puchooay

19 hours ago, phuketsub said:

I've only noticed that Brits tend to say '"a' half past" whereas North Americans drop the article.

As a Brit myself, I have to say that I would never use "a". Not sure that I know anyone else that does either. Not from where I am from anyway.

As a relatively small country, UK has a vast array of terminology and accent depending on where in the UK you are from. I think the term "Brit" is too extensive.

5 hours ago, Isaanbiker said:

Yes, it's true. But more and more schools change the title to trainer or teacher's assistant, which allows them to bypass the TCT.

 

No provisional TL needed. 

 

  And the OP would receive a work permit, of course depending on the province, immigration and Department of labor. 

 

  I don't think that ESL teaching could be considered a career. 

An wide of the mark comment about an archaic procedure. Most, many, if not all labour offices see through this now. A visit to the school is often taken out to disprove such a role is being taken. New guidelines have, are being, set to halt applicants from circumnavigating the rules

8 hours ago, BritManToo said:

They usually don't deport married guys for working illegally.

Or drink driving, or failing a drug test, etc.

 

Non-O married is legit for working, just a work permit problem, no big deal.

Yes. I am fully aware that a Non O is OK for working, after having obtained a work permit.

You only quoted half of my post. The point I was making was that someone seemed to be advocating working without a work permit.

The OP is "newbie post". I felt it was perfectly on topic and relevant to point out pitfalls of working without a WP, which is a big deal for those without a degree

10 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Plenty people teaching without a degree or even a wp

Interesting comment. Are you saying that you personally know these people? Are you advocating such behaviour?

If you did advocate this would you also mention the risks involved?

The OP has said he is on a Non O based on marriage. I am sure he would not want to risk problems with immigration/labour department and possible deportation.

13 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I never worked illegally, my school got me a work permit. I have a TEFL but no degree.

You also said in another  post that you taught a few years back. Language centers and Universities aside, it is their decision what qualifications they desire their teachers to have, it is now not possible to get a work permit to teach if you do not have a degree. It is a requirement of the TCT. Without a degree you will not get a licence or a waiver. You need this to get a work permit.

3 hours ago, OumarhindaOunsingha said:

I do not see it has been done to death. Where do you see that? Besides, it develops all the time, so is always relevant to discuss.

To be fair, there is an abundance of websites, forums, chatrooms and even posts here on TV about online teaching.

It has been done to death and here is not exactly the best place to be looking for information.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Which is why you deliberately misquoted me.

I'm certainly not taking any Thai jobs, been retired since day one out here

 

Misquoted? Where?

I simply quote the only part that was a question and questioned it.

1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Even we would be a typical Thai couple, paid off land and a little wooden house already, no International school and stuff like that,
I'd imagine they still need at least 30K baht a month.

I was wondering if you were trolling or not. Your figures change in different posts.

Then I read this and realised that you are.

300 baht a day is the minimum wage. That is what the majority of those in little wooden houses will be earning.

21 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

And how many of those we complain about are living off our home countries welfare?

Not sure. Would you like to enlighten us?

Many of the posts I have seen also refer to "immigrants taking our jobs", etc, etc.

9 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Its all just a money spinner and some countries milk it more than others.

People should be allowed to travel where they want and providing they are law abiding etc, live where they choose without being constantly asked for payment and inconvenienced with pointless tasks.

I'm sure many would agree with your sentiments. That is of course until it is happening in their homeland.

Exactly how many posts do we see on here complaining about immigration in Farangland?

2 hours ago, LazySlipper said:

Really?

I am on over 25 hours a week and it keeps going up...

You must be doing something wrong as Eastern Europeans aren't wanted in the higher quality companies.

Not doing anything wrong at all. Some people are happy with their position and good luck to them. Most of the groups you see on social media are reeling. The same problems as I posted. I know, from the salary that I have, that I am high end. I guess that is part of the problem. I now earn too much and have become a financial liability. I could take a pay cut and get back to where I was teaching 40 hours a week but I don't wish to do that, especially when there are now better options for me.

Take a look at social media. Look at the names. It is not difficult to spot the eastern Europeans. Many companies taking them on now. Most of them have in the region of $6 and hour or there about. I'm not blaming the companies for this. The see $$$$$ and that's the way it is. They see the chance to get 4 or 5 teachers for the price of one. Why wouldn't they? Same as when the need for a TESOL arose. I already had a certified one but I know that companies were offering one for $25. Not good.

9 minutes ago, 2rist said:

Seems sketchy or normal?

Expensive.

42 minutes ago, Huckenfell said:

not easy when one is hundreds of klm away.

Many, maybe most, schools have websites or Facebook pages. Try "Googling" and see if you can find them.

3 hours ago, AAArdvark said:

Religion, I don't think so, 97% of Cambodians are Buddhists .  Khmer are simply people from Cambodia and speak the language.  People from Isaan who speak Khmer, are in most cases not really Khmer but they do speak something like the Khmer language.  If someone from Thailand speaks Khmer in Cambodia, they are immediately recognized as speaking Surin-Khmer. 

Not quite.

The Khmer language spoken in Issan is the same as the Northern Khmer language spoken in North Cambodia. Cambodia being a nation of many dialects just as Thailand is.

