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languageexpress
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Posts posted by languageexpress
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...we wouldn't want any undeserving fake police getting a slice of the lucrative backhander industry.
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FWIW: several years ago I was on an ED visa which I obtained in Vientiane Lao PDR. It was a drop off in the morning; pick up the following afternoon type of procedure.
I came on a visa from Sydney in 2007. I hadn't allowed enough processing time and looked like missing my flight. I waited till the end of the mornings session, then spoke with the Thai officer doing the processing. He was gracious enough to do a same day processing. I had a well prepared set of documents, and a letter from a decent sponsor connected to a major temple, but even so, I got lucky...he could have told me to come back the next day.
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Unfortunately I'm not studying with you but I wouldn't mind getting the information
Oh man, I'm probably shooting myself in the foot here ... but send me private message to Thaivisa (and the city your going to) and I'll cut and paste the relevant pages into my reply..if the maps don't come out then try google earth. (And can you do me a favour? Don't hand it over to your school as it took us ages to put the handbook together).
I'll be at my compute for the next 30 minutes or so.
cheers.
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TodD and Beechguy are bang on the money. At most places you should get it back the next working day.
If you study with us we provide student handbooks with embassy lists, maps and “what to do/what to bring” checklists. If by any chance you study with us and Nat didn’t give you the handbook, message me and I’ll have her send it through before you go.
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I've heard there are Muay Thai schools that can enroll you on an Ed Visa. I don’t know much more about it. Hopefully someone will be able to recommend a decent place.
Failing that you could go for an Ed Visa and study Thai – you need to study 4 hours a week, which shouldn't take too much time away from your training. And the Thai you learn will no doubt come in handy, especially if you're going to be here a while. Give me a shout if you want to take that route. If my schools too far away I'll try and recommend a few places closer to where you're training.
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Here's why I went with Bupa. First off while living in the U.S. a number of years ago I dropped my Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance and got a competitive policy with another company. Much later on I got it with Mutual of Omaha, a large company, offering the full gamut of coverages---auto, health, property, etc. After a few years Mutual of Omaha got out of the health insurance business and I was shifted to another company. But the premiums were substantially higher than I would have had to pay with Blue Cross Blue Shield. At this point I could not get on again with Blue Cross Blue Shield for reasons I won't get into here. So here one of the country's largest insurance companies decided to simply get out of the health care business. From this point on, I decided that a man should go only with the largest and most committed company offering health care policies. So when I moved to Thailand it was apparent to me that Bupa seemed least likely to get out of the health care business. Also....Bupa will keep insuring its insureds so long as they keep paying their premiums. For me, at my age any company that's going to drop me because I have turned sixty or sixty-five is worthless. Lastly, Bupa will cover me in every country in the world except for my own country, the U.S.A. Considering I've traveled to Vietnam three times in a year and a half I find this to be critical. Lastly, I wanted some pretty high powered coverage. I got it with Bupa. And a few months ago I had to have a minor operation so I had the opportunity to thoroughly test the facilities at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. So I had an overnight stay in a large very comfortable two room suite. Bupa paid every cent of my overnight stay in the hospital.
Man, rough deal! I hadnt realised healthcare in the US could be such a rough trip. Glad you've got things sorted now.
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There is a lot of violence and some of the main characters die in graphic 3D fashion. I wouldn't take a child under 12. Of course 10 year olds would love it, but its a bit too full on. It's really an adult animation rather than one for the kids.
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As other posters have suggested, the Ed Visa is one way to do it. You need to enroll in a school approved by the Ministry of Education. Your initial application has to be made at a Thai embassy, (that is from outside Thailand) After that every 90 days you need an extension, which can be done at a local immigration office from inside Thailand.
There appears to be informal testing of some students on Ed Visas at a few local immigration branches outside Bangkok. The reports posted on this site indicate that when it occurs takes the form of a few basic questions about your name, where you live, when you’re studying etc. There are numerous posts on this topic on the thread “Ed Visa Crackdown?”
