Thai Language Course

[coalminer]

Hi,

I have been looking around for a school in N. Ratchasima where a foreigner can learn the Thai language.

There are a few "private school's" were a foreigner can get a "steam course" in the Thai language.

But almost all of these "private school's" are pretty expensive and the course is nothing else than a copy of books which anybody can buy in a bookshop.

No way to continue and make progress after their course.

Real Thai classes like a Thai kid learns in school are not available to foreigners unless they want to travel every day to Bangkok or Pattaya.

The school where my daughter is learning, one of the best in N. Ratchasima, is willing to organize a Thai course for foreigners if there would be enough people willing to enroll in a professional course to learn the Thai language.

The teacher(s) would be all Thai with an acceptable knowledge of English.

The course will be at least 1 year at a ratio of 1 hour a day, but will be finally planned if there is enough demand.

For foreigners who are planning to get a the Thai residence, this is a one of a lifetime opportunity to get skilled in the Thai language. Writing, speaking and reading.

In order to get this project of the ground, I will need to present to the school the names of foreigners who are interested in following this course.

Therefore, I would like to ask the foreigners and ThaiVisa members who are willing to enroll in this project to write their name and post it in this thread or PM me personally.

Regards

[MacWalen]

What about a new branch of the Walen school there, do you think it would get enough support?

Mac

Walen Thai School, www.thaiwalen.com

[coalminer]

What about a new branch of the Walen school there, do you think it would get enough support?

Mac

Walen Thai School, www.thaiwalen.com

If the response of ThaiVisa members would be like it is now, you will have not 1 fahrang to support the idea.

Unless you are willing to adapt your lessons to the hours of each individual and the price should need be higher than a couple of Baht per month/year.

But you have my support in starting up a branch of Walen school in Khorat.

[MacWalen]

That is good to know, if the investment was justified we would be happy to consider it. Lets see if we get more comments.

[Pib]

What about a new branch of the Walen school there, do you think it would get enough support?

Mac

Walen Thai School, www.thaiwalen.com

Mac,

Has Walen ever considered setting up a location in western Bangkok (on the west side of the Chao Phraya River)? I live in Khet Talingchan and would love to take some group Walen Thai classes, but driving into central/high-rise/heavy traffic Bangkok where Walen is currently located from Talingchan would be a major traffic pain...I would spend almost as much time on the road/looking for parking as in class. When Walen opens up a location in western Bangkok, you can count me in! Thanks.

[MacWalen]

You mean Pinklao area? I will look into it but still not sure if there were enough people interested.

What about Bangna? Anybody interested?

What about Silom?

What about Ramkhampeng?

What about Sriracha?

What about Rayong?

I agree that traveling to Sukhumvit can often be a 'mission impossible'

[Pib]

Yes, Pin Klao is nearby...would only take me about 15 minutes to get there. And you are so right about traveling to Sukhumvit can often be Mission Impossible as I did it today (Tom Cruise would be proud of me)...I left Talingchan at 6:30am and got to Sumkumvit 63 at 8:15am with lots of traffic frustration...and on the way back I ended up donating 500 baht to a traffic policeman. It just reinforced my decision not to attend any Thai language school in central Bangkok because getting to the school just takes too long and is too frustrating (traffic-wise).

I expect there are plenty of farangs living in western Bangkok (like me) which would attend Walen if you had location on the west side of Chai Phyra River...it sure would make attendance a lot easier (and likely) for us west Bangkok folks...I'm ready to sign up just as soon as you open the location (I really am!). Thanks.

[MacWalen]

Good to hear Pib, I will look into it. In any case it takes some time to open a school with all the government paperwork and construction but if we find a suitable place it is quite likely that we will go ahead.

[coalminer]

N. Ratchasima (Khorat) has a big amount of foreigners living here most of the year and others who stays in Khorat with tourists visa's could be intersted in getting a 1 year ED visa.

Is Walen considering to open a language school in Khorat

[kriswillems]

Hi Macwalen,

In Sri Racha there are a few language school which are unreasonably expensive and they don't seem to have much prove that they offer a decent education. Most of the schools can teach just any language, which worries me. They charge 800B/h for private teaching.

Most expats that live here are Japanese (several thousands). They are pretty rich and most can talk Thai rather well. I think they study Thai with support of their company. They have a business visum and are not interested in studying Thai in order to obtain a visa. There are very few other nationalities living here. If you would open a school here I think I would need to move the accent of your advertisement from obtaining a visa to the quality of the education. If you can offer a package which suits their level you can probably make some money here.

What I am missing in Chonburi province (including Pattaya) is a school that offers group courses on a higher level. I've been looking for that more than 1 year and I can't find anything. Most schools just put students of different levels in the same class which is very inefficient and boring. I don't believe advertisement, I want to see many well structured books, written by the school and prove that some of students of that school can pass the government exams (P.6 exam in the past, now the level test).

Edited December 2, 2008 by kriswillems

[Pib]

Good to hear Pib, I will look into it. In any case it takes some time to open a school with all the government paperwork and construction but if we find a suitable place it is quite likely that we will go ahead.

I'm pretty sure you will find pretty of interested farangs who live on the west side of Bangkok/west side Chao Phraya. I see plenty in the west Bangkok malls/Lotus's/Big C's/HomePro's. Not to have to drive into central Bangkok would be great.

And you don't have to "go fancy" with me with your facility. Just rent a couple of offices/rooms somewhere, have a couple of good instructors, and decent parking---and get your West Bangkok Walen School going!!! Big Thanks for considering west Bangkok.