ALL STUDY or WORK AND NO PLAY?

ALL STUDY or WORK AND NO PLAY?

(“SANOOK SANOOK,” ANYTHING BUT BORING OR DULL IN COLORFUL CHIANG MAI THAILAND)

 

For those of you out there who want to get trained to teach English overseas but are hesitant to consider the option because you don’t want to travel a long way and not be able to enjoy your time off have no fears! TEFL Chiang Mai is a reputable and thought provoking accredited TEFL Certification Program in one of the coolest locations on earth.

One of the main differences between TEFL Chiang Mai and some of the other teaching English as a Foreign Language programs out there is that we believe our clients should have a life outside of class as well as in it. Rather than drag our courses out unnecessarily with weeks of overly elaborate impractical lesson planning, and tons of book time, we prefer our clients complete their methods course in a matter of days so that soon to be TEFL teachers can focus instead on hands on practical observed classroom teaching. In addition to the hard work are opportunities for cultural mingling and play!

Just as we don’t try to cram a bunch of outdated grammar based lessons upon or conversational second language learners, we want our future teachers to embrace the local culture rather than staying in their sterile hotel rooms studying a bunch of educational theory for weeks on end.

If you are in a hurry to finish your certification and get employed we are experts at providing you with a shortened intensive course, or if you prefer things laid back and casual, we are more than happy to make recommendations and encourage you to enjoy the experience and process of getting trained in a foreign country as much as we aid you in obtaining the necessary paperwork to advance and enter the workforce prepared, effective and motivated not exhausted and overwhelmed.

Chiang Mai is a great place for those interested in Crafts, Traditional Thai Art, Textiles, Wood Carvings and  tasteful Buddhist Sculpture as well as Silver and Gold Jewelry due to the combination of both Northern Lanna and Hill Tribe Cultures. No where perhaps is this more evidently exhibited than its world famous Saturday, Sunday Walking Markets and daily Night Market near the Ping River.

But did you know it is also a place to enjoy yourself with exciting night life with a beverage or two of choice (albeit a Virgin Fruit Shake, Beer, or Thai Whiskey and many other concoctions in between?

In addition to exotic and common drinks, there is a plethora holestic healing resorts as well as a ton of cheap, killer food from cuisines from the world over. Chiang Mai is not only a happening international spot, which offers numerous cooking schools where you can learn how to make a mean green curry, or a smoking hot plate of fried fish with complete with spicy Thai herbs, but the chance to partake in a number of small venue bars and Karaoke/nightclubs for music, dancing, socializing and general merriment for both the young (and young at heart) Thai and Ex-Patriot patrons alike.

Given the number of entertainment options, from the latest movie releases, cheap (and often pirated DVDs) and Muay Thai Boxing, to the old school sala/hut style road side watering holes, Chiang Mai provides an enjoyable and highly personable “entertainment environment” as many “University towns” do in the West, with several major campuses within a fairly small radius.

A common guide for would be party goers is the “One Stop, Chiang Mai” publication filled with information about happenings, concerts and ongoing events, which is updated on a weekly basis, such as a small sample of which is found below, complete with authentic listings, cut and pasted here for your perusal. In reality these are just the “tip of the rice field.”

Chiang Mai bars and pubs

Live music can be great or really awful!

Getting out at night in Chiang Mai is a relaxing and easy affair, with many great bars and pubs located within walking distance of the Night Market or Old Town. There are plenty of themed pubs in Chiang Mai catering to tourists and you’ll find a busy atmosphere on most nights during the tourist season.

Chiang Mai bars provide something for everyone, whether you prefer a quiet whisky over a tête-à-tête, live sports, or funky lounge music. Drinks prices are far more sensible than Bangkok or Phuket, but vary wildly from roadside ‘cocktail combis’ to plush luxury hotel bars. Punters looking to find female company for the evening should browse our page on go go bars.

Updated: January 2011

Music and lively bars in Chiang Mai

The Brasserie: Serious music venue featuring legendary blues and rock local Tuk, who gets going after 11pm on weekends. Riverfront location. 37 Charoenrat Road (across Nawarat Bridge and turn left).

