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[simon43]

Does anyone know of a Thai language course which is not 5 days a week?

I'm in the ludicrous situation of living in LoS for 5 years now, but now unable to obtain a suitable visa for my next year! I'm under 50 and don't work, so that limits my options.  Even a visa extension based on marriage is not possible because I don't have tax returns AND my overseas income comes from an offshore source which my UK embassy refuses to provide a verification of income letter!!

I therefore opted to go back to school and extend my visa based on my educational study.  (I'm actually very interested in following some form of study). Chula Univ has an interesting Thai Studies MA.  But I need to provide copies of my past degrees which my (vicious) ex-wife in the UK has permission of and refuses to hand them over   I've ordered copies from the university, but if these do not arrive in time then Chula will not admit me and I am in deep doo-doo!!

The good thing about the Chula course is that it was 3 half-days per week.  I live in Nong Khai, so cannot commit to 5 full days in BKK.  So a back-up in case Chula is not an option is an accredited language school which offers a course on 3 days per week.

A complex situation, and I'd appreciate any comments/advice re any suitable courses.

Simon

[RAZZELL]

simon43, on 2007-05-22 15:18:47, said:

But I need to provide copies of my past degrees which my (vicious) ex-wife in the UK has permission of and refuses to hand them over   I've ordered copies from the university, but if these do not arrive in time then Chula will not admit me and I am in deep doo-doo!!

I recently enquired at my old University about a replacement for my MA certificate (god knows where the original is )

The cost was only about £30 and I could get one in a couple of weeks...

Might be quicker and easier to pursue that option.

All the best and I'll be very interested to hear about the Chula Course. Is the tuition in Thai? Tried to contact them a number of times about their language courses , but never heard back.


RAZZ

[JaiRawnNitNoi]

Does anyone know of a Thai language course which is not 5 days a week?

I'm in the ludicrous situation of living in LoS for 5 years now, but now unable to obtain a suitable visa for my next year! I'm under 50 and don't work, so that limits my options. Even a visa extension based on marriage is not possible because I don't have tax returns AND my overseas income comes from an offshore source which my UK embassy refuses to provide a verification of income letter!!

I don't think this is too tough a situation (other than a VERY LONG commute to Krung Thep).  AUA (Rachadamri Road) will readily provide a letter indicating that you are student, which will get you on a multiple entry non-immigrant ED visa.  They have flexible hours roughly from 7AM to 8PM six days a week.  It would be fairly easy to get in about 15-20 hours a week over a three day period.  And very reasonable cost, about 100 baht per hour.  Other schools offer more expensive private sessions.  I can provide more information if you like (just google AUA Bangkok for starters).

[jdinasia]

AUA's website says that you must take classes 30 hours + a week to qualify for the Visa

http://www.auathai.c...nformation.html

[JaiRawnNitNoi]

jdinasia, on 2007-05-22 19:14:36, said:

AUA's website says that you must take classes 30 hours + a week to qualify for the Visa

http://www.auathai.c...nformation.html

Well I guess he has to pull three 10 hour days each week.    But TIT, I seriously doubt that there is any significant amount of oversight.  Let me give my situation as an example.  I used a letter from AUA to get a multiple entry non-imm ED visa issued in US valid until October 2007.  I studied at AUA from January through April (>30 hours per week), doing one 90 day run to Laos and a later trip to Burma.  Also during much of that time I was doing 2 hours a day private at another school, and in May started a three hour per day class at a third school.  I keep records of my reciepts at all schools.  But I don't know of any system in place to verify my attendance.  I currently attend AUA only 5-10 hours per week.

However, there does seem to be a system whereby a school representative from AUA will take passports (or issue letters) to BKK immigration verifying the student's attendance and obviating the need for the 90 day run.  But if the 30 hour rule was real I don't see how other schools (Union, etc.) could help with ED as they typically run 15-20 hours per week.  BTW, I have heard of a "15 hour" guidance as well.

