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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
Why siesta when you can FIESTA!
Our next social event is coming soon.
This is not only a chance for us to get together, but we will also be saying farewell to our Principal, Sarah, who is returning to England.
Join us for some great food, music, drinks, and to say goodbye!
When?
Friday 1st September at 7pm.
Where?
Tasty Bar and Café is the ultimate Spanish restaurant in Koh Samui! Not only is the food exceptional, but staff are fantastic too.
Tasty Bar and Cafe, 147/1, Moo 2, Chaweng, Bohput, Ko Samui 84320
Who?
Friends and family welcome. The more the merrier!
What’s on the menu?
Delicious Paella, homemade bread with oils, olives, and Spanish tortilla, washed down with a glass of Sangria.
How much?
Only 350B each!
What do I need to do?
You MUST confirm your attendance for this dinner:
- Email: [email protected]
- or tell us at school
- or send a message on the school whatsapp group
Education Visas and Re-Entry Permits
Koh Samui Language School explains all
With recent stories flooding in about people getting arrested and detained at borders nationwide, we thought we should share a few do’s and don’ts with regards to visas and re-entry permits.
Do
Get the right visa
People here on tourist visas who have been skipping in and out of the country for long periods of time are being stopped, questioned, and deported. This is easily overcome by getting an Education Visa. An Ed-Visa allows you to stay up to 5 years in Thailand, without all the hassle of going in and out every 3 months.
Have the required money upon entry
If you are coming back in on your new visa, or with re-entry, immigration may ask you for 20,000 baht in cash. Please be aware that a bank statement will not be accepted and they will not allow you to go to an ATM, so be prepared with cash ready to present to them.
Have the required documents upon re-entry
If you get a re-entry permit, try to leave for no more than 7 days. If you need to leave for longer, make sure you have a valid reason such as medical treatment. Immigration will ask you for evidence if you’ve been gone longer than 1 week. Also, we will provide you with a signed letter supporting your return.
Please note, if you plan on taking more than a couple of weeks, you should be prepared to possibly have your visa cancelled. In this case, take your documents with you and then you can get another visa if you need to (although this will cost!).
Know what you’re talking about
If you’re on an Ed-Visa then officials will probably ask you some questions about what you’re learning. If you’re learning Thai, have a few phrases tucked up your sleeve to show them your skills.
Don’t
Enter/Re-enter Thailand through Bangkok
Most of the feedback we are getting seems to be coming from the Bangkok airports. Try to avoid them by flying through Kuala Lumpur or Singapore and then to Samui. If you do arrive in Samui and there’s a problem, then we are here to help you. We have a great relationship with the immigration here so we have a lot more influence than if you get stuck elsewhere in Thailand.
Always believe what immigration tells you
Rules seem to change here quicker than the weather, so just because one immigration official tells you something, don’t take it for granted. No matter where you enter Thailand, it is up to the discretion of individual immigration officers as to what they ask you and what rules they wish to impose. Be prepared.
Say the word ‘work’
Unless you have a work permit, don’t tell anyone you are working, have been working, or that you previously worked here, even online. The cuffs will be out and you’ll be in jail quicker than we can say chok-dee (good luck).
We are happy to talk about any issues you may have with you visa or re-entry permits. Call in to the office to see us. Our door is always open.
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.
Weekday English Classes
Our native English speaking teachers are here for your every need. We guide students through a fun and educational English course that encourages them to build competence and confidence as learners. Our course includes an excellent variety of creative activities that encourage children to develop academic, personal, and social skills.
Whether your child needs support with school homework, exam preparation, or just need some extra one-on-one English attention, we are here for you.
We offer a comprehensive course for after school classes, which are inline with the internationally accredited Oxford curriculum. We also have more advanced and specialist courses available. Should you require them, please ask.
Get Set Go 1
Our level 1 classes are designed with a smooth, fun, and interactive introduction to English in mind. We begin by introducing key sections of the vocabulary, such as colours and ‘hellos & goodbyes’ to help improve students’ listening and speaking. We also provide an introduction to phonics, reading and writing.
Due to our long term experience running language classes for children, we know how hard it can be to have a child focus on a whiteboard or textbooks, so we design our classes with fun and interactivity in mind. We make each lesson as stimulating as possible and we even organise field trips just to keep things interesting for them.
The textbook we use is ‘Get Set Go’ volume 1, published by Oxford University Press. The textbook creates a rounded syllabus specially designed for children.
Get Set Go 2
These classes are a slight step up from their younger counterpart. In this class we aim to once again widen the student’s vocabulary and to introduce more descriptive words so the child can speak about different subjects with a base level of understanding. We work heavily on phonics, aiming to help the child to pronounce possibly difficult sounds in a clearer way. The child’s writing will also be worked on to a higher degree, as we attempt to have the child writing short concrete pieces on their own.
Just like the other classes we still aim to make these classes as fun and stimulating for the child as possible. Trying to learn a new language can be a massive strain even for the most experienced adult, so as a child we know they can lose interest if the classes aren’t engaging enough. So, we do our best to make them interesting as well as educational for the student.
Oxford University Press published ‘Get Set Go’ volume 2 are used in the class, combining a firm mixture of reading, writing, listening, and speaking tasks.
Get Set Go 3
This is designed for children up to roughly 16 years old, depending on ability. In these classes we aim to teach the child short, spoken pieces describing hobbies, places, wishes, etc. Their reading and writing will match their speech and they’ll be able to understand simple texts as well as being able to write short descriptive and concrete pieces.
In these classes the children are often more mature then their younger counterparts, therefore we try to create an educational environment while still including the fun and interactivity of the younger ages. We feel learning to speak a language should be a group activity and so the students are encouraged to engage in group work, enabling them to use their English in a comfortable and safe setting.
‘Get Set Go’ volume 3, published by Oxford University Press are the official textbooks for this class, giving the children different tasks focusing on speaking an reading, presented in an enjoyable way.
When?
Every weekday
4pm – 6pm
How much?
Private class per hour
600B
Jog, run, or sprint your way to success!
Did you know that exercise improves memory and learning? Numerous studies show that a little daily exercise helps keep us alert and think more clearly. We are happy when you come to school and sit in our lovely air conditioned classrooms, but it’s important for us all to get moving and keep active too. What better way to do it than to join our school running club?
We may have just missed the Koh Samui Marathon, but there’s nothing stopping you from training for the next one. Or if the thought of running the length of Samui (twice!) gets you shaking in your trainers, jogging along the coast while you watch the sunset might be the thing for you.
Whether you are a complete beginner, an occasional jogger, or a running superstar, we want you to join us!
Whatever your goal, this is a great opportunity for you to improve your fitness, socialize, and be part of a supportive network of like-minded people!
We can meet whenever and wherever you like (outside school hours, of course).
On your marks, get set, GO!
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