NobleELT

On 2/13/2024 at 5:41 PM, youreavinalaff said:

Nothing more than opinions.

 

Opinions that are, it seems, not shared by anyone else.

 

Speaks volumes.

Right. Carry on accordingly. 

On 2/12/2024 at 5:29 AM, MarcelV said:

I do not teach English, so my options are much more limited than those of a random ESL teacher.

Aha, I must have missed this info earlier in the thread or perhaps you didn't share that before. That does limit your options then doesn't it! 

So what do you now see as your probably 'deadline' for this? Getting any insights from those in your scene? Do you work with any licsensed foreign teachers where you are? Others in the same boat? 

Okay I've read all the posts now (won't reach to call it a "thread" really, as it's not held together by any focused discussion). And it was just as I expected: the OP doesn't engage at all after writing an important seeming but really vague opening thing, then a handful of people expound on some generally associated charterization of life as a teacher and Thai education while expressing profound doubts about each other's intelligence and fitness for teaching based on how they typed out this or that. 

So how about the OP? I'm curious what happened. Presumably something's got to give. As I said in the previous post, one hopes you don't see yourself as a total and complete pawn at work? What have you done to understand better what is happening and how to avoid being disrespected and taken advantage of? 

In my experience, some foreigners tend to alienate Thai colleagues (Thai people overall, really) in their own minds so much so that they can't hardly conceive of really engaging them as equals. Are you doing that? Possibly? And if you have, you can also find yourself ascribing to them all kinds of nefarious intentions that aren't actually there. Maybe they're not nefarious, just kinda cheeky/lazy and know that you'll bend so easily in the wind that they can shovel off work on ya. 

Would they do the same with, say, me? Never. Ever ever. LOL. 

So be honest...is this here "common" problem...just...you? 

If so, that's excellent news because you're right there with you and can fix it. 🙂

On 2/3/2024 at 11:23 PM, Chris Daley said:

There should be two classes per week that have a co teacher.  So that means you don't have to do one of the classes.

 

So the scam is they make you do it and take a year off.

 

40 classes extra a year.  They do the scam twice (m5, m6) total 80 extra classes a year for you.  This is a breech of contract.

 

And then we have points.  So actually it is shared between the two co teachers but they make you do all the scores for another fully paid Thai teacher.

 

So make sure you get the Thai documents not the English ones.  The Thai one will include the name of you and a co teacher.

This post reads as if the audience is supposed to know absolutely anything about your context. We don't. 

It describes a very particular (to you) situation at work that clearly requires your active management and negotiation with colleagues. It reads as if you're completely without agency, or at least have not yet employed any and tried to work things out. 

It's just "this is the way it is" and even assumes it's "common" (really I don't think it is, but again I have no basis for actually knowing what's going on in your specific, tiny little corner of this world). 

Haven't read the whole thread yet. Probably should have before responding to the first post, but oh well. 

I guess it's like a "warning" to others? Doesn't seem all that effective if so, but here's hoping. 

23 hours ago, MarcelV said:

My understanding is that Thailand only wants foreigners who have proper teaching qualifications in their home countries to come and teach here.

Well, to that I say: good luck! Prepare for Thai schools' English programs to disappear and for the students' English skills to take a nosedive.

The dinosaurs will have their xenophobic wishes fulfilled, and see the rich-poor gap widening, as only the rich parents will be able to afford education delivered by foreigners.

 

Btw, I have already been offered jobs elsewhere in other countries, but have turned them down until now. My time here is running out though, so I might be inclined to actually take one of these - much-better paying - jobs at some time.

These countries (a.o. Russia, Vietnam and several South-American ones) don't seem to be so stringent when it comes to education degrees and value experience more. And pay way better too. Just too bad my wife could not possibly leave her government job here, but, hey-ho, I have to think about my old age too.

It sounds like you might be living in a small provincial town, but are there any langauge centers who'll employ you? Thai universities also provide a licensure-free career option, but requirements/preferences in hiring vary (many positions expect an MA at least, but there's plenty of variance and...well, need). If you interview well at a small provincial uni campus, you could get a job. 

It takes a bit of effort just to find uni job announcements online, but it's certainly not impossible. Just thinking out loud here. 

The OP on nearly every thread like this one never comes back around and say anything or engage in the conversation. Perhaps it's no wonder, as what you then read is a bunch of random highly emotive opinions about a handful of infered ideas, all without any specific experiences shared. One comes away all the dumber for having taken the time to read. 

The fact is that at public Thai unis, there's often a 100-300 baht application fee that supports an already overworked ajarn's efforts to manage a bunch of applications. How well they do that is up for judgement by the people around them, not so much the active imaginations of PintO34777 and MunchMan3000 online. 

