350LC

3 hours ago, BruceMangosteen said:

Thanks for your honesty mate. As such an effort certainly should be and is applauded, without any real award other than self enhancement, I personally don't agree with condoning the Thai effort to whip up and harass foreigners without incentive wages. God Bless You and OO.

 

 

You may be lucky depending on your employer, but in my case at least, the higher qualification would not be recognised or rewarded with in an increase in salary.

I had thought about possible opportunities to teach at university level, but (in my area) that would mean taking a considerable pay cut...... even if I went the extra step to get a PhD!  

28,000 THB for an applicant with a master’s degree

40,000 THB for an applicant with a doctoral degree

However, if your intention is to attain a teaching license and gain some level of job security given the ever changing license waiver rules, then it's a good way forward.  Security was my motivation for pursuing the MEd.

It may not open doors to higher pay, but it does open opportunities in terms of allowing you more freedom to change employer should your circumstances change, such as moving to a different area.  As mentioned, speaking at workshops and seminars may also be an option.

In terms of the OP's requirements, the ABAC route would be suitable as the study is done online and exams can be done locally.  The only time I attended the uni campus was to present my thesis, which could be done via WebEx if required.  Sounds more like the OP is looking at study options other than education though.

Interesting to note this information 

Quote

only 2 things are accepted:

1. Master Degree in Education 

OR

2. A specialized course in Education that some universities provide 

1

Is the BEd is no longer sufficient?

I can offer some comment on the ABAC route as I'm in the final stage of completion of their MEd course.

The course is designed to be completed in a minimum of 2 years, but will take longer if you require the teaching license because TCT requires graduates to have completed the two teaching practice modules, which added over 6 months to my course.  This extra time may be reduced if you can get the uni to allow you to start the teaching practice earlier, but this was not an option in my case - the difference in start date of my school semester compared to the uni was also a factor - the course has to be completed over an entire academic year at your place of work and requires you have someone at your place of work to act as your "mentor".

The teaching practice consists of 4 classroom observations performed by ABAC lecturers, classroom research, and regular contact with your assigned advisors from ABAC (the same staff who do the observations).  This later point was done using WebEx (similar to Skype) on a weekly basis.

In terms of core coursework, the lectures are delivered through video that you can view through their LMS, a number of written assignments / presentations, and exams.  Exams can be done off campus by request if you are not in the BKK area.  I did mine at a local uni.

The course also includes a Thai language and culture module, which meets the TCT requirement.

It can be hard work and frustrating at times, particularly if you do the maximum number of modules per semester and the assignment deadlines fall at the same time.  Self-motivation and commitment are key really.

In the final stages, there is an independent study route or a thesis route.  The thesis route is obviously more involved as you have to conduct some form of research and have that work published or presented at an approved seminar.  From my understanding, if you were pursuing a PhD then the thesis route in the MEd would be beneficial as you need to get to grips with conducting research and using statistics software.

I have heard from others doing the Filipino course, which seems a cheaper and faster option, but can be problematic if you dont complete a module as you can't just retake it, you have to wait for the next time the module is run.  Given how things keep changing with TCT requirements, the ABAC course is at least evaluated and updated by TCT, so you can be sure they will accept the qualification without jumping through additional hoops.

In terms of it opening doors to greater pay....... unlikely, unless you can make a name doing guest speaking at seminars.

Good luck!

then surely, similarly, Labour could conditionallly accept the WP3 application awaiting supply of the Teaching Licence if it too is dependant on the non B and annotate the WP3 receipt accordingly?

that would involve thought and forward planning, we don't have those yet down here. It's my current employer, prospective employer, plus 2 other schools telling me this. Apparently its a no no without the TL, and MOE will poo poo the TL without the non b.

I suspect its either someone with the wrong end of the wrong stick, orsomebody wanting to create a lot of work that the schools will not want to get involved in. In my case, go home, get a new visa, and return to square 1 (do not pass go and do not collect £200).

