Rionoir

I'm gonna start a volunteer organization where people can pay their own way to Thailand and clean my house for FREE... if you are interested let me know... there is plenty of mess to go around.

In the time you took to write all of that, you could've gotten in shape and learned Thai and a whole new world of possibilities would've opened for you...

Come out and play with us You will wish you did it sooner!

Hi all. I'm fairly new to Bangkok and here for a year for work. I'm looking for places where gay people hang out in the evenings which are not overrun by guys on the make. Bars, restaurants, lounges, etc where I can relax and meet people, not necessarily hook up. I've been to Silom sois 2 and 4 and they seem to be full of commercial boys and their whinging farang admirers. Surely there are non-commercial venues in a big metropolis like Bangkok? I'm in my late 20s, with a good job and speak a reasonable amount of Thai.

Coffee Society is a good one... bring a laptop for the free wireless. B&B is a nice place too, but I don't know if they have wireless do they?

To be honest though, if you are going to live in Thailand for a year you should just accept the fact that moneyboys and the farang that admire them live here too, and they aren't going anywhere. If you relax a little bit I think you'll enjoy your year a lot more. Being in your late 20s and gay, you should know that even the in the quitest gay establishments, regardless of what country you are in, the majority of people there are going to be looking to hook up. If you're truly just interested in hanging out and enjoying yourself, then go somewhere that doesn't have a sexual orientation attached to it.

give all thais classes so maye they can expand their views

"Hey Kettle... you're black," said the pot.

So CMB, basically you're saying that you are such a pig that eating around bones takes too much time for u? lol What kind of answer do you expect to that.

What I really like is the addition of different font types. Not sure about you, but I haven't been able to figure out some of the modern fonts in Thai. Ten are included in the book so it's a good start.

Oh what a great idea, that would've been helpful 6 months ago. lol

I had a sip of Singh once... I still can't get the taste out of my mouth... lol

I've been there on Sunday before... never again. And it's not exactly gay night... it's a very mixed crowd, there are still lots of straight couples there who didn't get the memo about gay night.

Thanks for that DocJD. In all honesty, if I could find a private tutor that could teach me 5 days a week, move at a speed similar to that of Chula (provided I manage to keep up of course), cost a similar or less amount, and also be through a school which would qualify me for an Ed Visa, then I would be a very happy guy. It will be very difficult to schedule my life around the Chula course, but I was willing to make it work if I had to.

My primary goal with learning Thai I'd have to say is mainly social and personal reasons. Actually, learning a new language was one of my motivations for moving overseas. However, now that I am here... I also have thought that I would like to be able to take some classes in a Thai university someday (in Thai), and maybe work somewhere that I will need to speak Thai regularly... but I don't have any plans along those lines at the moment.

The bottom line for me is that I want to be able to read, write, speak and LISTEN effectively in Thai, well enough so that I can hang out with Thai friends and be able to keep up with and participate in conversations, chat online with my friends in Thai, etc. I already know enough to "get by", but that is definitely not my goal. I am very dedicated to studying Thai, although when I study 4+ hours by myself, I often feel that time could have been better spent if there was someone there to guide me along.

Are there any schools that have private tutors that are really on the ball? I don't want someone to come to my house and teach me a few words and blow smoke up my butt... I want someone that is going to come over 5 days a week, whip my butt into shape and not let me get away with any incorrect tones or bad grammar mistakes... I know the Chula course would be along these lines... but if anyone has recommendations for private tutors that would be also I'd love to know about them... it would sure be nice to be able to study intensely but at times that work for me instead of 10-3.

Have you used http://www.thai-language.com ? Aside from the fact that it has a lot more than just beginner words, it has everything else you are talking about... including examples, MP3 clips of many of the words, and a bulk translator for Thai-to-Eng. For the "compound" type words, you can also click on each part of the word to see which words make up the word.

Has anyone been through this program? I've found a couple of old and vague posts about it, but nothing too descriptive. I have gathered though that it is very intense, which is exactly what I want... but any other info? I'm very interested in how well it prepares your listening and comprehension skills - I don't want to be fluent just on paper.

Are there any other similar programs in Bangkok? I know there are many thai programs, but I'm looking for intensive programs.

Thanks for any info.

38% (Yankee). A definitive Yankee.

I lived almost my whole life near Milwaukee, no surprise there. When I clicked BUBBLER it actually said Milwaukee specifically hehe... that's the one that always gives us away up here.

Yes, cuz I frequently have less money than my thai friends... lol

Live with your mum and dad and work at McDonald's for 6 months (and save your money!) and you can pay for your education...

Although... one of my Thai friends told me that since the princess' death, the government is giving out a lot of scholarships and if you have any kind of average HS grades you probably qualify for one. My friend thought even farang qualified for them. Just write a school and ask.

