ivan96822

Okay, Sly, forgive me if you feel this confrontational...BUT...I can not believe that they would pay that exorbitant amount (130K ThB) a month. Period. I went to Pattaya, and once my toes hit the sand, some slick came up and told me that I had won some type of lottery. I ain't buying it.

If that salary is true, as you mentioned, Thailand obviously beckons the licensed teacher's way. I am making a quarter of that here in the States, and am enjoying my lifestyle. This begs the question, then: if it is so great there in BKK (which I know it is very okay, as I stayed there and enjoyed the lifestyle, temperament, etc), why are they throwing such big fish in towards qualified applicants? Luring Westerners to an extremely polluted capital city that happens to be conveniently located to tremendous nightlife, fabulous (though sticky) weather, and other exotic delights?

Please respond with some particularly specific details. Thanks again for (if you did) actually reading this post.

Yes, it is true, but only at a few of the very best schools. The salaries go down from there. It may seem like a lot (and I know that it is compared to Thai salaries or other teaching salaries in Thailand, but it's not THAT much. I certainly wouldn't call it exorbitant. If you're making 130k baht/month, that puts you in the 30% tax range (or you may luck out and squeak by in the 20% range). So you're only bringing home maybe 90 or 100k/month. Some schools provide housing, some don't. Assumig yours doesn't, you can possibly deduct maybe 20k month for rent & utilities. (Yes, you can live more cheaply than that. But the majority of expat international school teachers aren't here to "rough it" and live Thai-style in a 5000 baht/month apartment.) But technically, yes, you could live more cheaply and save money. You could also spend much more than 20k on living expenses. I don't want to start another debate about how much money people should spend on rent, or how much money is needed to live comfortably in BKK. There are plenty of threads about that. I'm just telling you that I work in an international school, and I have friends at a few other international schools in BKK. Most spend in the 13,000 - 25,000 baht range for an apartment or house. Most are here to live a better lifestyle than they could live back at home.

So now after deducting rent, you're down to maybe 80k. Like someone mentioned, a lot of international school teachers have mortages, cars, rental units, student loans, credit card bills, etc. back at home. So if you are lucky and your mortgage is only $1000, that's another 30k you're out, bringing you down to 50k. Many people I work with have to send home more than 30k, though. You can definitely live very well off that 50k for food, entertainment, travel, shopping, transportation, household expenses, phone bills, a maid, etc. That's about $1600 - more disposable income than most teachers in the US are used to having. But it's certainly not enough to make you rich, especially if you travel around Asia during every school break as most teachers do. And schools seem to like hiring married teaching couples with children, which of course adds substantial living expenses. Finally, the years you work overseas don't contribute to your teacher retirement fund in the US, so it's wise to put money into savings or into a personal retirement fund while you're over here - that eats into the extra money as well.

I'm also wondering about your math. You said that you make a quarter of the 130k salary in the US. 130k/month is roughly $52,000/year - and that's before taxes. Do you really make only $13,000 per year BEFORE taxes in the US? I find THAT hard to believe.

As others have mentioned, jobs at the schools that pay like this are highly competitive, and you'd be extremely lucky to get a job at one of the best BKK schools right off the bat. Depending on your position, you may be competing against hundreds of other qualified applicants. I'd suggest that you don't put all your eggs in one basket, and instead be open to jobs in other countries. Sometimes you have to take what you can get your first time, then with international experience you will be considered more valuable if you look for a new job in a few years. Most teachers I know did not necessarily go into the job fairs aiming for a Thailand job. If you do that, there's a good chance you'll be disappointed. Instead, they went into the fairs looking for a good job, a good school, an attractive benefits package, and a chance at adventure, and they happened to end up at a school in Thailand.

