1 year Thai language visa -- Chiang Mai

[nicolas65]

After checking out Chiang Mai University's 1 year Thai language program on their site and then finding out here on TVF about the problems at CMU back in 2010, welcome any updates:  has anyone had a good experience with CMU since then or would you recommend another program?  Also, what is the current situation with regard to educational visas--do we need to apply before traveling to CM or can we just arrive on a tourist visa and then transition with a school's help to an educational visa?

 

We are not looking for a visa mill, just a low key one year program that will give us some grounding in Thai as we sort out whether Thailand is in our long-term future.

 

thanks much,

Nick

[MaeJoMTB]

It would depend on your age, income, nationality, and number  of previous trips to Thailand. Many reports of people on ed VISAs being denied entry.

But I would forget CMU, a lot of customers were allegedly dumped with no refund.

 

Why not try the Philippines, VISA very easy, no proof of income/savings requirement, exchange rate better, everyone speaks English, and the  native language tagalog is 30% Spanish words (I'm told Spanish speakers can usually understand tagalog).

Edited November 13, 2017 by MaeJoMTB

[sqwakvfr]

"Why not try the Philippines, VISA very easy, no proof of income/savings requirement, exchange rate better, everyone speaks English, and the  native language tagalog is 30% Spanish words (I'm told Spanish speakers can usually understand tagalog)."

 

 

I looked at the PI before I settled on LOS.  Does the PI have an Ed Visa similar to LOS?  I looked into the PI Visa offerings and I could not find an ED Visa?  

[MaeJoMTB]

You can just fly into the PI and stay 3 years without leaving.

First 30 days free on arrival, then every month or 2 pay 1,000 pesos to almost any travel agent or immigration office.

You even get an Alien Residence Card (ARC) after the 3rd month, so you can open bank accounts and stuff.

 

They do ask you to leave the country for a night or two, every 3 years.

[JulieM]

My experience with ED visas is from two years ago. At that time, once I had selected a language school and paid the fees, the language school did a ton of paperwork for me. Then I had to leave the country to apply for the ED visa. 

[nicolas65]

Thanks for the responses.  Will keep researching schools and other options.

[playyer]

Pro language is pretty good, friendly teachers. They give you one year (2 years ago anyway) and do all the paperwork for you. Youll get the visa, no problems. Not all students study before class, so skill level vary a bit between students. Its pretty easy going, but you can still learn a lot if you apply yourself.

[nicolas65]

That one does look like a reliable visa option, and Whalen looks like a possibility.  Will check them out when I land, and post if I find a positive experience.

[JulieM]

I went to Pro Language and had a great teacher. 

[EricTh]

Actually, you can sit for one class for half an hour (with permission from school staff) and try to choose the school that you like.

 

Usually, more serious students choose Payap university, Chiang Mai university program is rather relaxed at the beginning but they force you to learn their Thai alphabets.

 

I assume that you come from European-centric languages country so Thai language is quite difficult to master because it has tones and Thai people do speak very fast in real life.

 

Philippines or Malaysia would be an easier option if you can't pick up a difficult language.

 

 

Edited November 15, 2017 by EricTh

[BuddyDean]

Any school offering visa help is going to have a lot of visa runners; it creates a huge distraction and the non NES are the worst.  I didn't need visa help and looked at the CMU course.  It was filled with activities to learn "Thai culcha," and trips to dirty markets, etc..no thanks.  The longer courses are likely different, but you could very well have to start out with the same course.  I chose a thirty hour course at another school, and it was OK, but can't recommend.  Just too much drama, teachers working on Ed visas, people coming in late every day, or skipping class.

[NancyL]

I agree with some of the previous posts.  Why do you want to "study Thai" if it's for the visa or to really learn the Thai language?  As someone who really wanted to learn the Thai language I soon found that the places that also handled handled visas for their students weren't the places to learn the Thai language, with the only exception being the well-respected course at Payap University.  You really have to commit yourself to that one and they have good teachers.

 

You seem like someone who wants to come here on a "study visa", so frankly, it doesn't much matter, does it?  Just be sure to pay your expenses on a western credit card so that when it goes belly up,  you can file a claim and get your undelivered services reimbursed.  That's what happened to Hubby at the CMU Language Institute.  Otherwise, if he'd paid for his course upfront in cash, he would have been out the full amount.

[JannerBoy]

Worth checking out Lanna Language School in Hang Dong, used them for private lessons before and found them very good. 

[EricTh]

6 hours ago, NancyL said:

 I soon found that the places that also handled handled visas for their students weren't the places to learn the Thai language, with the only exception being the well-respected course at Payap University.  You really have to commit yourself to that one and they have good teachers.

 

 

 

What's your ranking (from best to worst) on the various Thai language schools in Chiang Mai?

 

 

Edited November 16, 2017 by EricTh