Rasta Cafe (previously Rasta Bar): Popular, laid-back outdoor place now located in the Night Bazaar area along Charoen Prathet Road (right next to the one-way Iron bridge). Features live music nightly - mostly reggae and ska along with a sprinkling of jazz and rock. Tel: 08 9838 8148 or 08 1690 1577, email: c.blumenthal@hotmail.com.

Northgate Jazz Co-op: A small bar & music jamming venue with bohemian crowd and atmosphere (when bands are playing), with cheap drinks and a mixed crowd of Thais and foreigners. Open: 21:00-midnight; Tuesday night open Jam; Sri Phum Road (near the Rasta Cafe and Chang Khian Gate), tel: 08 6797 2176; email: northgatejazzcoop@gmail.com.

Roots Rock Reggae: Chiang Mai’s premier riddim venue is busy most nights with a mixed crowd of dreadlocked Thais and backpackers. Has reggae and ska sounds rocking the house from 11pm.Small lane arcade off Ratwithi Road (Old Town).

Zoe in Yellow: Also located among the bohemian bars amid a small arcade of the Old Town, this funky bar puts on live music and DJs on weekends and raises a lively atmosphere with backpackers and Thais who like to join in. Small lane arcade off Ratwithi Road (Old Town).

Pubs in Chiang Mai

The Writers' Club and Wine Bar: Popular with local writers on Friday nights, with friendly owners, great wine selection and good food specials. Stop off here while strolling the Sunday Walking Street. 141/3 Ratchadamnoen Road (near Wat Chedi Luang).

The (UN) Irish Pub: A Magnet for the local expat crowd; serves good pub food, multiple sports channels on big screens. It’s hardly Irish but hosts quiz and live music and is busy during big sports events. 24-24/1 Ratvithi Road, Sriphum, tel: (053) 214 554.

The Pub: An ageing, but very reputable, English-styled pub that is popular with the older, long-standing expat crowd. Located out of town between Nimmanhemin and the Canal roads. 189 Huay Kaew Road (west of the Amari Rincome), tel: (053) 211 550, email: grahame@thepubchiangmai.com.

Pubs, bars and clubs rock nightly in Chiang Mai

O'Malley's Bar: Air-conditioned Irish pub with several good beers on tap and comfy interior. Has good pub grub and is conveniently located in the Night Market area. 149/14-15 Chang Klan Road, Anusarn Market (near Night Bazaar), tel: (053) 271 921.

The Red Lion: Conveniently located in a central spot within the Night Bazaar, this long-running favourite serves a good selection of food and drink, including draught Guinness and Tetley’s bitter (rarities in this part of the world) to weary shoppers and locals alike. Drink and dine indoors or outdoors in British Pub tradition. 123 Loi Kroh Road (Night Market area), tel: (053) 818 847, email: Kevin@redlionpubchiangmai.com, website: www.redlionpubchiangmai.com.

The Olde Bell: A genuine English Pub situated on Loi Kroh Road near Raming Lodge and run by congenial Welshman Pedr. He puts in plenty of effort to keep his menu British and has a well stocked bar. Quiz nights and Sunday roasts keep the expats coming back. Loi Kroh Road.

Bachelor Bars in Chiang Mai

Number 1 Bar: One of the most popular places in town, featuring lots of pretty waitresses, though not an in-yer-face 'girlie bar'. Number 1 is the main distributor of Belgian beers in the north of Thailand (www.belgianbeerschiangmai.com) and has recently expanded to include a nice saloon-style bistro across the lane. Soi 1, Loi Kroh Road (down first lane on the right past the standard Loi Kroh girlie bars), tel: 08 9850 0961 (English) 08 1034 2417 (Thai), email: number1bistro@hotmail.com, website: www.number1barthailand.com.

 

Sax Pub: Popular with visiting German motorcycle crowds, with good music and a convenient location. 35/2 Moon Muang Road (opposite Thapae Gate), tel: (053) 245 740-1

The Half Moon Pub: A long-established sports bar & restaurant situated on Moon Muang road. Good music, slate pool table and darts area guarantees a great time while enjoying one of the many local, and imported, drinks. Moon Muang, Soi2, tel: 08 6913 8190, email: const1974@yahoo.co.uk.

