gascooker

On 11/29/2023 at 7:14 PM, Michelala said:

Hello everyone,

 

I'm considering an iPGCE and choosing between Nottingham, Derby, and Tes. I've heard many completed it with Nottingham, so I assume it's recognized by TCT (Kurusapha) for a Thai teaching license.

 

I'm leaning towards Derby or Tes as it’s more affordable. Has anyone completed their iPGCE with Derby or Tes and successfully obtained a Thai teaching license? Does completion of iPGCE with Derby or Tes give you the eligibility to take the licensure exam from TCT? I'd love to hear your experience.

 

Thanks!

It's all completely up in the air as Khurusapa are going through changes. The iPGCE from Notts used to get one a permanent license until fairly recently, but not anymore. Khurusapa have launched their own 7 module course that will get one a permanent license at the end of it, but it will be up to your school to enrol you on it and they only open for applicants once a year. Like everything in Thailand, it's as clear as mud.

It's nice for sure, but not the best in CM.

Try Khao Soi Faa Ham in San Phak Wan, near the samoeng intersection. You won't be disappointed!

I live in Chiang Mai province. 

I am flying to Malaysia on December 23rd for 3 nights and re-entering Thailand on December 27th where I will stay in Pattaya for 4 nights. I'm assuming my hotel will complete a TM30 and thus there's no need for me to report to CM immigration on my return to CM.

Is that correct?

Krung Thai have a debit card that comes with 20,000 baht worth of accident insurance for a yearly fee of 1,500b (iirc).

That'll barely cover a stitch at the Bangkok Hospital group, but should be ok for a minor injury at cheaper hospitals.

5 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

You started with "parents pay". I pointed out many don't.

 

You then said "only accredited schools". I pointed out your assumptions were incorrect.

 

You now say " I don't mean Thai schools", on a forum "Teaching in Thailand". 

 

Now you say " licenced teachers are paid more than unlicenced teachers:. Again, as a generalisation, incorrect.

 

 

 

You are talking about Thai schools. I’ve made it clear I’m talking about international schools. All parents pay, bar a tiny minority of scholarship students.

Tell me how I’m wrong about accredited schools?

Are you seriously going to claim that as a  general rule, licensed teachers are not paid more than unlicensed teachers.

2 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

Don't call me "Dude". I'm not a dude.

 

You've moved the goalposts on your comments so many times I doubt you know yourself what you are trying to say.

How have I moved the goalposts? My original statement and the argument I’m making remains the same. Teacher licensing helps to guarantee a minimum level of education and a common core of knowledge, it’s the same of driving licenses, pilot licenses, or any license for that matter. I’ve evidenced that in my last post. If you don’t like that, then that is your prerogative. But, that’s why licensed teachers are paid more than unlicensed.

On 9/23/2023 at 12:40 AM, youreavinalaff said:

All government schools are free for 12 years of education. If you think it's limited to temple schools you should withdraw your comments from this thread. 

 

Suan Kularb, as an example. Rated top 5 in Thailand. Any teacher, with any degree from any country can teach there with a waiver from KSP. All top provincial schools, most rated within top 100 in Thailand the same. Direct hire of teachers, no dodgy agency involved.

 

There is no guarantee of certain, equal levels of education or training. 

 

If you are looking for a school in Thailand where every teacher has a home country teaching licence you'll be looking for a very, very long time.

 

Not that it matters. There are many great teachers in Thailand. In my experience, especially when teaching languages, good expat teachers outnumber good Thai teachers by a very large ratio. Yet, all Thai teachers in government schools have a teaching licence. Go figure.

 

 

 

 

I'm not talking about Thai schools either, free or not. Quite frankly, I wouldn't put my dog through a Thai school, they are absolutely awful. 

Yes, there absolutely is a way to guarantee a minimum level of training and certification, every heard of the PGCE system in the UK. Every PGCE provider has to teach core subjects, and every participant has to attend a school placement for a minimum of 24 weeks.

Your point about schools in Thailand having teachers without teaching licenses, I can guarantee that any international school worth it's salt would never dream of employing a teacher without a home country license. I am talking about KIS, Bangkok Patana, Ruamrudee etc.

Look dude, TEFL teachers have their place, they can provide a good service to Thai schools and the Thai curriculum. But, they are not qualified teachers, and thus they shouldn't be remunerated in the same manner as qualified and licensed teachers, 

On 9/15/2023 at 1:46 AM, youreavinalaff said:

A large majority of Thai students receive 12 years free education.

 

A licence issued by KSP does not ensure all teachers have had a similar level of training and education. 

 

A teacher from Phillipines or Nigeria, as examples, can obtain a teaching licence from KSP in Thailand. I doubt they would have had the same level of education and training as someone with a 4 year Uni degree from a Western country.

 

Thai teachers also need a licence. Education levels in Thailand is also a moot point. How can many Thai teachers be licenced to teach English when they struggle to hold a conversation in English?

 

 

I'm not talking about farangs teaching temple schools or some dodgy teaching agency. I'm talking about proper, accredited schools with teachers who are qualified and have a home country teaching license. Ofc licensing is used to guarantee a minimum level of training and a common knowledge base. It is no different from car licensing etc. 

On 3/25/2023 at 7:55 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

I did what almost everyone I went to school with did and went to work after I left school.

