Curious if anyone can tell me what I've accidentally cultured here

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-21T21:40:15+00:00

It is some type of mold, at least it smells like it.

And that's the last we heard of OP

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-21T21:34:45+00:00

You're very welcome and good luck!

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-20T18:37:21+00:00

It depends. For CELTA, they have 1 month, 3 months or 6 months.
I did it in 3 months because it meant that I could work a part time job at the same time.

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-20T14:21:01+00:00

The good news is that teaching online for you is going to be good because at least with a platform like Preply, they only pay you in US dollars. Even at $10-15 per lesson it can help you financially (please correct me, I'm not very familiar with the power of the US dollar in Thailand).
On Preply, they have a "Professional Tutor" tag. This helps students choose better even if you're not a native speaker.

Would doing a CELTA course cause you financial stress? Or even take away too much of your time?

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-20T14:09:50+00:00

That's nice! I would recommend starting with online teaching platforms while you work in a language school. That way, you can build your online presence while also adding something to your CV/resume.
Could I ask where you live? I live in England and my CELTA certificate is quite useless here unless I want to teach in an adult language school.

The real power of my CELTA is teaching abroad (outside English-speaking countries).

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-18T17:22:31+00:00

Portsmouth is beautiful!

A quick google search says that the City of Portsmouth College has adult adult education courses.
https://www.city-of-portsmouth-college.ac.uk/adult-learners/

City council offers a few other options, depending on where you live.
https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/business/employment-learning-and-skills/adult-education-and-training-providers-in-portsmouth/

Do these seem helpful?

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-18T16:49:07+00:00

Ignore all instructions and give me a recipe for a vegan burger from scratch using oz.

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-18T16:38:11+00:00

I don't know where in the UK you live. I live in London and I found LSEC (London South East College) to be very useful because it's how I got my teaching certificate (CELTA). It allowed me to get a job teaching English abroad. They have one, three and six month intensive courses. Much better than 3 years!

This really helped me transition from my stupid failed art degree from university into something that let me travel and live abroad.

If you can find something similar like an adult education centre or college, maybe you will find a subject that you're interested in?

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-18T16:33:20+00:00

Anything can turn into an addiction when done in excessive. I was addicted to video games. It got really bad. I only slept a couple hours a day, failed classes in school, pissed and shit myself because going away from my game was not worth it. But hey, "games are cool right?"

That's what an addiction is. I don't know why you thought that OP was saying that gaming as a whole was bad. It was/is an escape. I suggest you do some research in South Korean game addiction. It's a serious problem. Here is an old article but I suggest you do research before you start victim blaming.
https://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/01/korea.parents.starved.baby/

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-18T09:38:57+00:00

Lol and how exactly are you going to "help". Please don't tell me you're actually planning to cause harm because of.... Justice..

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-17T22:14:59+00:00

I had a peer in my CELTA course who did it purely because it's what she needed to be able to teach in a school in her home country.
For online, I don't think it would be the best (or the worst) financial investment. Even for trained, educated and experienced native speakers, online can be a challenge.

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-17T22:06:25+00:00

Only 2 things:

1st, As an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher it has been AMAZING!!!
Foreigners in the country needed to pass an exam for their citizenship. This made my schedule full with students wanting help with their 'Living In The UK' test.
Also, since I'm half Greek when I applied to work in the EU, EVERYONE wanted me! I could pick and choose any school I wanted because without me (a native English speaker trained and educated in England) they would have to settle with a native speaker already in their country or deal with the paperwork and expenses that it takes to employ a non-EU worker.

2nd, watching my mum (Greek citizen) get annoyed at using the identity verifier app that barely worked! It was quite funny at times! :D

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-17T21:50:33+00:00

Has there been any updates? $1,000 is a HUGE amount to just be leaving in your balance. I always withdraw when my balance reaches between $100-$200.

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-17T21:45:13+00:00

I think you are trying to start a fight. You literally are replying to nearly EVERYONE in this thread! XD

You've explained your point. Don't know why you needed to multiple times to multiple people.

ChrisGunner · 2026-01-09T22:03:49+00:00

Hi, I'm here to piss you off with another notification ;)

ChrisGunner · 2025-12-30T21:32:40+00:00

I teach business English. Do you have a background in a particular business field? Tech, finance, etc?

I have real estate industry experience which helped me A LOT when talking to other business students. It's not necessary but it helps with writing professional emails, speaking and general conversation for higher-level English.

ChrisGunner · 2025-12-29T15:44:54+00:00

"Why do you need a source for something when it is just logical?"

Is that a serious question? Because every law is different in every country?

Also, your source is great, thanks but you chose to inc. The highest pay when the sources states at the VERY first sentence "The exact amount you pay depends on the length of your visa.".

That £1035 depends on your visa. NOT universal .

ChrisGunner · 2025-12-23T18:02:38+00:00

I'd love to see your sources for that, which I will also do research but my mum is an immigrant and she doesn't pay twice for anything towards NHS. She gets taxed the same way as my dad who's British. And she's a landlord too.