To answer some of your earlier questions: Yes, I love my job. If you enjoy teaching at home, you'll enjoy it here. The opposite is probably true as well. If you want to work at one of these schools, be prepared to work extremely hard. Schools don't pay 130k/month for no reason. Most teachers I know find their jobs in Thailand to be just as, if not more intense than in the US. Yes, class sizes are smaller and students are generally much better behaved. Teachers aren't constantly worried about being sued or fired like in the US. However, teachers who try to slide by on a minimal amount of effort generally don't last very long. At my school, you're probably teaching about 6 hours out of an 8 hour school day. Yes, you also have preps, but you also have an unbelieveable amount of additional work & meetings - way more than I ever had in the States. Teachers generally don't have any "free" time, because we spend our time working on curriculum development, professional development, school initiatives, accredidation, communication with parents, researching best practice, putting lesson plans online, team meetings, departmental meetings, school-wide meetings, student meetings, etc, etc, etc. We are often expected to stay after school for additional meetings and trainings. Most of us prefer working overseas to working in the States, but I would never call it an "easy" job. Be prepared to work your tail off. The benefits of living overseas and exploring the world just happen to outweigh the work.

Thanks for the detailed response. One of your questions confused me, though ("Do you really make $13,000 per year BEFORE taxes in the US?"). I am assuming that you mean, do I really make $130,000 Thai baht per year? As it stands, I make approximately $50,000 USD per year as a high school teacher. While I could earn a higher income in other states, I prefer the state that I am in for innumerable reasons. I am also single and own my own condo with no credit cards and a simple, relatively low-cost lifestyle (including a very decent mortgage payment). So I manage to get by on what I am paid.

If I am interested in working in Bangkok, I see absolutely no point in going to some other place to teach first. My experience in the U.S. is invaluable, and though I have not taught internationally, I see my qualifications, background, and reputation to be as good as any. I would not be interested in the Middle East, Vietnam, Japan, South America, etc.

As for the hard work, as a teacher, that is what I do on a daily basis. I teach themes, motifs, and symbolism in Shakespeare's works; elements of poetry; short stories; and mostly canonical literature stretching from Beowulf to Raymond Carver. I wouldn't be there to cut corners and split campus once the bell rings. The other duties that you mentioned, such as meetings, curriculum planning, team meetings, etc. come with the package of being a teacher. However, I must ask this: when and how often do such meetings pop up? For example, where I work now, we have one department meeting per week (Wednesday mornings) that run anywhere from ten minutes to fifty minutes. We have school-wide meetings approximately once or twice a month (on Wednesdays) that usually last from 2:10 to 3:00 on the dot (we are officially free after 3:00, though most teachers stay later to do what they do). I take a professional development course every semester (which are free and either online or meet once every three months for approximately two hours per session). So how does that compare to Thailand? Also, you mention that teachers rarely have any "free time." What, are you stuck there till 8:00, 9:00 at night? Please respond. Also, what about your Friday and Saturday nights? Aren't you free then?

Regarding rent, if I could have a decent one-bedroom apartment in the Sukhumvit area for $300 - 500 US per month, I would be fine with that. I do not need a whole bunch of frills, but A/C would probably be mandatory for my personal comfort.

Again, thanks for the detailed response, and send me back some concrete and specific details to my inquiries.

I think somebody has quoted salaries a little less than 130,000 baht per month. I have heard of 120,000, but I have also heard of 90,000.

The jobs at the true international schools are good positions and they are not all that easy to get.

A lot of people hired from overseas still have bills in their home country. These can include a mortgage, car payment etc., thus a lot of companies pay such high salaries. The expectation is that you will not remain in a foreign country forever.

Sounds generous, still. My mortgage is under $1000/US/month....

How much for a clean, decent, one-bedroom apartment in Sukhumvit (in the lower sois, 2 - 16)? $600/US/month?

Did a quick search on Tax in Thailand:

0 - 150,000 Exempt

150,001 - 500,000 10%

500,001 - 1,000,000 20%

1,000,001 - 4,000,000 30%

4,000,001 and over 37%

Also there's a huge amount of stuff which you can write off e.g. if you have a wife / kids etc then you get some tax deductions.

Compared to whatever you're paying in the states, tax in Thailand will seem non existent

So your 130,000 Bhat a month is pretty considerable. Significantly more than your standard "Conversation English" teacher :-P

Okay, Sly, forgive me if you feel this confrontational...BUT...I can not believe that they would pay that exorbitant amount (130K ThB) a month. Period. I went to Pattaya, and once my toes hit the sand, some slick came up and told me that I had won some type of lottery. I ain't buying it.