Anyway, the job he was going for could be bad, could be great. Not sure how anyone here thinks they could know the answer. Same goes for why the woman who got the job got the job. 

Presumably there was/is a real person there who spent the time typing out his version of a real predicament. He included some comments that suggest he had a sense of entitement about that job and he completed his education with an instrumental mindset - I do this degree, I get this job kind of thing. 

Imagine if the first several replies, rather than jump onto the most obvious assumptions and judgements, attempted to prompt the OP to say more about what happened, what is thinking is about, and maybe - if anyone had experience working at Thai unis - shared some first hand experience? Would the OP have posted more? The opening post of almost any new discussion thread is hardly ever more than a highly performative and rather shallow lob. Each successive post, if there are any, reveal more in nealry exponential fashion. 

Try intentionally making that happen sometimes in this section of forum - it'd be worth something. 

Just sayin'. 

If the OP is still around and sees this, give us an update. Have you found a job? What do you now think about that one you lost out on to all the other "races" in the hiring pool? 

Cheers

11 hours ago, MarcelV said:

 

I'm not gonna do that, or any other course not offered by the TCT anymore.

First, I live and work more than 1000 km away from Bangkok and I'm not willing to move there. And second, I already have a diploma in teaching from St. Robert's Institute in Bangkok, which was a course that was offered online back during the Covid years. The institute is, however, not accredited by TCT, so that diploma accounts for nothing.

 

This year marks my eighth year teaching and if I don't get a fifth waiver, it will be probably be game over as my school isn't gonna go through the hassle of shifting my formal position to a non-teaching role.

 

I am hoping for leniency by TCT. Not just for me, but for all people in my situation. If not, I fear I must leave my Thai wife, our cats and most of my worldy possessions behind to emigrate and find a teaching job in a country like Vietnam or Kazakhstan. 

Oh man. Alright, so that's a pretty clear look at the situation. Sounds like yours is a great case for leniency/understanding from the TCT. It's sad that teaching requirements policy lands so awkwardly - it's as if there's no standards at all OR there's strict, limiting ones...and nothing or at least not enough in the reasonable middle. 

I'm wishing you the best. You've comported yourself well while the thread bubbles up with all the usual boring exhortations we've all heard 7000 times. 

Hopefully you update it as things continue on so it's actually a contribution to knowledge and awareness for others. 

"Are there any websites I can be looking at to find these opportunities?" 

To the OP: Thai unis typically don't post on the usual suspect teaching jobs boards, etc. BUT...sometimes they do! 

I suggest googling some combination of "name of university + foreign instructor + announcement". You might also restrict results to PDFs. This will net you a bunch of "official" announcement documents, usually but not alaways in English, that get posted in the bowels of Thai university websites. 

The extremely low official base salaries at public universities are not what a committed and active foreign lecturer takes home each month. I'll just leave it at that. Good luck! 

It's been a handful of older and younger ladies at the shop for years now. Not sure I ever seen a male employee. But the ladies, while maybe not remembering my name, also have a good memory for who's who. They've been super sweet to me, and generous too in how they've helped me out and given some discounts/freebies. 

The Ling/SLA and teacher education section has always been surprisingly good. I've found some deep cuts on those shelves! 

PS - OP - find thier Line account, so you get the closings. They're happy to get the shop closed for each and every holiday plus a bunch of other random days thorughout each year.  

Don't know enough about the details of the teacher license as they stand now (mainly because I've been working at universities for a while), but I feel your pain, OP, regarding the confusion and moving goalposts. First and of course obvious advice is simply to remain calm as the FUBAR type process is a double-edge thing...yes it's chaotic and seems essentially 'unfair'...but also it's slow and plodding to the extent that it rarely claims any real victims. 

That's not to say one shouldn't pay any mind to the need for stated required qualifications, etc. But my point stands. 

All else I have to add on the topic is that I knew a fellow who completed a weekends/hybrid course at St. Theresa's College out at Klong 13 or so, just across the Nakon Nayok border and subsequently got his Thai teacher's license. I could put you in touch with him if requested earnestly. 

Anyway...any updates from the OP? Surely over time the OP can be expected to make some progress on this, and surely isn't waiting for a thread here to blossom into great actionable knowledge and insight. Not sure where exactly you are, but don't discount heading directly into whatever Krusapa office you can get to. And smile. Smile, goddammit! In my experience, a lot of foreigners seemingly never understand the incredible power of being super friendly in Thailand. Smile and thou shalt recieve...;D 

That goes for your school's HR people too. If you weren't doing it from the first day at the job...they're the ones you need to be waiing, joking with, getting friendly with, giving little gifts to, etc. They WILL help those rare foreigners who seem, in their eyes, like khon dee.

