I joyned
CTLS
in June 2010 after’learningThai’
atWalen-school
for’one year.
They did
the’documents
as well.
I’ve got their
de-tails&address
from the internet due to
Baht-bus
advertisement.
But it wasnt really easy
to’find
that’place.
I
had to walk up and’down
SoiYume
and’jus’tried to go in’
that’drive
and’some-how’
found
it then.
I was wel’comed
by
the’staff and’asked, if I want
a’coffee;
which I found’very nice’
Then
Chris
Gleeson, the Director and “owner”
of’
the’school
came’and we sat down
on
the’sofa to discuss’things.
When I
mentioned I come
‘from
Walen’ he’straight went in-to
‘details
of controversy between the’schools.
I
was just wondering
‘why he is’telling me so much’about the
business-difficulties? It doesnt give’a good impression’
Al’most
certain I would join
the’school
any-way be-cause of
the
best financial offer’in’town I negotiated
the total amount.
Because I wasGerman, he’called his
assistant-manager and’teacher
Thomas
SpanKnoebel in’ even it wasnt really
necessary to’me but
Thomas
came very straight forward and’used selling-techniques;not
knowing that I have decided’al’ready. Thus I just let
him
talk’and’went over to my most important issue: the’price.
I
pointed out the web-site and
Chris’agreed
to a 2000 Baht discount for changing’school but I asked
for’further discount
forExpatsClub-members
as it was seen in a’video on that’web-site but then
Thomas’jumped-in’ and’meant:
Thats
enough discount and Chris’said:
This’video
is’from’last year and there the’price was 28ooo Baht.
But I insisted that the’video dusnt say that’and it would need
to be removed or at least there must be an additional statement
to’this’ but then Thomas’gave it back to me and’said:
OnlyGermans would misinterpret it and’ask
for even cheaper price. I thought actually’
theJews
are like that but’never mind 20 k was al’so okay and I didnt
want to spoil it now, as there was no better offer at this’time
any-way and I needed to continue
my
ED-visa.
So’nex’time I paid to
Thomas’surprise even in’full’and’went to’class regularely
but with’two weeks delay be-cause
Tina’
the nicest’teacher I witnessed at the’
test-lesson
had left’
I actually joined
the’school
al’so be-cause of her but now she was gone. The new
teacher
Noi seemed to be’nice as well. Chris tried
her once at the kitchen
when
she still slept at the school and then she
moved to another place.
Comparing to
Walen
I thought the
copied teaching-material
to be even better and the’teachers
tried
their best to teach us really.
Now I
learnedThai’better and’could speak’simple sentences out
of’mind.
But since’summer (rainy season) I thought’to
be-come a’teacher my-self.
I was reading
‘blogs
on the’internet and’talked to’friends.
When I got my first
chance’in’
kinder-garten
I told Chris’and’asked for
his’advise
as well.
He then offered me
the
Teachers Thai Culture&Ethics course:
I
put you’free on the list.
As they are
al’so’
recruitment-agency
‘foreign teacher I thought’may-be he wants to place me
some-where
and that I would be able to get the important legal documents
(especially’
work-permit)
he would like to invest in me and’not charge for it but later’
when I would be indirectly working for him, he’would make
his
monthly pro-fit on my earnings any-way.
So
I said
yes’put me on the’list
Chris’
The’course
was on a’week-end then but
Chris’called
me during the week al’ready:
I need your
pass-port and’pictures for’registration. But
you have’al’ready!
He made it complicated but I said
I ca’not come-in now, as Iam practicing
away from Pattaya.
In the end it wasnt a problem and we
made’picture’ when I arrived
at’school.
Chris
gave-out some’documents included’bills
and’said to me:
For you’later. I
said okay’but’wondering:
why’later?
Then
Thomas’came’and’asked me, when I would pay’
Now it
was’clear’ ‘there must be some-thing wrong’but I didnt
wonna tell’toThomas, as he is’very pushy any-way.
I waited
for
Chris’to come and’ask’him for it.
It
was’time
at
the first’break and I said
Chris
I need to talk to you about the billing-issue. Thomas’asked me
for it but you’invited me’for free!? ThenChris be-came
outragious
and’shoulted at me:
What you expect to be
free? Every-one’has to pay! You think I can give you some-thing
at no cost? Yes I was thinking that but didnt say
any-thing any-more’be-cause
he
said’clearly now that I would have to pay
the
full amount of 4500 THB at a’time, when I
was nearly out of’money! I wasnt prepared for it. I said toChris’
Okay-okay dont worry; you will get
the’money’but I need some time for it please. He
al’so gave me‘choice to
leave’rightAway
but I couldnt’be-cause first of all I believed’that with this
TCE
course I would increase my’chances
to
find’employment and second I was
still’student
at
this’school with’dependencies
regarding’visa-documentations.
They then
could
easily refuse any further assistance:
Go’get
done your visa some-where els’and’get a’lawyer for
your’money!?
So I better played’the’game.
The
course it-self was done
byChris&Thomas’
two foreigners talking about a’culture and’ethics, where
they dont be-long to and’can not obey, no matter how many
experiences they might have. To me it was’useless
as
the given information wasnt really of’practical advice.
Later I shall learn some other rules
in
dealing with Thais in’business, which was
never taught
at
this’course.
I shall further realize
that
Chris’wasnt really interested
to
employ me either. After two months
and’reminders
ofThomas I was then able to pay the’bill.
Until
then the’relation-ship was on ice and when
they’got the’money
Chris’happily
asked’me about my teaching-situation
and
I told’him that
there
is’no employment at the’moment.
He’smiled.
After
that
he
didnt talk to me for’long time.
When I
asked
the
staff for a photo-copy of my’visa, just
in’case’
police
stops me; he then jumped in
and’didnt
allow / even it was just one or two Baht
worth it.
Then Thomas asked me
after’school
and I then told’him that
Chris’actually
offered me the’course for free.
He
even believed me some-how, as he had
experienced similar situations
with
him: Chris’some-times
for-get’things.
Yes’but I have
lost’money be-cause of that insanety.
On the other
hand,
it
would have been al’so quite possible that
it was all set up; a’trick to get one’more
as
he knew I was dependent any-way
coz I paid’full at the beginning for the
one year.
Thomas’told’me
that
Chris was even watching me during
that’course, how much I drink and’eat
from
the’inclued buffet. And by the’way: When
I joined
the’school
and we discussed’discounts Chris&Thomas mentioned
that
I am getting it so cheap with be-low 200
Baht’an hour
and’even’free
coffee’but it wasnt the’case. Some-times
I’ve got’free coffee
down-stairs
at the’office but later’brought my own
coffee with me.
We
were served only’water, which is’okay
but’false
promises again. I also tried to connect with
him on LinkedIn
but
he refused and instead some of his staff
befriended with me.
This information isn’t meant to harm anyone but
just to inform.
No comments:
Post a Comment