If that salary is true, as you mentioned, Thailand obviously beckons the licensed teacher's way. I am making a quarter of that here in the States, and am enjoying my lifestyle. This begs the question, then: if it is so great there in BKK (which I know it is very okay, as I stayed there and enjoyed the lifestyle, temperament, etc), why are they throwing such big fish in towards qualified applicants? Luring Westerners to an extremely polluted capital city that happens to be conveniently located to tremendous nightlife, fabulous (though sticky) weather, and other exotic delights?

Please respond with some particularly specific details. Thanks again for (if you did) actually reading this post.

And, before I forget...Do the teachers get paid over the breaks? I currently get paid every fifteen days whether I worked or not.

Also, is there a way to get tenured after a specific probationary period? If so, how long does it take to get to be tenured? How long does probationary status last?

Thanks again.

The salary figures I mentioned are thai baht per month.

In my experience, you do have prep time, whenever your class are doing another subject that you do not have to be there for. e.g. Thai lessons.

However, it is certainly true that detailed lesson plans are required at international schools.

I have no problem making lesson plans. I already do that as a habit as it is. A question, however, that eluded my original posting:

What are their holidays like (typically)? Do they have fall break, winter break, spring break, and summer break? How long for each?

I currently get a week off (ten days, actually) for fall and spring breaks, approximately two weeks off for winter break, and six or seven weeks off in the summer. It would be interesting to know if the International Schools had a similar calendar (though I know the dates most likely differ). Please let me know, Aridion.

Thanks again.

I agree with Justwannateach. Check out the school websites.

However I do have experience of the International school circuit.

1) From my experience, 8 - 4 pm. Some schools differ.

2) Pay can range anywhere from 60,000 - 130,000 for a classroom teacher. Being hired from abroad is generally the way to the higher paying position.

3) Full-time positions mean you are a classroom teacher. Thus is just like back home. Class size in International schools are nearly always smaller than in Thai schools. Roughly around 25 children.

4) Prep period? Do you mean a time for teachers to prepare their lessons, mark etc. Or do you mean as in a prep. school.

5) Enjoyable if you like a challenge and are prepared to apply yourself. Most International schools use a curriculum from outside Thailand eg. British, American, ib etc. Knowledge in these curriculums are an advantage and in some cases compulsory.

Aridion,

Thanks for the reply. Is your quote of 60,000 - 130,000 per year in USD? Per month in Thai baht? Please clarify.

Regarding prep period, yes, a period of the day where you have no students and are free to make copies, grade papers, etc. How many periods do teachers have at the International Schools (per day, typically)?

I am currently teaching American literature and expository writing to juniors in an American high school, and also teaching British literature and expository writing to seniors. I would be interested in challenging myself with a curriculum outside of Thailand.

Thanks, also, to Scott and IJust for the reply. Please respond to these questions.

Okay, so apparently, there are not that many International Schools ajarns here in this forum....Plan B.

What about the rest of the farang teachers already in Bangkok? Can you give me some type of insight as to what you may or may not know about the International Schools?

I could "demote" myself, if you will, and work at a school teaching conversational English, but that my be a tough pill to swallow.

Anyways, I am looking forward to a serious discourse/correspondence with those in the know....

Thanks.

I would be interested in gaining insight from any farang teachers currently working at an International School in Bangkok. You may have seen my previous posts, but I am interested in the following:

1. Typical hours per work week.

2. Pay per month ($US or Thai baht)

3. Number of classes and/or number of students.

4. Is there a prep period?

5. Is it an enjoyable work environment?

I would really appreciate some responses. Thank you for your time.

I work at an international school, and I pay about 20% in taxes. I believe it depends on your salary - I was in a lower tax bracket when I started here, and I think I only paid 10-15% at the time. I have heard of some international schools in BKK who pay tax for teachers, but I don't know if that is true.

Toni,

At the international school, how many hours a week do you work? How many students do you have? What are your daily hours (typically)? Any prep period? Summer/fall/winter/spring breaks? Please respond.

More important: Do you enjoy your work?

Again, looking forward to your response.