To my knowledge no one has reported being refused an extension. But if you do take the Ed Visa option, then play it safe and attend classes. The legal minimum is 4 hours per week, and if you’re planning to live here for an extended period speaking the language will come in handy.
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Stuffed bell peppers? That's more east European than Mexican. Unless you meant chiles rellenos (not bell peppers).
Sadly to me because I would hate it, I do think there is a great business opportunity to create a big franchise of Thai taste Mexican food. The same idea as lowbrow American taste Mexican at Taco Bell which has no resemblance to actual Mexican food.
I guess that what he meant. (Where I grew up we dont actually use the term "bell peppers".)
It always seems wrong to alter a cuisine to suit the palates of a another country, but it happens everywhere. I'm keen to see what kind of bastardised concoctions they'll come up with. (And will it compete with the "seafood in cones of flakey pastry and no cheese" that seem to monopolise locally designed pizzas)
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On my second visit the other day, I watched while a table of four Thais, two men and two women in their 20s, woofed down a meal of tacos and burritos, and did so seemingly quite happily... Such things can only be good for the spread of Mexican food in Thailand...
It will be interesting to see what Thais make of Mexican food. They're normally a smidgeon insular in their dietry preferences, but Mexico does have the advantage of being the home of chillis. We had La Monita do the catering for our student Xmas party. I wasn’t sure what the Thai students would make of it, but we wanted to try something a bit different.
Overall they seemed to like it. Burritos were overwhelmingly their favorite dish, which we served cut into slices, to make the food handling easier. However, they wouldn't touch the beans, and they weren’t too keen on the five layer dip either... (more beans).
They did get right into the idea of spooning salsa all over everything…just like nam-pla , I guess.
One of the teachers suggested stuffed bell peppers would have been popular, and chorizo...if it could be made to taste like Issan sausage.
At the moment I’m trying to decide if we should push the boat out for the next student event and attempt something freakishly exotic like 'roast and 3 veg', or play it safe and get Thai….again.
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Arriba!
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Always find it strange that a food company that makes its business on the fact it delivers charges extra for the priveledge of doing so. Would be a bit like a normal restaurant charging you to use a table.
I'd never looked at it that way, but yeah, fair point. Seems a bit odd.
Mind you I think its fair enough that if a restaurant sells delivery food at its sit down prices it charges a few baht for the courier. Margins in restaurants can be slim and its a competitive environment. If I order 500 baht worth from my favourite Greek place I have no problem shelling out 30 baht for delivery, and a small tip if the driver gets there fast.
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My experience was this week for the Immigration for ED Visa, actually today
Arrived Immigration, very busy today but the queue for Education Visa very small, only waited maybe 15 minutes
1. Greeted both with Hello and How are you (In Thai ) They both giggled with the How Are You, perhaps no one ever says it to them
2. Said My name both first and last in Thai you know Phom Chuu Name and Namsakuun Lastname
3. They did my paperwork as usual then asked me to go and see the women behind them
4. I greeted the women and first off she asked Can I speak Thai in Thai.. I say Can Yes In Thai of course! I was pretty nervous haha
5. She then went on to ask a few questions such as How Long you Study Thai, Why Do You Study Thai, How Long Will You Study Thai and What Days Of Week Do You Study Thai and a couple more I cant remember.
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Yep, that’s pretty similar to a conversation a student told me about after his December visit. (I posted earlier about it). He left me with the impression that it was more of general chat than an organized test.
For what it’s worth, I checked it out with my private student, a superintendent at immigration. She hadn’t heard about any changes. Obviously she doesn’t know everything that goes on in such a large ministry, and she’s with policing not doing desk work or policy, but given she has an interest in language learning, I reckon she would have heard if there’d been any big changes. So far it all looks pretty local, and very ad hoc.
I can only speak in relation to Bangkok, but I have yet to hear anything different from any of our students. It looks like so long as you make a modicum of effort and attend your classes; the ‘test’ isn’t anything to worry about.