Again, I think the OP should have a chat with AUA or another school about his options.  But I know an ED is very readily obtained.

[cooL_guY_corY]

After seeing it mentioned in this thread i did a search and found it available for download.  

Foreign Service Institute Thai Course

Also any more opinions on Thong Lo Thai school ? i live very close would be interested in more info.

[MacWalen]

robitusson, on 2006-02-05 13:47:43, said:

What's the best school for learning Thai, in terms of the teachers ability, materials and price? Candidates please.

Nisa in Sathorn so far has been the best all round for me out of the five I've been too.

I don't know much about Nisa, but you can try walen school if Thai, www.thaiwalen.com,  we offer a free demonstration and also very different method, for those interested in studying  for one year we can assist with obtaining ED visa that is extendable for a year without any visa runs. Reasonable price 29,500 for 180 lessons, one year course

[to4ever]

i learned Thai Language in TLA school (http://www.tlaschool.com) for 4 months..
i now can speak, read and write Thai becuase of TLA..
it's located just near "Payathai" BTS station, PayaThai plaza building,,
The classrooms are so clean and good conditions..
The tuition is not expensive,,, Teachers are so generous..
i've never heard that teachers speak English.. They try to speak just Thai..
it's so helpful and fun!!

i'm now looking for a Thai Language school again..
Unfortunetly, i can't get to TLA from my apt by MRT..
it's quite unconvinience to get there..

i surely want to recommend TLA even i couldn't join,,
i maybe choose a school which is near MRT station..
i wanna start from July or August...

Good Luck for Thai Langauge learnners!!

[expat_4_life]

to4ever, on 2007-06-25 01:25:03, said:

i learned Thai Language in TLA school (http://www.tlaschool.com) for 4 months..
i now can speak, read and write Thai becuase of TLA..
it's located just near "Payathai" BTS station, PayaThai plaza building,,
The classrooms are so clean and good conditions..
The tuition is not expensive,,, Teachers are so generous..
i've never heard that teachers speak English.. They try to speak just Thai..
it's so helpful and fun!!

i'm now looking for a Thai Language school again..
Unfortunetly, i can't get to TLA from my apt by MRT..
it's quite unconvinience to get there..

i surely want to recommend TLA even i couldn't join,,
i maybe choose a school which is near MRT station..
i wanna start from July or August...

Good Luck for Thai Langauge learnners!!

TLA is one of the schools that uses the Union based curriculum, there are others.  

If you'd like to attend a school with the same courses, methodology and similiar price then try Piammitr or Unity.  They are both located near to the Asok MRT station.  Unity is in the Times Square Building between Sukhumvit Soi 12 and 14, Piammitr is in the Jasmine City building at the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 23.  Piammitr is closer and easier to get to from the MRT station.

I'll be returning to Piammitr in August or September after my holidays, hope to see you there.  

[withnail]

I travelled to UTL everyday for 6 months by MRT you walk up the escalator at Sukhumvit station up onto the BTS platform (BTS Asoke) and it connects to the Time Square Building on the 3rd floor. Very convenient.

[RAZZELL]

to4ever, on 2007-06-25 01:25:03, said:

i learned Thai Language in TLA school (http://www.tlaschool.com) for 4 months..
i now can speak, read and write Thai becuase of TLA..
it's located just near "Payathai" BTS station, PayaThai plaza building,,
The classrooms are so clean and good conditions..
The tuition is not expensive,,, Teachers are so generous..
i've never heard that teachers speak English.. They try to speak just Thai..
it's so helpful and fun!!

i'm now looking for a Thai Language school again..
Unfortunetly, i can't get to TLA from my apt by MRT..
it's quite unconvinience to get there..

i surely want to recommend TLA even i couldn't join,,
i maybe choose a school which is near MRT station..
i wanna start from July or August...

Good Luck for Thai Langauge learnners!!