Good luck 

As others say above, it's DK Today there just by the Makkasan airport link station. It's the only language teaching bookstore in the city. The sections in Kino, etc. are primilary for students/customers grabbing test prep and general language study books...it's not a supplier for schools and teachers. DK Today is. As of about 8 months back, last I went, they were still open and the same. The overall physical ELT textbook market has changed a lot, so the stock isn't as fresh as it used to be, but they're still the place. They'll give a discount if you show you're a working teacher adn they're quite sweet. I've been in and out of their doors since 2005! 

This won't directly answer your question but you could have a glance here for whiteboard ideas & inspiration: https://twitter.com/hashtag/eltwhiteboard?f=tweets&vertical=default

Don't know a lot about that. I'm 39 so, luckily, don't really need to worry about that until later. I feel for you though - hopefully by the time I'm in that age bracket some of the ageism will be less of a thing. 

Leaving for S. Korea in a couple of weeks. 

I'm pretty confident I can generate 70k per month, as I was able to do so throughout most of the 6.5 years I taught in Thailand pre-MA TESOL and really knowing what I was doing. But I completely understand your point of view and I've watched, since I've been away (and before I left, for sure), the gradual - and in some areas not so gradual - inflation and changes in Thailand life economically. 

So you're back in the UK now? 

It's entirely possible that once we have children (or when they're school-aged) the whole equation will change. But that's one phase ahead of our current one. 

I appreciate that Myanmar is full of opportunity, but I won't be moving there. I've been married to my Thai wife for 7 years (together for 11) and we're also moving back to Thailand to reunite with the extended Thai side of the family. I've been to Myanmar and definitely enjoyed the visit but as exciting as it may be I'm long past following the TEFL train wherever the best action happens to be. It's a whole different game when starting a family is a major part of your outlook. 

5 hours ago, ozmeldo said:

So, you're maybe kinda sorta looking for work maybe 3-4 months from now?

Yes, a February start? My wife is urging me to take a break. If she wins, March. Well, I do need to remind myself about the Thai educational calendar (off to do that). Having taught there for 6+ years, I felt I'd have that etched into my brain forever.  

5 hours ago, ozmeldo said:

And what are you after? A university position? Of course you know they pay much less than public school teaching?

Absolutely. But I'd like the context in order to do action research, have time for writing, etc. and I'm enterprising - I'd go out for all kinds of editing, tutoring, extra class work. Not to mention working on a longer-term plan to design a program and open a school. 

5 hours ago, ozmeldo said:

Lots of crud posted up on Aj daily. It's almost become a narrative of where not to work. "The usual suspects" comes quickly to mind. Schools and agencies that simply can't retain teachers.

Well said. I do keep an eye on it but it really is full of junk - just the occasional standout.

5 hours ago, ozmeldo said:

BTW Kasetsart has posted again, uni with a brand but it's the third position posted in less than a year. But it's open NOW.

My wife is a Kaset university grad, I used to do evening/weekend slots at the lang. center in the Dept of Humanities, and know teachers (through my wife) at the lab school (I assume it's the satit program hiring?). Thanks for the info - it's definitely on my radar.

You do see schools posting over and over and wonder what's going on. 

Thanks a lot for the response. If I may, I'd love to PM you a bit later (I realize I'm absolutely NOT likely to line something but this far in advance...we're talking about Thailand) in the hopes you'll share some of your 'intel' on openings at good programs. 

Anyway...please do keep me in mind if you know of any appropriate openings, all :) 

I see, I see. Were you on AF back when? 

13 hours ago, aidenai said:

Some don't use the user names they used on AF, TD, SZ, RPF or TTA.

Yup, I assume so. Look at that graveyard of forums. TD is still up isn't it. Thanks for the reminder. 

13 hours ago, aidenai said:

You're not different, Matthew

What do you mean by that? 

17 hours ago, Mister T said:

All good here mate, retired to the beach about 2 hours south of Mr Stamp.

Well that sounds F#$&%ING grand. 

On 9/24/2017 at 7:34 PM, davidst01 said:

Have you done any academic research? Is it published?

I haven't published traditional academic research in peer-reviewed (or non-peer reviewed) journals. I've written for teachers' association newsletters, institutional blogs, etc. that's all. Presented at conferences with reference to action research. It's something I do regret not having under my belt yet.

On 9/24/2017 at 7:34 PM, davidst01 said:

If you had to write a 10,000 word assignment for your MA you should try and get it published in a journal to then put it on your Resume. It will help you get a job at a University. 