In my experience for farang teachers, and it has varied from time to time, the field is dominated by males, probably about 75%. The average age would be about 35++, but that doesn't say too much, since there is a spike of younger teachers and a second spike for older teachers.

When you add Filipino (and other Asians), the whole thing evens out. A lot of female teachers and a much younger.

I will take a look at some of our current stats on teachers, time permitting.

Thanks again for the speedy reply, Scott. As time permits, I look forward to your input on the current stats on teachers....

Okay, gotta ask: what does a typical male teacher wear on a regular day of school? I can pull off jeans, aloha shirts, and sandals here, but I know the business community in Thailand is more formal. Surely not a tie with long sleeves every day? Maybe a tucked in shirt with nice pants? I know how sticky it is out there, and I could not fathom long sleeves and a tie...

Um, I meant monthly, so that's roughly USD $4000 +/- depending on exchange rates. (per month).

I would imagine it is also negotiable depending on your experience and performance and its relevance to the school's individual needs. These are NOT easy jobs, I repeat. I would be very surprised if you could manage to get away with 3 prep hours there given the paperwork required. You'd probably also be required to run some of the school activities. Far from being the same as a public school job in the states, I would suppose that the workload is actually higher.

But the cost of living is much less.

Anyway, good luck with it! And thanks for the glowing endorsement of my dark description, Scott...

Okay, more questions regarding this topic of salary. How much (typically) is taken out of paychecks after taxes? I mean, $4000/US a month (even in the States) is a small fortune. Surely the international schools do not pay approximately $4000/US a month? How much can a teacher realistically expect to walk away from? Please let me know.

As it stands here in the States, I literally get about 50% of what I actually get paid after taxes. Please let me know. In conversation with a colleague who taught in South-East Asia (not Thailand), he said that "there are no taxes." Difficult to believe. Is this true? Please provide some generous insight.

Thanks.

OP, I think you need to refer to my reply to the other thread you started. MOST of your questions will be answered in more detail than you would want if you follow those instructions. However, most of the threads on this forum are about Thai public schools and not-the-top-tier 'international' and/or religious private schools, NOT the 'real' top-tier international schools. To compare the international schools with Thai schools is really apples and oranges, down to the school schedules which are (at least until next year) completely different.

If you want to know about Thai public and private schools, you should follow the instructions I gave you on the other thread- that will easily cover types of schools, names, varieties, locations, salaries, qualifications, various descriptions of working conditions and complaints regarding them, etc.

There isn't a lot of material on here from the teachers who work at the full international schools, AFAIK. I would suggest searching online for places like ISB, NIST, Shrewsbury, Harrow, Bangkok Pattana, and so forth for more details (I am pretty sure all of them have detailed websites in English).

One question which deserves answering specifically here (I don't think it has been exactly answered in this context elsewhere) is your last one about unprofessional work environments, specifically with respect to someone who is used to teaching in an English speaking country.

Not all of the things on this list happen at every school, but at least a few of them have happened at every school I've seen in Thailand:

1. School days cancelled at administrative whim with little or no notice, sometimes up to 10% or more of school days, in addition to very, very generous national holidays

2. Effectively, a national policy exists which does not allow students to fail, ever.

3. Administration is unidirectionally hierarchical and may not take kindly to feedback, even helpful or positive feedback

4. Unclear/multiple lines of authority and responsibility

5. Reneging or outright breaking of terms of a contract, lying and/or criminal incompetence regarding knowledge of contract law, labour law, and/or laws regarding the employment of foreigners

6. Undue parental influence on school management decisions depending on wealth and/or status

7. Poor or inappropriate resources and/or miserly or overly bureaucratic policies regarding acquisition of more

8. Little to no awareness of student mental or emotional or even physical disorders in a classroom context; no awareness or checking for learning disabilities

9. Very little understanding of any kind of privacy policy for students or employees; also few safeguards on computer use by children

10. Low awareness of staff re. safety issues around students - i.e. re. electricity, power tools, industrial chemicals, etc.

