aussiestyle1983

My Definition of 'Thai Style' - "Two Steps forward - One Step Back"

I thought it was rather one step forward, one step back; and in some cases, one step forward two steps back.

I would like your opinions on the subject and what you think about Thailand compared to other SE Asian countries?

Thailand would be close to the bottom. This is due to the fact that a lot of criminals have been caught teaching in Thailand, even peadophiles (excuse my spelling if it was wrong). There is so much dodgy stuff going on in Thailand, school hire who they want regardless of qualifications. If you know someone you can still get a teaching job even if you are underqualified. Common sense tells me that corruption, hyprocracy, and the just plain stupidness of many Thai officials is the main reason that even in the SE Asian region with poorer nations such as Cambodia, Thailand still has to be at the bottom. Thailand has the ability to be close to the top, as it's economy is better that quite a few other SE Asian nations, but it chooses not to and chooses the parth of corruption instead, which leads to a corrupt and bad education system.

Do you think the Quality of the teaching is good or bad and why is this so?

Bad. Too many undesireables and for the same reasons above.

4 guys I did my TESOL training with last year had no degree and are all happily working legally in Govt. Schools.I have a degree, but I'm working illegally at the moment (until May), go figure!

Note the contrast: his non-degreed mates got legal, and the degreed guy works illegally. Was same for me.

Likewise. I too was legal without a facny piece of paper

I think the people who find out that they are underqualified and can still get legal jump at the chance. On the other hand, i've know a few degree holders that know they can get legal whenever they want, but they choose not to go through the headache. The don't want the hassle of changing workpermits when they leave their employer, etc. They play the system; to be honest I don't blame them.

I think you need a TEFL since your bachelors degree is not relevant to English or Education. Thats all i know. good luck.

You will still need to qualify for a teachers licence. Just because you qualify for a visa doesn't mean you qualify for a teachers licence or even a work permit. You will still need a degree and the other thing or two that no one seems to know about that is required to get a teachers licence. But yeah, getting a non-immigrant o visa will be your best bet. Because, like you said, you can get a work permit and work on that visa if you choose. The non-o has the most options given your circumstance.

I am almost a full time student and full time worker; next study period (semester) I will increase my study load to full time. I don't really want to spend too much time in years studying, I'd rather cram it in as fast as I can. I'm just not sure how well I'll cope working full time as well. For work, I work full time (6 days per wek most of the time) as a train driver. Work is more important to me because I love being at work and my job is fun, so it's very hard for me to balance things. I get bored very easily, so spending 48 hours per week at work, another 20 - 40 studying leaves me pretty satisfied! The wife takes up the rest

My BA will only be 3 years, as that is the norm in Aus. it does concern me, because I remember hearing that you need a 4 year Bachelors degree to teach in Thailand. I wonder what they would think of a 3 year one? anyway, rather than doing a 4th honours year which doesn't mean anything to me, i'd rather start straight away on a grad cert, grad dip or an MEd. But if I can only manage a 3 years bachelor, I will be a bit concerned, even though there a Thai students that get degrees in fewer than 3 years (especially the one that finish school at M4, do a few vocational certs, and somehow only manage 2 years in uni.

I guess it wouldn't matter having a 3 year degree with a post grad degree to back it up.

The requirements for those wishing to teach legally in Thailand without a degree is as follows:

1- Go to university a earn a degree.

By doing that one step, you will than have a degree and you will be able to get legal work easier.

I see a big difference in motive. Most of the filipinos are motivated to teach there for the money, certanily not the lifestyle of living two or three or even more in a room provided by the school. Most farangs are motivated to teach there for the mongering and other plesant things that life in Thailand brings, not the peanuts. Either way, my posts were not intended to bring up the motives; they were suggesting the filipinos put no effort into comming to thailand to teach. They allready had their paper and had no other choice. Like I said before, I don't blame them, but, I get the feeling that most of them would rather be elsewhere and doing something else.

