Walen School of Thai -- any experiences?

**Khun004** · 25-06-2009, 10:58 PM

Does anyone have experience at Walen School of Thai?

Yes, they are famous for offering long-stay educational visas, but what about actually learning Thai language there?

They use a teaching method like no other -- apparently a very fast rate of asking questions with lots of repetition. Is their method really as wonderful as they claim in their advertising? Anybody have direct experience?

Reason for asking is Walen is about to open a branch in Chiangmai. I'm tempted, but would appreciate comments -- pro and con -- of anyone who has actually been through their course.

Thank you.

K-4
Chiangmai

**dirtydog** · 25-06-2009, 11:34 PM

You could try this one. Its a lot cheaper if your not interested in the visa.
Learn Thai in Chiang Mai - Thai Language Course for Foreigners in Chiang Mai

Thai Language Course for Foreigners in Chiang Mai – Learn Thai Conversation

Chiang Mai English Club (CMEC) offers a friendly Thai language course at the price that you consider a steal. We are a group of nice and fun-oriented, English-speaking Thai-native speakers who are not only happy to teach you to speak Thai but also keeping you company for those who are very new to the town.
We provide not only a fun Thai lesson but also befriend and introduce you to the Thai and Chiang Mai cultures and lifestyles. Either one on one or in a group, we are flexible with the study hours.
Course: Thai Language for Beginner

Description:

- Consonant sounds, vowels and pronunciation
- Sentence formation (pronoun, verb and basic vocabulary)
- Interrogative and negative sentence formation

Hours: 30 hours
Price:

- 4700 baht/person for One on One
- 3300 baht/person for Group of 2-3

APPLY NOW!

**Khun004** · 26-06-2009, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

You could try this one. Its a lot cheaper...

Looks like advertisements in posts are allowed here.

I opened this thread specifically asking for comments from anyone with experience at a Walen School of Thai.

Apparently their teaching method is unique.
They have branches in Bangkok and Pattaya, with a new branch soon to open in Chiangmai, so critique of their method could be useful to many readers of this forum.

Comments -- pro or con -- about Walen School, from anyone who has actually attended classes there, would be most appreciated.

Thank you.

-K4
Chiangmai

**dirtydog** · 26-06-2009, 09:26 PM

The one I posted is about 10 percent of the price of walen, so even if your a slow learner you should be getting a bargain.

**dirtydog** · 26-06-2009, 09:35 PM

AUA is supposedly the best if you want to pay the big money, are you actually in Chiang mai or Thailand?

**BigRed** · 26-06-2009, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by Khun004

Looks like advertisements in posts are allowed here.

Only if you own the forum, just ask SoCo MoFo.

however, DD's reply seemed pretty much on topic and informative, which is more than you get from 90% of the posters here. In fact it's more than you get from 90% of DDs posts

You might not be interested in DDs link but others may be, thats how forums work or do you think we are all here just to answer your questions? you're not a Scampy alias are you

**mao say dung** · 26-06-2009, 10:04 PM

The so-called Callan Method is, to be blunt, crap.

It involves giving the student a book with call-response dialogues written out in Thai script. The teacher reads out a question in a very artificial manner, reads it out again, then students read an answer. And on and on.

Can't read Thai script? No problem. Just run your finger along the passage as the teacher reads the question and as other students read the answers. You'll absorb Thai script in no time.

And if you believe that, just send me your money and I will teach you the language through psychic com-channels I've developed over the years.

Point is, they guarantee the visa and you don't have to attend classes or perform to any standard when you do in order to keep the paperwork flowing.

You are paying 30,000 for the paperwork to get you a visa for a year; if you calculate the cost of visa runs etc., if that is your alternative, you can decide on a cost-convenience-benefit basis.

I was lucky enough to have a teacher who didn't/couldn't/wouldn't use the method and a class of folks who resented the occasions when the director came in and tried to bully everyone into it, and bully is the appropriate word. We all just thought he was a rude a-hole and held our noses till he left.