I got my "CRB" done through disclosure scotland just over 4 years ago. I believe they are still in operation. You can request a basic CRB for yourself through these people. You can also request an ACPO or Subject Access Release from your local police (which I think is quite a bit cheaper).

I am about to return to UK and apply for a new non B, I'm just wondering if they would accept my original CRB form or if I'd have to do a new one in UK (given that they'd see from my passport that I've not been there). Also wondering if they would accept a police check from Thailand instead.

The CRB and SAR checks look like a hassle if you've spent time out of the country.

i change jobs on 1st May, so I need to do a new non b for the new WP. but,...... as I'm technically still employed by current employer, immigration say I need to do the re-entry also.

messy and extra dosh I that would haave been better spent on UK chocolate.

I'll be in a similar situation next month.

I'm heading home during March, where I will apply for a new non b ready to start a new job on 1st May.

I will return a week or so before the new job starts and continue work with my present employer, so legally need to keep my current WP.

My initial thought was that I'd have to cancel my WP before leaving Thailand in order to get a new non b. However, local immigration have advised me that I should get a re-entry permit to maintain my current visa extention and WP until end of April, and that I'll be fine to apply for a new non b while the current non b is still in force.

This makes sense, but also sounds ropey. My concern is something will be stamped wrong when I arrive back at swampy in April, or the consulate back home will cancel my re-entry.

I intend adding a letter with my visa application to explain the situation, but still think something will go pear shape at swampy.

Anyone know how this works? Will they stamp me in on both visa's at swampy, or do local immigration stamp the new non b when the old one gets cancelled?

The "teaching qualification" just means a TEFL / TESOL etc, so can be obtained by doing the most basic of online courses; a 20 hour tefl for example. There is no stipulation (yet) on how long you train for your "teaching qualification".

The main problem we've noticed with people moving jobs, or even coming in on a tourist visa, is getting a new non b in a neighbouring country (see my post on "new laws").

Like everything else here, it all depends on the school and who they know.

I was told I had zero chance of getting a new non b at the usual place (Penang), even though I've been here over 4 years and have passed some of the teacher license exams.

I have heard mixed stories about the embassy in Hull. When I first did my visa they were apparently giving away any type of visa people wanted, I now hear they are more strict than any of the other embassies.

From my understanding (in NST at least), there are a few other conditions that apply to the non O when you get to Thailand that are not checked when you first apply. Namely proof of B40,000 per month salary, or B400,000 in the bank. So, even if you managed to get the non O in UK, unless you can show plenty of cash they will take it off you.

In UK, I'd qualify for the O, but fear they'd cancel it at my first extention on the basis I'd fail the above criteria.

Eventually got to the bottom of these "new laws". As stated above, nothing has changed (law wise), the problem, I am told, is getting the WP3 form.

Can't get WP3 without starting the teacher license process, can't start the teacher license stuff without a non b.... can't get the non b without the WP3. chicken and egg it seems.

The syph testing is now being enforced by the employment office here in NST. My previous medicals involved me waiting in the car while the wife ran in to the doctors reception with my passport and 50 baht.

In answer to the above question, in NST at least, the test is being enforced for new work permits AND for renewals (extentions).

Not had any reports of people failing the test, and seems a very odd test to single out given that HIV is on the medical form as a possible test, but flagged "Not tested".

Thanks for the replies.

As nobody has confirmed what the schools here are reporting then I think what lopburi3 states is more likely the true story - correct paperwork needed but schools can't / don't want to deliver. I expect the work permit document is the key here (for teachers).

There are a number of people moving between schools here this term, so it's a big issue. In the past, it has been possible (by whatever means) to do everything without needing to leave the country. I guess we are just catching up with what for most is the norm.

Thanks again.

Search me! I am in the process of changing schools and this is what I have been told I must do.

Teachers council has confirmed this to my boss. I can not see any mention of it on the immigration website or Thai embassy website. But if true, then it makes no sense at all - hense my wanting to confirm it on here. I can only repeat what I have been told, but if they have got it all wrong then I want to set em straight before chaos break out in our office.