My MA had the option of thesis or project. I chose project and produced a unique and creative sort text that I intend to turn into a book in the future (I'm way behind on this as the moment). Without going into detail here, unfortunately it's not something that not every traditional academic will instantly and easily recognize as something worth giving me that kind of credit for. That said, those who will, will absolutely recognize my knowledge base and clear focus in the area of teacher learning and reflective practice. 

Thanks for the reply, David!

On 9/24/2017 at 8:33 PM, pauleddy said:

I find that the Unis don't advertise much (unlike the schools).

Very true. It really is a word-of-mouth, right place right time kind of thing. Luckily I have a few contacts here and there, but nothing I can really count on as a 'hook up'. 

On 9/24/2017 at 8:33 PM, pauleddy said:

My only caveat (?or lack of current knowledge) is that I was doing all this about 12 years ago. I am aware that all unis want a BA and CELTA now (minimum)--but I hear occasionally of plumbers and backpackers who land jobs in fan-ventilated schools in Isaan. I'm not sure whether things have changed massively. 

Right. I have seen some university employed folks who...well, they weren't qualified at all in the ways you'd expect. I'm not really judging, as I don't have time and energy to waste on it - and I know that its all relative. There's also, as you imply, a lot of variance in university environments across the land. Definitely appreciate your perspective Paul! Thanks a lot. 

18 hours ago, Mister T said:

Welcome back old boy, bit warmer than Boston?

Hey mate! How's things. Yes, well right now Seattle is still very warm - and so is Boston, my folks back there say. Korea in Nov-Jan should be nice and nippy. Unless there are bombs to warm us up. Trump is really helping to keep this whole Korean peninsula plan interesting. Of all the places I could escape to in order to forget about the insane child in charge back home, eh? 

Hope things are good. Love seeing some of the oooold names around. 

...feels like a lifetime, though. It's been great, but there's a lot to miss as well. 

How are things, TV Teaching in Thailand forum section people? 

It seems pretty quiet around here, but hey..I know you're out there!...here's a handful of questions for ya. Pick and choose, ignore the rest, whatever: 

1. What would you say are some major changes in Thailand ELT in the last while from where you're sitting? (+/-)

2. I came back and did an MA TESOL, gained more English teaching experience in a variety of contexts here in the states (a lot of refreshing aspects once you're out of the Thai classroom bubble!), and got involved in teacher training. Also been presenting at conferences, serving on boards and committees, you know...being a professional teacher person to a large degree (my CV is here). So upon my return I'll be looking for university positions and similar. Have a number of warm irons here and there, but nothing solid yet. Enough preamble - the question is: what's on the grapevine? Do you have/know any positions that might be of interest? I'm activating my (remaining) network, trawling the net, and preparing to hit the ground running!

3. Anybody on here been around the forums for a long time? I was on the old blue teaching forum (and others along the way) from 2005 to 2012 or so, and occasionally on here...any old forum heads around to say hi? Let me know! It'd be a kick to find a few familiar virtual faces in the woodwork. 

4. One more while I'm here: what, from where you're sitting, is the market like for opening smaller sized language schools? Any expert or non-expert advice welcomed, just thinking about things generally as a future interest. 

Well...that's all folks. Hope things are going well wherever you are. I was back in April for a couple weeks and got to visit the king's memorial. That was nice. The big ceremony is happening soon, isn't it? How's the street food 'clean-up' going? Back in April things on the sidewalks in central Bangkok definitely felt more spaced out. I guess it was a good thing. You could still find street food along the way. 

I'll also mention that I'll be in Korea from November through most of January, and then plan to be at ThaiTESOL in Chiang Mai in late January. Anybody planning to be there? 

Once again, please do reach out if you or someone you know is looking for a dedicated, flexible, creative, and mature English language teacher or trainer, curriculum/materials developer, etc. I'm all in! 

Oh, random bonus question: is DK Books still the best place to buy ELT books and materials in Bangkok? I know there's Chula as well, Kinokuniya to some degree. Just wondering if there's a new/better resource these days. Always liked DK Books, but spent way too much there. Not cheap, but I've always valued reading and learning as a teacher, as well as having lots of materials of my own to use and draw from.  

This is getting long. Matthew out! 

As challenging as it was towards to the end to really get anything out of that forum, it's been a loss not to have a 'go to' place like that for Thailand teaching chat. I was an active member from 2005 through 2013 or so. Along the way I learned a few things about teaching and Thailand, networked and and met a lot of good people through the site, and had some pretty good laughs. 

There's so much more out there now and I'm part of a much larger-scale online community of teachers spread through social media and blog networks, etc....but there's nothing quite like the *niche* that forum developed/developed out of. 

That went well. Just FYI, you can still click through, join up, and view the recording. There will be an associated online activity posted through Google Forms to engage further with the content. Cheers