Either way like I said I want to work on a degree... but I still need to work while I'm in school. My reason for starting this thread was simply that I had read several places that I may be able to work legally (i.e., get a work permit) in a government school even without a degree... and if I can work legally at all, then I can deal with the downsides of the government schools for a few years. And after all this, I'm still unclear on that point.

<br />Without a degree your future here is bleak, bleak, bleak. Scratch the CELTA or any other 'Tefl' and put your money and <br />energy into getting the degree.<br />

I don't know what your definition of bleak is, but if you mean more difficult than working with a degree, yes, I am aware... but if you mean my odds of getting a job are low and my odds of getting arrested are high... well then you must've drank the purple kool-aid at your last staff meeting. I know more than a couple of people personally who have worked in BKK for years without either a degree nor a TEFL of any type and seem to manage just fine... I don't think any of them would describe their lives as bleak. If you ask me, it seems like the people who DO have degrees and are trying to do the 100% legal route are the ones that would describe their futures in thailand right now as bleak... what with the new hoops they have to jump through.

Also, please re-read my thread... I asked about a good university in bkk because I do intend to finish my degree. Unfortunately, re-directing the $1500 from my CELTA to a degree is not going to pay for any of my food or lodging for the next few years... however, if you know of anyone interested in taking care of those items for me then please send me a PM immediately.

Ok ok I see... well like I said if you have any specific recommendations on a course I wouldn't mind hearing it.

Well I've never heard of a CELTC ? And none of the descriptions of TEFL/TESOL courses I've read say they focus just on children either? Anyway, like I said I'm fine with the cost, it's not an issue... I just want to be prepared.

Thanks for the reply PB. I was reading the TEFL and CELTA descriptions at the school and it seemed like CELTA had more complete curriculum for someone with no teaching experience. I really do want to teach, but I also want to make sure I am prepared to teach, and most places I've read it seemed like CELTA was the "best" certificate to have if I had my choice. If you have any specific recommendations though besides where I mentioned, I respect your opinion. ECC also has an additional "young learners" course which I plan on taking if I'm happy with the other class.

thanks again

I'd like to ask for some clarification of a rather narrow aspect of teaching without a work permit. I am already aware of the "laws" regarding work permits, but in the end - TIT!

My question is regarding government schools. I have read several places that it may be very possible to teach at a government school in Thailand and obtain a work permit without a degree. I realize that this would require someone pulling some strings, but that it is not uncommon, particularly at the grade school level.

Can anyone confirm this, or maybe share some personal experience (or a friend's personal experience)? Is this old info, or is this still possible? I'd greatly appreciate it.

For the record, I do not have a degree (obviously we've all figured that out already lol), but do plan on taking a CELTA course at ECC before I begin looking for a job.

Also, can anyone recommend a good (but moderately priced) university in BKK that offers night time classes?

Ok sorry, one more question... what is the age that teachers start finding it hard to get jobs in BKK? I am 30 now. I have a Thai friend that works at Wall Street and in a staff meeting they were told that the typical English teacher that fits their mold is 35-ish and under (among other things)... so just curious how that stacks up to other schools, since I will be close to that already by the time I graduate! Man this country is tough.

Thanks in advance for any info.

I've emailed Piammitr a few times through their website and gotten no response - i was wondering if I can qualify for ed visa while studying there?

I watched a video of an english class being taught using the callan method (the one wallen uses) and it was very fast-paced and interesting... although the way tod described the way they teach reading I think is complete horse crap... kids don't learn to read by just memorizing blocks of text - that is how chinese people learn to read cuz they don't have an alphabet, and I don't think you'll find anyone on the planet that will say that is an easier way to learn to read. Recognizing blocks of text is something that happens AFTER you can already read.

So... I'm still torn on Wallen school... I think I'm going to check out a class anyway, because I am in the same boat as tod said he was when he started... I can already read and write and have been studying intensely on my own for about 6+ months, so I am able to sound out words I don't know already, and their method will be mute in that regard... maybe? I think it will be a good class to just pound out some new vocabulary which I can practice with my friends.

I think it's terrible when states change their CONSTITUTIONS to ban gay marriage... it's an abomination to use it to take away freedoms. Unfortunately the militant christians don't even think about such things... their religion is the ONLY religion... and they want to make laws around their religion... hmm... who does this remind me of...

Honestly I don't care if they want to give us "marriage" or not, I'll take domestic partnerships as long as they give us the same rights (and headaches) that married couples have... and this includes being able to bring our partner from overseas back to the US with me... that is what I'm waiting for.

Was this mostly international students dressing like that, or did Thai students actually wear PJs boxers and sleeveless shirts to school?? I know that's common in the US, but I wouldn't dream of dressing like that for a class in Thailand, I'd think the professors had to consider it extremely rude.