aarontendo

Smaller classes will mean more teachers needed. Hah! Fat chance of THAT happening - teachers are deserting Thailand and very few are even considering coming. Until they stop treating teachers like dung, they're gonna get the educational system they've bargained for.

Why do you assume they were even making refernce to NES teachers? I'm pretty sure there are more flip-flops coming than ever before. Trust me, they won't have any problem finding low cost imported teachers.

Besides that, why do we assume this has anything to do with us? I hate to break it to people here, but us farang English teachers here are barely a blip when you look at the entirety of the Thai educational system. I know sometimes we like to think we're important and all, but the ministry of education ain't exactly looking at us when they want to fix their system.

I'm not trying to be rude, but let's put this in perspective. I would guess that a bunch of unqualified white guys from their home countries teaching here makes up what, not even 1% of the teachers in this country. It's not about us.

And the reason they want a Filipino is because they think they can get away with paying them less.

Lost in translation or not? Not. Just as shallow as it appears.

I taught English in BKK for 10 years (with a TEFL certificate but without a degree - lynch me if you will) and I felt extremely uncomfortable that My Filipino co-worker was paid considerably less than I was, despite her Masters degree in education, obvious skill in the classroom and excellent spoken English.

Oh it's not just think, they do get away with it

Such an ad would trigger some backlash in the USA.

I think thats the reason many of us left the USA, backlash over nothing & other silly ideas. Have a look at the flight attendants on an average on US airlines........

To be fair, discriminating against teachers for skin color and if they look good or not isn't exactly nothing and silly.

Oh right, and the gender heh. Good thing I'm not trying to compete for that job I'd be <deleted> two outta three on this one!

Students being involved in the class and think pair shares are hardly new and innovative. Still, great to hear that it's getting some mileage here...baby steps Bob.

I'd love to see this happen. Always irritated me how out of synch the Thai calendar is with other EFL destinations.

just shy of 26k was the norm 15-20 years ago. not sure how you lot manage.

Going native and sticking their head in the sand in regards to retirement, I reckon

This sort of thing pretty much sums it up here. The whole place is a disaster from top to bottom in education. Go through all the trouble to write the advert, ask for professionals with x years of experience, MBA, etc.

Then sign off as loverboy...awesome. This is the one that will be interviewing and evaluating your demo lesson.

Eh but 25k is pretty good for some nationalities, which is what is what this market will entirely become in the next couple of years. Fun times pack those bags, boys.

Most of the "teaching" that occurs here is so different from what we do back home (and have been trained to do as teachers). I'm not surprised at all when legit teachers struggle, I've seen that first-hand here and in Korea.

Great news man glad to hear that about your loans. As an American color me jealous! =)

There are jobs in Bangers offering north of 45k, but often as others have said in EP or the better private schools. Some of this I believe comes down to if they use an agency or not. As a fresh off the boat it would be a little harder to get at those jobs, or at least that's what my experience has been. I see far too often that jobs are posting at the 30k - 32k range, and that's possibly on an 11 month contract.

Picking up the paycheck and blowing a few bucks on some of Bangkoks fine entertainment. Or take it out on folks in Call of Duty

If you're that early in your studies then why not consider which subjects you want to teach? Do you want to do primary or early childhood education? If so, consider a B.Ed degree. If you're thinking of teaching secondary level English or History than perhaps those courses with a PGCE added on? I just think that if you're going to plan years down the road you may as well get your teaching qualification sorted out too =)

Universities often ask for masters degrees, and I would suspect most wouldn't care much if you have a B.Ed or not. Perhaps if you're teaching in a faculty of education or something =)

They do not, to my knowledge, require completion of the thai culture course or having any credits in education and such, as they don't fall under the thumb of the teachers council.

PGCE is the minimum you should have to turn you into a correctly qualified teacher in Thailand.

Nonsense. If you only plan to do TEFL, a degree and a good TEFL qualification like CELTA is all you need.

Should be, problem being that to get a Thai teachers license it won't cut it. Sad, isn't it? ><

People will work for what they're satisfied with and those who aren't will move on. This really primarily affects those who are in long term relationships, marriage, and have kids and such here. I've heard a lot of talk that many teachers have picked up and moved on, as evidenced by chatter from recruiters and agencies that it is few and far between when they get degree qualified farangs applying. Good spot, especially when you're offering 30k there sparkplug! ;p Declining salaries, possibilities of 10 month contracts, a tightening of regulations and ever-changing qualification goals to meet are creating a perfect storm for the EFL market in Thailand.

I think everyone knows that EFL as a career isn't necessarily the strongest decision from a financial point of view. We've also heard how if you've chosen teaching as a profession it should be for the children and not about money. God knows that get's bandied about back in many of hour own home countries, to which I say that is true but public service should not be a vow of poverty.

Nevertheless, and I stand by this, a sub 30,000 baht income per month is a difficult life to have. Is it the end of the world? No, certainly not as there are many here living on such. Just keep in mind though that the direction the industry has taken has been to reduce salaries and benefits to an even lower position, which as a qualified native speaker doesn't cut it for me. I am fortunate in that I believe my school takes very good care of its staff considering the state of the industry today. There are certainly stories I've heard from friends and as well as those online where they are working in Bangers for 40k or less.

