capdagde

Well, what else would it have done?

Journalists in Devon need to get out more.  The story is in the "European Union" section.  Brexit-effect? ("somewhere foreign"...)

Not the "piece of mind" they needed, methinks.

Almost as bad as The Sun: "Boris testes positive for Coronavirus".  I wondered if it had spread to his Johnson...

Saw this in DEVON ONLINE too: (Maybe the frontline staff would prefer the gin - Mrs. Cap is one and would...)

1048 users reading this topic.......

Makes you wonder how many have a personal interest?

No, we got it as headline in an e-mail from Thai Visa and we're all so damned bored that we thought we'd have a look (perhaps?).

Andy Cap

you obviously didnt go down soi 6 in the afternoon its always entertaining

Only if you're a "sexy man" who enjoys gutter whores.

Have we met before?

To answer the OP go to www.pattayatalk.com/forums and read the newbie info.... you should always research any trip especially if your "fun" is important to you and rare....

When speaking to the child or at home use your native tongue. When in public you can use Thai.

Why not my tenpenneth as well....

I tend to agree with the above in principle. My wife and I (both English) moved to France 19 years ago and our children (19 and 17) have never lived in England. Their bilingualism is "geographical" - English at home except when there are non-English speaking guests. We sometimes speak French together outside home but it is quite rare. In the company of non-English speaking people we tend to speak French. Otherwise it's French all the time - the kids have started correcting us which is a good sign....

Interestingly - when our kids went to state school here, the teachers wanted us parents to speak French at home - we refused.

Children from a mixed-mother-tongue marriage have different "rules" to the game but "daddy English - mummy Thai" at home is recognised as a good rule of thumb. Social pressures outside should leave room for individual judgement on which language to use at any given time.

A warning!

I had a Saudi work buddy in Saudi Arabia in the 80's whose Dad was a diplomat in the USA for 20 years. My buddy's mistake was that he wasn't born there - so when dad was recalled with him aged 25 he had to come back to Saudi Arabia, a country where he didn't speak the language as his parents hadn't bothered to speak Arabic at home. He was in a real mess......

Andy Cap

No visa allows you to work - only a work permit allows work. You don't need any visa to study Thai.

Yep, point taken.

Me and the Mrs are looking at a sabbatical year with intensive Thai training on an ED visa (as advertised on this site). Just wondering how an ED visa can be for a teacher...... As I am a teacher thought that might kill two birds with one stone. Let me rephrase - if I am already in Thailand on an ED visa can I obtain a work permit to teach without leaving the country and getting some other kind of visa?

Thanks again for your thoughts..

Andy Cap

Hi all

Reading the link: http://www.thaivisa.com/visa/non-immigrant-visa.html

Non-Immigrant visa Wednesday, 18 October 2006 Requirements for non immigrant visa:

A foreigner applies for a non-immigrant visa when he/she wants to stay or work in Thailand. This visa has several categories:

• diplomatic visa (D) is for those employed by an embassy,
  
• a business visa (
  
• or a mass media visa (M) are for accredited business or press representatives,
  
• a dependent visa (O),
  
• an expert visa (EX) are for those performing skilled or expert work,
  
• an investor visa (IM) is for foreigners who set-up their companies under the Board Of Investment BOI
  
• and a study/education visa (ED) is for teachers.
  
• Official ( F). Performance of official duties (involving the Thai government).
  
• Capital Investment ( IM ).
  
• Investment (with concurrence of the ministries and departments concerned). BOI ( IB ).
  
• Investment subject to the provision of the laws on investment promotion.
  
• (ED). Educational study or observation.
  
• ( R ). Missionary work.
  
• ( RS). Scientific research or training, or study in an educational institution in the Kingdom.
  
• ( EX). Performance of skilled or expert work.
  
• ( S). Participation in an officially recognized sports event.
  
• Others "O. Others, including dependents and retired persons.
  

If this is the case then one could study Thai but teach at the same time (if one has the right qualifications)? Thanks for any input...

Andy Cap

Here's my feedback.

Last week was my first day at Pro Language in Pattaya and it was not too bad. The teacher was energetic, actively corrected my pronunciation and she used a book from the school which was ok.

The pro-language teacher is much better than the teacher of my last school in Pattaya. The teacher from my old school had relational problems, looked depressed, overworked (and even looked a bit suicidal).

The only disappointment at pro-language was that after 1h40min the teacher said the course was finished, because every hour should have 10 minutes break. I was told nothing about the break at the moment I paid for my 20 hours. My 20 hours are now reduced to 16h40 minutes, making the school even more expensive than before.

If I would live at the same distance from BKK as from Pattaya, I would go back to one of the union based schools in BKK because I think they have a more structured teaching method (and they are cheaper than private courses).

But for anyone that stays near Pattaya I can advice this school: it's not too bad, better than many other schools in Pattaya. Too bad it's rather expensive.

Hi Kris

I'm sitting here in France thinking of doing a one year sabbatical with Mrs Cap to learn Thai and Pro Language is on the list.

I teach English here and I think your teacher is right to enforce your break (it would be better in the middle of the period of course - teacher wants to get home early? But then maybe he/she was "on a roll" - don't forget he/she is probably being paid for 50 minutes). Maybe you should use your last twenty minutes to re-read what you have learned before leaving the building, then it wouldn't be "wasted" money. You're not buying a sack of potatoes after all!!!

Just in my HO of course.

Andy Cap

hi there,

I notice that there is only one school in pattaya for thai cooking..

seems a bit steep at 1600 baht for two hours compared to chiang mai,s school of famous thai cook somphon.

Does any one know of any other classed conducted in pattaya, just for simple street foods..

or has anyone been to the one in chiang mai and is it worth it hands on wise.

red

Been to Somphon's school in Chiang Mai. We did three days which we found was enough as it's v. intensive. Worth every penny..... can't remember the price.

Had to take along my own beer to keep cool while cooking though.....

Andy Cap

Hi all...

Well I seem to have the qualifications and experience sewn up:

- Bachelor's Degree in Languages

- CELTA

- 4 years running a TEFL department in France (my current job)

- nearly 20 years life experience in other management level jobs

But I'm 46, and looking for work in a semi-urban rural environment within easy reach of the fun locations of Patong or Pattaya.

Any suggestions?

Andy Cap