FSI Lao Basic Course

Lao is the native tongue of around four million people in Laos as well as a further 20 million in north-eastern Thailand – where it is known as the Isaan dialect of Thai. In Laos, it also serves as a lingua franca for the non-Lao-speaking minorities who speak a wide variety of other dialects and languages.

Although not mutually intelligible with Thai, the languages are closely related, and if you already speak some Thai, Lao will be easy to pick up. Most dialects of Lao are considered to have six tones, one more than standard Thai, but the writing system is simpler, making Lao somewhat easier in certain respects.

If you travel to Laos, nobody will expect you to speak Lao, but since English is not widely spoken outside of popular tourist destinations, knowing some Lao will greatly facilitate your time there. At the same time, it will give you many more opportunities to interact with the locals, whose respect you will gain through having made the effort to learn their language.

Course Details

What is the FSI Lao Basic Course?

The FSI Lao course is based on the Vientiane dialect of Lao. It was first created in 1970, although an updated version appeared as recently as 2014. The materials available here include the text for Volumes 1 and 2 of the updated course as well as the accompanying audio. There is also a supplementary course on reading Lao, which also includes recordings.

How was FSI Lao Basic originally used?

The FSI Lao course was created to train US diplomatic staff in the Lao language before taking up positions in the country. It was designed as an intensive course, with students taking around six hours of classes per day, supplemented by a further two hours of personal study. The instructor was a native Lao speaker, and students were expected to speak only Lao during lessons. Even outside of class, they were encouraged to speak Lao among themselves, and in such conditions, they were able to make rapid progress, attaining a good level of competency in only around six months.

How can you use FSI Lao Basic?

It is unlikely you will be able to recreate anything like the study environment of a full-time FSI course. However, FSI Lao contains a wealth of material that, with a little creativity, you can adapt to give your learning a boost.

Lao is not among the most common languages to learn, and as a result, anyone who wants to study it will find it a challenge to obtain materials to work with. One or two books for learning Lao exist, but resources are meager, and any additional materials you can get your hands on will be invaluable.

Unfortunately, the FSI Lao course follows a different format from other FSI courses, relying more heavily on the instructor, which makes it less suitable for self-study. However, if you are determined to improve your Lao, the lessons and accompanying audio can still be used to help you achieve your learning goal.

This means if you have another Lao coursebook and already know some of the language, this free Lao course can be used to supplement your study with additional speaking and listening exercises, allowing you to expand your vocabulary and work on your fluency.

However, if you don’t know any Lao and are looking for an introductory course for autonomous learners, this might not be the best place to start.

Taking it further

Regardless of the materials you use, you won’t be able to speak Lao unless you practice. This means as soon as you can, you should try to find opportunities to use your Lao and to make it a part of your daily life. Look for native speakers to talk to so you can try out what you’ve learned. Then, when you start using what you’ve picked up in this free online Lao course, you will really start to see your language skills improve.

Volume 1 (1970)

Student Text

Volume 1 (new course: 2014)

Student Text

Volume 2 (new course: 2014)

Student Text

Student Text

#	Audio
01	lbc 1
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03	lbc 41
04	lbc 61
05	lbc 81
06	lbc 2
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08	lbc 42
09	lbc 62
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11	lbc 3
12	lbc 23
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14	lbc 63
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16	lbc 4
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18	lbc 44
19	lbc 64
20	lbc 84
21	lbc 5
22	lbc 25
23	lbc 45
24	lbc 65
25	lbc 85
26	lbc 6
27	lbc 26
28	lbc 46
29	lbc 66
30	lbc 7
31	lbc 27
32	lbc 47
33	lbc 67
34	lbc 8
35	lbc 28
36	lbc 48
37	lbc 68
38	lbc 9
39	lbc 29
40	lbc 49
41	lbc 69
42	lbc 10
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44	lbc 50
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46	lbc 11
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70	lbc 17
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72	lbc 57
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74	lbc 18
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77	lbc 78
78	lbc 19
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80	lbc 59
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82	lbc 20
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84	lbc 60
85	lbc 80

Part One

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Part Two

Everyday  Lao

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48	Greetings
49	Where are you
50	Telling Time
51	Where Are You From
52	You speak Lao Very Well
53	Calling Friends
54	Occupation
55	Shopping
56	Directions and Transportation
57	Marital Status
58	Ordering Food
59	Hobby and Leisure