Chiangmai Saloon (2 locations): American-styled burger and steakhouse with great South-western food, friendly owner and staff, nice atmosphere, music videos and live sporting events on a large screen. Draft beer and the largest selection of margaritas in Chiang Mai and a kitchen open from breakfast until late. 80/1 Loi Kroh Road (150m from Night Bazaar), tel: 08 0675 2169, and 30 Ratchawithi Road (inside the moat), tel: 08 1930 2212.

Hotel Bars in Chiang Mai

The Mix Bar (D2 Hotel): Perhaps Chiang Mai’s most sophisticated bar, located in the hip D2 hotel. Uber-chic bar-tenders and atmosphere, regular parties, a place to be ‘seen’. 100 Chan Klan Road (behind Chan Klan Plaza at the Night Bazaar), tel: (053) 999 999.

WOW Bar: Stands for ‘whisky and wine’ and is an upmarket place inside the impressive, new Shangri La Hotel, with a very comfortable interior and terrace and fantastic range of drinks. 89/8 Chang Klan Road (south of the Night Market), tel: (053) 253 888.

The Riverside is one of the most popular venues

Chedi Terrace: Either sip cocktails on the riverside in a posh environment or travel back in time with a G&T on the teak verandas of the historic colonial former British Consulate building. 123 Charoen Prathet Road, tel: (053) 253 333.

The Horn Bar: For a really discerning experience, find your way out of town to the remarkable Mandarin Dhara Dhevi in Sankhampaeng. Arrive before sunset and marvel at this extraordinarily-themed, five-star that has few equals in Asia. Sankhampaeng (ask taxi driver), tel: (053) 888 888.

Chilling bar lounges in Chiang Mai

The @ Living Room: A chic place with pool table, with a nice atmosphere when busy. This new, stylish bar is open until early morning and is a popular relaxing bar when most bars close, not far from Thapae Gate in Somphet Gold Place (near Spicy), and the friendly owners, Denis and Kung, certainly put in the effort. Somphet Gold Place, 70/20 Chaiyaphum Road, tel: 087 579 3301(English/thai), email: at-livingroompub@hotmail.com.

THC Rooftop Bar: A bohemian place above a Hemp Shop, with good views of Thapae Gate and floor-level seating. Good for chilling out with funky tunes and cheap drinks, but sometimes gets very busy. 19/4-5 Kotchasarn Road (opposite Thapae Gate).

St Germain: The roof of this excellent and unassuming French Restaurant is an ideal place for a quiet and romantic time in big comfy couches, with a good cocktail menu and perfect lounge tunes in the background. Ratvithi Road (near Moon Muang Road/Moat).

 

Check out the One Stop Chiang Mai website for up to date activities today, tomorrow and in the future.

WHY HAVING FUN MAKES SENSE

There are many other course providers who have adapted their syllabus to meet local requirements, alternative methodologies, such as an increase in the amount of teaching practice, but who have chosen to do this without the rubber stamp and external assessment or moderation of Cambridge or Trinity and therefore fall into the category of "equivalent qualification,”

Then there are those like the fully accredited Paradise TEFL franchises, that would throw out the Cambridge and Trinity models all together in an attempt to make whole language learning more accessible to mainstream audiences while at the same time targeting communication skills over grammar in order to allow a greater multitude of learners access to speaking and understanding English so that they can have a chance to get a better job and become upwardly mobile just as their instructors can do. In short, the Paradise TEFL program instead uses a much more practical approach.

Short courses do have a number of advantages. These are appealing as they tend to skim off the basic necessities from the four-week courses, giving you a good insight into what it might be like to teach if you are still unsure. They are also generally less likely to fail participants. What's more, in some situations, they are usually more than sufficient

for you to find work abroad, and some schools guarantee paid or volunteer work on completion of a short course. The short online and weekend TEFL courses start at around £200, but pro-rata are actually more expensive than the 120 to 130-hour courses, which average at about £800, although can be available for much less. There isn't any real comparison between a brief insight and a thorough, four-week intensive course, nor  do all programs offer job placement assistance and these course vary a great deal in their level of ability to actually help you get a job in hand

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Given the fact that you can travel, have memorable experiences and get the certification you need to get a good job in a fun-filled and stimulating environment, why would a prospective teacher want to pay more?