mezzy

Are there other uni's in Australia that offer a Masters in Architecture? To be honest a degree from overseas is going to appear more prestigious to employers than one from here. Companies do like saying they have internationally qualified employees, rather than local.

There has to be other universities in Australia or even other countries that offer your Masters online. Shop around more and apply.

Somebody made the comment that foreigners don't send any money they earn here, in Thailand, overseas. I am happy to say that I do, around 70% of my monthly income at the moment. Many of my colleagues do too, well the ones without Thai partners that is. The reason I work overseas and have done for years is because I can save lots and use it to travel with. Maybe one day I will use it to buy a house.... but it won't be here in Thailand of course.

Also if there really are any rich foreigners living in Thailand I certainly would like to know! Girls gotta eat and all.

still difficult to get into the top international schools. I have heard that there are loads of applications for each position and it is highly competitive.

Yes, that certainly seems to be true - there's no guaranteed way around it, unless you happen to know the 'right' contacts. I only wish that I did..

As I said before the job I got had 90 applicants, I was very lucky and I did not know anybody at the school I just had plenty of experience, lots to offer in terms of EXTRA Curricular activities and excellent references. The extra curricular aspect is really important too, I forgot to add that, you really need to be able to sell yourself as more than just a classroom teacher. All decent international schools will ask you what else you can do besides teach.

The irony for me getting the position I did was that I had applied to another school here in Phuket and didn't even get an interview because I did not have any MYP experience. The school I work at now said they weren't fussed because I was Australian and had therefore being teaching basically that anyway.

In answer to Ivan---- you really should be able to get a job at a decent international school paying more than that. Are you an AP teacher? If so I would even think about other places in Asia too because AP is becoming more popular and they really really want experienced AP teachers.

The problem is here that there are lots of schools who call themselves 'international schools' and really do nothing that actually validates that label. Always look for schools that are accredited through organisations like WASC, CIS, NEASC, EARCOS and IB World Schools, the first three in particular are good because there is a three year process to get accredited through them.

I have to add that in Asia and the Middle East you should get paid well enough to be able to live comfortably, save a bit and be able to have money to travel. Good schools also offer proper international health insurance, housing or housing allowance, tuition for your children, a ticket home per contract and initial shipping allowance, the really nice ones give you tickets for your dependants and settling in allowance.

Also be wary of the Local Hire contract. I met someone at a job fair last year working for a very good international school in Bangkok, their spouse had a job in Bangkok too, they were on a local contract, the contract would end at the last day of school, then the next school the school would hire them again just before school started again, therefore avoiding having to pay them for the holiday (about 6-8 weeks). This school had more than enough money to be able to afford to pay them over the summer break.

Good luck by the way guys!

Paully is correct, get some time in the UK, it is very hard to get a job internationally if you haven't even finished your PGCE. Recruitment season is about to begin, the first job fairs start in January, in Sydney, then Bangkok, London, Cambridge (USA). The companies all follow each other around.

You probably could get a job in the Middle East, but it will be a horrible school with horrible students and administrative staff, although the money would be pretty good, but ME schools are notorious for night runners (teachers who pack their bags and leave with no notice).

There might be a few in China who would be interested, but I wouldn't risk it cos there are plenty of crappy ones there too. You do have to be careful and make sure they have credentials, but even then they can use you. There are even some terrible international schools in Europe. Like I said before check out International Schools Review, they also have a help section where you can get advice from lots of international educators.

I taught in Australia for six years before heading overseas and I really think that it better prepared me for teaching overseas.

The other thing to realise too that if you are doing privates after school as a first year teacher you will be exhausted. The first year or two of teaching is exhausting, if you take the job seriously of course. I have had friends who had done TESL teaching overseas before doing a teaching degree and they couldn't believe how tired they were considering they had been teaching before.

Thanks for all the pointers. However I was more thinking that with a PGCE i could earn around the 70,000 mark at a second tier international. Not so sure if this is true or not.

Anyone have done anything like this?

Yes that's possible. Good english programs in Thai schools will pay 50-70K, so 70K in a mid tier is possible (but they often pay lower too). Just check the teaching load though - I'm on 22 periods x 50 mins but get paid for extra periods. What's a typical British school? 30 periods a week? For the better jobs, pick them up in the UK at a Job fair and get hired on an expat package (includes flights, accomodation, etc). Don't come here and look for a job, as you will lose benefits.

