I have done the whole ED Visa thing for a while at local Thai Language Schools, and I'm kind of fed up with the whole thing at this point. The group programs I have gone through cater to absolute beginners, but once you begin to gain a bit of competence in the language, there is nothing beyond the basics. I have tried private lessons with very little success as the teachers have an extremely high turnover rate and when I manage to get a single teacher for a somewhat extended period of time, their ability to teach is less than desirable. At this point I can communicate in Thai at a reasonable level, but 90% of that I would attribute to my private study and not the schools at all.

I will be moving to Chiang Mai very soon and I am looking for some alternative to Thai Language Schools in order to maintain my ED Visa. I've read that you can potentially get an ED Visa for a variety of activities, including Muay Thai, Cooking, Massage, Yoga, and Learning a Musical Instrument. However, finding a school that offers such a thing is another matter. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with a non-language oriented ED Visa? I would really like to learn guitar more proficiently, so a music school that is certified by the Board of Education would be great. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Further to above is there one connected to learnig Art ?.(drawing and painting )

what's your year budget for school/program costs?

here's a pretty good article with some decent links

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/living/articles/livingin-chiangmai-thailand.shtml

what's your year budget for school/program costs?

Money isn't really an issue. I think I'm spending around 30k a year now for language lessons. I'd like to spend around that, but I understand that specialized training is typically more expensive.

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here's a pretty good article with some decent links

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/living/articles/livingin-chiangmai-thailand.shtml

Thanks, but all the ED links I could see there were for language schools.

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You obviously still have a keen interest in improving your Thai so even though you say you don't want to continue with a "learning Thai" visa I will post this anyway ......... I study at Easy Study Thai Language School in Chiang Mai and I would thoroughly recommend it. They cater for all levels, up to advanced Thai, and the teaching is excellent. Beginners can learn phonetically if they choose but everyone is encouraged to learn to read and write the Thai script. You can also learn some Lanna Thai if you want as all the teachers are local

Understand you've had bad experiences in other places, I went to a terrible Thai language school in Bangkok for 3 years and learn next to nothing, but I can assure you this is a really good school where you will really improve your Thai language skills.

PM me if you want to know more.

You obviously still have a keen interest in improving your Thai so even though you say you don't want to continue with a "learning Thai" visa I will post this anyway ......... I study at Easy Study Thai Language School in Chiang Mai and I would thoroughly recommend it. They cater for all levels, up to advanced Thai, and the teaching is excellent. Beginners can learn phonetically if they choose but everyone is encouraged to learn to read and write the Thai script. You can also learn some Lanna Thai if you want as all the teachers are local

Understand you've had bad experiences in other places, I went to a terrible Thai language school in Bangkok for 3 years and learn next to nothing, but I can assure you this is a really good school where you will really improve your Thai language skills.

PM me if you want to know more.

I'm sure that I will end up continuing with the language visa as it is the easiest and cheapest option, I was just hoping that someone had any alternative experiences.

Thanks for the school recommendation, I'll be sure to check it out. Does that school provide a visa, handle all the paperwork, etc? My current school I've had nothing but issues with visas lately, it's been a bit of a nightmare.

If you truly want to master the language then study at one of the major universities. The so called language schools are mostly crap. I started with those aswell but was annoyed by the constant change of teachers, cancelled lessons and pure incompetence of the staff so I ended up doing 2 years at Thammasat. Definately alot better. This was long ago though but I assume they still offer the thai programs there.

If you truly want to master the language then study at one of the major universities. The so called language schools are mostly crap. I started with those aswell but was annoyed by the constant change of teachers, cancelled lessons and pure incompetence of the staff so I ended up doing 2 years at Thammasat. Definately alot better. This was long ago though but I assume they still offer the thai programs there.

Do the Universities help with the Visa's? I was under the impression that you were on your own when it came to all the paperwork and such. And if not, how difficult is the actual paperwork?

I never did the language visa either. The schools were just too wishy-washy (except AUA and CMU which looked really good) and I did not want to do the mill where you pay and don't have to really learn etc. I even sacrificed my 50% deposit once and never returned for the classes. In the end I just got lazy and did the tourist run around for quite some time.

Another thing you should ponder is whether the Thai language is something you can take with you if you leave. It's a lot of time at the school 3 days a week.

There are signs up all over recently for a 'hand-to-hand combat training' for the ED Visa you may want to consider. CM is a small town so it likely qualifies and no problems getting the visa.

