TEFLMike

are there any videos out there with peoples really requesting this dongles in 7/11 ?? LOL

sorry no video, but real time report

I just was at 7/11 when someone asked for a dongle and heared the cashier saying : Phuket no dongle, only in Bangkok (I guess this was the easiest way for her to avoid telling him that she does not know what it is)

I told her what it is and she said "joke no good, all day people comming and ask for dongle

regards

silk

You think Phuket has it bad?

Have you seen the queues outside Big C in Pattaya ?

Someone emailed saying that someone in Bangkok sold a load of Dongles to Bangkok Taxi Drivers to sell on to 7/11 shops in Pattaya.

Please go back to your local 7/11 and advise then that Dongle on way. No jok.

We as falangs got keep lady in 7/11 shop happy

Well done George!

You are now Uk famous!

I re-edited a little and sent it to some of my Open University student friends in the UK earlier this morning.

They are emailing me back as I type. Some replying........

'What the 'eck?' I just spent ages trying to convince my ISP that the Internet ends at Midnight UK time, if they do not supply me with a Dongle by teatime' .

Well done George, that had me fooled during the night . I was half asleep.

Thailand is surely heading into the world of keeping thier eyes on everyone these days

I have just had this website from BKK telling us all we can now tract peoples mobile phones and thier LOCATION

please visit and enter the number you want to find

http://www.sat-gps-locate.com/

I am told this service works best in the Chonburi area and very close to Pattaya Nana Plaza etc

HAve a nice day

Malachy

Hmmmm

I have just tried out the Mobile Tracker. I was truly amazed as my Girlfriend's Mobile number was traked . As the arial view zoomed in, I went into a sheer happy mood of delight. Then, lo and behold, when the map really moved i, I saw her sat on a sundbed kissing her new boyfriend

Well done. Nice April Fool's Day Joke

A little like watching Table Tennis or Cricket on the Radio ?

Allowing myself 24 hours to appreciate the flavours of posts since joining the Forums as a Newbie, I have spent most of yesterday, Thai Time, and UK Time, ploughing through many posts, both OPs' and replies.

I have, become mesmerised and pleased that there are so many intellectual people who utilise the site. I have become even spellbound by the shear implications and delights of the Thai way of life, with the odd reply allowing me the opportunity to have the odd, giggle and chuckle, especially with the utilisatation of the well chosen Emoticons.

Plus, the added advantage of perusing the Forums, allows one, the opportunity to become familiar with abbreviations, the climate and current trends of the Forums.

The result being, I am sticking around.

The new requirements contravene Thai Law in several aspects

Ignoring for the moment the famous contradiction of "you must have a Work Permit when applying for a Non Immigrant visa" coupled with "Work Permits will only be issued to holders of Non-Immigrant visas"......

There are the requirements of entry to the Kingdom to consider - If entering on a non-imm issued outside the kingdom, there is a time limit regarding how quickly you must present yourself to collect your work-permit, which in turn must have been applied for prior to your entry (I'm using the official interpretation here) but will only be issued after entry.

It is the job of the Work Permit office to ensure that you have all the relevant qualifications (and verify them) prior to issuing the work permit book.

However, prior to issuing the visa, the issuing authority also has to satisfy itself regarding the applicant's qualifications to do the work that is being used to sponsor the visa, and that the employer has complied with Thai law regarding being a qualified employer (No of Thai staff, cap inveted etc) and has applied for and received the relevant licenses to both employ the applicant in that role, and for the applicant to perform that role.

The upshot is - the employer has to verify the applicants qualifications and pass those verifications to the ministry of education who must also then verify them before issuing the teachers license, which is used in support of the visa application (Immigration / Consulate must also verify the applicants qualifications with the issuer if they think something is suspicious), and then the work permit office also has to do the same.

Now forgive me for being sceptical but two predictions surface here.

1. The transcripts record keeper is going to be mightily ticked off if they start getting four sets of verification requests each time someone applies for a job in Thailand - some teachers I know, work simultaneously at four or five establishments = 20 requests for transcript verification? (plus the ones from places where they only work for a short time before moving on - it could become 20 requests per year per teacher)

2. Someone has to pay for all this - if the government passes the cost to the schools, it'll come off salaries advertised. If the government decides to recover it from the applicant, visa and work permit fees will be rising substantially - perhaps to the point where no-one bothers staying in Thailand for more than one semester?

And that, in the end, may be exactly what they're after? How many times have you heard that Thai education employers want fresh blood every time because old hands know too much? Well, it looks like they might get their wish after all?

Gaz

Hello everyone,

May I please introduce myself, as I am new to the Forums. My name is Mike and I live in Lancashire, England. My age is 55 years. Following a messy divorce, I have decided to uproot and leave England for Thailand as a TEFL Teacher. I have been to Pattaya quite a number of times and like the atmosphere tremendously.

I visited last November until just before Christmas. It was on my return back to England that I decided I would love to ‘dig’ deeper into becoming a teacher in Pattaya or Chon Buri.