Very interesting forum, and as I have expressed an interest in teaching in Thailand, I need to get a bit of feedback of my own.

I have a teaching credential from the state of Hawaii, and a Master's Degree in Education. I also teach British literature to seniors at an American high school. Could I expect 50-70K Baht per month with these qualifications?

Depending also on how much teaching experience you have you could get more, but to get the good package you really need to attend a Job Fair. CIS runs one in late January in London, Search Associates also does too they have many all over the world they do have some conditions if you have less than five years experience, of which I have no idea because when I started working overseas I already had 6 years.

Your position on the payscale can take into account whether you have a Masters and how many years you've been teaching, but some British schools don't appear to bump you up the scale for having a Masters, the American ones certainly do.

So I am a teacher with 11 years experience and currently get around 116,000 baht a month, before tax of course. But all my of teaching experience has been with a teaching degree, they don't normally take into account ESL teaching when calculating where you sit on a payscale.

To the OP get a couple of years teaching experience in either the UK or MIddle East, attend a Job Fair to get into a Middle Eastern school, or apply directly to schools, but be very careful because some can be very dodgy. The international market is not very keen on inexperienced teachers, even if you have ESL experience. The competition to get into international schools in Thailand is pretty tough, I am a Humanities teacher around 90 people applied for the job that I got.

Your other option is to go to China, again use Job Fairs, do not even consider the Chinese 'private schools', but there are heaps of international schools in China and they pay you very very well, better than I am getting here in Thailand and I am at what would be considered a top tier school. China is a great place to get the experience.

When applying for schools check out International Schools Review, it costs $US25 a year and will give you lots of information on heaps of international schools, reviewed by teachers working there. If the school does not appear on their lists, I would be cautious as to whether it really is an international school in the first place.

Applying directly to schools and being in the country can also mean you don't get the benefits that other teachers do, that is why some schools could be keen, because you are cheaper for them, but really they are using you. At my school the starting salary for a teacher per month is 80,0000 baht, so I assume many schools are similar. But you are much better off getting some experience first. Like I said go to China, I lived there for five years and I still miss it.

Hi, I'm a highly qualified teacher, currently working at Singapore American School, and looking to transfer to Thailand. I'm interested in hearing more about this position..

If you're a qualified teacher why on earth would you be looking at 30,000thb a month job? Bottom of the rung teacher with full teaching degree starts at 80,000thb a month here in Phuket at one of the the International Schools. There are several here: Phuket International Day Academy, British International School, Quality International School (huge franchise) and Headstart IS. There are heaps of International Schools all over Thailand.

You won't get people with a Bachelor of Education or Grad Dip in Education at such low wages. Maybe TEFL or TESOL people, but even they are getting sick of being exploited and ripped off by dodgy companies that make all these promises and then take your passport and don't pay you.

Heading towards Patong at 4am when they live near Loch Palm, with a loaded weapon in the back, did they get lost on their way home? Or was he hoping to go do some early morning fishing?

I'd really like to know what constitutes 'acting suspiciously' as well.

There were no wounds so It must have been the pills. I didnt know you could bleed like that from overdosing .

They found a strip of pills in her room. Contraceptives maybe?

Highly unlikely, the Pill does appear to be not readily available in China, ironically, and most young women there don't even know what it is. China has a huge abortion rate because of this.

It's not just women. I have a profile on Plenty of Fish and I get about one a day from men. They have moved on from Nigeria apparently and are all from Cameroon, which many of them have been unable to spell correctly. Lol.

I was bored the other day.... well meant to doing work, but avoiding it. I put a profile on Plenty of Fish, that certainly gets you some responses..... interesting ones too, but not in a bad way. I clarify that because of course some of the more defensive here will assume I am saying bad things about them when I am not.

The thing is if you do get caught without a licence here the fine is only around 300THB. They do stop motorbikes and check them, up on the hill from Patong to Kathu, but there are side roads to duck down if you know them. They need to increase the fines on not being licensed and also not wearing a helmet (100THB).

When I got here to start working I decided to rent a car for a couple of months so that I could get used to traffic here, then when I went back to Aus I went off and did my motorcycle learners course (8 hours) so that I could learn all about emergency braking and counter-steering, all of that defensive driving stuff. I would never ride a bike here without having learnt all that stuff. But that is me being sensible because I lived in China for five years and they really are crazy drivers, Phuket drivers are much easier to predict.