It's people like us (try not to laugh) who return to school after being away from that system for years that are the ones putting in the effort to get a education; in my case, specifically to teach there. All of the farangs who have returned home to study or sweated in out at a BKK uni to get a degree in order to stay there and teach have put a lot more effort into their education and being able to teach in Thailand; a lot more than a filipino who stays there for a few years until enough money has been save to buy a new bungalo for their parents.

I'm not blaming the victim, you're not listening. All I said was that most of them, in fact all of the ones at my old scholl, didn't get educated to be teachers. Teaching in Thailand was the only way they could send pesos home to mummy and daddy. I think they are all godd people, but nevertheless, I'm sure if they got the job the studdied at Uni for they would not be teaching in Thailand. And the 4 at my school with nursing degrees, two were husband and wife; and the wife had a MBA as well. Like you said, I'm sure they could have done better, but getting a green card requires more than a degree from a filipino university. I don't blame them for what they do, who wouldn't do the same thing in the same situation. But.................. the point I was trying to make was that they did not put in the effort that others give them credit for. Also, just because the pass rate is 75% in flip land, doesn't mean they're better than graduates from the USA or even worse, Australia where the pass rate is only 50%. Well they seem to think it does

That says something about Filipinos, doesn't it; that many of them have taken the time and effort it takes to get educated? I have no idea; just a shot in the dark. What does 'semi-illiterate' mean? Or is that another PeaceBlondian sarcasm?

I have to laugh at that, out of the twenty filipinos I worked with not one of them had an education related dergee, in fact, most of them had nursing or IT degrees. So yes, allthough they may be educated, I'n sure being a teacher in LOS wasn't the reason to get their education. They are only there for the money, as bad as that sounds. You can't say they put any effort into being a educated specificcaly to be a teacher unless they have BEd's ; they got their degree, couldn't find work in their home country, and have now used their un-related degree to get a job they would have never thought of doing.

mbkudu is correct.

I once applied for a job in BKK online. I hit the send button on the job application page. I then loged into my e-mail to check that I got the confirmation e-mail. Before I even had time to type my pasword into my e-mail, my phone rang in my pocket and it was them! I was so surprised that I wasn't even prepared. So when mbkudu said 2.5 seconds, he was only 7.5 seconds out in my case. I actually thought that some system actually sent an sms with the applicants number to the boss as soon as the application was recieved and automatically dialed the number. Unless the loser who handled the application usually sits up a 9pm waiting for applications to arrived, I still don't know how they called so quick. Desperation is also evident in this case, however, that particular school didn't seem too bad.

I think TEFL is good preparation for the classroom.

My only criticism of TEFL in Thailand is that it doesn't seem to be enough for the authorities here.

It also seems to becoming less valued if anything.

I think that TEFL providers should make this clearer.

Does a brick and mortar TEFL course really do anything to prepare you for the classroom? What do you get from these courses that you wouldn't get from a good online course?

Also, from the other responses, it seems that the only other requirement is a 4 year college degree, which I thought was fairly widely known to be needed to be a teacher in Thailand. What is it that TEFL providers don't make clear?

Many people with degrees can get jobs without TEFLs. TEFL providers and degree holders know this and the TEFL providers need to give some sort of hope to people without degrees. that is why a lot of TEFL providers, especially ones in a persons home country, even in thailand, often say a degree is not needed to get a job, the TEFL will do. This gives people hope and when people finish their course, go to a country like Thailand without their degree, they get rejected. TEFL providers need to clearly state the requirements to teach in each country if they are going to make people believe that their TEFL will be good enough on it's own. TEFL courses are just about making money. Give us your money and we will give you a qualification that you might not be able to use, or, we will fail you and get you money agin when you re-do the course. Do you think the TEFL providers really care? I'd seriously investigate how reputable a TEFL course is and what other qualifications you need to go with it before wasting the big bhats................... But yeah, not all TEFL providers make it clear that you need a degree, a lot of them will say you don't.

