Ajarn

Seems like a lot of good information concerning the 90 day reporting (well, most of it anyway).  I reside far from Bangkok or other immigration office, therefor I am most interested in the "filing by mail".  From the previous posts, I think I am now quite clear on the procedure, addresses, etc.  I have one furthur question.  I live in a "small" village and the post delivery here is terrible, at best.  I generally get no letters unless EMS or registered mail is used.  Doesn't matter whether the address is in Thai or English.  So, for the "self-addressed stamped" envelope for the return of the stamped 90 day form from immigration, is there a way to do this using some kind of EMS/Registered letter.

I don't believe you could do it registered as you need to be there to register but perhaps EMS has an option that could be used. But perhaps the fact that it is a letter coming form "Immigration Police" would get it delivered.

If your service is that bad I might be tempted to go on vacation every 90 days to someplace that has an immigration office; or talk with local police and see if they can help.

As has been mentioned here before, you don't need to actually go to immigration, and, in fact, immigration does encourage you to register at your local PD if you are not local to an immigration office. Never done it myself, but a neighbor has, anf his local PD just gave him a slip of paper confirming he made the report. He said is was much easier than going into immigration.

According to passengers' accounts, the bus, on the way from downtown Phatthalung to Hat Yai and Muang districts of Songkhla was travelling at high speed and tried to overtake a trailer truck.

It failed to heed oncoming traffic, it swerved and hit the road island.

That's a four lane, divided high way. (Been on that stretch form Phattalung to Hat Yai many times.) I don't see how there could be "oncoming traffic". But then I guess anything's possible on Thai roads and with Thai bus drivers

Could have been that construction was going on, and all traffic was rerouted to one side....I've also driven that stretch many times, and the routing this way seems quite common in road construction areas...I remember when they finished that stretch of the hiway about 10 years ago...Bet it's due for repair.

But, 105 people on a bus with 48 seats?. I sense a mistake in reporting, maybe.

For a fact, you can use your Thai licence to drive in California for up to 90 days. Did it myself a few years ago, and even used it to rent a car (though I had to show them in the driver's book where it said my Thai DL was legal in California). No translations needed...

Actually the jobs mentioned above (from my friend who also wasn't experienced but had the correct science degree and TEFL) aren't for experienced maths, science etc. teachers (although they may have got priority!)! Not bad for a first job really?

Sounds like your friend got lucky. As I mentioned, I believe luck does play a role. I hope your friend is in a good job.

But, I still so no evidence to support your theory that there is a shortage of farang Science teachers to teach in English, or that a TEFL and Science degree "can land him pretty good money at a bilingual school (or on a bilingual program)". As you've suggested, there is a lot more to getting hired than simply having a Science degree and a TEFL. Let's not forget that there are also many Thais (not to mention the MANY excellent Filipino and Indian teachers working in Thailand who speak English quite well- and generally work cheaper than farangs), and could also teach Science as well. Unlike an English teacher, farangs have nothing over Thais when it comes to teaching Science, or most anything else

And of the few people whom I've known who've taught Science courses in English in Thailand, none had a TEFL. Why would they need it? They were Science teachers, not English teachers...

Anyway, I think I've said all I can say, and unless there is some other solid evidence to give this guy some realistic expectations, I'd still suggest he focus on simply being the best English teacher he can, if he wants to teach here. The more training and experience you have, the better your chances for a decent job. If his plan is to just teach in Thailand, then I'd also suggest one of the local TEFL program certs rather than the CELTA. Get the Science degree if you want, but don't count your chickens before they hatch....

And best of luck whichever path you follow!

Great! Especially since experience isn't required, right?

Anyway, still hoping for some real-life people in his situation, doing such teaching here in Thailand, to stand up and be counted...

Here's a question for you....

I'm a Professor at the Univ of California, San Diego.. USA.. in the Arts - teaching Theatre Lighting Design - Graduate/Masters Level, as well as BA level.  (I'm also a Tony-Award-winning freelance Lighting Designer for theatre in the States...

I know my field is somewhat specialized... but do you think there's ANY possibility of finding a demand for my field in Thailand..? I plan to move there in 3 years... semi-retirement at 55.

Btw, been teaching at Univ for 15years, and been a Designer for 28years.

Cheers

ChrisP

Chris, your subject is out of my field, but you might start contacting the universities here with your query (though I'd guess you 'show' better in person, right? ). It seems like your experience and background could make you a possibility for a 'Visiting Professor' position in one of the larger universities here. Some of these 'Visiting' Professors are still here after many years...

You might try contacting these Govt universities in particular:

Chulalongkorn University http://www.chula.ac.th/cuweb_en/arts/index.html

[email protected]

Thammasat University http://fineart.tu.ac.th/contact.asp

Good luck

Be carefull about any assumptions that just because someone has a degree in Science and a TEFL, that they will be able to get a job teaching Science as a subject in Thailand....

