I also went to Duke Language School. Loved the teachers and having fellow compatriots to study with. I normally prefer studying alone, but I became great friends with my classmates when I started all the way at level 1.
Thank you! The Ministry Test was quite straightforward in the end (thankfully!) and required me to listen and respond in Thai, write a little bit of Thai and also tested my speaking and Thai vocabulary. From my understanding, the purpose is so that the Ministry can confirm those on an ED visa are in fact studying and aren't just using it as a way to remain in Thailand legally without bothering to go to class etc. 🙂
Hello, great video! I’m looking to do a Thai language course but thinking about visa, did you apply while you are in Thailand and wait around before starting the course? Ideally I’ve looked at some where you can apply for the visa in the UK as I don’t want to waste rent money not studying if you know what I mean. What did you do? Thank you!
Hey thank you! I applied while I was still in the UK, however the school told me that it was easier to do while in Thailand. I didn't face any problems doing it from the UK, although if you are in Thailand, you can time it to land shortly before term starts so you avoid wasting money on rent etc.
I'm not sure about whether it is like in the US but at Duke, the only costs to attend school are the tuition fees for what level you want to study (upfront one-off cost) and then the book (500THB) that corresponds with that level. It is worth nothing that if you are on an ED-visa, you will need to also pay the visa extension costs at Immigration yourself (1900THB) when it becomes time to extend.
You're welcome! Unfortunately I can't remember the cost and I can't find the email that had it. However, if you email/phone them, they will be able to provide a full breakdown of costs.
Hi Victoria, Is it possible to show us the real school place, atmosphere, how many classmate in one class? Are there any outside activities sometimes? Thank you
Hey, I've just finished my final month with the school so I won't be able to show the real school. However, on their YT page they have a few videos that were filmed in reception/the classrooms: th-cam.com/users/Dukelanguagebkkvideos All of my classes didn't have more than approx. 12 students so it was always a nice number. I studied there for 5 months and there were no outdoor activities, however I know that they do themed activites for certain holidays (I was just unlucky and never got to experience any myself). However, most of the classes I were in, we ended up doing a goodbye lunch at the end of each course but that was organised ourselves and not by the school. Also on Sunday I am posting a review of the difference between studying online and in-person at Duke so you may find that helpful 😊
Hey Victoria did you know any other languages before beginning to learn Thai? I’m a little afraid of picking up Thai because I have never known any other language apart from English I can speak my mother tongue but can’t read or write the script at all
Hey I was an intermediate Mandarin speaker when I started, it helped in the sense that I could recognise tones easier because Mandarin is also tonal. However, not knowing another language wouldn't be a bad thing either because you have nothing to compare it to or get confused with...like I always do! Plus when I started Mandarin, my only language was English and I think Mandarin is harder than Thai 😂 Reading is quite easy once you learn the alphabet, it just takes a while to remember so many letters and the rules. Writing depends on how much you practice, I don't practice often so my writing is very slow and like a child did it haha Good luck!
@@VictoriaReign haha thanks that is encouraging, I've been visiting on tourist visas and border runs until now and am planning to apply for the language visa soon! looking forward to it! thank you so much for your response, i appreciate it! 🤗
I'm planning to enroll early next year. How did you find an apartment? Was it online or you just went there and looked around? I was hoping to find a place near the school. Thanks!
You may want to register multiple months in advance. I’m studying at another language school and we have some students who wanted to study at Duke but could not because classes were already full and there was a waiting list for their level of a couple of months.
I can second that, when I was there the courses seemed to have a wait list because students already enrolled get priority for the next course, then leftover space is given to those who are on the waitlist. I used www.ddproperty.com/en to find mine before I moved. However, I have friends who stayed in a hotel and then found their condo once they were in Thailand. Both options work out great. As a warning I stayed in the same building as the school...which ended up having cockroaches 😩
I chose a group class for two reasons, one is that it is cheaper so I could save money and the other is so that I could meet new people and make more friends which I've been able to do 🙂
I am planning to come to come there, is there anyway to contact you? I am wondering if I can find cheaper accomodation nearby the school. What do you think?