Advert???


RAZZ

[kerr17]

Anyone can reccomand me (PM) any former teacher for 1.1 lessons?

I think that few hours a week privatly it would be more helpful then a full time class.
Anyone can also suggest me a school not to expensive where to take good private lesson?

My thai is quiet basic and I'm looking for someone who can improve my conversational thai as well as teach me reading and writing.

Thanks

[LookSaMoon]

kerr17, on 2007-07-22 21:41:18, said:

Anyone can reccomand me (PM) any former teacher for 1.1 lessons?

I think that few hours a week privatly it would be more helpful then a full time class.
Anyone can also suggest me a school not to expensive where to take good private lesson?

My thai is quiet basic and I'm looking for someone who can improve my conversational thai as well as teach me reading and writing.

Thanks

I have sent you pm, pls check it out

[BFD]

I'd like a PM, too, if you don't mind...

Thanks,
BFD!

[boraborasands]

robitusson, on 2006-02-05 18:00:13, said:

kuwaittemp, on 2006-02-05 17:53:43, said:

I certainly agree with Nisa. So much so that I will be going back there in late Feb when I return to Bangkok. Not only did I have good learning experiences a few years ago when they were in the YWCA building, I now live only a couple of blocks away from their school.

I also recommend Thong Lor Language School. Located on Sukhumvit, you can literally descend the skytrain stairs and step into the school. One of my teachers there had a couple of MA(s), one of them in language acquisition. All three of my teachers there were good, all adapted texts a bit to what I wanted to do, and all demanded homework.

Thong Lor pricing is the same as Nisa.

I'll have to have a look at that one. Somebody told me Baan Phasaa Thai was good but I've never been.

Perhaps, if somebody could give informations about Thai solutions, i would appreciate it.
Their 30 hours package rates seems interesting.... for only 8500 bht of 30 hours....
Has anybody tried it?

[rgs2001uk]

robitusson, on 2006-02-05 18:00:13, said:

kuwaittemp, on 2006-02-05 17:53:43, said:

I certainly agree with Nisa. So much so that I will be going back there in late Feb when I return to Bangkok. Not only did I have good learning experiences a few years ago when they were in the YWCA building, I now live only a couple of blocks away from their school.

I also recommend Thong Lor Language School. Located on Sukhumvit, you can literally descend the skytrain stairs and step into the school. One of my teachers there had a couple of MA(s), one of them in language acquisition. All three of my teachers there were good, all adapted texts a bit to what I wanted to do, and all demanded homework.

Thong Lor pricing is the same as Nisa.

I'll have to have a look at that one. Somebody told me Baan Phasaa Thai was good but I've never been.

Perhaps, if somebody could give informations about Thai solutions, i would appreciate it.
Their 30 hours package rates seems interesting.... for only 8500 bht of 30 hours....
Has anybody tried it?

you get what you pay for, is it approved by the minisrtry of education, are the teachers licensed, are the books cut and paste jobs from other establishments?
i dont know what how serious you are about studying thai, how much time you have to attend lessons and then do homework after finishing school, whether location is an important factor to you?, do you speak any thai already, is cost a consideration to you? etc etc
i would suggest any of the schools teaching the aua method such as utl times square near to sukhumvit soi 12, piammitr jasmine place at the corner of sukhumvit soi 23, there is another school in rachatewi near the panthip plaza, sorry cant remember its name.
these schools offer 60 hours of instruction for 6000 baht, 3 hours a day for 20 days in a mixed class of roughly 5 or 6 other students, they are also pretty intensive for anyone with no knowledge of thai.
if you prefer one on one instruction, there is a school near to sukhumvit soi 38, cant remember its name, something like thonglor thai/english school. its been there for years and offers a basic introduction into thai language and has a good reputation for getting novices up and running with an introduction to the language. the last i heard their costs were something like 13,000 baht for 30 hours, again you get what you pay for.
i am in no way affiliated with any of these schools and have no commercial interest in any of them, although i am attending one of them and have no complaints.