You need a work permit with a work visa to be able to work legally. You should know the definition of retirement is basically the complete opposite of work, so of course you couldn't work on a retirement visa

On the other hand, many people break the law there and if you choose, you could get your retirement visa, rock up at a school and start working if you wanted anyway. It just wouldn't be legal.

I know that only a few people have voted thus far, but the result is interesting none the less.

From reading about this topic here and on a different forum the reaction to the news was very negative.

This poll so far shows that over 70% here believe that it will be of benefit.

Interesting.

That just means that 70% of the people who voted are idiots.

I couldn't agree more but I wouldn't go as far as calling them idiots, maybe they are just thick headed or blind?

To answer the Op's question; No.

Some courses are poorly constructed. Spread the course over a longer time frame because most people who have to cram all that knowledge in a short time frame will most likely forget. Studying 10 hours a day is okay, if thats it. Expecting people to go put in over 12 or so hours a day of study in class and at home combined will only have a negative affect on everything, including remembering what one originally set out to learn. Students should have more options, if they want the qualification quickly, fine, give them the 4 week course, but if the student wants to take their time and go over everything thoroughly, make 6-8 week part time courses available.

You just do the hokey pokey, you turn yourself around, and that's what it's all about.

Spot on. Rules and laws in Thailand should now be referred to as advice, suggestions, guidelines, or recomendations..............

Aussie, there you go being all negative again. You have them all mixed up. Where I work, I would have to say 8-10 are important, but the rest less so. We have old folks, black folks, and folks who look like they shop at the salvation army. But, smart-a*sses don't quite make it very far!

What a sad post. It saddens me to see just how seriously you take things. I wouldn't call anything about my post negative, except for calling the OP who hasn't returned to his thread yet a troll. I was just trying to add a bit of sarcasm, but obviously you have been in Thailand or have been unhappy for so long that you seem to take things too seriously. I was correct about all of my points anyway based on the school I worked for, and I will name part of it, Sar..... How did I get the job? To be honest, I accidentally became a TEFL teacher there. I did a diploma in TEFL before I ever came to Thailand just in case I decided to try teaching, but I wasn't sure I'd follow through. One day walking down Petkasem Rd near the hospital across from the Uni there,, I was approached by a secatary who works at a school and the conversation went like this basically word for word:

Her: You are farang?

Me: Yes?

Her: White man speak English?

Me: Yes?

Her: You can teach English?

Me: Maybe?

Her: You come with me now speak to boss. We look for new teacher?

Me: Are you sure? Is that all I have to do?

Her: Yes.

Me: I'll come and see what happens.

Her: Yeah, Yeah.

Anyway, i got that job. I doubt if I wasn't for my current good looks, white skin and young age and for the fact that I dress well, I doubt I would have been approached in such a manner.

We can't tell you what hoops you will have to go through until you tell us what qualifications you have; as your qualifications will determine your level of struggles. Having said that, is being a troll another of your qaulifications?

Qualifications needed to teach in LOS:

1- White sking (the lighter the better)

2- Young appearence

3- Not be aged over 40

4- Nice smile

5- Charming looks

6- Neatly groomed

7- Expensive wardrobe

8- Paitence

9- Ass kissing ability

10- Ass licking ability

11- Ass kissing and licking ability for extended periods of up to months and years at a time

12- A degree

Can anyone add to the list?

George Walker is a good example, the most powerful (idiot) man in the world! Just goes to show how stupid all the yanks were that voted for him, I wonder if they had degrees too?

I'd rather use Bill Gates as an example and say that is degree is not needed at all

I agree with the above two posts. Yes, the reputation of the UK OU is excellent, it's most likely ranked higher that quite a few of the other uni's in the UK. But like I mentioned above, Thai's will judge you on everything. And when you got your degree from The Open University it might raise some questions because lets face it, they will look for any excuse to give you a hard time, and when they seed the words "Open University" who knows what might be happening in their brains. I would just not like to be in a situation after putting years of hard work into getting a degree and then to be knocked back again because of the Thai mentallity.

