dsfbrit

Thanks to all of you for your feedback - I will take the advice onboard and I have added all the books to my 'potential books to buy list'.

Thanks again

Dave

"...and fruit flies like a banana."

Best of luck, Dave.

Thanks - and yes - thats the one.... ah brings back happy memories !!!

Rather than learn English or grammar, you should concentrate on learning how to teach....many people know a lot about a particular subject but have no idea how to teach.

It always amazes me how everyone has an opinion on teaching even if the only experience they ever had was on the receiving end at school.....would they tell a doctor or engineer what to do in such stringent terms???

Curiously I am able to multi-task, but I take your point. On another thread it was recommended I buy 'Training for Dummies by Elaine Biech', which I shall do. Now any advice on a good Engish Grammar book? I have several anyway, but as I am about to buy a new one I would rather get the latest and best.

The book by Micheal Swann (i can't remember the exact title but it's something like English Grammar Usage) is generally considered the best to be used as a reference for yourself.

If you are looking for something to teach from then get the Raymond Murphy series(Essential Grammar in Use, English Grammar in Use and Advanced Grammar in Use).

Training for Dummies is excellent and is availible from Kinokuniya in Bangkok and if you're feeling particularly enthusiastic may I also recommend "Use your Memory" by Tony Buzan which is availible from B2S in Pattaya.

Not a teaching book by any means but many of the memory techniques outlined in his book can be utilized in the EFL classroom to help your students remember the information presented to them.

I have Training for Dummies, Use your memory and the Essential Grammar in Use series which your quite welcome to take a look at. I live in central Pattaya. PM me if you would like to meet up and look at the books prior to ordering them.

Good luck. I can see that you're prepared to put in the groundwork prior to starting to teach and I think you will become an effective EFL teacher.

Thanks for the encouragement. I am going back to the UK in the New Year for 2 weeks, so will pop up to Foyles and Universal Stationers in London and collect a copy of each - should be able to reserve online before I go.

Tony Buzan books bring back happy memories of University 30 years ago. We used his books for ambiguous logic examples. I recall this being one his ambiguous sentences we had to discuss:

"Time flies like an arrow"

Thanks again

Dave

Rather than learn English or grammar, you should concentrate on learning how to teach....many people know a lot about a particular subject but have no idea how to teach.

It always amazes me how everyone has an opinion on teaching even if the only experience they ever had was on the receiving end at school.....would they tell a doctor or engineer what to do in such stringent terms???

Curiously I am able to multi-task, but I take your point. On another thread it was recommended I buy 'Training for Dummies by Elaine Biech', which I shall do. Now any advice on a good Engish Grammar book? I have several anyway, but as I am about to buy a new one I would rather get the latest and best.

Teaching maths is a good idea, but not really what I enjoy. Over the last period I have helped quite a few Thais to learn some English. I really enjoyed it and being able to speak, read and write Thai reasonably well, the people appreciated explanations and language structure comparisons in Thai.

I know its not always acceptable to explain a new language in the mother tongue of the learner, but I prefer that method. I know when I learnt German, there was a reluctance to explain anything in English and I cannot say it helped me learn any quicker.

My hope is that I can get into a friendly environment, big school or private language school is not that important. I may even take a job at the language school where I have been learning Thai for the last 3 years - they have asked me to teach there often enough and until now I have been reluctant to get involved.

Oh well back to all the threads about TEFL. One thing I would like to ask though - I would like to buy a decent (1 or more) English Grammar books. Any advice ??? There are lots out there !

I know I can search the threads, but any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

Dave

Fair comments, from which you have confirmed my 'gut feeling', that as long as the Ministry Of Education recognizes the course, then that will be sufficient qualification for me to teach in Thailand.

Thanks guys, I will go and investigate and maybe have more questions sometime in the future.

I am a 53 year old expat living in Pattaya. I have a University degree in Maths and Computing and would like to start teaching English in the Pattaya area.

I have no real knowledge of the teaching profession in Thailand and apart from training courses I conducted for employees over many years, I have no teaching experience at all.