[foolforlove]

TLA school has moved.

There are now in the Phayathai Plaza office building, next to BTS Phayathai.

I went there (when they were in Silom) for levels 1 to 4.  Good experience.

Mr_Dave, on 2006-02-10 03:08:48, said:

...I had excellent experience at Thai Language Achievement School in Silom.

...Attended 3 months in 2004.
Curriculum well-organized and easy to follow.
Teachers thoroughly prepared and instruction is clear.
Everything neat, clean, well-organized, but the chairs in classrooms are Thai-size = a bit small and low.
Other than that, I have only good things to say about this school.

...Schedule is intense: every morning, afternoon, or evening (your choice), five days a week, for a month.
They don't offer any more relaxed schedules than that, so if you just want a few hours a week, this is not the school.
Teachers are available for privates, but I never took privates.

...I repeated level 1 to review.
Turned out to be wise decision - made it much easier to progress to level 2.
Most other students went directly from level 1 into level 2 and they really floundered.
No discount for repeating a level, but I certainly would do that again, probably at every level, to learn thoroughly.

...Location: Bangkok Silom, midway between skytrain Sala Daeng and Bangkok Bank - opposite Patpong.
Also, close to subway Silom station.
Web site . . .   http://www.tlaschool.com/index2.html
.

[Goinghomesoon]

I work weekdays and tend to have an unpredictable finishing time so am restricted to weekend learning. I've tried 1:1 and to be honest I would prefer to be with other students. Several Bangkok schools such as Walen advertise Sat and Sun schedules but so far only Piammitr seem to actually run the classes. Anyone else learning weekends?

[Chuckler]

Goinghomesoon, on 2007-09-15 15:16:20, said:

but so far only Piammitr seem to actually run the classes. Anyone else learning weekends?

I've been trying to get piammitr to email me back, but I've not heard anything from them.

infor@piammitrschool.com is the email I'm using from their website, I'm guessing I have to physically walk in there. But it's so hot!  :/

[MacWalen]

markuk, on 2006-02-05 20:39:19, said:

any websites for the thai language schools? i have been recomended Jentana? any good?

have a look at www.thaiwalen.com,  you are welcome to come for a free demonstration

Edited by macwalen, 2011-03-01 00:15:48.

[mortti]

I,too, am looking for a private thai language teacher. I am a complete beginner and live in Sukhumvit. if you know any good ones please PM me. many thanks.

[frenchFARANGbkk]

I still keep in touch with my former Thai language teacher who still teaches after office time, so if you are interested give me your email and I will tell her to write you.

[luisparis]

Hi

I've just called the Unity school to register a cousin there for the course starting next monday. It's fine except noone in the school seems to speak chinese, whereas our cousin only speaks chinese dialects.

Can you think of another school with chinese speaking staff ( not teachers, but at least someone in the admin) ?

Cheers
luis

[shane]

Can anybody recommend a school where the thai teachers don't speak english? I've studied at UTL and and another school(forgot name) and found that my thai was much better when speaking to Thai's that dont speak english. The teachers at UTL were always speaking thai, but the other school i went to was a nightmare. The Thai teachers loved speaking english and my thai actually got worse while i studied there. I don't even like to hear the Thai teachers speak english to other people. For some reason it makes me feel silly when i speak thai with them.

UTL teachers always spoke Thai and that was great.

How about piammitr do the thai teachers always speak thai?

[up-country_sinclair]

i can recommend 'ajarn ja' who has a website  www.thai-teacher.com

she's fluent in english and has a master's degree in linguistics from thammasat.

she's located in krabi, but does classes via webcam for distance learners.  

as far as teaching on weekends..... i think her schedule is pretty flexible, but you'd have to contact her.

Edited by up-country_sinclair, 2007-10-23 22:59:23.