Over the Christmas period, I decided to return to Pattaya yet again. During the latter half of January, I was on my way back to Pattaya. Before leaving the UK, I had spent sometime writing emails and also online with two TEFL Schools in Pattaya. We had arranged, that when I returned, I was to visit them and travel to a few schools in Pattaya and Chon Buri and discuss further, my becoming a teacher in Thailand.

The arrangement, I duly accomplished. I made a few friends with the members of staff of the TEFL schools. We discussed at length, my opportunities, and rewards. The staff at t the schools I visited, were also very nice towards me. One school even wanted me to start there and then! Alas, I could not at that time. I am now back in England, about to return on a ‘one way’ ticket, on or around the 16th April. My Non Immigrant Visa –B, I have to collect from Hull on the 11th April.

I noted a post in the Teaching Forum mentioning the fact that a new law has been passed in Thailand to the effect that, a Police Clearance Form is now required and to be handed to the school concerned. This applies to all new TEFL Teachers. In the UK, you must allow up to 40 days to receive the Police Check, through the post. It is necessary to go to your local Police Station and request the form for completion. And return, duly signed by a person 'in good standing’ i.e.: a solicitor, teacher or a member of the church, similar to a priest, vicar etc. This must be returned to the same police station accompanied with a fee of £10. The school, in Thailand, then passes this form to the Thai Authorities, and they have a maximum time to do so, which is three months from the date of issue. I have yet to receive my clearance, with about 10 days to the final 40th day.

Time is now approaching rather quickly for my return, I am about to pay my deposit to the TEFL school, book my air ticket, collect my visa and countless other tasks to accomplish. I have elderly parents, alive, in the UK. I do have also two brothers who live here in the UK. It is now that I am experiencing ‘cold feet’ symptoms, which I am sure is natural and many of you, no doubt, experienced similar symptoms before your departure for Thailand on a ‘one way’ ticket.

I look to you, as 'new found’ friends, to assure me that I will be made welcome. I look forward to any advice, no matter how great or small, you may be able to offer me. And maybe, one day, meet, as I will initially be teaching in Chon Buri, and visiting Pattaya frequently. I am happy to discuss more if anyone wishes to email me.

Thank for reading my post.

Michael

Hello everyone,

May I please introduce myself, as I am new to the Forums. My name is Michael and I live in Lancashire, England. My age is 55 years. Following a messy divorce, I have decided to uproot and leave England for Thailand as a TEFL Teacher. I have been to Pattaya quite a number of times and like the atmosphere tremendously.

I visited last November until just before Christmas. It was on my return back to England that I decided I would love to ‘dig’ deeper into becoming a teacher in Pattaya or Chon Buri.

Over the Christmas period, I decided to return to Pattaya yet again. During the latter half of January I was on my way back to Pattaya. Before leaving the UK, I had spent sometime writing emails and also online with two TEFL Schools in Pattaya. We had arranged, that when I returned, I was to visit them and travel to a few schools in Pattaya and Chon Buri and discuss further, my becoming a teacher in Thailand.

The arrangement, I duly accomplished. I made a few friends with the members of staff of the TEFL schools. We discussed at length, my opportunities, and rewards. The staff at the schools I visited were also very nice towards me. One school even wanted me to start there and then! Alas, I could not at that time. I am now back in England, about to return on a ‘one way’ ticket, on or around the 16th April. My Non Immigrant Visa –B, I have to collect from Hull on the 11th April.

I noted a post in the Teaching Forum mentioning the fact that a new law has been passed in Thailand to the effect that, a Police Clearance Form is now required and to be handed to the school concerned. This applies to all new TEFL Teachers. In the UK, you must allow up to 40 days to receive the Police Check, through the post. It is necessary to go to your local Police Station and request the form for completion. And return, duly signed by a person 'in good standing’ i.e.: a solicitor, teacher or a member of the church, similar to a priest, vicar etc. This must be returned to the same police station accompanied with a fee of £10. The school, in Thailand, then passes this form to the Thai Authorities, and they have a maximum time to do so, which is three months from the date of issue. I have yet to receive my clearance, with about 10 days to the final 40th day.

Time is now approaching rather quickly for my return, I am about to pay my deposit to the TEFL school, book my air ticket, collect my visa and countless other tasks to accomplish. I have elderly parents, alive, in the UK. I do have also two brothers who live here in the UK. It is now that I am experiencing ‘cold feet’ symptoms, which I am sure is natural and many of you, no doubt, experienced similar symptoms before your departure for Thailand on a ‘one way’ ticket.

I look to you, as 'new found’ friends, to assure me that I will be made welcome in Thailand. I look forward to any advice, no matter how great or small, you may be able to offer me. And maybe, one day, meet, as I will initially be teaching in Chon Buri, and visiting Pattaya frequently. I am happy to discuss more if anyone wishes to email me.

Thank for reading my post.

Michael