I never did the language visa either. The schools were just too wishy-washy (except AUA and CMU which looked really good) and I did not want to do the mill where you pay and don't have to really learn etc. I even sacrificed my 50% deposit once and never returned for the classes. In the end I just got lazy and did the tourist run around for quite some time.

Another thing you should ponder is whether the Thai language is something you can take with you if you leave. It's a lot of time at the school 3 days a week.

There are signs up all over recently for a 'hand-to-hand combat training' for the ED Visa you may want to consider. CM is a small town so it likely qualifies and no problems getting the visa.

That's something to consider, do you know how many hours a week the combat training is? For the language Visa, you are only required to attend class a minimum of 4 hours per week, so it really isn't that much time if you do just that. Although you'll never be able to learn Thai if you only study for 4 hours a week.

I'm in Phuket right now and I know the Muay Thai gyms here offer ED visas, but they also require you to participate in actual fights, which I don't want to do, and the required training is like 6 hours+ per day, 6 days a week. Not something I'm real keen on committing to.

You can always study Thai at Payap University for a Bachelor's degree. Then minor in Chinese. Unless you think that is more study than you really want.

I've done the ED visa thing as well, however my "school/education" experience has been unique. PM me for further details

You can always study Thai at Payap University for a Bachelor's degree. Then minor in Chinese. Unless you think that is more study than you really want.

I've already been to Uni twice in my life, I don't think I could handle a third go of it.

I've done the ED visa thing as well, however my "school/education" experience has been unique. PM me for further details

PM Sent

hi

I can give you info about the hand to hand combat school Ed visa program. It sounds like this could work for you.

Mac

You can pm me or phone

I think the idea of studying in an international program at a good university is the best option. Although, the shiite really hit the fan at CMU LLI a few years ago, but they would be the first to tell you that it really wasn't CMU, just their Language Learning Institute located on the CMU campus. I've always heard good things about AUA, and Whalen seems to have some integrity, too. Others have tried paying to volunteer, to get a visa, and this too is a big grey area, as you actually need a work permit to volunteer. Carry a couple of thousand in 20s on you, in case you wind up in IDC, the guards won't have change for your food delivery..

Has your schooling included learning to read and write Thai?

I think the idea of studying in an international program at a good university is the best option. Although, the shiite really hit the fan at CMU LLI a few years ago, but they would be the first to tell you that it really wasn't CMU, just their Language Learning Institute located on the CMU campus. I've always heard good things about AUA, and Whalen seems to have some integrity, too. Others have tried paying to volunteer, to get a visa, and this too is a big grey area, as you actually need a work permit to volunteer. Carry a couple of thousand in 20s on you, in case you wind up in IDC, the guards won't have change for your food delivery..

I heard that about CMU.

Has your schooling included learning to read and write Thai?

That was the first thing that I learned, against the "wisdom" of my first school.

So what I'm getting is that there probably aren't any music schools in CM that can offer me an ED Visa, as was the original question? I figured as much, but I'm still hoping someone pops in here that knows of such a thing. Wishful thinking I guess.

You obviously still have a keen interest in improving your Thai so even though you say you don't want to continue with a "learning Thai" visa I will post this anyway ......... I study at Easy Study Thai Language School in Chiang Mai and I would thoroughly recommend it. They cater for all levels, up to advanced Thai, and the teaching is excellent. Beginners can learn phonetically if they choose but everyone is encouraged to learn to read and write the Thai script. You can also learn some Lanna Thai if you want as all the teachers are local

Understand you've had bad experiences in other places, I went to a terrible Thai language school in Bangkok for 3 years and learn next to nothing, but I can assure you this is a really good school where you will really improve your Thai language skills.

PM me if you want to know more.

I'm sure that I will end up continuing with the language visa as it is the easiest and cheapest option, I was just hoping that someone had any alternative experiences.

Thanks for the school recommendation, I'll be sure to check it out. Does that school provide a visa, handle all the paperwork, etc? My current school I've had nothing but issues with visas lately, it's been a bit of a nightmare.

Yes they handle everything, including VISA and in the most efficient manner I've ever come across in a Thai organization. Check them out at the Panthip Plaza in CM. Thai Unis as far as I know do not offer a VISA of any kind ............ so kind of pointless if you need a visa ;-)

I realize this post is older, just wondering what you ended up doing?

You could always try immersing yourself and becoming a volunteer somewhere dealing with kids, elderly, or anywhere that would force you to learn on the spot with new vocab and real life usage. Good luck.