Feel free to message me on IG if you have any questions. For accommodation I'd recommend checking ddproperty for listings near the school. I think you will be able to find something cheap but there are a lot more people coming to Bangkok now so you may see prices starting to increase again.
They go at break neck speed Teachers wear masks that affects you seeing their lips and affects pronunciation They also do not help students they can clearly see are battling .I would not recommend that school at all They only speak a thai during course so you are totally lost with no help i left half way
Oh sorry to hear you had a bad experience! Wearing a mask as a teacher is bad, I still struggle understanding the person if they have a mask on. Hope your new school is a better experience!
The beginner levels have English translations of the new vocabulary and some English is used at the very start of Journey 1 but as I didn't do this one, I'm not 100% sure. There is also English used throughout the books to explain grammar/Thai customs you need to learn.
I forgot to mention this in the video so thanks for asking. Masks are mandatory in class/the school and you also need to do a weekly ATK/lateral flow covid test and upload the results for Admin to see.
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I also went to Duke Language School. Loved the teachers and having fellow compatriots to study with. I normally prefer studying alone, but I became great friends with my classmates when I started all the way at level 1.
I think making friends is still the main reason I loved going, it can really help with settling in and studying 👌🏽
Very informative! Thank you Victoria! 🙏 Please explain more about the Ministry Test and it's purpose. 👍🤟🇺🇸
Thank you! The Ministry Test was quite straightforward in the end (thankfully!) and required me to listen and respond in Thai, write a little bit of Thai and also tested my speaking and Thai vocabulary. From my understanding, the purpose is so that the Ministry can confirm those on an ED visa are in fact studying and aren't just using it as a way to remain in Thailand legally without bothering to go to class etc. 🙂
Hello, great video! I’m looking to do a Thai language course but thinking about visa, did you apply while you are in Thailand and wait around before starting the course? Ideally I’ve looked at some where you can apply for the visa in the UK as I don’t want to waste rent money not studying if you know what I mean. What did you do? Thank you!
Hey thank you! I applied while I was still in the UK, however the school told me that it was easier to do while in Thailand. I didn't face any problems doing it from the UK, although if you are in Thailand, you can time it to land shortly before term starts so you avoid wasting money on rent etc.
Is there Tuition like there is in the US? Like you pay for your books but are there other costs to attend the school other than the application fee?
I'm not sure about whether it is like in the US but at Duke, the only costs to attend school are the tuition fees for what level you want to study (upfront one-off cost) and then the book (500THB) that corresponds with that level.
It is worth nothing that if you are on an ED-visa, you will need to also pay the visa extension costs at Immigration yourself (1900THB) when it becomes time to extend.
Hi is this 1900 baht for the year? With an education visa?
Thank you so much for the information. I was wondering how much it cost for a semester or course?
You're welcome! Unfortunately I can't remember the cost and I can't find the email that had it. However, if you email/phone them, they will be able to provide a full breakdown of costs.
Hi Victoria, Is it possible to show us the real school place, atmosphere, how many classmate in one class? Are there any outside activities sometimes? Thank you
Hey, I've just finished my final month with the school so I won't be able to show the real school. However, on their YT page they have a few videos that were filmed in reception/the classrooms: th-cam.com/users/Dukelanguagebkkvideos
All of my classes didn't have more than approx. 12 students so it was always a nice number. I studied there for 5 months and there were no outdoor activities, however I know that they do themed activites for certain holidays (I was just unlucky and never got to experience any myself). However, most of the classes I were in, we ended up doing a goodbye lunch at the end of each course but that was organised ourselves and not by the school.
Also on Sunday I am posting a review of the difference between studying online and in-person at Duke so you may find that helpful 😊
@@VictoriaReign Thank you for your information.
Hey Victoria did you know any other languages before beginning to learn Thai?