A degree and TEFL does not make one a qualified teacher in the eyes of some employers. IME, the best International schools only hire Govt-certified (like in your home country) teachers w/experience..... And because they pay well, the competition is fierce.

Granted, anything is possible in Thailand, and having beat the odds plenty of times myself here, I still say this guy should focus on the likely reality here...

In this guy's case, he's asking for honest feedback. I feel that whether he gets a degree in Science or in something else, it won't make much difference here- unless he is very lucky.

I feel that if someone in his position wants to start a new career in Thailand as a teacher, with just a simple degree in anything and a TEFL, they should realistically not expect to be teaching anything other than basic English to the masses, like the clear majority of people in similar situations, ime. Exceptions could exist, but I don't know of any, and I've yet to read anyone here showing differently. Lots of opinions, but based on what? Where is there someone here in a similar situation, teaching Science as a subject in English (truth, please!)?

My advice is still only my opinion, but my opinion is based on having taught in Thailand for 16 years or so. My agenda here is to learn, and to share and be supportive of others. I'm open to learning if I'm wrong, too. Which has happened, on occasion.

Going back to the original question, I've been looking at an OU degree myself as a plan B if I can't find anything suitable when I return to LOS in December.

As far as I know with BA (English) from ANY English university or the Bsc you mentioned + TEFL you can walk into any teaching job.

It's the 3 years extra I'd have to wait that's putting me off though.

I wouldn't say you could walk into any teaching job, but it should at least get your foot in the door, in most schools.....

I would like to rent a house in Chiangmai but a one or even half year contract might be too long, which I heard is often the minimum rental period. Is one held to pay the rent until the last month or can one get the contract undone, in one way or another ? Any experiences ?

Don't sign a contract here unless you plan to honor it. Believe me, you do not want to be on the receiving end of a suit. It ain't like home.

Talk to your desired landlord. He might be flexible.

I think if you are honest and upfront about what you want, you're more likely to get what you want here, ime.

A TEFL certificate is not a degree. Only a BA or BS is cool, under the law. It is not just a requirement for foreigners. It is the same law for Thai teachers, too. To the goverment, a tefl has no meaning, only a degree. If it's different for you, then you are special

^ Actually this isn't true. It is possible to get a teachers licence and thus work permit with only a TEFL (or other qualification for example a HND!). Yes the exception rather than the rule, it can depends on who, where and what you're teaching as well. Also they must mean something to the MoE as if you're degree is unrelated to teaching there's a good chance nowadays that you'll have to show a TEFL as well to obtain the teachers licence and thus work permit.

Check other threads to verify this!

I agree. The TEFL paper does have value now, as I was recently clued-in on. Maybe maitembot is a dinosaur, too

I sure agree with his(?) other point about Buyer Beware, though. Many pitfalls for the unwary, and not all advice is good advice, even from another teacher

I'd say the teachers licence is always the first part of the procedure (although I might be wrong!) at least IME!

Bear in mind some (all?) government schools don't require you to have a teachers licence to work there. Also depending on what you've been employed as (instructor, consultant) and what/where you're teaching can have a say in if you need a teachers licence?

Yep. TiT. Anything is possible, and there certainly is more than one reality, or one experience. That's why I stressed this was only my experience at this one company- a company whose owner was quite a schmoozer. but still, it points out that things are not always the same for each situation...

You are likely right about government universities not requiring a teaching license, and that could likely be the reason I was never asked for one at the WP office in Songkhla.

Whoa, you are going to have a long row to hoe.  It seems odd that your school doesn't want to use the phone- and more like an excuse for dragging things out and not doing anything.  Or maybe it's just laziness.

Your school may be acting in good faith, but it doesn't seem likely- probably they just assumed they could pay you and not deal with any paperwork (or in true Thai fashion, didn't even think about it).  I don't want to cast a shadow on this new job of yours, but if they're leaving you on your own with this it's not a very good sign about how they're going to take care of you in other matters.

Technically, if you don't have the teacher's license and work permit and non-imm. B already, you're working illegally right now.  I'm not sure how advisable it is for YOU to be the one running around asking advice from the various departments (it takes all three- MOE, Labor, and Immigration) to get you legal here.  Another sad case of the schools screwing their workers, either through ignorance or apathy.  If you're feeling lucky, get yourself down to the MOE and ask them for the paperwork- but personally, I think you'd be better off spending your time searching for another job.  Good luck.

"Steven"

My sense is more like, as the Thai, " call who??" And if they don't have the direct number to the right office, ever tried to get a number through '13'?

And no business can be done on the phone, anyway. Here is the Labour office website.. http://www.labour.go.th/ to get started. Ask around for the location of your local Labour Employment office. Often they are quite small, and even located in shopping areas.

And, sure, no one is going to 'volunteer' unless ordered to. Would you, if you didn't have to?