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Just out of interest...where do you reckon a Thai hubby would rank with his Thai wife's family?
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The moderator explained it well. Schools can’t sell you an Ed Visa, but if you study at a school approved by the Ministry of Education you can get an Ed Visa.
Every 3 months you need to visit immigration for your extension. But you don’t need to leave the country, other than when make your initial application, as this has to be lodged in person at a Thai Embassy (ie outside Thailand).
There are several forums relating to this topic on ThaiVisa. If you’re thinking of joining a school, I suggest you read through them as part of your ‘due diligence’ procedures.
I have a vested interest in plugging my own school - but believe this advice is sound: before you buy visit 2 or 3 schools, sit in on classes and talk to students.
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The second dept I went to was the skin section. Had some bright red spots as well as some greyish brown ones of a diff texture on various places -- back, neck, arms and even on head. I swear I wasn't in his office 3 minutes, total damage 900 baht. All he did is say you can take your shirt off, he stayed seated at his desk and glanced at me from afar and said, "oh that? that's melasma. anything else, or will that be all for today?" He didn't walk over to have a close look, he didn't try to look me over other than just ask me what "spot" I was concerned about. What if there was a real cancer on my back?
You might want to get those spots looked at. I get annual skin cancer checks at home by a specialist, as I spent way too much time in the sun as a kid.
The doctor needs to do a close up inspection in order to check the shape, colour, edges of the spot etc. He can’t do it from behind his desk and he needs training so he knows what he’s looking for. You’re obviously concerned about it or you wouldn’t have gone to this muppet. Hopefully someone can put you in touch with a trustworthy doctor here.
I’ve had 2 cut out, I needed a few stitches, but all’s been fine since. Don’t worry yourself too much because most turn out to be nothing, or easily remedied, but don’t ignore them – get them checked out by a decent doctor early on.
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I tried crickets twice near Saraburi. They tasted of sesame oil, so I guess they were fried in it, or more likely, tossed in it afterwards. I didn't like them, but they weren't as bad as I expected. I'd eat them again, but only for a suitably appreciative audience.
I find the stir-fried crickets not unlike sunflower seeds amd the silk worm larva akin to a soft lima bean. Anyway thats what I tell myself. I thought I was pretty Issan eating a few of each until my wife's sister handed me a BIG handful of the larva. Ummm all at once? I don't think so.
Ughhhhh silk worms..bleeach!! I haven’t had them in Thailand, but they were all over the place in Korean winters. They steam them and sell them wrapped in a twist of soggy newspaper. I can consume just about anything, from grasshoppers to guinea pigs, sparrows to fermented horse’s milk, but I can’t stand the smell of steamed silkworm larvae. I stand in awe struck silence before anyone who manages to eat those things and keep from gagging. That goes double for cockroaches!!
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Around eight of our students have been for their three month extensions this month and to my knowledge none of them were involved in any language testing, other than one guy who told me he was asked a couple of basic questions. I got the impression this was more in the spirit of idle chit chat than serious testing. One thing we have noticed is that around a month ago the staff who handle extensions in Bangkok changed and the current people appear to be more thorough about the paperwork. (Perhaps this is related?)
I’d be surprised if Immigration can bring in formal exams without the MOE, since it is the MOE who approve schools and their curricula. I suspect the ‘language testing’ mentioned by the OP is simply local officials fed up with abuses of the system acting in an ad-hoc manner. I tutor a fairly senior immigration official three times a week, and will endeavour to find out if this is part of any wider policy/procedural changes.
In the meantime, if you attend a school with a good reputation and a well designed course you should be able to answer any questions they pose. I’ve been a certificated IELTS examiner for many years – it takes a huge amount of effort to set up and maintain accurate, valid proficiency tests - I just can’t see this kind of comprehensive testing system being implemented any time soon. So if there are any tests planned, they’re likely to be formulaic and present little real difficulty…so long as you attend classes and stay off any ‘alert’ list.
