new2here

My university spelled this issue out in detail in the contact - and pretty fairly in my opinion.

I was responsible for the initial visa cost; but if I fulfilled the first (one year) contract, this cost would be returned to me.. If I chose to renew (assuming such was offered to me) *and* if I needed a new or different visa, then they would pay for that.. But the "first" one was only reimbursed after-the-fact.

They paid (gave me cash before the event) for the WP itself, the extension of stay, medical cert, krusapa paperwork and photo..

All I've paid, and won't be reimbursed for is any re-entry permits that I may elect to get..

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Hi,

I'm kind of in the middle here... I do think that there is, or should be, some onus on the carrier ti make sure only known (to the responsible party) charges are made, and that such charges can reasonably be paid.

I don't think that there is, or should be, the whole onus on the carrier..

To this end I think there is some personal responsibility in play.. Yes, the user here was/is 12, thus a minor, however if applicable law provides for a parental liability for the criminal or civil actions of a minor, then that's what it should be and the aggrieved party should be able to seek remedy under said law.

Again, I don't think it's good for anyone - carrier/game maker or consumer - to have a limitless free-for-all... But I don't think it's the carriers (or game makers) "job" to protect you from yourself (or parties you're liable for) so, for me, a compromise might be required notices when a certain amount is charged or similar.

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I don't have an overt issue with BOD free positive pass passes per se..

But.. I do think there needs to be better oversight and perhaps some middle ground sought.

I think it would still be within the realm of R&C for BOD entitlements for there to be some level of staff travel..

I might look at:

-More tightly defining who or what is "family" and might use the idea that they are your legally married spouse, your natural parents, and any legally recognized minor-aged children.

While that's just one definition, I do think they need to better define who qualifies.

I also think the number of passes could also be adjusted.

One idea might be to say they get X number of passes for regional trips - within North/South Asia, but a lower number for long-haul (Euro, Africa, N. America) sectors..

I also agree with the limitation of Business on a 3-cabin or First on a 2-cabin... And i would also agree to the idea of a partial embargo..

Like saying during known peak periods, they can't be reserved until you're within X days to departure (like 14-days or 10-days as example) therefore allowing a reasonable amount of time for these seats to be sold as revenue seats... But if they remain unsold THEN they could be reserved by BOD pass travel.

Outside of peak periods, I might extend the time period to maybe 21-days to recognize the overall lower load factors.

I don't have an overt issue with positive pass use by BOD.. Only that it should be done in a manner that better (IMHO) balances out the goal of the carrier to SELL these seats to revenue pax, but also gives pass users a reasonable chance to use them when doing so presents a relative low odds case of revenue-displacement.

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I teach at a large prominent university right in the pathum wan area and I've found that once you got your rhythm down it's actually quite easy.

I am lucky in that dean of my faculty is a big proponent of foreign native speakers and does whatever she can to make you a success.

Initially I had to prepare my lesson plans and submit them to her one week in advance - with whatever materials I would use in class as well.

She would then set a short appointment with me a few days later to discuss it and give me what she thought might be a good change.

After about 4 weeks, there was little that ever changed and I can say largely her changes were spot-on and not manifested in "I know more than you since I'm the dean".

Her suggestions were really from a "teaching to a younger Thai student audience" perspective; a perspective that I know little about compared to her.

My suggestion to anyone new is to get someone who you can rely upon - flow faculty or otherwise, who can really guide you.

I'm starting my second year now and I'm feeling pretty good about what I'm doing.. Yes - still got lots to learn about how to be better, but I'm not really afraid of anything, feeling at risk or otherwise.

Best of luck.

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My experience was like Scott mentioned.. I was told, in advance, that I would have to do a live demo in fromt of a group. I was able to choose from a half-dozen topics that were relevant ot my subject area. The demo was supposed to cover a minimum of :10 to no more than :20 in time and should have both a beginning/introduction and conclusion. In otherwords, like a real, full length class lesson.

I was also asked to bring a copy of my lesson plan that I would use to teach my demo from as well as any materials I planned to use. If I was going to use an projector or powerpoint or other equipment, I needed to tell them in advance and they'd arrange for it to be in the room on the day of demo.

