Playing devil's advocate

Sometimes sticking your nose in too soon can be detrimental to your own peace of mind.

I have my feelers out in all sorts of places (and a big thankyou to Catherine at WLT for her advice) trying to find out more unsolicited information about my course. Waiting to hear back.

Thai Visa has some pretty disturbing forum comments pertaining to the One Year Thai course and visas, so I've contacted a fresh new member (had to join to do that) who seems to be concerned also. Waiting to hear back.

There are ten or more members with CMU in their username. So I searched their contents, especially that of a member that seemed to be linked to CMULI...but nothing of value (to me) surfaced.

The most disconcerting topic was that of CMU fails to provide Visa. This member claims that CMU will not provide the necessary documents required to renew his/her visa and was advised "by the director "not to do anything dangerous", then it should be "OK". 1st Sep 2010

This response from a Super Member:

"If this is indeed true (which I have no reason to doubt, as I just spoke to a currently enrolled foreign student in that program who mirrored your post) it is really sad. CMU has great textbooks and was previously known as a totally above board quality language school.

They also USED to provide you with documentation where you could get a full years extension of stay INSIDE the country once you paid your tuition as they're a 'real uni' not a private thai language school and their documentation from the Ministry of Education was different from the stuff most private thai language schools get."

So I put my two cents worth into the forum. Am watching this topic.

There seems to be quite a few 'backup' comments, stating the same visa issues.

Also on Thai Visa was this forum topic, CMU Language Institute's Thai Course, where there seemed to be pros and cons of various teachers and their methods,  for the One Year Thai Course.

SO, I have written to CMULI to see what they have to say about the Visa situation. Waiting to hear back.

It can't hurt to have IT in writing, can it?

I am, of course, farang, with an 'R', and wonder whether some comments are made by those completely oblivious to the 'Thai' way or who have no patience. Or, perhaps their grievances are completely legitimate.

Things are done differently in different countries. What might frustrate a farang in Thailand, could similarly bewilder a Thai doing the same in a different country.

My posts are not to join a witch hunt, they are to air my thoughts, share what I find and receive feedback...so please do!

Call for CMU Language Institute reviews and blogs

After discovering the Blog section on the CMULI website I went back for a bit of a sticky beak.

There are four bloggers on the main menu, but only two have submissions...and are, of course bias towards the Language Institute and CMU. To be expected. Only four postings between two bloggers, all in June and three published on the same day. HHmmmm, not what I was looking for.

I have been trawling the Internet for a blog or review, written by a farang, like me, who has attended the same course that I will. No such luck.

This might be a good thing, or a bad thing?

The only negative comments I have found out in cyberspace were those on Thai Visa. But to be fair, these were about the Cultural Exchange program, where money is paid to Volunteer?????????

As one commenter rightly stated "Paying to volunteer and got cheated. Bummer". Does seem a bit silly doesn't it, but still, not a favourable review.

*Personal observation - I have read much about 'pay to do volunteer work' and met those who do it, an oximoron if you ask me. I can understand a novice traveller signing up for such a program, but if you ask me, just investigate it before you arrive, arrive and settle in for a few days. Look into it, ask questions and then decide. I am sure  that honest volunteer work should not be costing YOU a penny.

I refuse to climb aboard any band wagons and have always maintained an 'I'll make my own mind up' attitude before making any judgements. And, come to think of it, I have read some negative things about Thai Visa on my Internet travels and have found some pretty childish conent in their forums also.

So it makes me wonder, why aren't there any (non commercial) blogs about the course?

In case you hadn't noticed, I am a BIT of a pre-preparation freak..what's that word? I like to know a little about what I'm getting into, before my toes hit the boiling water. I like researching just about anything.

I'm not too worried about the whole process/event/outcome, I have ways out and backup plans in mind. But, if you know of any online accounts of foreigners who are attending or who have completed the CMU One Year Thai Language course, I'd love to hear about it.