aridion

*Troll post deleted*

There's a free lesson for you

.

On a more serious note - In a typical Government school there are 50-60 students per class.

The Foreign English teacher has 50 minutes per week in which to teach these students.

Last Semester I had many lessons wiped out due to the extra activities my school loves so much.

So in a good week the students get one minute each in which to practice conversational English.

The Thai English teachers have 150 minutes per week, they teach grammar and fundamental English.

This system needs to change if the students are ever to be proficient in speaking English.

I totally agree with you. Only those who have some "extra lessons" are a kind of okay. One of my Thai colleague teaching English just recently told me that when she comes home, nobody's using English.

It's a good excuse not to be able to speak a proper English, but I've met too many Thais teaching English who couldn't say one sentence properly.

Just to understand how difficult learning a second or third language can be, look at foreigners who live here for many years.

My Thai isn't very good, but I can get around. I've met so many who lived here for many years, but their Thai wasn't existent.

The Thai teachers are teaching English grammar, using Thai to explain it. Once you've understood the system, (if there's one) then you'll have to go with the flow.

Most Thai schools hire Filipinos, not even knowing how bad some of their English is, because their English is even worse. Etc.....

I take it that you are not a native speaker, right?

I could tell you stories that would curl your hair.

Go on, spill the beans.

Yeah, 500 sounds about right.

I heard that Irish passport holders are classified as 'non native speakers'. An utter joke!!!

Those rules have changed since September 2012.

Thanks for the info Aiden

I heard that Irish passport holders are classified as 'non native speakers'. An utter joke!!!

^ I thought that Webster was a university, no?

I am a certified teacher from the UK and want to know if there are any international schools in the Hua Hin area.

60k would be taxed around 4-5k a month.

In BKK, 60k is very low for an international school. I hope they add in a 20k housing allowance and flights and bonuses.

What would you say is a typical international salary (per month) then?

I have been teaching for four years. I have a Bachelor's in English, a teaching credential from the state of Hawaii, and a Master's degree in education. I am curious as to what salary you would demand if you had a similar background and qualifications?

Thanks.

If you honestly have these qualifications and have been teaching here already for four years at a low salary I am so sorry for you. Like some of the other guys have said, that level of learning should have been netting you at least 80-100k a month plus benefits. I would really think about what you have lost over the last four years because of being so naive.

I appreciate your concern....But I have been teaching for the past four years in the west. I have applied for an international teaching job in Bangkok and am currently fishing around for the best offer. I appreciate your insight.

I had a few interviews for Bangkok school last year. The packages were around 65,000 - 75,000 baht plus flights and 15,000 housing. These were british curriculum schools. I declined as I felt I could get more with another years of experience. Realistically, if you are not going for the BIG schools like Patana, ISB and Harrow, you should get around that. These three (and possibly a few more) will give salaries that are higher.

Based on the experiences of so many teachers here in Bangkok, which would you recommend:

Applying for an international school from my home country,....

OR....

Being in Bangkok and applying up front and personal?

(I am a qualified teacher in the west and would appreciate any and all responses)....Thanks!

I would recommend applying to an international school from your home country. That is what I plan to do anyway, in a few months.

By being employed locally you miss out on flight allowance, often don't get housing allowance and usually don't get the same salary. So, I've heard.

Don't bother with an IDP. It's not required for you.

Erm... what is IDP?

So, the overall jist is to wait until i go to Thailand and get the license there?

Hello guys,

I am moving to Thailand next year. When I move there I want to have a motorcycle (maybe around 400cc).

Today I called up a riding school in the UK where I am based and was told that the direct Access scheme would cost £795. This would take me from a novice to a fully licensed rider in the UK.

Alternatively, I may just wait until I am in Thailand and get a Thai motorcycle license (a lot cheaper).

Which would you guys recommend?

Regards,

Aridion.

I would also advise you to go the international school route.77,000 is an okay starting salary for someone just fresh out of their PGCE. I also did my PGCE last year. Was very tempted to go abroad straight away (my heart is still in Thailand), however I decided to do my NQT year in the UK. I am now going into my 4th week of teaching a challenging year 4 class. Every day I wonder if I should of headed away right after my PGCE.

You should go and party hard. Remember, you are only young once!

Suggest a good idea to school Admin. only for it to be brushed aside. Then 6 months later the same idea is introduced by said admin. to the elation of the school staff.

I have sent a few applications to UK schools. Hopefully might get an interview.

And to think I only came on here for advice on Heathfield...

Most of the adverts seemed to specify two years minimum. My employers asked me for a letter from my old school to say I had been teaching over three years. According to them three years was the minimum in order to obtain a teaching license and work permit. I know this to be not necessarily true. But TiT, so who does know?

Was this with C****** International? I have a colleauge at this school.