My "students" consisted of about half real universtiy students who were in upper levels and had volunteered and the other half were departmental staff or nstructors.

I was graded on a pretty fair scale.. The were two parts: demo and materials (the lesson plan and anything I used in class). demo was 75 points, materials 25 points. On the demo side, points were given for things like voice clarity and the materals score was based on how well did you use whatever you brought and did those materials "fit" the lesson or were they a distraction.

After the demo, I was asked to return to the Dean's office and my score would be given to me shortly thereafter, with feedback.

Be cautious and be sure you ask what kind of or what "level" you need...

The reason I say this is because it is common that if you get a clearance from the city/county or even state level, it will only show records at these levels-- not crimes that are either federal in nature or occurred in other states..

I needed one and thankfully my school explicitly said that as a US national, the clearance had to be from the FBI's record keeping unit - not a city/county or state level agency.

The expiration date of your visa does matter. It is your permit to stay date that counts.

If you leave and re-enter prior to Jan. 14 you will get another 90 day entry.

Work permits are not tied to the permit to stay date or you would of only been getting 90 day work permits.

Labor office should issue the work permit for the length of your new contract.

I just want to be sure Im reading you correctly as it looks like a word got left off the first sentence..

My current period of authorized stay expires on 31OCT13 as my last long weekend trip was back at the end of July -- hence the 90day stamp I got back then when i came back, gave me until 31OCT..

I just want to be sure I can present my current visa, again a non-b multi-entry that expires in Jan14 and with a current period of authorized stay to 31OCT13 togerther with my WP5 renewal app to Labour on Monday. The next semesters contract would run from 01NOV13 to sometime in late Feb or Early March.

I was thinking that they'd want to see/insure that the underyling visa was "good" for the entire period that the WP that it supports is approved for.

Thanks for confirming.

My school is new with hiring foreigners, but they're very good at giving me whatever it is I need paperwork wise and they pay for it all.. They just ask that I nagivate the system.

My current visa, a non-B (multi-entry) which has not been extended or otherwise, by Immigration here; expires on 14JAN14 (hence was issued back in Jan13)

I have been meeting the 90 day report madate by naturally leaving the country every few weeks for some short side trips during the last semester. Since I have a multi-entry there has been no issues to date with this.

My current work permit expires on 31OCT13 as that's the end of the school semester..

However, I've decided to stay on one more semester.. Thus the school is going to help me renew the WP.

The new semester will start 01NOV13 and run thru 28FEB14 I recall.. It might go to the first week or March, but I've not seen the formal calendar yet.

My question is this.. Given that my VISA will expire on 14JAN14 but the work permit will (or should) expire in Feb14, will Labour approve the renewal application even though the underlying visa won't reman "good" for the entier the period the WP will run?

Do I need to extend or do something to or with my visa BEFORE i go to Labour seeking a WP renewal for semester #2? or can I use the visa as it is now - good thru Jan14, for this?

You'll find teaching Thai students considerably different than your years of teaching. I would start by deciding what type of students you want to teach here in Thailand. That'll give you a sense of direction at least. Then the "teaching forum" is a good start as one poster already suggested.

Good luck

Good point.. I have given some thought to this question, but I've kind of decided that for me, part of this experience is for me to also grow, and if that means puting myself in some new and uncharted waters, so be it. I agree that traching the over-18 set would be what I know, but I guess at this stage I'm willing to put myself out there and teach to groups I havent been exposed to in the past, that uncharted water.

You'll find teaching Thai students considerably different than your years of teaching. I would start by deciding what type of students you want to teach here in Thailand. That'll give you a sense of direction at least. Then the "teaching forum" is a good start as one poster already suggested.

Good luck

Given your experience why not start out by contacting Thai Airways or other businesses with employees who have to deal with English speaking customers. If you are not used to dealing with school age children, but have extensive experience dealing with adults who have a connection with tourism and business travel, you'd probably feel more comfortable sticking to those sorts of students you've worked with the past 20 years. Improving their work skills should be satisfying for you and a great help to them and you'll probably find them well-motivated.

Thai has a full blown "instruction" department which covers most all of their needs (unfortunately for me) but the idea of a general "tourism and business travel' business is a good idea.. Thanks.