I have a reasonable knowledge of English Grammar rules, having learnt German some years ago and also spending the last 3+ years learnig to read/wirte and speak Thai.

I intend to brush up on these skills and enrol on a TEFL course.

All that I have read about TEFL courses leads me to believe that the CELTA Cambridge course is the best.

However, I cannot find one of these near Pattaya, so would like to know if this qualification is a major advantage. For example, there is a non-CELTA course in Jomtien, would someone please advise me if this is a useful course for me to take. I will only ever teach in Thailand.

It also offers jobs - any thoughts on this would also be appreciated.

Thanks for you help, no doubt I will have lots more questions !!!

Thanks very much for the feedback. He is deciding what to do now and I will let you know what he decided and how it went.

One option he is also considering is hiring a boat for just himself and a couple of others. We bumped into the guy that operates one of the boat companies - the guy just happened to be fishing in the lake in Chaweng an we recognised his van - and he offered my friend a boat to himself for 5000 baht.

We are in Ko Samui - chaweng- for a week and a friend in the group is a keen sea fisherman. We have read the threads relating to sea fishing and it all seems a bit grim. He is thinking about booking one of those sea angling trips for 1300 baht.

You know the ones I mean, they go off in the morning in a group and come back about 5.00 pm.

Are these any fun / good at all - although he is a keen fisherman, he would be quite happy with just a reasonable days fishing. I have a horrible feeling it is just a tourist jaunt and the fishing is poor ??

Also, he has asked me to ask if live bait is essential ie squid.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

thanks in advance...

Thanks to all of you for the good advice.

I have sent emails to the hotel and to Samui Shuttle. If I don't use these then I will use the minivan and not the taxi!!!

Hope the bad weather has not caused you too many problems down there.

regards

dsfbrit

We are coming to Koh Samui in the next couple of weeks, staying at Chaweng. We will be arriving at midday. Could someone please advise the cheapest way to get to the hotel.

I am not a 'cheap charlie' I am not trying to save the odd 100 baht or whatever, I just don't like being ripped off!!

Thanks for any advice

Ikea shelves entry into uncertain Thai climate

By Mark Kleinman Asia Business Editor

Last Updated: 11:36pm BST 29/09/2007

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtm...9/cnikea129.xml

Ikea, the Swedish retailer known around the world for its flatpack furniture, has put plans to expand into Thailand firmly on the shelf amid an increasingly uncertain environment for multinational investors.

Swedish retailer has postponed Thai move

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that the lingering after-effects of last year's military coup and a series of tougher laws on foreign ownership have prompted Ikea to postpone a move into one of South-East Asia's most important economies.

The delay reflects growing nervousness among overseas investors following draconian revisions to Thailand's Foreign Business Act and the publication of draft legislation covering the retail sector, which may have a serious impact on Tesco and Carrefour, the French supermarkets group.

Since the ousting of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister and the man who now owns Manchester City Football Club, a year ago, the Thai government has proposed changes to the definition of a "foreign" company to mean one which is not controlled or majority-owned by Thais.

It has also vowed to stamp out the use of nominee shareholders for the subsidiaries of multinationals operating there, a move which has alarmed many overseas firms which have largely relied on the use of such structures.

"The foreign business ownership laws have always been complicated, but there has always been a measure of understanding," said Alastair Henderson, managing partner of Herbert Smith, the law firm, in Bangkok.

"The latest proposals have meant great uncertainty for companies about the regulatory climate they are going to face and whether they will be able to retain control of their investments."

According to a spokesman for Ikea, the Thai market "is still under evaluation" by Inter Ikea Systems, the organisation which owns the home improvement retailer's concept and trademark. An unnamed franchisee has been selected to partner Ikea, she added.

"This partner will further investigate the market for final approval by the franchisor. At this point in time, it is premature to confirm if and when an Ikea store will open in Thailand."

A continued toughening of foreign ownership laws could affect a string of Britain's biggest companies, including British American Tobacco, Alliance Boots and HSBC.

