mindweave

I just wanted to acknowledge tomorrow as the beginning of Ramadan for Muslims and to say Ramadan Mubarak! I hope you all enjoy the blessings of Allah during this holy fasting month. Ramadan Mubarak!

Thanks. That is very helpful, although kind of a drag.... I appreciate your answering my question.

This is a simple question, and the answer may be hidden somwhere in the archives, but I just need to know quickly. I recently received my Thai Ministry of Education teaching certificate. If I change jobs, is it mine (based on MY experience and qualifications)? Can I take it with me when I change jobs? Or, legally, does it belong to the school that put in all the paperwork to help me get it? If that is so, do I have to go through the whole process again from another school, to get another one? (I am hoping not....that sounds absurd.) If you have ANY experience with this, please let me know. Thanks!!! I am clueless about this matter.

Reciprocity of teaching certificates in US is between approximately only 35 states, not all 50 and holds very little weight in Thailand. Even with current unexpired teaching certificates from two different states, I am told that you still need a Thai teaching certificate from the Thai Ministry of Education to teach here legally, which usually requires the sponsorship of a school willing to process your Non Immigrant B paperwork, and teaching application and ultimately the requests for your work permit.

I have a BA and MA in Education (the second from a very good university with excellent grades) and they still asked for a letter from the undergraduate school saying I completed a teacher training program. As others have said, a BA in anything and a credible ESL certification will eventually get you a Thai teaching credential.

My expensive, hard earned with sweat and tears MA has not gotten me a dime more money and I only make 50000 baht a month plus free housing at an International School in Central Thailand. What got me that salary, was none of the above-mentioned, but a Montessori teaching diploma, which is fairly rare here.

Still, when I look around at job openings in more desirable locations in Thailand, they all ask for a CELTA or good TESOL qualification, so decades of teaching experience does not count, without that piece of paper. I plan to obtain an ESL qualification, soon, but expect that I may use that as a tool to travel to a country that requires less red tape and less stress about visas.

Kuala Lumpur is great- wireless internet everywhere and great shops, beautiful art on the walls- yes, should be on list and would get my vote for best,

Although, Singapore got my vote for the free minibus trips around the city if you have more than a four hour layover. If it is your second time with a long layover, the even take you on a free boat tour- and get you back to the airport in time for your plane.

The Manila nightmare for over 55's- no escalators and they only let wheelchair people and airline staff use the one elevator- so its flights of stairs dragging your bags.... twice when transiting Manila airport personnel FORGOT to move my luggage to the new plane (all different airlines). Also, several times the security has been ridiculous- i.e. making people wearing rubber zorries actually take off their shoes, scrutinizing them, and holding up everyone through one line only for this.

Another Manila airport complaint are these huge lines of people going out of the country on work permits, snaking lines that interfere with the other airline passenger lines.

The taxi drivers try to get you to go to a different hotel than you arranged and booked. All and all, I now do everything possible to avoid going through Manila.

International Schools do have small class sizes and you work with one group and their families. Our school just filled a Year One-Two job, alas, but we do have an opening for Grades 3 & 4 for an English teacher right now, and pay is better than most.... do check the job board at www.ajarn.com

If you can figure out where to buy or rent kayaks- count me in on a trip from Bangkok To Ayutthya!!

A few comments--

I am a newbie on this forum, who just received the non-Immigrant B last week and am about to navigate through the work permit and Thai teaching certificate process, so I have no experience with the TIT authorities, as such. You guys are making me wonder if it will be the breeze I anticipated!

I did want to mention that WorldWide TEFL academy in Pattaya claims on the first page of their web site that they are licensed by the Thai DOE and even state their license number. I assume many other Thai-based TEFL/ TESOL programs are credible and licensed, as well, not only two. From my understanding, which includes a lot of international travel in the past, the CELTA is the best regarded and universally accepted ESL certificate, only short of a Masters Degree in ESL in terms of gaining credibility and respect around the world. Alas, I do not have the time (four weeks) to take off from my job at a Thai International school, nor the money, to get CELTA training.

Although I am a certified teacher in the US with a BA and MA in education, and decades of experience teaching English native-speakers, I do see the necessity for expanding my personal classroom skills to deal with my native-Thai speaking students new to an English immersion environment. My question is this: Should I wait until I have that TEFL (planning to take a course at the end of September) to apply for my Thai teaching license, or do it right away now, since I've now got that 3 month non-immigrant B? What is the time frame on allthis? How long will the beauracratic red tape take?

Also, what comes first- teacher license or work permit, and does it matter?

I just moved to Thailand a month ago and kayaking is my passion. I expected to find rentals in the beach towns in the south, but am delighted to know there or more possibilities.

Can you (all-collectively) be a little more specific about places throughout Thailand that you can buy/ rent one? I left my 17 foot touring sea kayak in Micronesia, but would love to have one here (and hopefully someday a pick-up truck to transport it). I live in central Thailand, in a village that is bordering on suburbia, about 45 km. north of Bangkok, but I often see kayaks on the river in Pathumthani.

Can the die hards and people who have been here awhile possibly Please compile an ongoing list of places one can rent kayaks for a day or a few hours, even, preferably with a heads up on prices? I, for one, would be very grateful.

Also, where is the mother lode for buying a kayak in Bangkok? Is it one of these situations where you negotiate prices, or are they fixed, with no possibility for discounts.

Can we keep this kayaking thread going, with information. Oh, and you can get waterproof housings for your camera, and there are even a few waterproof digital cameras on the market these days. Otherwise, Murphy's law is you will get wet, either from rain or an occasionaly dumping, so I agree with the others, leave the camera home or get one of those cheapie disposables for kayaking...

Ginger, especially homemade. Second would be a toss up between macademia nut and coconut.

I would really like to learn batik while I am in Thailand, and have done some silk painting in the past. Can anyone tell me of a batik artist or workshop in Thailand that gives instruction? Since I work during the week (teaching) I would like to find someone who can teach me on Saturdays or Sundays.

I live about 45 km. NORTH of Bangkok, but would travel to the city, if necessary, or would travel farther north to find a good teacher.

Please let me know if you know someone with these skills.

50,000 baht is pretty high- With both a recognized USA Master's Degree and Bachelor's Degree in Education and several decades of teaching experience, I am only making 50,000 BHT outside Bangkok in a village/ suburb, and I have spoken English my entire life. I know some schools or jobs may pay more, and I would be curious where.

No that's the one- it is just a hop to/ near a station for the fast train into KL city center.

If you do go to KL for business or a visa run, I can suggest a really small, somewhat off the beaten path very sweet hotel called "Shah's Village." You can book online. They have free breakfast, a lovely pool, antique furnishings, and a decent restaurant. Also, down the road is an Indian curry restaurant that is open all night long. Room price is in the $30-$45 USD equivalent range in Malaysian ringetts.