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Fully agree with the OP. Low quality boiled meat and veg isnt my thing at all.
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I tried crickets twice near Saraburi. They tasted of sesame oil, so I guess they were fried in it, or more likely, tossed in it afterwards. I didn’t like them, but they weren’t as bad as I expected. I’d eat them again, but only for a suitably appreciative audience.
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Poor little mites! I worry about putting chemicals on little kids. Even ‘natural’ repellants like citronella oil sometimes carry warnings for infants although my mum used it on all her kids and none of seem to have suffered. You may already know this, but avoid using scented soaps, lotions, shampoos etc on your kids if they’re going to be in mozzie territory. It attracts them.
When I get a load of bites around my ankles I soak them in a really hot bath (as hot as I can stand) It works a wonder but obviously isn’t going to be good for kids. My sister swears that rubbing a bar of plain, dry soap over her kid’s bites alleviates the itch. I have no idea why this works. And I have heard that toothpaste has similar effect!
Something for older kids is to “cross hatch” the bite. You do this by firmly pressing your thumb nail into the bump to make a shallow indentation that quarters it so it looks like the top of a hot cross bun. You don’t actually break the skin, just make a temporary, but visible ‘cross’ on it. Try it yourself, it works on adults too. Admittedly it doesn’t actually remove all of the itchiness, but it does seem to reduce it. Again, I have no idea why. This is actually a pretty good treatment because you can use it when you don’t have any calamine lotion to hand, and when used on kids, seems to have a placebo effect - a bit like putting a band aid on a cut…they seem to feel better that you’re actually doing something.
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As the OP points out, the answer is simple. Enroll yourself in a decent school and attend classes.
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So, I gotta ask, exactly what are "gambling tools"?
.....people who lose more than they can afford.
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"Can i just have coffee in my coffee"
No, no no. ......at the very least you must have crushed ice and condensed milk..with just a dash of msg
Revisit To Language Express
in Thai Language
Posted
Thank you very much for the kind review, we look forward to seeing you again soon!
If anybody reading this would like to receive any additional information on any of our courses then please don't hesitate to contact us. Our freindly staff will be happy to help.
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Why study at Language Express?
Language Express specializes in Thai language education. The school offers courses in Thai and English, as well as specialist courses in IELTS Preparation, Accredited TESOL Certificates and Business English. Our Thai Language Course requires 4 hours study each week, and this can be take in 2 x 2 hours blocks on weeknights, or a single 4 hour block on Saturdays. Students who take a year long course (192 hours) are eligible for a Thai Education Visa. It is also possible to take the Thai Course in smaller units for those who only wish to improve their conversational abilities or learn how to read and write.
Language Express is not into educational fads or gimmicks; the two owners are qualified teachers in their home countries, each with around twenty years teaching experience in universities, language centres and high schools. They have taken the best of their Australian and Japanese schools and fitted them into a state of the art facility only metres from the escalators at BTS Ploenjit station. Language Express has a strong emphasis on quality. The school uses its own textbooks supplemented by commercially published texts such as "Thai for Beginners". These textbooks all feature Thai script, transliterations and translations. Our Thai teachers are university qualified native speakers selected for their energetic and professional approach, who receive ongoing training and development.
Students learn in a fast, effective manner using the Step System which is based on the tried and tested Communicative Approach - with an emphasis on memorizing and using grammatical structures with practical vocabulary and correct pronunciation. A critical part of our lessons is the 'production' segment, where students practice speaking using the language they have just studied, while integrating it with other Thai they know. On the Thai Course you'll acquire solid skills that let you communicate with Thai people as fast as possible. You will literally be speaking right from your very first lesson, then building on this step by step.
If you're thinking of learning Thai or taking a Thai Visa Course, please visit us when you make your enquires. We are always happy to outline our language programs, and are confident that once you compare the alternatives, you'll note a real difference in professionalism and quality.
CALL: 02 675 3915
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.languageexpress.co.th
EMAIL: [email protected]