Students and Teachers at KSTVS go Italian
It is time for another Koh Samui Language School social, where students and teachers can get together and have a chat in an informal atmosphere.
Join us for an evening of delicious Italian food, friendly people, and great conversation!
When?
7pm on Saturday 28th April.
Where?
Perfectly located in Walking street, Maenam, Antica Locanda enjoys a good number of regular guests from the foreign community on the island who would likely order their famous pastas and super pizzas to go with a perfect wine.
The pizzeria boasts genuine Italian ingredients shipped all thousand miles to Samui. And the restaurant owner, a 10-year resident of the island, and with a supportive Thai wife in tow, makes sure that their guests experience memorable dining moments. Antica Locanda offers huge portions, efficient service, friendly staff.
Antica Locanda (Archetto). Walking street, Maenam, Koh Samui
Who?
You are welcome to bring family and friends. The more the merrier!
What’s on the menu?
Genuine Italian pizza, pasta and more.
How much?
Order as much as you want and get a 20% discount off the regular price.
What to do next?
We would be grateful if you could confirm your attendance by sending us an
email: [email protected]
or in person at the school
or via the whatsapp group
Being small and peaceful, Vientiane might seem not the most exciting place to travel to on purpose. Nevertheless it has got a certain charm. Anyway, if you happen to travel around Laos, you are likely to find yourself in its capital sooner or later. So, we would like to let you know that, according to information from our students, getting a visa in Thai Consulate in Vientiane runs without a hitch. It is not so crowded as in Penang and documents are usually submitted without a problem.
Thailand Consular Section in Vientiane
316 Rue Bourichane, Vientiane, Laos
(+856) 21 453916 (only from 13:30 to 16:30)Office hours: Monday – Friday
Submission time 8:30-11:30
Collection time 13:30-15:30
You can collect your passport the next working day after you submit your documents.
Getting a new ED visa can be a good reason to travel to Cambodia because, according to information from our students, Thai Consulate in Phnom Penh works like a clock and doesn’t cause a problem to visa applicants.
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and is located at the junction of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. It has a rich history and you can explore the heritage of both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists. Take a walk along its riverfront, lined with parks, restaurants and bars, visit the ornate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and don’t miss the National Museum, displaying artefacts from around the country. Phnom Penh is a good destination for those who, living on a quiet island like Koh Samui, are missing the buzz of a busy city.
Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh
Royal Thai Embassy No.196 Preah Norodom Boulevard,
Sangkat Tonle Bassac, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh
Tel. (855) 23 726 306 – 8 (Auto Line)
Fax. (855) 23 726 303
E-mail : [email protected]
Website : http://www.thaiembassy.org/phnompenhOffice Hours : Monday – Friday
Visa and Consular section : 08.30–11.00 (Submission Time)
15.00-16.30 (Collection Time)
If you are an experienced long stayer in Thailand, you know how visa runs can get on your nerves. Although studying at Koh Samui Language School lets you enjoy all the benefits of an ED visa, sometimes you do need to go out of the country. For example, you have to leave Thailand to get your first ED visa, in case you didn’t do that before coming here, or to get a new ED visa if you want to study another language and stay here for another year.
Get a visa, travel and explore!
While Penang in Malaysia is the most popular destination for a visa run from Koh Samui, there are other places to look at.
Our students have had a positive experience in getting a visa in Thai embassy in Hanoi, the magnificent capital of Vietnam, so now we can recommend it as a good alternative.
How to get there?
There are direct AirAsia flights from Bangkok and connecting flights from Surat Thani available for about 3500THB and 7000THB respectively.
Thai Consulate in Hanoi
85 Ly Thuong Kiet Str., Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Working hours: Mon – Fri 8:30 –12:00
Thai consulate in Hanoi is located within walking distance from the Lake of the Restored Sword, which is one of the popular attractions in the city. So, once you are done with all your visa paperwork, you can go sightseeing right away.
What to see?
Hanoi is one of the most ancient capitals in the world and boasts beautiful colonial architecture, peaceful pagodas, excellent cuisine and a unique spirit. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of rumbling and rattling of its entangled narrow streets and don’t forget to taste the famous pho bo!
Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword)
It is located in the historical centre of Hanoi and is a focal point for its public life. Take a stroll in the shade of sprawling trees along the shore and don’t miss the Temple of the Jade Mountain on Jade Island.