I’m a little afraid of picking up Thai because I have never known any other language apart from English
I can speak my mother tongue but can’t read or write the script at all
Hey I was an intermediate Mandarin speaker when I started, it helped in the sense that I could recognise tones easier because Mandarin is also tonal. However, not knowing another language wouldn't be a bad thing either because you have nothing to compare it to or get confused with...like I always do! Plus when I started Mandarin, my only language was English and I think Mandarin is harder than Thai 😂
Reading is quite easy once you learn the alphabet, it just takes a while to remember so many letters and the rules. Writing depends on how much you practice, I don't practice often so my writing is very slow and like a child did it haha
Good luck!
@@VictoriaReign haha thanks that is encouraging, I've been visiting on tourist visas and border runs until now and am planning to apply for the language visa soon!
looking forward to it!
thank you so much for your response, i appreciate it! 🤗
@@DiogenesTheFrog oh life will get much easier once you have the ED visa. No worries and good luck with your studies!!
@@VictoriaReign Thank you so much and same to you Victoria! eager to watch more of your journey!
Where can I get these books for self-study? I have visited the school and seems they do not sale them without the course
Hey sorry but I don't know where you would be able to get these for self-study,
I'm planning to enroll early next year. How did you find an apartment? Was it online or you just went there and looked around? I was hoping to find a place near the school. Thanks!
You may want to register multiple months in advance. I’m studying at another language school and we have some students who wanted to study at Duke but could not because classes were already full and there was a waiting list for their level of a couple of months.
I can second that, when I was there the courses seemed to have a wait list because students already enrolled get priority for the next course, then leftover space is given to those who are on the waitlist.
I used www.ddproperty.com/en to find mine before I moved. However, I have friends who stayed in a hotel and then found their condo once they were in Thailand. Both options work out great. As a warning I stayed in the same building as the school...which ended up having cockroaches 😩
@@MichaiGatlen Thanks for this! Good thing I emailed them ahead of time. I will be reserving a spot as early as now I guess.
@@VictoriaReign Noted. Thank you so much 😄
Also why did you choose a class rather than one on one lessons ? thanks
I chose a group class for two reasons, one is that it is cheaper so I could save money and the other is so that I could meet new people and make more friends which I've been able to do 🙂
I am planning to come to come there, is there anyway to contact you? I am wondering if I can find cheaper accomodation nearby the school. What do you think?
Feel free to message me on IG if you have any questions. For accommodation I'd recommend checking ddproperty for listings near the school. I think you will be able to find something cheap but there are a lot more people coming to Bangkok now so you may see prices starting to increase again.
where is part 2?
Part 2 is where I discuss the in-person and online classes: th-cam.com/video/8qbVvQPj76A/w-d-xo.html
How long does it takes to complete a level/book?
Each book takes 1 calendar month to complete. You start on the first Monday of each month.
They go at break neck speed Teachers wear masks that affects you seeing their lips and affects pronunciation They also do not help students they can clearly see are battling .I would not recommend that school at all
They only speak a thai during course so you are totally lost with no help
i left half way
Oh sorry to hear you had a bad experience! Wearing a mask as a teacher is bad, I still struggle understanding the person if they have a mask on. Hope your new school is a better experience!
So the classes are in Thai only, but are the resources in English? Thanks!
The beginner levels have English translations of the new vocabulary and some English is used at the very start of Journey 1 but as I didn't do this one, I'm not 100% sure. There is also English used throughout the books to explain grammar/Thai customs you need to learn.
What is the Fee of the 8 months Thai language class?
Around £600-700 when I originally enrolled just over 1 year ago.
@@VictoriaReign quite expensive.
@@Gaurav.YourDedicatedAssistant for 8 months is not that expensive
@@belenguzman5020 I got one for £800 for 12 months basic to advanced course
@@Gaurav.YourDedicatedAssistant which school?
What is the situation with masks in the classroom ?
I forgot to mention this in the video so thanks for asking. Masks are mandatory in class/the school and you also need to do a weekly ATK/lateral flow covid test and upload the results for Admin to see.
Please let us know when the the school expects the mask requirements will change. I understand this is a Ministry of Education requirement.
@@mading374 Of course, if I hear of changes I will post it, although I doubt they will change anytime soon because this is now a school rule.