Years ago in Koh Samet a friend and I rented scooters, I had never been on one in my life and the resort didn't care, they told me I would get the hang of it pretty quick.

But as long as taxi's and tuk tuks rip people off they will continue to rent bikes and continue to have these tragic accidents. Let's face it, bike rental companies don't check to see if you have a motorcycle licence, fortunately car companies do.

Some women do like to spend money on showy things, even if they really can't afford it. However, she could be pretty confident of finding some sucker who will then make up for all that.

Meet the woman in person before you make any kind of arrangements or commitments.

Here is a novel idea, move to Thailand, be on your own for a while, get to know some women before you get involved with anybody.

Too many men seem to move here and shack up with some girl straight away then get ripped off and become all jaded about Thailand and Thai women.

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but I really do get tired of people who have trouble living on their own for a while.

I only said first date. Second is all on baby! lol.

I think that what MangandCo is looking for and what you gentleman are chasing is too different things. She is looking for a relationship built on mutual interests / intellectual stimulation. You are looking for sex on a tap, please correct me if I am wrong, but that is how it sounds. Part of the whole dating thing is getting to know someone before you shag them, the anticipation of what it will be like, this does tend to make it more interesting. Sometimes a little disappointing too, but it has always been part of the game. An old friend of mine once told me "don't bang'em on the first night cos they won't come back for more, it puts you in 'that' category of girl".

Maybe in Thailand you might feel that this does not apply, but when you think about it, how do you really view these women? I have seen far too many western men treating Asian girls in a highly disrespectful manner to think that there is much more on their minds than a quick shag when they want it. Of course afford mentioned men then treat me with utmost respect, which just makes me view them with more contempt.

However there are plenty of great guys out there who are interested in women of all kinds, who are not just looking for a quick shag.

lol I just read that other discussion forum. Some people really are pathetic and insecure aren't they. I'm here in this country because of my job and I have the right to work wherever in the world I want to, even if it means stepping on the toes of poor jaded men who don't want me here.

Fortunately those sorts of people are not in the majority, living in China for many years I had lots of western male friends even with the mad chasing of Chinese girls that went on. But living there the men were there for work just like me. Here they are here on holidays which does make a difference.

On the dating site thing you could try EHarmony. Or even Asian Friend Finder, put the cat amongst the pigeons and see what happens. Considering last time when there was a discussion about dating westerners a couple of guys posted a personal ad you might be surprised.

I Shy away from Ferang Ladies, Why do they allways tell me ."They Love Their Children, dont they ".!!. As if we Westerners Eat Them.. American Ladies are the worst for such comments. .Im sure you ballanced Ladies have heard this too.:jap: .Why is it.?.

No, I have never heard a woman say this. You must find some weird ones.

For women, who are not being paid, there is no 'just sex'. There is always going to be an emotional attachment, you can't go round thinking the girl is going to just say 'oh okay I go now, you let me know when you want to get laid again'. Of course she is going to become attached to you, this is the third time you have spent a few weeks with her right? The only way you can stay friends with a girl is not to shag her. There really isn't any such thing as 'friends with benefits' from a woman's point of view anyway. She'll say it's cool, but really she's into you and will hold onto however she can.

Maybe other ladies will think differently to me.....

20baht worth of opinion from a woman.

I work in Phuket. I have a car, I decided not to be held hostage to rip off taxi and tuk tuk drivers. All of my colleagues own cars. I lived in China for five years and never needed to own a car, always plenty of taxis with meters, even the guys without always had reasonable and fair rates. When friends come to visit I lend them my car or tell them to hire one because that is safer. It is a little harder parking on the western side of the island, but better that than having a run-in with the local transport mafia.

If you don't like looking at the ugly fence then drive through Red Palm golf course instead, I think that is what the one next door is called. It also means that you skip that whole really really crappy stretch of road. Also the guards will salute you as you drive by.

You know it is possible to fake a Facebook page right? This woman you have been chatting to could be a complete fabrication. Have you chatted to this woman on Skype and seen her face? Otherwise it could be some great big hairy biker (sorry to the innocent bikers out there) hoping to scam some money out of you before you move to CM.

my two cents worth.