Need Chiang Mai English School Suggestion

[leobeerman]

I appreciate any suggestions for good English class for my girlfriend in C.M. Thanks!

[kash]

Wherever you decide, don't go to British Council - no grammar, just reading - and british backpackers as teachers....great, nope.

[The Dan Sai Kid]

Kash, are you talking from experience?

EDIT: Isn't reading a good way to learn grammar?

Edited December 27, 2006 by The Dan Sai Kid

[Loaded]

I disagree 100% with Kash on the BC comment, and I do know what I'm talking about.

leobeerman

IMO these are your best options (no particular preference order):

British Council, Bumrumrad Rd.

AUA, Ratchadameon Rd.

IDP Australia Centre, off Suthep Rd.

EFL Learning Centre (specializes in small classes and 1 to 1), Kaew Nawarat Rd.

Kings College, Kaew Nawarat Rd.

You'll find classes for your g/f at these places, but the quality is very hit and miss:

NES

CEC

Visit the schools and then make up your mind.

[The Dan Sai Kid]

Loaded, although you may not have meant it - you have put them in the order that I would rate these schools.

[leobeerman]

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it!

[kurtgruen]

You'll find classes for your g/f at these places, but the quality is very hit and miss:

NES

CEC

Visit the schools and then make up your mind.

In my opinion, NES is a total waste of time and money. For example, in Chiang Mai, near Central Department Store, we put our Thai daughter (12) in both Grammar and Conversational English. The Grammar is a total waste of time. The Thai teachers are not even competent enough to speak or write proper English themselves. One. of them, who, according to his credentials on the wall (Probalby bought on Ko San Road) has a Masters from an American University, told my daughter today that the words "Spanish Teacher" mean someone who spends money like crazy. Our daughter had it right already, because we did the Rosetta Stone CD's with her. In my opionion, you are better not to enroll your kids in grammar at NES, because mistakes are hard to unlearn and they teach many things wrong there.

As for the Conversational Courses, don't expect them to learn too much at NES, but that part is hit-and-miss. I did meet a good foreign teacher there for the Conversational classes.

I believe the place is set up to only grab money. Mainly from gullable Thais, because they have no idea, that their children are being taught wrong.

I regret that I took my daughter there :-( Wasting the money is a minor concern to me, but having to help her unlearn garbage is :-(

[Martian]

Although I know nothing of the other English language schools in Chiang Mai, I can tell you that the EFL (Kaew Nawarat Rd.) organization is genuinely interested in and capable of providing good English language services.

(I realize this thread is old but I responded for those searching for this type of info.)

Regards,

Martian

Edited March 31, 2009 by Martian

[BlackArtemis]

Wherever you decide, don't go to British Council - no grammar, just reading - and british backpackers as teachers....great, nope.

Sad to hear that. My wife grew up going to Dara and the BC during summers. She is fluent in English and will be applying for her MA in early Childhood in the USA.