The country's interim government, which has said it is likely to hold democratic elections in December, has held numerous rounds of talks with officials from the European Commission and overseas chambers of commerce stationed in Bangkok.

One senior official said the Thai government's actions were evidence of "a clear protectionist backlash" and warned that its stance could lead to Thailand being "cut out of the global economy".

Among the foreign investors with most at stake is Tesco, which operates 400 stores and employs more than 28,000 people in Thailand.

"We continue to invest in the country, opening new stores," said a spokesman for Britain's biggest retailer. "However, we are concerned that the current uncertainty in Thailand may deter new foreign investors from entering the country."

Ikea shelves entry into uncertain Thai climate

By Mark Kleinman Asia Business Editor

Last Updated: 11:36pm BST 29/09/2007

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtm...9/cnikea129.xml

Ikea, the Swedish retailer known around the world for its flatpack furniture, has put plans to expand into Thailand firmly on the shelf amid an increasingly uncertain environment for multinational investors.

Blog: Notes from the Far East

Swedish retailer has postponed Thai move

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that the lingering after-effects of last year's military coup and a series of tougher laws on foreign ownership have prompted Ikea to postpone a move into one of South-East Asia's most important economies.

The delay reflects growing nervousness among overseas investors following draconian revisions to Thailand's Foreign Business Act and the publication of draft legislation covering the retail sector, which may have a serious impact on Tesco and Carrefour, the French supermarkets group.

Since the ousting of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister and the man who now owns Manchester City Football Club, a year ago, the Thai government has proposed changes to the definition of a "foreign" company to mean one which is not controlled or majority-owned by Thais.

It has also vowed to stamp out the use of nominee shareholders for the subsidiaries of multinationals operating there, a move which has alarmed many overseas firms which have largely relied on the use of such structures.

"The foreign business ownership laws have always been complicated, but there has always been a measure of understanding," said Alastair Henderson, managing partner of Herbert Smith, the law firm, in Bangkok.

"The latest proposals have meant great uncertainty for companies about the regulatory climate they are going to face and whether they will be able to retain control of their investments."

According to a spokesman for Ikea, the Thai market "is still under evaluation" by Inter Ikea Systems, the organisation which owns the home improvement retailer's concept and trademark. An unnamed franchisee has been selected to partner Ikea, she added.

"This partner will further investigate the market for final approval by the franchisor. At this point in time, it is premature to confirm if and when an Ikea store will open in Thailand."

A continued toughening of foreign ownership laws could affect a string of Britain's biggest companies, including British American Tobacco, Alliance Boots and HSBC.

The country's interim government, which has said it is likely to hold democratic elections in December, has held numerous rounds of talks with officials from the European Commission and overseas chambers of commerce stationed in Bangkok.

One senior official said the Thai government's actions were evidence of "a clear protectionist backlash" and warned that its stance could lead to Thailand being "cut out of the global economy".

Among the foreign investors with most at stake is Tesco, which operates 400 stores and employs more than 28,000 people in Thailand.

"We continue to invest in the country, opening new stores," said a spokesman for Britain's biggest retailer. "However, we are concerned that the current uncertainty in Thailand may deter new foreign investors from entering the country."

She wouldn't answer in English yet she's on the front desk. Maybe we'll all have to learn Thai as the next requirement to obtain a visa.

Useful post and a rotten day all round, however I got a bit miffed with your above comment - never mind immigration - you should learn Thai because you live in Thailand.

I suspect Immigration get quite fed up with Farang, not you I am sure, who just stroll in wearing less than appropriate clothing and a less than appropriate attitude, and expect everyone there to understand what they are saying when they speak English.

Certainly in the 5 years I have been renewing my extension based on marriage, I have never had any major problems and I believe this is in part due to the fact that I talk to the people in Thai. Even when my Thai was very poor when I first started learning, I still felt it was appreciated. So why not give it a go - pick up some Thai language learning books - and next year you may find things go a little smoother. Mind you, then again they may not!! good luck TIT

I aksed Sunbelt for a Thai will for my wife and a bad debtor letter sent. This was 9 weeks ago and although I have paid almost 15000 baht I have heard nothing. My wife will be visiting them soon to give them a rollocking!!!!