The degrees offered by the Australian OU are the exact same degrees offered by distance that are listed on the uni's website itself. On some of the actual uni's websites it actually says to enrol and graduate with this degree from us you have to register through open universities australia. OUA was basically established so the lazy pricks who work in the admin at the uni's would no longer have the deal with the distance students admin issues, OUA is like admin. Anyway, while nothing is certain there in LOS, I wouldn't want to risk spending so much time getting a degree from an excellent institution that is ranked well higher than the leading thai uni's to get slapped in the face by a jealous somchai.

^It's the OU on the transcript.

"S"

I get it now. The UK Open Uni is an actual Uni, whereas the Open Universities (plural) in Australia is just the admin group that handels all the paperwork, enrollments and payments for the distance education degrees that 10 or so Australian universities offer. I first thought it was a similar system in the UK, I had no idea the open uni was one actual uni itself. I guess that is why if you study through open universities australia you will actually graduate with a degree from whatever uni offers that degree, whereas if you study through the UK open uni you actually graduate from the open uni itself. Interesting. Knowing that Thai's will be scrutinising my transcript one day makes me glad that my degree will actually come from Macquarie, Griffith, or Monash university (soon I will have to decide as I'm running out of electives) and will not say open uni on it, given that most people would be aware that open uni degrees could be considered online degrees (keeping in mind how most Thais like to think they're better and compare people in the sense that their degree is better than yours) .

I ask because when I possibly return to teach there in 25 years, I want to make sure I am prepared, even though things will change by then. I have letters and references for 24 months of teaching, so as long I only need 1 year of teaching experience to go with my unrelated degree, it seems to meet the above criteria. But as I have been away for a while, I am not sure what is required to get the other things like WP and TL to be legal. Since I have decades to prepare, I figure I can even manage a few master degrees by then doing only one class at a time, possibly even a PHD or two (as long as it's not to costly and time wasting). Anyway, are the requirements to get a TL and WP the same as to get into that course, if so, I guess an unrelated bachelors degree and a year of experience will do.

Is this a troll post, or are you serious? 25 years; that's a good one.

Do you think I have over 1000 posts by trolling

Honestly, I allready decided to stay in farangland and once I have several more properties here and am at the age of about 50 or so and am ready to retire; it is then that I plan to come back to Thailand. Like I said before in other topics, I don't teach for the money, or should I say peanuts as teaching is the most overworked (not in Thailand) and underpaid profession in the world. Honestly, not only is teaching a joke in Thailand, but it is a joke everywhere in the world. Teachers deserve a lot more credit and respect than they are given. That is why I would never even consider being a teacher back in farangland, no respect. However, I do need to work. I get extremely borde easily. I quite enjoy working 7 days per week as I still try to do that now and as I did during my recent 2 year teaching period in LOS. So, when I retire, and my wife and I return to the kingdom, I would like to be able to teach legally. Not that I will need the non-b visa, because I'll most likely have enough income and $ in the back and income comming in from investment properties to meet the greedy governments requirements to get a retirement visa or some knid of non-o or whatever, I'd still like to be able to do a simple thing like show up at a school for 5 days a week, help the kids learn english and then go home, without having to watch my back for trying to do the right thing. That means getting a WP and TL. That is why I enquire about the rules, so I can keep getting qualifications so I can meet the requirements in 25 years or so when my time comes to return there. Sad isn't it, wasting so much time and $ on an extended education just so I can get a job to fill in the hours..........................

The saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" comes to mind, and seems spot on, when thinking about what is being done and how Thailand is going about trying to better their education system.

It seems to me like a desperate way to live.

We must not forget, Thailand attracts a lot of desperat people to begin with, and a lot of them end up teaching once they find how easily it is to get a job illegally and how much they can earn and the kind of lifestyle they can have. I'm sure such people will easily find a way to stay there. Most people are aware that there are people who choose to live in the kingdom illegally and with no visa at all, once the arrive, they just simply live there and mind their own business. This new law will do nothing to deter the illegals or people who want to teach. If there's a will, there's a way..........................