Old Quarter
Swarming with scooters, cyclists, pedestrians and sidewalk vendors, Old Quarter is probably the most unforgettable area in Hanoi. Get ready to face local hectic traffic and enjoy the excitement of this truly historic and yet lively place. It is here that you will find the best pho bo (beef noodle soup) and spring rolls in the city.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square is one of the most visited attractions in Hanoi. It is the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the most iconic and popular leader in Vietnam.
Lenin Park
On the way from the Hoan Kiem Lake to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, in Dien Bien Phu street, you can see a big statue of V.I. Lenin, a Russian communist revolutionary. Surprising, isn’t it?
Long Bien Bridge
Long Bien Bridge is a historic cantilever bridge across the Red River and is 1.68 kilometres long! It was heavily bombarded during Vietnam War, the evidence of which can still be seen despite the restoration. Now it is a great place where you can take a long walk, contemplate the beauty of the Red River and its banks and get absorbed in your thoughts as the water and motorbikes go by.
We hope, this information will come in handy if you decide to go to Hanoi.
If you have travelled to Hanoi for a visa (or just for fun), please, share your experience in the comments.
Remembering and Forgetting
…hopefully our students don’t do much of the latter!
In our intermediate class we have been learning about ‘memory’.
Have you ever thought about how our minds create new memories, store them, and then are able to recall them when they are needed? The fact that we can do this is pretty spectacular. It’s this process which allows us to learn about the things around us and interact with the world.
Think about how many times we rely on our memory to help us in everyday life, from remembering the pin to your phone to recognising the person you met in the supermarket last week.
The study of human memory is a major topic of interest within science, specifically cognitive psychology. But what is memory? How are memories made? Let’s find out…
The Stage Model of Memory
Many models of memory have been proposed over the years, but we like ‘the stage model of memory’ (Atkinson and Shiffrin, 1968) due to it’s simplistic approach to the basic structure and function of memory. The theory proposes three separate stages of memory: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
Sensory Memory
Sensory memory is the earliest stage of memory. We take in information from around us through visual and auditory senses and store it for a short period of time, only around 0.5 seconds for visual information and 4 seconds for auditory information. This initial interaction between our senses and our brains leads to short-term memory.
Short-Term Memory
Our most active memory is the short-term memory. This is the information we are currently experiencing and thinking about. The sensory information generates information in short-term memory. Most of this information which is stored in short-term memory is only kept for around 30 seconds. Most of our short-term memories are forgotten quickly, but if we give more attention to this information, then we can convert it in to a long-term memory.
Long-Term Memory
Long-term memory is the ability to continually store information. We are not aware of this information being stored, but it can be called into working memory and used when we need it. Some of this information is easily accessible, while some are more difficult. This is because of how our brains organise information which is stored.
How can we remember better?
We want you to ‘have a memory like an elephant’ not ‘like a sieve’. Here are some tips and tricks to help you store all the information we throw at you during class.
Talking about personal memories
‘Take a walk down memory lane’. What kind of event was it and why do you remember it? When did it happen? Where were you? What was the background to the event? What were the main things that happened? How did it end?
Our intermediate class answered these questions in class. Here is some of their work…
For a link to the idioms used in this blog, click on the button below.
NEW SCHOOL
English and Thai classes
K
oh Samui Language School are proud to present our sister-school, Krabi Language School, which will be opening soon!
Our new language school provides up to date, affordable courses in Thai & English for both children & adults, using a combination of conversational and textbook teaching.
Due to our excellent relationship with the Ministry of Education we can help you attain an Education Visa, also known as a ‘non-immigrant ED visa’, which can allow you to live in this beautiful country for up to 5 years.
Having both Thai and English owners, we get the best out of both mentalities in their approaches to school management. Which can be felt in our style, values and interaction with our students.Thai and English Partnership
Unlike our competitors, having both Thai and English management & staff makes dealing with us that much easier. Have your pick of a native Thai or English speaker to help you through the enrollment process.Easy Enrollment
At our school we keep our resources up to date by using the latest Longmans, Oxford and Cambridge textbooks, while following the official European recommended language course framework.Relevant Courses
More information coming soon. Watch this space!
New courses, new books, new knowledge!
Don’t miss out on your chance to improve your language skills and open a world of opportunities.
Koh Samui Language School
Koh Samui Tutor and Vocational School is Samui’s oldest licensed Thai and English Language School. With Thai and English owners, we take the finest aspects from both cultures and combine them to provide an unforgettable educational experience.