The Khmer people in Issan have Khmer ancestry. This is mainly due to the border disputes that have been going on in the region for many generations. My wife's grandmother, now deceased, told stories of how her parents lived as Khmer people and even believed they lived in Cambodia. They never had Thai nationality or ID cards. It was when my wife's grandmother was in her 40s that she and others in the village got their ID cards and were finally "Thai", although still Khmer in their minds. Most of these ID cards only have a year, estimated at best, of birth as no one really knew exactly when they were born.

Going to Northern Cambodia they can mingle with the locals and speak more or less the same language. The further they travel south into Cambodia the less they will be understood, as with those Cambodians who also speak the northern Khmer dialect.

"Surin Khmer" is a little inaccurate.  Cambodians in Siem Reap, as an example of when my wife and I visited, refer to the people and the language as "Thai Khmer".

Holidays will sometimes vary a couple of days between schools.

Best bet is to go to the school and ask. Sometime in the middle of March through to around 10th May will be summer holiday.

1 hour ago, rasg said:

How much longer is she in the UK for? My wife has just applied for a new passport in London and it takes six weeks. When do you plan on applying for the settlement visa? This must have happened before and I can't imagine that it will be a problem. After passing the A1 they send your wife a reference number to use on the application. You might need to use her current passport to apply but it wouldn’t make any difference for the main settlement visa application.

 

I just had a look at the requirements for the TB test that my wife took in February 2016 and they maybe different. You might need a new passport for that. I can't find the actual TB certificate although its not far away to see if my wife's passport number is on it.

 

It says this in the guidance:

3. Passport Number: This number should be the one shown in the passport you wish to use.
หมายเลขหนังสือเดินทาง:ให้ใส่หมายเลขหนังสือเดินทางให้ตรงกับหนังสือเดินทางเล่มปัจจุบันของท่าน
4. Passport Issue Date: In dd/mm/yyyy format วันที่อนุมัติหนังสือเดินทาง
5. Passport Expiry Date: In dd/mm/yyyy format วันหมดอายุหนังสือเดินทาง

Thanks for your reply.

So...looks like we can go ahead with the A1 test. Maybe then apply for passport in BKK and then TB followed by application.

That said, the Thai script in relation to the TB test does just say "Current passport". 

I believe there is a requirement to send copies of previous visas. This includes those in old passports. 

Copy of old passport with explanation along with new passport would maybe work???

Difficult to contact the authorities on such matters so was hoping to find someone who has been through this before. If we can;t then we will go the sure way and get a new passport first.

Thanks for you help. 

Anyone else with experience, your thoughts would be most welcome.

On 2/1/2020 at 1:11 AM, Number 6 said:

This is true for publics and public/privates and especially true of top secondaries. In fact even somewhat mediocre private schools have entrance exams. True at all levels of K12 education, even private kindergarten!

 

Pathumwan Demonstration School, Triam Udom Suksa, Suankularb Wittayalai and Samsen Wittayalai all have entrance exams. The first two are brutal.

There is also a percentage of places that have to be reserved for students within the catchment area. When I was a teacher at Suankuarb I was amazed at the different standards of students. I was teaching M4. M4/1 to M4/5 were good. From then on the standard and behaviour dropped and became terrible heading to the lower levels of 4/10 - 4/14.

When i questioned this I was informed that 40% of students were admitted to the school based on where they live. No exams required.

I've checked online and all over. Not much info to be seen. Not sure if this may not have come up before. I guess most Thai people starting a settlement visa application would be in Thailand when applying.

My wife is currently here in UK on a visitor visa. We are going to apply for a settlement visa soon.

I would like her to take the A1 English test here in UK and the TB test the day she returns to Thailand (our home in Thailand is 350kms from Bangkok so would be convenient to do this same day or next day to save return journey).

The problem is that her Thai passport expires in September. The timing is thus she will not have time to apply for a new passport here in UK before her return to Thailand. The time it takes for a settlement visa means her passport will be all but expired before she gets it.

Would there be an issue if she took the English and TB test using her current passport number and then finalised her visa application using a new one?

Thanks.

1 hour ago, Kenny202 said:

Whats with the question mark? I think u know what I mean. Isaan is an area, people usually Laos descent and Bhudist. Khmer is a religion / culture and yes Khmer people are found in South Eastern Isaan

Khmer is not a religion. Issan people are not "usually" of Laos decent. There are many cultures in Issan. I posted question marks as your post was differentiating between Issan and Khmer. There is no difference. Now, if you were to say "Laos"or even "Issan Laos" that would be more accurate. All people who are from the north east of Thailand are referred to as Issan people. Not just those with Lao heritage.

16 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

. She was Isaan by the way not Khmer.

My wife is from Isaan and is Khmer. 

?????

33 minutes ago, SteveK said:

I disagree.

 

As a UK citizen, I have never ever had an issue with a UK bank. Super easy to do everything. When I was buying my house I had to go in and do a CHAPS transfer to my solicitor of about 75k GBP - took 2 minutes.

 

I can deposit money to anyone's account for which I have the account number and sort code, and don't need to show ID.

 

I can withdraw cash from my account over the counter with a driving license. Also takes only a minute or two.

 

To get a new ATM card I either click a button online or make a phone call, card arrives at my house a couple of days later - zero paperwork.

 

Compare that to Thai banks - whatever you want to do it is always a huge uphill struggle.

 

 

But you are comparing being a citizen of the UK and using a UK bank to being a non Thai using a Thai bank. Incomparable.

I can tell you now, personal experience from yesterday, that a non UK citizen has to show more documentation to open a UK bank account than a UK citizen does.