Farang-Jono

Since paying paying for the internship, I've been juggled across two other companies and then being told that the internship is either 3 months or 8 months – all their websites say the internship is 5 months. I only signed up with them as I could have had an easier time with the visa paperwork, airport transfers, accom assistance ect. But I think I'm better off doing on my own in conjunction with a school.

I'm glad I understand it better now. The way the internship worded things above sounded like for a 12-month lease, they'd take 12months worth of electricity usage from you despite already paying it to the government in the first place. Though I have been given other red flags from them, so I may just get the refund and apply to a school myself.

Ah, I think I understand now. So if you move out before the utilities are due in the same month, the deposit is used to pay these utilities instead of you yourself paying them elsewhere. Is this correct?

I'd imagine gas, electric and water is paid monthly to the utility company anyway. So how can the deposit be used to pay utilities that some pays monthly? By the end of the lease, it's highly probable the utility costs outweigh the cost of the deposit over the months. can you explain how this is supposed to make sense?

Hi all, I signed up to do a teaching internship in Thailand. they help to arrange accommodation and you will pay the deposit and the rent each month. However in their info, they have written: "All monthly accommodations in Thailand require a deposit to cover any damages and the cost of electricity. When you check out at the end of your stay, your deposit will be returned to you minus any damages and minus the amount of water and electricity usage. Electricity is charged at 10 Baht per unit and participants using a moderate amount electricity can expect to spend 1,000 – 1,500 Baht per person (based on a shared room). There is also a 250 Baht cleaning fee that will be removed from the deposit to cover cleaning services. Your deposit return will be greatest if you do not use your air conditioner and remember to turn off all electricity when not in use. You will be informed about your specific cost before you arrive in Thailand. You will need to pay the deposit when you check in to your accommodation on Monday. All participants are subject to a deposit." When renting in Thailand, is it really commonplace to have utilities deducted from a deposit, or is this just some warped logic created by the internship company? I'll be ready to cancel immediately if this is not at all commonplace across Thailand. I also find it odd that they'll place you in an apartment with an air conditioner and then tell you not to use it. I understand and accept damages and cleaning, but for utilities seem to be a bit bizarre to me.

I find transliteration quite unhelpful too as it seems very academically and linguistically inclined - depending on the transliteration system. The fact that there are several transliteration systems makes them defunct right away in my opinion.

Hi all, I will be emigrating to Thailand in the next 6 months or so. I am a natural Polyglot (English, Welsh, Gaeilge, Argentine Spanish, German & Hindustani), I did have Mandarin under my belt, but lost the spark for it over the years. Yet, since I'm relocating to Thailand forever, Thai needs to be added to the collection. Online searches come up blank about any proficiency tests for Thai, so it is unlikely that one exists? It is a huge shame if there isn't yet! If there are no official proficiency tests, what would you think is the next best thing is? I'm hoping to be based in and around Chiang Mai (Bangkok as a back-up) if location is important. I learned the alphabet and survival phrases back in 2016 when I last lived in Thailand, but naturally it has been exterminated from my memory (don't use it...lose it!). But I would rather start from the beginning after I have arrived rather than cramming in non-natural textbook vocabulary weeks/months before the flight. I want to learn the real, natural Thai spoken everyday from the very start. With textbooks in mind, are there any that would be useful to purchase before flying out? I'm currently based in the UK. Maybe it is a better idea to buy them once in Thailand though? I would love to read some recommendations!

Distant future*

Hi, my name is Jono (Most likely to be Khru Jono), and I am emigrating to Thailand from the UK either this June or October. I lived in Thailand once before in 2016 (Kanchanaburi Province) but been busy graduating from uni sicne then. I'm ready to go back for the long-run as a serious and dedicated English teacher. If a farang is able in Thailand, maybe cross over into education management in the distance future. I'll be using this forum to seek advice from time to time (I often get myself into bizarre and obscure situations that common knowledge cannot usually solve).