Our ability to provide education visas has helped us to create a stable learning environment for our students. Stable and secure working and learning environments are almost just as important as the teacher you have.
Our triple award winning educational institute is the most accredited, long running, successful language and vocational school in Samui. With almost 10,000 satisfied students to date, affordable courses, no hassle education visa service, and highly trained professional staff, we really are the first choice language school on Koh Samui.
Our Courses
Our brand new courses start in July. Whether you’re looking to improve your conversation skills, study for IELTS, or start leaning Thai, we cater for all your educational needs.
Please browse our courses on our website for more information. You can then click the “Register” button to sign up for the class. Or, feel free to call in to our Maenam office to discuss your options in more detail and meet the teachers.
Cutting Edge Third Edition
We use the brand new Cutting Edge Third Edition for our English courses. Engaging texts, new video content, and a comprehensive digital package are just some of the new features that make the new courses even more effective. New features of the course include ‘Language Live’ and World Culture lessons that actively encourage students to expand their knowledge of global issues and participate in classroom discussions.
Keep motivated with a striking design and fresh new content
- New ‘World Culture’ DVD lessons encourage the discussion of global issues and provide greater international perspective.
- New writing lessons help with emails, letters, reports, etc.
- The ActiveTeach with interactive whiteboard tools, DVD, audio, transcripts, dictionary and additional resources aid learning.
Improve quicker with more practise and better reference tools
- The new ‘Study, Practise, Remember’ section at the back of the book provides integrated language summaries and practise exercises.
- The ‘Student DVD’ with audio and video plus transcripts allows you to review the lessons and catch up if you miss a class.
- The new feedback functionality and exercises in ‘MyEnglishLab’ give you greater control of your learning.
MyEnglishLab
MyEnglishLab is an online tool, provided for free with our new course books. You complete your face-to-face instruction at school to introduce new topics and ideas then complete extra learning outside class using the online tools.
You practise the content you have learned at school in an interactive environment, with instant feedback and tips to scaffold your learning.
Each activity is built into a lesson plan and helps you practise speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
MyEnglishLab builds assessment into each activity, so you don’t need to take sit-down tests every week in order to monitor your progress and performance.
You can use the MyEnglishLab gradebook to see where you need improvement and it helps us as teachers personalise your learning journey. With a quick look at the gradebook or common error report, teachers can ensure that we target your weak areas. MyEnglishLab will show us how you are performing, so we don’t need to guess what you’re finding difficult.
Don’t hesitate. Contact us today!
Dinner time!
Calling all students!
It is time again for a FUN and ENJOYABLE evening with great food and great company! We like to invite YOU to join as well on Friday the 31st of this month, so keep your calendar free!
More details about time and place will follow. So keep a close look on our Facebook page and website for updates!
Pancake Day at KSTVS
Last Tuesday it was Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday which we celebrated at our school. This traditional feast day is before the start of Lent, a time of abstinence that lasts 40 days and ends at Easter.
Our great students in the pre-intermediate English class brought some delicious pancakes to class, which made studying ever better! Doesn’t it look delicious?!
Teacher Mike and his pre-intermediate class.
For more information about our classes please contact us!
Telephone
077-248228
086-9472883
Courses
- Confirmation of New Education visa immigration RulesNovember 28, 2014 - 7:07 am
- New KSTVS websiteOctober 18, 2013 - 12:37 pm
- 5/12/14 – Crackdown in Phuket and BangkokDecember 5, 2014 - 7:45 am
Transform Your Thailand Experience with Thai Language Learning...May 13, 2023 - 9:27 am
Children’s English ClassesAugust 3, 2017 - 9:01 am
Transform Your Thailand Experience with Thai Language Learning...May 13, 2023 - 9:27 am
Education Visa Rules Updated April 2023April 26, 2023 - 3:50 am
Learn English in Koh SamuiJanuary 29, 2023 - 6:57 am
Thailand travel restriction as of May 5, 2022June 25, 2022 - 7:55 am
General Hours
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. Saturday 8am to 4pm.
Adult group classes run from 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm weekdays
Child group classes are run from 4pm to 6pm weekdays. And 9 am to 12pm OR 1pm to 4pm Saturdays
Location
We are located on the central north coast of Koh Samui, near Mae Nam:
11/8 Moo 1, Maenam
Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 84330, Thailand