11. Lack of transparency regarding entrance systems, grading, financial matters involving students

12. Graft frequently driving policy decisions

13. Poor communication between/on behalf of foreign staff and Thais, and/or foreign staff constantly treated as '2nd class staff'

14. Lack of planning from the top down leading to 'emergency demands' for impossible things to be done immediately

15. Hiring foreign staff indiscriminately leading to high levels of dysfunction and (usually) turnover

By reading the recommended threads, you will find more specific stories about many of these things.

Interestingly enough, this comes as no surprise to me. Thanks for the details. The teaching profession, in my eyes, has always been one of trial by fire. This only affirms what I figured teaching in a third-world country would be like. Thanks again for your generous reply. I'll heed your advice.

Okay, here's another random question regarding this topic, and perhaps my fellow forum members can assist me with an answer?

Typically, what is the average age of your typical farang teacher in Bangkok? 23-year-olds fresh out of college? Early 30s like me, looking for a bit of a fresh start? Burn-outs in their 40s?

Let me know. I appreciate any type of insight you can provide.

OP, I think you need to refer to my reply to the other thread you started. MOST of your questions will be answered in more detail than you would want if you follow those instructions. However, most of the threads on this forum are about Thai public schools and not-the-top-tier 'international' and/or religious private schools, NOT the 'real' top-tier international schools. To compare the international schools with Thai schools is really apples and oranges, down to the school schedules which are (at least until next year) completely different.

If you want to know about Thai public and private schools, you should follow the instructions I gave you on the other thread- that will easily cover types of schools, names, varieties, locations, salaries, qualifications, various descriptions of working conditions and complaints regarding them, etc.

There isn't a lot of material on here from the teachers who work at the full international schools, AFAIK. I would suggest searching online for places like ISB, NIST, Shrewsbury, Harrow, Bangkok Pattana, and so forth for more details (I am pretty sure all of them have detailed websites in English).

One question which deserves answering specifically here (I don't think it has been exactly answered in this context elsewhere) is your last one about unprofessional work environments, specifically with respect to someone who is used to teaching in an English speaking country.

Not all of the things on this list happen at every school, but at least a few of them have happened at every school I've seen in Thailand:

1. School days cancelled at administrative whim with little or no notice, sometimes up to 10% or more of school days, in addition to very, very generous national holidays

2. Effectively, a national policy exists which does not allow students to fail, ever.

3. Administration is unidirectionally hierarchical and may not take kindly to feedback, even helpful or positive feedback

4. Unclear/multiple lines of authority and responsibility

5. Reneging or outright breaking of terms of a contract, lying and/or criminal incompetence regarding knowledge of contract law, labour law, and/or laws regarding the employment of foreigners

6. Undue parental influence on school management decisions depending on wealth and/or status

7. Poor or inappropriate resources and/or miserly or overly bureaucratic policies regarding acquisition of more

8. Little to no awareness of student mental or emotional or even physical disorders in a classroom context; no awareness or checking for learning disabilities

9. Very little understanding of any kind of privacy policy for students or employees; also few safeguards on computer use by children

10. Low awareness of staff re. safety issues around students - i.e. re. electricity, power tools, industrial chemicals, etc.

11. Lack of transparency regarding entrance systems, grading, financial matters involving students

12. Graft frequently driving policy decisions

13. Poor communication between/on behalf of foreign staff and Thais, and/or foreign staff constantly treated as '2nd class staff'

14. Lack of planning from the top down leading to 'emergency demands' for impossible things to be done immediately

15. Hiring foreign staff indiscriminately leading to high levels of dysfunction and (usually) turnover

By reading the recommended threads, you will find more specific stories about many of these things.

Interestingly enough, this comes as no surprise to me. Thanks for the details. The teaching profession, in my eyes, has always been one of trial by fire. This only affirms what I figured teaching in a third-world country would be like. Thanks again for your generous reply. I'll heed your advice.

I am familiar with both the ajarn site and the stickman site and would agree with IJust. There is zero mention or working at an international school on those sites.

Thank you, though, for well-meaning intentions.

Any international schools teachers here on this site? It would be nice to hear your input regarding this subject.

IJust, pray tell: what are some of the "most unprofessional" teaching situations to which you are referring to? I can imagine all sorts of things, but perhaps you can put your finger down on three or four "typical" unprofessional teaching practices you have noticed in Thailand?