I's suggest you get started on the WP yourself. Of course, they'll require lots of paperwork from your employer, so make sure they are going to cooperate when WP (and immigration) ask for company papers, including tax info if it's a private school. If they won't fully cooperate with you, find another job. Once you start the WP/Immigration process, red flags will surely be raised if you don't fully follow through, which just invites inspection from Labour and Immigration. I had a similar situation happen to me at one point...

As for Thais and paperwork, my experience is that Thais are more into paperwork than anyone else I know except maybe in Indonesia. They may try to avoid it, but it's impossible for them, or anyone else in this country, to not think about it

My experience mostly matches this, especially the last paragraph..

Except, in my experience, the teaching license has always been the last thing processed for teachers, always after getting the WP and immigration stamp (or at least the 'come back in 30 days for a decision' stamp). For sure, in my experience at one company, we never had to show any teaching license to the Labour office at any point, for any of the more than 200 teachers we (I) processed that year. Also, when I went through the process of getting a new WP in Songkhla by myself a couple of years earlier, they never asked for my teaching license, but everything else, including a map from my workplace to the WP office.

I was recently reminded the TEFL is now also included more in the requirements, but, as was the same in the past, no documents are verified at all, and anything submitted that looks like it meets requirements, passes, even those well-known KSR 'Degrees'

These are all submitted in quadruplicate to the Min of Ed, and don't forget to sign every single page. After a while (one week to who knows) you will get the license back. You take this, along with most of the same documents as above to the Labour Department, who will issue a receipt of application. You can use the receipt to extend your visa - the implication being that your application won't be turned down at this stage. After about three weeks you pick up your new work permit. When the time comes for renewal, it's a good idea to remind your school about one month before the expiry date, though they really should be on top of things by that stage.

My experience was that, after going to immigration and getting your visa extended (based on your ending date in your school contract), you must take that back to the WP office, since their dates are matched to the immigration stamp....Then you can get the book.

Oh, some schools will claim ownership of the book and demand that they keep it for you. The fact is, by law, you must have the book at your place of work (and they do make inspections!) .If your WP is not where you're working- like in your boss's office across town, or if your 'work' address in your WP is different than your teaching address, it's your ass in a sling, not your boss. Some bosses need to be reminded of this...

'German' Joe & Tom Wagnall @ Goodwill bike rental and repair-

053-251-186

Soi 2 Chiang Moi Rd. (turn in at Military Bank)

An honest place that rents and fixes bikes

http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml

The Provincial Police Bureau Region 5 has started to use a DS 1000 N machine to search for drugs and weapons hidden in the body and clothes.

The electronic sniffer dog, imported from the United States at a cost of 50 million baht, has now been used in the suppression of drugs and weapons among club-goers in Chiang Mai.

It was first unleashed in a spot check raid led by deputy commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 5 Pol Maj Gen Vuth Vititanont, accompanied by 50 policemen and officials from the Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office.

Eight teenagers were found in possession of drugs and were charged.

Pol Maj Gen Vuth said that the strict control of drug use among club-goers would continue and become even stricter.

The DS 1000 N is excellent in searching for 12 types of narcotics and nine types of bombs or grenades, he said, adding that it is also available for police officers from other police stations in the area.

It looks as if the wonder puppy won’t be staying too long in his kennel!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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^Excellent and detailed reply, Ajarn.  I should mention that the higher paid work is the "grey area" work and usually involves proofreading and upper level (masters or phd student) classes.  Simply doing extra classes overtime is unfortunately at the under-market rates Ajarn mentions.  Real part time hourly work in Bangkok should pay at least 400 an hour.

"Steven"

In my experience, general editing/proofing is part of the normal job, but normally a small stipend is paid for proofing something like a Thesis Abstract, which is usually just a few short paragraphs, at most... Actually editing someone's full Thesis or Dissertation is always outside the normal duties, and the price is negotiated directly with the author, in my experience. I hate doing them because it always seems to end up being mostly re-written by me. Plus, they are sooo boring to read and work on. My advice would be to only accept this work if you're REALLY hungry

Not all universities are so kii nio as CMU....The International Program at Mahidol(Phuttamonthon sai 4), in 1999, was paying hourly teachers (M.A./M.S., and above) 1200 baht per hour for up to 15 hours per week. Chula had hourly rates of 900-1200 for some courses. and Thammasat paid hourly teachers 900 per hour, plus 300 baht per class for travel time. This was during the period 1997-2000. I was living and working in Bkk as a DoS, and later, English Dept. Director at a college in Bkk. I hope that these prices have gone up, but not sure anymore. I'm outa the loop now. A real Dinosaur

Frankly, why waste your time getting a degree in Science that would have no relevence to teaching English? If your only reason for going back to school is qualify to teach English, then I'd suggest you at least study something that will be useful as an English Teacher

Go to the hotel where you want to work, and make your own deal

Design a special course for their employees (seperate for management staff) Charge per head or per course, with a minimum/maximum class size.

