I prefer learning basic phrases. There are several websites and online dictionary that have basic Thai sentences (with audio), romanized script, and english meaning. You can listen to the audio then mimic the sound and record it. You can replay what you sad in Thailand, compare to the Thai audio on the websites, and practise. You will feel the progress of learning. Feel the ability to communicate on the basic subject. But if you are tone deaf, it will be difficult.
Many of Thai students start learning english with learning a, b, c , vocabulary, grammar, then , ... Ten years after that they are still in the books and not able confidently speak english with the foreigners.