Thanks again.

^Nothing about either of those sites has much to do with real international schools in Thailand, which is the only place the OP should consider if he doesn't want to waste his time and experience and be vastly underpaid, while likely working in one of the least professional school environments he's probably ever experienced- most Thai schools can't keep experienced, licensed teachers from native English speaking countries because they won't put up with the BS. OP should stick with the job fair or look on the standard international school recruiting sites- it's better if you get hired from abroad.

I must ask...What does "OP" stand for? Good or bad, I'd like to know.

Thanks.

I am assuming the 130K is monthly.

My math skills are terrible. 130K/4 = 32500 Baht...

Divided by $US/30, 32500Baht = $1083US per month.

Is this the final figure that all parties can agree upon? Goodness sakes, I've been trying to chip away at this math figure for the last twelve hours.

Hopefully a friendly associate can confirm these figures and include the currency (i.e., Baht, US, Euro)? Personally, only interested in Baht or US.

Please help out, friends. Thanks again for your time.

A lot of variables to consider. One constant here, however, is that this sub-forum is for and about teaching in Thailand, so I think we can dispense with arguments.

Thai schools put a significant amount of 'nonsense' that might not be found in most western schools.

Any clarification available about the "130K," Scott? Please advise. Thanks.

Thanks for the speedy replies. Scott, if you say you teach approximately twenty hours a week, surely that does not mean you have another twenty hours for prep? (Are you at the school forty hours a week)?

That sounds like a lot of free time, considering that where I work now, I only need about three hours a week or prep time.

I would question the quality of your lessons if you can prepare for 15 hours of teaching in 3 hours!

The general rule of thumb is that each hour of teaching requires at least the same amount of time for planning. However, If you are teaching the same 1-hour topic to 15 different classes then 3 hours prep time would be adequate.

The more time and effort that is spent on planning and prep, the easier the actual teaching will be.

The GOOD teachers that I know will easily spend 40 hours at school plus evening and weekend work.

I also know some very BAD teachers that do very little preparation and this is reflected in the quality of their lessons.

When do you mark your students' books and what about attendance documents and other admin duties?

Personally, my duties don't finish the moment that I walk out of the classroom. I am still available throughout the day for students to ask questions and I actively encourage them to do so.

I would love a job that requires teachers to be on school premises for only 15 hours and the rest of the week is free time.

However, I prefer my school where quality of teaching takes priority over free time and where I know that the students are receiving engaging and fulfilling lessons with dedicated teachers.

You can question the quality of my teaching all you want. You don't know me. I have always been one of the most popular English teachers at the schools I have worked at, and I make lessons that are meaningful and constructive to the lives of my students.

For your information, in Hawaii, I am responsible for teaching 11th graders (four periods) and 12th graders (two periods). I only see each group every other day, so I only have 3 hours and 30 minutes with each class per week. On my days with Juniors, I teach the same lesson four times in a row (per day); on my days with Seniors, I teach the same lesson two times in a row (per day). Thus, three hours per week is more than sufficient time for planning, especially since I know what I am doing. There are plenty of senior and new teachers at my school who "wing it," constantly showing movies or making students do rote lessons such as copying vocabulary words out of a dictionary for thirty minutes at a time. That is a joke.

I agree with you that the more planning you do, the more easier this profession is. That is why I have all my lesson plans saved and can use them again in the future.

As for taking work home and correcting papers on weekends, that is for individuals with no lives. I get to work at 6:30 in the morning, work till about 2:40, and hang out until about 4:00. Teachers who bring loads of work home to do at dinner time or on weekends are amateurs. I also spend every lunch period in my classroom tutoring my English language learners (should they need the help).

As for administrative duties and other issues (such as marking books, attendance, etc.) it is called multi-tasking. Do you really need to clear your schedule on a Wednesday afternoon to call a parent about disciplinary issues? If a student acts up in my class (excessively, mind you), I stop the lesson and get his parent on the speaker phone in front of the entire classroom, then have the student explain to his mommy or daddy why he is acting like a fourth grader in a high school setting. If they are "tricky" or I don't get someone on the phone, they go to the counselor. I am not a babysitter. That is somebody else's job.