In my experience, it's best when you're calling the shots. I know you can make more money and be more in control if you have the PR skills.

Hospitals are also where I've made serious dosh in the past. Working through the hospital Training Manager is best, but I've also made class deals with small groups of nurses myself... At BH 7 years ago, I charged 75 baht per head, per hour (competitive with ECC and the like, at that time), 10 person mimimum, 20 max. First 10 hours up front. Never lacked intrested students. Nice gig

Ajarn, just spoke to peter over at Siam Superbike and he told me it would be about 4000Baht to sandblast and paint the bike, sound good to you? I  lost the SSB addy you gave me before, it's here but I couldn't find it. Thanks for the help

Kringle, it sounds like a great price. Just a bit more than I paid for just a paint job 5 years ago in BKK.

######, that won't even buy one hour of Labour in any California bike shop

I think I sent that address in a PM to you. Here it is:

Siam Superbike Co., Ltd.

58/4 Soi Ekamai

Sukumvit 63.

Klongton Wattana.

Bangkok

Thailand 10110

Tel: 0-2390-0500

Email: [email protected]

Looking forward to seeing the end result

Just thought I'd toss in my two cent's worth on teaching in universities....

If you have a Bachelor's only, you are less likely to get a contract, but larger universities usually have hourly PT @ 300+ per hour- except at Chiang Mai University, where, last I heard, they were still paying 250....

The reason for the Master's need is that most contract teachers will also be teaching graduate students.

Office politics in university offices is much more in your face than in any lower-level school I've seen. Part-timers can mostly stay clear, but it's not that easy as a contract teacher. Seriously give consideration to this. I've seen even the best get chewed-up in this scene. At the larger universities like cmu, many of the farang teachers have been there for 20 years as part-timers. If you can stear clear of the politics, an Academic Life can be pretty mellow...

Pay is still 17,500 salary plus 8,000 baht housing allowance at all Govt universities for an 'Ajarn Piset'. There are some contract positions for farangs in other faculties teaching IT/computer, or in Agriculture, Medicine, etc., but these contracts are rare, and staff turnover even rarer. I have a couple of friends at cmu who've been working there for 20 years, and longer, teaching IT-related courses.

If you want to teach something other than English, try the private universities, like Websters, and colleges which offer an English curriculum. The best International schools only hire real teachers with direct experience, from what I've seen.

The best time to apply for a govt university job is right after Songkran. You must apply in person from my experience, and some universities, like Chula, will give you a test to check your English editing skills, and you will have to give a teaching demo in front of a real class.

We just lost the coconut trees that were rooted too much in sand. But, the next day, I learned what fresh heart of palm tasted like...Some other trees just lost their tops, but nothing like Chumpom, for sure. We could crack our window a bit, and we watched coconuts first drop down, then almost straight out like a shot when it hit the wind.

I remember that we didn't get any warning. The rain started, seemed normal, then just grew and grew.....

I'm glad I was in that hut. But I didn't feel that way at the time much

I guess if I was on Kho Tao, I'd put on my scuba gear and wait...

As you remember, some of the worst flooding was blamed on illegal logging, and the King stepped in and forced an immediate stop to all logging in Thailand, which Parliment later backed, as per the Thai constitution at that time. Interestingly, though depressing, is the fact that the amount of illegal logging increased every year for many years after that, from a report I read a few years ago. It might still be the case today...

Well, all I can say is, I was living in a hut made from coconut wood when it fully withstood head-on winds gusting to 180 kmph from Typhoon Gay in 1989. The flexibilty of the wood gave a real sense of being in Dorothy's house in 'The Wizard of Oz' during the tornado....

Here was the scene outside a side window

By the way, Ajarn.  Thanks for turning this thread into a lovefest full of useful advice and complementary posts. 

Spoiled all my fun, hippie 

Well, like granny used to say, "###### 'em if they can't take a joke!"

TTT ...Teacher Talking Time. I sometimes talked too much, taking away from student practice time.

That was what I learned from my first observation when doing the CELTA course many years ago. Even though I had been teaching a number of years before taking this course, I felt the observations and feedback were most valuable for me.

And a teacher can video tape themselves, too. I rarely ever needed to point out problems to teachers. They were almost always obvious to the teacher allready, and they often had their own 'fix' right away.

Ajarn,

Harry is kind of well known for erm...err.....borrowing bits and bobs from the 'net! But is there such a thing as an original thought anymore? Isn't everything recycled nowadays (I nick the odd bit of info from the Visa section here!), shouldn't I try to keep the thread on-topic?

But he's a good egg overall and is enthusiastic about starting threads!

To me, credibiliy comes from honesty. That's my only comment.