I'm happy I did as there is nothing I wanted to do that required one except teach in Thailand and I went there all the time anyway, so I didn't actually need to be a teacher.

 

Only mistake I made was in becoming a nurse ( in hospital training ) instead of driving a truck in an Australian mine. I'd have made loads more money and been able to retire to Thailand just by sitting on my backside. I'd even have been better off driving a tube train in London than being a nurse there, but I was too old by the time I found out about it to be accepted.

Sounds to me like you're biased against teachers who bothered to put themselves through quite rigorous training and assessment to prove they are capable to become teachers, often at their own expense. Whereas you might have preferred to be on the beach on playing pictionary on the board with a bunch of disinterested students. Sorry dude, your life but please don't use your own standards to judge others.

On 3/22/2023 at 1:55 PM, simon43 said:

My own personal 'niggle' are schools who insist that you have QTS/teaching licence from your home country.  I work as a Science/ESL teacher, but I studied electronics/satellite engineering in the UK, all the way from HNC to HND to Bachelor degree to Master degree. I never intended to be a teacher in south-east Asia.  When I eventually started down that route I went and self-funded CPD courses in pedagogy, SEN, phonics etc etc.  I was offered a place on the Nottingham online PGCE course, but since I was self-funding it wasn't realistic to accept the offer.

 

Even if I had completed a PGCE I would then need to remain in the UK and teaching at a school in order to satisfy the QTS requirements.

 

Therefore, I generally teach in Myanmar, where some schools do not require QTS.  But I have been turned down by a few schools who insist that I have QTS! What is better?  A teacher with QTS and no teaching experience in south-east Asia?  Or a teacher with BSc (1st class), MSc, hands-on technician level experience and 19 years of in-class teaching experience in south-east Asia?  Crazy.....

Parent's are paying big money for their children's education, they want to know that the teachers have been appropriately trained. Now, I do understand your frustration, and agree that hands on experience is better. However, by requiring all teachers be licensed and have the paperwork to show it means that the school is able to evidence to parents that all of their teaching staff have had a similar level of training and education.

Hi,

My Irish passport was damaged so I sent back for it to be replaced. However, they didn't return the old, damaged passport.

I have my new passport, a letter from the embassy to request transfer of visa, photocopies of old passport and all the original TM.30 etc.

However, immigration have said they will not transfer the non-b visa without the old passport. Well, that's what they told the school rep.

Any advice on what I should do next, or what the procedure is?

23 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Valid point, but this thread is already full of sanctimony... The Op has already stated that he is due to get his licence at the end of March. 

 

An additional facet that my pooh-pooh those crying foul is that if the Op has a Driving Licence from his home country, he may well be driving legally anyway... 

 

(... I know, I know... thats pandoras box opened... regarding overseas driving licences, IDP, Insurance, treaties etc ... there have been numerous other threads on that aspect). 

 

 

 

 

Well said Rich.

I am getting my license on March 27, garunteed through a driving school. 
 

I have a UK license and been driving for over 10 years. I rarely drive the car, missus drives most of the time.

But all these sanctimonious people wouldn’t understand that. I am willing to bet every single person on this thread has broken at least 1 traffic law.

Not that they would ever admit that…

15 minutes ago, Harveyboy said:

Not perfect by any means and definitely no angel ..a lot of comments on here were from people who genuinely wanted to help you ..no one wants anyone to have problems with bib here..just sayin 

No, some comments were helpful. Others were either a wind up, or Thailand ‘white knights’. You know the type, never been in a beer bar, never rode a motorcycle without a helmet, only eats Thai food…  
 

p.s paid the fine at the station, no identification or license required. 

Hi,

I received a ticket for parking somewhere that I shouldn't have.

I need to go to the traffic police station in Chiang Mai to pay the fine tomorrow. However, I don't have a Thai car license.

Will they ask to see my license when I try to pay the fine. If so, what are the repercussions of not having a license.

I am reading everything from a simple 200b fine to up to 10,000b and/or 3 months imprisonment?

35 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I had to go to the DL centre and book an appointment for the next week.

Ok, so it’s about a weeks notice for an appointment.

Are you still required to use the DLT smart queue app to attend Chiang Mai DLT to get a new driving license.

I don’t have a social insurance number.

Hi, I’m trying to pay car tax online but as far as I can see you need a Thai ID card to register with the site. Anyways around this?

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Very true.  And so can IELTS examining, especially once the Chinese return!

Yes, but that requires a lot of experience and a specialist course which I don't think the OP would have.

On 1/19/2023 at 9:57 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

If you're in Bangkok, there is plenty of work teaching at language schools like Wall Street, Westminster, New Cambridge, the British Council.  Mostly university students or working people who need to pass IELTS in order to attend a university in the UK/Australia/US.  Most pay around 600-800 baht an hour. No need for a license, just a degree (for the work permit) and a decent TEFL like CELTA, or experience.

That is very true.

Furthermore, tutoring for IELTS can be very lucrative once you get experience.

On 1/19/2023 at 4:44 PM, Saigon said:

Is the course by St. Theresa an on-site one, not an on-line one?

It's held on-site.

Classes are every Saturday morning through to the afternoon. The campus is located in Nakhon Nayok on the outskirts of Bangkok. It is not that easy to get to unless you have your own transport.