I appreciate your speedy response, but unless you know somebody don't think you can make all sorts of generalizations about their quality of teaching. Reading your post, I could assume that you are working for some Isaan school teaching them silly little lessons about the "difficulties" of homonyms. But I don't assume, as assumptions are the mother of all mess-ups.

Thank you for your time, and if somebody could clarify the "130K" issue I mentioned earlier, I would really appreciate it.

Teach,

Thanks for the response. One more question to ask: 130K? Thai baht? US? Weekly? Monthly? Yearly?

Please explain that. I have already been perusing the other forums and had hoped to get some quick, no-nonsense answers from those in the know...I've gotten great responses from great people already.

Please clear up the "130K" thing for me... (Others, i.e., Scott, or anyone else, feel free to explain this to me should Teach not decide to).

Thanks again.

Tonititan,

Yes, qualified in Hawaii with experience here in the States. I appreciate your candor. What type of salary THB/month could I expect at an international school?

Provide your insight, friend...

Thanks for the speedy replies. Scott, if you say you teach approximately twenty hours a week, surely that does not mean you have another twenty hours for prep? (Are you at the school forty hours a week)?

That sounds like a lot of free time, considering that where I work now, I only need about three hours a week or prep time.

Also, are you free to teach what you want, when you want to, how you want to?

For example, right now I am teaching literature at a high school. I can teach Hamlet in the beginning of the school year, wait till spring time, or even finish the year off with it. I enjoy this autonomy. Is it the same way in Thailand, or is there a prescibed curriculum that must get delivered during a certain time period? Please advise. The lower-income schools in Hawaii where I work have a prescribed curriculum, and it is far from ideal.

Thanks again for the responses from the folks in this forum. Please continue to answer my questions...

How long is the work day? What time do you have to get there in the morning? How late do you stay in the afternoon?

Is there a prep period (with no kids, to do lesson planning, making copies, etc.)? How many periods and/or students do you have a day? How many hours per week?

Please advise.

What are the teacher breaks like? For example, is there a fall break, winter break, spring break? How long for each?

Also, how long is summer break? Do teachers get paid year-round, as I do now, getting paid every fifteen days?

Can/Do teachers get tenured after a certain probationary period? How long does this take?

Please respond.Thank you.

Given you are a qualified teacher with a bit of experience under your belt, if I was you I'd register and attend the recruitment seminars/fair held by international schools globally. They are a bit of a roadshow so you have to travel to the fair nearest you.

If you get hired through one of these, then you'd get a nice package - for a proper international school perhaps 120K/month + accom + health + flights home etc etc.

Not sure why you want to work for a public school though unless you fancy living on 25% of the salary and none of the benefits...

I may be a farang, but don't tell me $4000 US/ $120K Thai Baht a month. If that's the case, why have I been working in the States so long?

With all due respect, please extrapolate this inquiry...Anyways, thanks for the speedy response and i look forward to any insight you might have.

thanks again,

ivan

What do you mean 'please extrapolate this inquiry'??

If you have questions, why not ask them. My wife is an international school teacher so we've been through the process before....but she's been out of it a long time now.

Nevertheless, it gives you an idea of what is possible.

So teaching internationally is a respected thing...Any pointers on where to look for such work in Bangkok? Thanks for the speedy reply. To be blunt, I am not an unqualified drunkard farang just trying to get by in Bkk. I've enjoyed my career and hope to continue enjoying it.

Given you are a qualified teacher with a bit of experience under your belt, if I was you I'd register and attend the recruitment seminars/fair held by international schools globally. They are a bit of a roadshow so you have to travel to the fair nearest you.

If you get hired through one of these, then you'd get a nice package - for a proper international school perhaps 120K/month + accom + health + flights home etc etc.

Not sure why you want to work for a public school though unless you fancy living on 25% of the salary and none of the benefits...

I may be a farang, but don't tell me $4000 US/ $120K Thai Baht a month. If that's the case, why have I been working in the States so long?

With all due respect, please extrapolate this inquiry...Anyways, thanks for the speedy response and i look forward to any insight you might have.

thanks again,

ivan