She must have a lot of assets, my Thai wife's Will AND my Thai Will (I have a separate Will for the UK) took about 2 hours in total .

Khun Jeans test questions are good advice. The agency you mentioned that has posted a thread not too far from this thread should be asked these questions if that posting is anything to go by.

I am a farang that bought land and house through the company route. I have spent the last 18 months since the nasty news about enforcing the land regulations checking out all the issues you are looking into now. A messy job and not something I really wanted to spend time doing.

After all my research, lots of emails and discussions, I have come to the following decision IF I decide I need to move my land/house from the company company.

- Usufruct - even though the 30 Year lease has been tested in the Supreme Court.

- Sunbelt - have been very helpful and well recommended - in fact I have only seen a few negative comments about them and that is mainly slow reponse to emails. I had that problem a couple of times as well. However, most of the other Lawyers offices I contacted either did not reply at all, or sent me a load of 'standard' nonsence about 30+30+30 year leases

Good Luck - my advice though is dont do what I did and buy land and house - BUY A CONDO IN YOUR OWN NAME.

But you probably don't want that advice - so good luck

Sateev, perhaps I should have phrased my request along the lines of 'I want to improve my spoken/written/reading of Thai with a view to taking (and passing!) the Bor 6 exam'.

For the past couple of years, I've improved my knowledge of Thai purely by living in a primarily Thai-speaking environment, (my wife's family members speak no English). I previously attended lessons about 4 years ago, so it's about time I gave my language knowledge a boost!

Simon

I have been discussing with my teacher about taking the bor 6 exam and I think I understand what Sateev means. I would say it will almost hinder my Thai learning in the SHORT TERM rather than improve it. I have decided to go ahead with it and have bought the Bor 1 Exercise Books the Thai kids learn from and will work up to Bor 6 before taking the exams.

Having learnt Thai for the last few years and read and write it quite well, to study for the exam I still have to go the the 'rote' method of learning it appears. For homework, read the chapter, write it down and then at the lesson do it again as she reads out the chapter. So I dont expect to improve my Thai that much over the coming year.

In the long term of course I am sure there will some benefit - at least I should be the proud owner of a shiny new qualification to impress and show my friends (maybe)

รอคอยที่จะ - ro koi tee ja

While waiting for the insurance company and or Police to arrive, take fotos of the accident scene - in case the acident scene 'changes' whilst you wait . I have a disposable camera in my glove dept just in case of an accident. Mind you, my mobile camera would be just as good I guess and less 'obvious'. The other party might not like me taking pictures

The WORST hospital in the entire area when it comes down to integrity is without doubt Pattaya Bangkok.They really should take a long hard look at themelves. The day all expats see them for what they are,cheating robbing ba**ards, and refused to go truelly would be a great day.

EPG.

I have to disagree with you here. I went there 3 years ago and spent nearly 25 hours in the dental chair over a 6 week period. Had lots of work done, including 3 root canals and gold crowns, they saved a tooth at the back that a dentist in the UK said would need to be pulled. The total cost was about 70,000 baht. Sure not cheap, but a lot cheaper than the UK.

The service was excellent.

I do agree you should go to a dentist you trust, never mind the cost and I will go to BPH next time.

Mind you I would not go there for any other operation. They yold me I needed an operation on my hip. The information they gave me - which included me having the operation ASAP was a pack of lies. In fact they would have completed the operation by now, which is totally against the recommendations of Worldwide medical advice in this area.

I discussed the Prathom 6 exam with my Thai wife and now understand what the ประถม levels are and and what ages they occur. Really interesting to learn the school system here.

So when I was at the bookstore yesterday, I had a look for any books on the syllabus of the of Prathom 6 Thais Language exams or any self learning books or tests questions etc... Couldn't find a thing. Nor on the Internet.