I’ve actually lived and worked here in Bangkok twice before as this is a

big city for us in the region and there’s a large staff presence. The

first time was in 1999 to early 2001 and the second time was in 2007 to

early 2008.

Start at where you left off.

Contact your former employer and see whats available.

Thanks, I did ty that, however, due to a corporate re-structure of how this function is done, my former employer now actually flies onto Japan most of the staff they need to train as it's more cost effective to do it this way (airfare is near free obvously and we own several hotels, so lodging is also near free) than the way it has been done during my tenure.

New to the forums, though read it via the twitter feed - very good overall.. Sorry if i've posted improperly or against protcols, I didn't see a better place to post this - if there is a moderator-initated move would be welcomed.

Hoping to draw from the knowledge pool here. Looking for some insight and hopefully actionable advice or steps to pursue. Sorry it’s a bit long, but I didn’t want to short anyone on details or critical information as i know that not having it makes giving solid advice harder.

A little background on me and my situation:

I’m a US national of Japanese decent, native English speaker and University graduate (Pac-12 University) with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering. I don’t have an English-as-foreign language teaching certificate as that wasn’t a required thing for my in-house work.

I’m retired now, but only in my very 40’s as I started work while I was a junior in college. I spent 20 full years working for a Japanese airline in the Training and Development unit.

Basically my entire 20 years was spent conducting English “workshops” in person, at most of our foreign cities. These workshops were created by the
airlines’ TD unit and designed to train, coach and insure our staff were able to speak, read and write, reasonable, accurate and correct business
conversational English and were familiar with necessary industry terms. I had a pre-determined curriculum to follow, but could deviate within reason as needed.

They’d last around three to six weeks each session and depending on the needs, I’d conduct anywhere from one to five sessions in total before moving on to a new city.

I’ve actually lived and worked here in Bangkok twice before as this is a big city for us in the region and there’s a large staff presence. The first time was in 1999 to early 2001 and the second time was in 2007 to early 2008.

I’ve always wanted to teach outside of the transport industry largely because my passion is helping others achieve, as I think there’s a lot of personal satisfaction in seeing someone advance and be successful due in part to your efforts. On a purely personal front, I really want something that makes me get up and out of the condo each day. I’ve golfed all I think I can. I’m getting bored fast as most of my friends are stll actively employed. So I’d like to teach as I’ve essentially done that for many years - albeit on the corporate level, love doing it and it helps me by filling out the days between Sunday and Friday.

My personal case is that I’m not looking for huge pay. I’m lucky as I have a decent monthly pension, and retirees’ medical coverage. I also have rental income from a house I own in the SF Bay area, but do use about 33% of that rent income to offset my mortgage on my house in the Redondo Beach (LA) area. So I have monthly cash flow alreadty. I have a multiple-entry B visa already that's good until end of Jan 2014. I live right now in the Lumpini area, very close to the US Embassy and Residence.

As far as the pay goes, I’ve done some very rough math and figure that if I draw about 25k a month, after deducting work-related things
(like transport costs, lunches outside, etc) that this in addition to my pension, etc, would be more than ample. I’m not looking to get rich—just have a more enriching life here. however, this is a very rough estiamte as I lack a lot of sepcfiics that would help me get a more accurate picture.

I’d be willing to work either FT or PT, but I’m more concerned about the work itself and the conditions; that's the management and coworkers. I guess I’d be happier working P/T for less, but in a place that was more to my liking, than working FT in a place that just didn’t fit me.

So… I pose to you as the community, what do you think is my best course of action here given the above?

I guess I don’t know what the process is to get hired here. Do you email around? A centralized hiring agency? Walk-in? I just don’t know the process here nor exactly where and how to start -- that's the part thats killing me and daungting.. I don't even know where is the 'start here' line.. Help!

Also, how do I prepare and package myself to a prospective employer? Paperwork? Officialdom?

Hope some of you experts and long-timers can help a noobie find his way around and get some tips I can implement.

My plan is to start actively looking on 1 May, so from now until then is all prep work. Again I'm not expecting huge fiancial rewards, but something that helps me out, gives me something productive to do, helps others and is fun- all rolled together.

Happy to hear any constructive replies or PM's.

Regards,