**Khun004** · 26-06-2009, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by mao say dung

The so-called Callan Method is, to be blunt, crap. ... I was lucky enough to have a teacher who didn't/couldn't/wouldn't use the method and a class of folks who resented the occasions when the director came in and tried to bully everyone into it, and bully is the appropriate word. We all just thought he was a rude a-hole and held our noses till he left.

Thank you, Mao, for taking the time to write about your observations at Walen.

Indeed, it is the "Callan" method they use.
The Callan method -- as described at Walen's web site -- seems very impressive.
I'm wondering if it really is.
With the new branch opening soon in Chiangmai, probably others in this area are wondering, too.

Mao clearly votes, "No".
Anyone else with personal experience there?

-- K4
Chiangmai
.

**dirtydog** · 26-06-2009, 10:20 PM

I think you will find most do it for the visa and aren't actually interested in the classes, if you want to learn Thai it is extremely cheap with other Thai companys, you want that year visa then walen or mythailanguage etc are the places to go, but to learn Thai, just go to a normal teacher.

^I see you have completely edited your post you cnut.

**Khun004** · 27-06-2009, 01:36 PM

Please CANCEL my request in the OP (for observations about Walen School.)

Just now, on a different forum, I found many posts from people with actual, personal experience attending those classes.
They gave a very clear picture of what's on offer.
No need to continue here.

Thank you.

-- K4
Chiangmai

**BigRed** · 27-06-2009, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by Khun004

No need to continue here.

Good job too

damn, just realised you didn't mean yourself on this forum.

**Parker Chase** · 05-05-2016, 11:52 AM

Walen School STOLE over 23,000 Baht from me.
Mac Wallen is an immoral, money hungry scammer!!!

**Davis Knowlton** · 05-05-2016, 11:59 AM

The thread's seven years old.....

**Headworx** · 05-05-2016, 12:02 PM

^So is Parker Chase if he was thick enough to be scammed by Walen.

**Parker Chase** · 05-05-2016, 12:15 PM

That is not very nice. Maybe when something bad happens to you, people will make jokes about it.

**bobo746** · 05-05-2016, 12:26 PM

^ Great comback,are you 15?

**Neverna** · 05-05-2016, 12:50 PM

Tell us how they allegedly "STOLE" over 23,000 baht from you, Parker Chase.

**Davis Knowlton** · 05-05-2016, 12:52 PM

Who cares?

**barrylad66** · 05-05-2016, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by bobo746

^ Great comback,are you 15?

**Headworx** · 05-05-2016, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by Parker Chase

That is not very nice. Maybe when something bad happens to you, people will make jokes about it.

Deservedly so if I was stupid enough to hand someone with such a long and easily reserched history 23,000 Baht. Have you heard about this new invention called Google?.

**David48atTD** · 06-05-2016, 10:13 AM

Is his schools still operating?

I'm sure the changes to the Visa options would have stifled his clientèle?

What about his Business Classes?

**charleyboy** · 06-05-2016, 11:07 AM

He's got a place in Cha-Am.

**BaitongBoy** · 06-05-2016, 11:14 AM

Jing lor?...I'm in Cha Am...You want I go get yer money back, Parker?...Any relation to Richard Parker in the Life of Pi?...Me and Sharkey'll split the commission...

By the way, Welcome to the Buffalo Board, if you do return...

**Dragonfly94** · 07-05-2016, 07:37 PM

Quite possible as similar happened to me in 2003. Signed up for so many hours and paid, was told had 2 years to do them in by the owner. Had a few lessons that year, when I went back the following year the bitch told me the time had run out and no more lessons, claimed she said one year to do them in, 6.5k down the drain. Nothing in writing unfortunately

**Dragonfly94** · 07-05-2016, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by David48atTD

Is his schools still operating?

I'm sure the changes to the Visa options would have stifled his clientèle?

What about his Business Classes?

He vacated the offices on the ist floor at times sq and moved to cheaper upstairs. Teachers are not qualified other than to read out of a book

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