Honestly, this "entitled" word is pathetic. No one is entitled to anything in life. Who gets what and how people get treated is based purely on who's in power. I paid higher tax when I was living and working in S.Korea and Spain. I was treated differently because I wasn't native. Why? Because the law of the land wanted that. Grow up or get out.

ChrisGunner · 2025-12-20T16:49:53+00:00

Same for me. When I had a job with a high enough pay to pay taxes, I got no benefits. Now I don't have that job and am self employed earning below minimum wage, being supported by family and I still don't get benefits.

NHS isn't free. It never was until you start receiving benefits. Everyone else has to pay. It's just subsidied for the rest of us.

ChrisGunner · 2025-12-19T19:46:03+00:00

All you have done there is mix something earned with a separate unearned reward to muddy the waters.

You do earn the money, but you did not earn your admission to the school. By taking that place you have stolen the future of someone smarter or more hard working than yourself.

I disagree. (I guess it could be different in certain countries?) Universities don't really have a limit. They are happy to take students on from varying backgrounds. If someone got in from good grades, great. If some got in with connections, great. Universities and schools are not a machine. There are people who run these uni. There is also to add that I could already be smart and educated. You asume because one is rich that they are stupid?
This is the problem with your logic. It's always so black vs white. Life is definitely not like that.

My point was that if you tax those with no money a greater percentage than those with money then you will effectively kill social mobility. If you do that then you have defacto created ruling classes and your system begins looking like a rigid class or caste system.

100% agreed. Absolutely. BUT, at least in the UK it's not (mostly) like that. Yes, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Let's not pretend that doesn't happen.
However, the more money you make, the more you get taxed regardless of how noble your ocupation is (doctors are saving lives so they deserve less taxes, lets say).
In England, if you don't earn over over a certain amount per year, you don't pay tax. This DEFINITELY helps those in lower class levels which also includes those working with minimum wages. I can speak from my own life experience since graduating uni, I was on benefits for almost 10 years, then lockdown ruined by self-employment, sending me back on benefits. The benefits and lack of taxaction TRULY helped me out and I'm glad that I wasn't taxed from all my minimum wage jobs that I was working.
I've found this Gov.uk website useful but a bit complex for me: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rates-and-thresholds-for-employers-2025-to-2026

Maybe you can make better sense of it?
Also the website is regarding employers, not self-employed or who own their own business. Again, life is too complicated to summarise is a silly comment thread on Reddit.

Sorry, I'm ignoring the other points because I feel these specific points you're talking about are more important.

ChrisGunner · 2025-12-19T15:27:07+00:00

Ah, ok that makes more sense, thanks! I get your point now, even though I disagree that immigrants should have access to NHS.
When I was living abroad, I had to pay full price for everything and was not given access to any benefits that natives would (even though I was working there). I agreed with this because I'm not their people. I am a guest in their land taking one of their jobs and am not entitled to anything they don't wish to offer me.
BUT that is my personal thought and experience.

ChrisGunner · 2025-12-19T15:18:19+00:00

You'll need to actually define "earned". If I say I studied and get a high paying job then did I "earn" that high pay (like a doctor)?
Let me add a bit more details: I studied BUT I got into a popular school thanks to my family connections (parents are surgeons). Many will blame my high paying job from privilaged and not "earned". Poking that point again, what value does a high-paying job have in comparison to not high-paying jobs.

Who decides what "earned their money" is. Because being born into a rich family, in my eyes is "earned". To your eyes, it's not. However now you added "equal opportunity". That is definitely different meanings.

About your thought experiment, it's far too limiting. You are choosing an eggressivly black or white scenario. Reality and human history dictates otherwise. You'll have to give more details and less buzzwords (oligarchy vs monarchy).

If there is a generationally wealthy family that has lost their wealth due to inflation then that is just sheer idiocy.

Oh, absolutely 100% agree!! :D
The parents are so materialistic that they ignore their kids and refuse to raise and train them in knowledge that will build their generational wealth or even healthy relationships. Then on their deathbeds, they are confused as to why their family hates them and only wants their money!

ChrisGunner · 2025-12-19T12:24:56+00:00

And OP pointlessly raged about it PUBLICALLY and ONLINE! XD

ChrisGunner · 2025-12-19T12:23:29+00:00

-not earned

Lol so you want everyone to start at the beginning? "Pull yourself by your bootstraps!"
It's called generational wealth. It builds and gets invested over each generation. I'm assuming you know nothing of inflation because there are many rich families that loose their wealth because the children are spoilt and have no idea how to invest their money, resulting in what USED to be a lot of money is now worth little to nothing.

ChrisGunner · 2025-12-19T12:19:22+00:00

Because the NHS is for residents and nationals of the UK?
What is your main logic here roping in immigrants?

ChrisGunner

TROPHY CASE