I'm fortunate in that I already have a return flight booked home, so if needed I can get a new visa then, but we have always sent people to Penang to get a new visa without issue, my boss is adamant we can no longer do that.

Sorry, I wrote in a bit of a rush. By crossing the border, I meant going to the embassy in Laos / Penang, getting a new visa, and then coming straight back.

Immigration can than give you 7 days to leave the country for 1,900 baht. If you cannot find a new employer and get a new work permit within those 7 days, you have to leave the country and apply for a new visa abroad.

That was what I had read and how I understood it to be. However, we have been told that this is no longer allowed; to get a work permit for a different employer, you must get a new visa (from outside of Thailand) and start over.

We have also been told that we can no longer send people to Laos or Penang to get a non B. In the past we have had people arrive on a tourist visa and we have sent them to Penang to get the non B. Apparently, this too is no longer allowed.

It seems a very strange thing to do given the amount of foreign teachers they want to work here, but I have had the same story from 3 different schools in the South (new laws last month they tell me). Seems odd that no-one else has mentioned it.

I had heard that the laws on changing a work permit to another employer had changed and that we now must get a new visa from outside of Thailand. However, I have just been told that we can no longer get a new non B by just crossing the border (eg Laos or Penang).

Apparently these are new changes in the law.

Anyone have any further information on this as the immigration website has nothing (in English)?

Thanks in advance.

It will certainly make me think twice the next time the students invite me to play a game of football with them!

I would not want to see their tackle (sorry, bad pun)

Thanks for the suggestions.

Printing locally, people here want about 1,000 baht per book unless I order a few thousand copies, but then Lulu website calculates my book at over £20 each (100-120 pages per book).

I self printed a copy of each book on 120g paper and it cost me about 120 baht per book but took best part of a day to print and comb bind all 6 books..

I'm still looking at other options, but I'm now of the opinion that there is not going to be any profit in these books if I opt for printing and selling (unless I self print).

My thoughts now are along the lines of just trying to sell it electronically and accepting that every man and his soi dog here in Thailand will copy it.

Back to the drawing board.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Thanks. I did get a PM directing me to another forum for info, but figured there would be a bigger knowledge pool on here.

Will find out later today if the paperwork has been found at Bangkok or if new visa's are required.

I was told the other day that some of our new teachers may face a border run as their teacher license applications have not been returned from Bangkok (I figure this is flood related).

Having already read that staff at Kru Sapah were instructed to move everything upstairs, I'm guessing that everything is in a mess. My first reaction was to think that surely the work permit and immigration offices must be aware of this issue and be able to grant an extention under the circumstances, but my boss seems convinced a border run is the only answer.

From my understanding, the teacher license application was made against the existing visa. If a border run is done, voiding the existing visa, then surely that voids the teacher license application also... so need to start everything again!

Has anyone any first hand experience / info on this?

Is there a way around doing a border run?

Knowing first hand what it can be like to arrive in a new town and have no info on whats where, I put together this guide to Nakhon Si Thammarat - I keep updating it as and when I find new places of interest.

The file also has the numbers for local police, immigration, and hospitals etc. I give it to all newbe arrivals at our school, hope it is of use.

Nakhon_Guide.pdf

First off, hello (I'm new to this forum).

I've just been reading the thread on "Printing A Full Colour Book In Thailand", which has given me some good info, but I'd be interested in hearing about any experiences / advice when using the publishers here in Thailand.

Teaching computing, I have tried many times to find suitable workbooks for the students, but failed. So, I set about making my own and have so far made 6 books aimed at pratom/mattayom level. I have been trying to find some information on getting them published (by published I mean printed and distributed for sale), but it has not been as straight forward as I thought it would be.

I have so far learnt that the word "publish" here usually means "printed" and does not involve the distribution and sale side.

Ideally, the books need to be colour printed, which I have also learnt will be expensive here. However, the local printing houses have given what I hope is good advice about copyright and registering the books (ISBN number).

If there is anyone on the forum that has experience/knowledge in this area then I'd be interested in their comments.