I'm not a fan of people using fake degrees, but I think it's much less common than people make it out to be. Additionally, the suggestions I've seen about having exams or such being conducted by Thai Immigration officials is laughable. Who will they find for a reasonable rate to conduct such? The Thai-English teachers who cannot themselves speak the language? Again, a cost issue because the Thais who are amazing at English are so often earning more in better paid fields.

And to the person who said the fella from Cameroon accepted a pay decrease from 25k to 12k. Amazing, not only for that teacher but for ANYONE else who comes along and accepts it. This is why salaries have stagnated or declined, fellas. Man up a bit and don't accept it.

It's not regionally accredited in the states, I would avoid it. It has some national online accreditation, which is the first time I've heard of that body. Without the uni being accredited by the Southern whatever body, I wouldn't bother.

Best bet for an online degree is one that is offered via a traditional brick-and-mortar state university. In essence, a program from a university that isn't typically associated with online learning.

Where did you get that information Aaron?

Ashford University is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001, www.wascsenior.org. WSCUC is a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). http://www.ashford.edu/about/accreditations_and_associations.htm

Ashford University is listed as school number 181 on the WASC accreditation list http://www.acswasc.org/

Sorry, needed to add citations

Oops my mistake, I was looking at Ashworth College! =)

It's not regionally accredited in the states, I would avoid it. It has some national online accreditation, which is the first time I've heard of that body. Without the uni being accredited by the Southern whatever body, I wouldn't bother.

Best bet for an online degree is one that is offered via a traditional brick-and-mortar state university. In essence, a program from a university that isn't typically associated with online learning.

If you're keen to make a career of teaching do your credentials for it, so something akin to a B.Ed or PGCE and get QTS. If you've already made up your mind to spend 20+ years doing this then get it done right. Just my take on this, as it sounds like you're very early in your uni educational career and still have some time to explore options.

Meh, put her on leave or transfer her and put it on her record. If there's a record of this occurring then of course further punitive measures against her license should be administered. She's old she probably remembers the day of beating the students so may be hard for her to let go of habits.

Again with the pervasive Education corruption this government keeps promoting, and putting its nods and rubber stamps to...

Why not also test the private schools, eh...? Cat got your tongue?

No, the private schools are this government's most adored and evil touch-me-not corrupt pet...really...to subsidize private schools so that the parents pay tuition and the schools get 35k per head from their taxes too is laughable in the face of the utter non-progress in Thai education. Private schools were the ones who lobbied for the no-fail policy...they kept losing students.

Private schools get more public tax money than the public schools. A LOT MORE MONEY. Shame! Boo! Stopping corruption my ass.

Just continuing corruption for the junta's bestest butt buddies, an episode resembling lottery reform and the recent bailing out of dodgy bank notes.

Now, where is that red menace when we need distracting again?...................

I am unaware of private schools getting public funds. Can you provide some proof of this claim?

UNESCO report on private secondary school education in Thailand.

http://www.unesco.org/iiep/PDF/pubs/Thailand.pdf

"In summary, private schools at the basic education level depend upon the following sources for their income:

Eh I've talked to a couple of friends who work at the better internationals, yes high expectations for quality of work and yes to the work being the same as back home. However, you get a fantastic work environment, a well regarded school on the CV, and salary/benefits comparable to back home. If you get the chance to work at one of those schools go for it.

In 2002 I stayed in Korat for about a month, This Dutch guy and myself were offered jobs teaching English. I told this school that I am not a teacher, his reply was that is not important. The thing that is important is " To be white and can speak some English" The Dutch guy could only speak a little English.

The point I am trying to make is the schools don't care about the children's education they only care about MAKING MONEY

To me this is a very sad situation.

I'm not saying that the Filipinas are not good teachers or the Dutch or German but I do believe that only Native English teachers should be teaching English. I just hope for the Children sake they can fix this problem.

I have met and worked with numerous native speaker teachers in Thailand, and I can say that I would never allow most of those "native speakers" to get any close to any kids let alone teach them. Travellers, junkies, fugitives and all sort of scumbags account for a large number of native speakers in Thailand. I know there are some good teachers as well. I would say that native speakers should teach listening and speaking. Unfortunately, most of them have no idea how to teach academic writing, IELTS, or grammar. Why would you let them teach these subjects?

The best teachers I have met were non-native speakers, and some of them had real great knowledge of English language.

Many of the native speakers I've worked with have been top quality, and the ones I meet now are advancing their own qualifications and working hard at professional development. Having said that, many of them are long-term expats here. I'm certainly not discounting your experience but just to offer a counter-point on that issue. Having said that, yes I've had more than once where I've raised an eyebrow to teachers I met.

Whether or not it's regulated has nothing to do with it being a fixed or variable cost. So that's a fancy way of wasting time.

Now indeed, if schools are only paying or 10 month contracts than I can see an argument for it being a variable cost. However, I've heard that far too often it ends up being an agency being paid for 12 months, with a kick-back to the contract manager or someone of the school. From a bigger picture point of view that doesn't allow it to be a variable cost anymore, ,as indeed the school is shouldering payment of 12 months of salaries. If that is not the case then I stand corrected.

I'll admit I don't know the inner (and seemingly dodgy workings) of agencies and how to circument regulation, as I've never done much with those folks.

Because variable costs change with the level of production. We aren't talking about teachers working on an hourly basis.

I mean I see a slight connection but it's pretty weak still. Agencies are still being for 12 months by schools (my understanding) so even in that scenario you can't say it's a variable cost.