการ (ráp râat-chá-gaan) – To work in government service
สวัสดิการ (sà-wàt-dì-gaan) – Welfare
เลี้ยงดู (líang duu) – To raise / look after

Listen for how these words are used in natural spoken Thai, and see how much of Thai culture you can pick up along the way!