Does anyone know where I could find a Prathom 6 syllabus or test questions so I can better understand what it entails?

Also, does anyone know if there are Prathom 1, 2 etc... exams as well that can be taken on the way to Prathom 6 or even books the Thais use to study for these exams.

A lot of questions I know - but any answers gratefully received.

Thais don't 'study' for there exams, per se; they take them as part of their primary school education. This is why you don't see prep books for them.

As for a syllabus, I think your only hope is to approach one of the language schools that has a specific course for the test. Union Language School, Unity Thai Language, and others have this course, although I don't know whether they would require you to take the course, or any prerequsites before they would give (or sell) you course materials. Passing the test would require you to have studied at a comparable level of instruction.

Note that the Prathom 6 test includes written and oral components, and part of it is about how you actually write the alphabet - if you use the correct strokes (the circle first, the correct formataion of sara 'e' and 'ee', etc.). This has to be done the approved way, and not randomly, even if the end result looks the same.

It is not really a test that you can study for; it is a test of how well you have learned Thai.

Sateev

Thanks, I have my weekly Thai lesson on Tuesday so will pursue this further.

IT - City is Sole Didtributor of BitDefender. So you should find at IT-City Tukom

Thats the one on the 5th FLoor isn't it - I went there - old version. Wattana opposite Carrefour had it as well.

I am not usually that fussy, but since being the victim of Internet Identity theft a few years back, I like the latest and greatest Internet Security on my PC. I will download the 40Mbyte.

Thanks for the reply.

I discussed the Prathom 6 exam with my Thai wife and now understand what the ประถม levels are and and what ages they occur. Really interesting to learn the school system here.

So when I was at the bookstore yesterday, I had a look for any books on the syllabus of the of Prathom 6 Thais Language exams or any self learning books or tests questions etc... Couldn't find a thing. Nor on the Internet.

Does anyone know where I could find a Prathom 6 syllabus or test questions so I can better understand what it entails?

Also, does anyone know if there are Prathom 1, 2 etc... exams as well that can be taken on the way to Prathom 6 or even books the Thais use to study for these exams.

A lot of questions I know - but any answers gratefully received.

I have decided to switch to Bitdefender Internet Suite 2008. In Pattaya they only seem to have the old version 10. The trouble is I have just a landline and Bitdefender is nearly 40Mbyte to download so would prefer to buy the disk. I know quite often the downloads are quite large on the first update download, but maybe not 40 Mbyte...

http://www.bitdefender.com/site/Main/view/...virus-2008.html

Any idea where I could get this in Pattaya. I have tried Dcom.

I could pop up to Bangkok I suppose - hardly worth it though really - might just wait the 3-4 hours for the download - if it works!

Also anyone got this ? is it any good - all the reviews say it is better than what I currently have PC-Cillin.

The trouble is as it seems so large it may hog my system. I got rid of Mcafee as it seemed to get hungrier and hungrier!

Like most 53 year olds, I am still 'young' enough to battle against this kind of change, both now and in the foreseeable future. However, it is obvious to me that in 20 or 30 years time or after a serious illness I would probably not have the energy for the fight.

What then?. Unable to get a renewed visa extension at the age of 80, where would I go ? What would I do ? So over the next few years I have decided to limit any more investment in Thailand. I will live happily in my house with my Thai wife, but will not spend any money on the house beyond paint etc... for maintenance. Will not renew my car etc... I will simply enjoy all that I currently have.

I will then actively look into a 'Plan B' - for somewhere I can live without the fear of having no home and country during a time when I can do little about it.

During that time Thailand may change for the better on the 'Long Term Visa' front, if not I will have to go somewhere where at the age of 80 I can be relatively sure I will NOT be 'kicked out' on a whim!

In the meantime I will enjoy Thailand to the full - its a great place while you are 'young' fit and healthy!!!

Good luck to any affeced by the new rule - in the long term though you may find it has done you a favour - at least now you can sort something out while you are young enough to do so!!!