I know that you do not need 3 years minimum to get a work permit or a teachers license. I have taught in Thailand for 5 years previously to this PGCE year.

No it isn't.

I also knew it to be true, i was here from 2002-2006 teaching. Things have changed, and are changing all the time (hence the use of knew). I haven't kept abreast of what the new regulations are, as fortunately they don't apply to me anymore.

By the book, maybe it is true, but you know Thailand, by the book means very little.

So from now on, teachers need at least 3 years experience to work in an international school. I doubt that very much.

While we all worked our <deleted> off every night and every weekend .

I hear a lot of teachers that are doing just this. Definitely something I am not prepared to do for a career that pays quite modestly. I don't mind having to stay back to 6pm to get ready for the next day. However, when it leads into your weekends being taken over and not wrapping up your evenings work until 10 or 11pm, then it becomes rather unhealthy, mentally and physically.

Most of the adverts seemed to specify two years minimum. My employers asked me for a letter from my old school to say I had been teaching over three years. According to them three years was the minimum in order to obtain a teaching license and work permit. I know this to be not necessarily true. But TiT, so who does know?

Was this with C****** International? I have a colleauge at this school.

I know that you do not need 3 years minimum to get a work permit or a teachers license. I have taught in Thailand for 5 years previously to this PGCE year.

Take it from me, taking the Saudi job will be VERY tough for you given your position.

The best thing to do is follow in my footsteps and stay in England for at least 1 more year.

This then will be invaluable when applying for jobs here/anywhere as IT IS UK experience.

I did it and am now HOD which I'm sure I would not have got if I went to the ME straight after my PGCE.

Please reconsider.

Norman

Are you teaching in the UK now? If not how many years did you teach there, to land a HOD position internationally?

A year in England and after 2 years teaching here (Thailand) I got the HOD. 6 years in total to date.

So, the NQT year was a big advantage then? Are a lot of the International schools (Thai) that advertise on TES willing to take on teachers who have one years experience in the UK?

I've just come from a school in the UK that demanded considerably more than just a pound of flesh.

Were you teaching there?

Take it from me, taking the Saudi job will be VERY tough for you given your position.

The best thing to do is follow in my footsteps and stay in England for at least 1 more year.

This then will be invaluable when applying for jobs here/anywhere as IT IS UK experience.

I did it and am now HOD which I'm sure I would not have got if I went to the ME straight after my PGCE.

Please reconsider.

Norman

Are you teaching in the UK now? If not how many years did you teach there, to land a HOD position internationally?

I can't help thinking you're shooting yourself in the foot without it. I think you'll rule yourself out of many, many jobs having not completed it. Also, if you do ever decide to return to the UK, you will need to complete induction, and that would mean starting on point 1 of the salary scale, even after maybe many years of experience.

If I had NQT year done, and then return to UK 5 years later, would my Internatonal school experience count on the UK pay scale. I was under the impression it wouldn't.

I completely understand your point about finding work in the UK, it is not easy at the moment. Also, congratulations for securing a position, and I genuinely wish you the best of luck in your endeavours. From your posts you do sound like you are someone who knows what they want, and from a standpoint of selling yourself to schools in Thailand, that can only be a good thing.

As for whether it is possible, it is difficult for me to say with any certainty. I wouldn't say it was impossible, I just do not know. Different schools look for different things. Some want married older teachers with kids, others will choose the single 24 year old.

One question though, and I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but Is this Saudi school willing to do your induction for you?

Thank you for your kind words.

The Saudi School will not do induction. At the moment there is a lot of rumour that some British International Schols can start to offer induction to NQT's from next year, as far as I know. These, however, are only the Schools that are part of COBIS.

To be honest, I am not too bothered about getting into the top tier schools. A second tier school, like the ones mentioned above with a 'decent' reputation would be great. I don't know if this is true or not, but I have been told that the 'top' schools demand more work and get their pound of flesh.

I think that sounds like a more realistic way of ending up at a decent/good school in Thailand. Sometimes you have to "pay your dues" in less desirable locations before ending up where you really want to be. Not being from the UK, I can't really comment on the PCGE/NQT issue because I am not familiar with your requirements, or how that could affect you in the future.

So did you accept the job in Saudi Arabia, or are you still considering applying for the Heathfield job?

The NQT is a 'Newly Qualified Teacher' induction period in the UK for teachers that want to work in State schools int the UK. It comes after the PGCE and is mainly intended to help your transition to teach in UK state schools.

I do not have any ambition to work in UK state schools and did the PGCE for the purpose of becoming an International School Teacher. However, as Lucid Lucifer stated, it is desirable to have done the NQT year, especially if one is applying to British Curriculum international schools.

What I want to really know is would it be asked about after I have done a number of years on the international circuit. I have been told various accounts on this issue. One international school headteacher told me that after a few years teachign abroad he would not even ask about the NQT year, as he values good references and international experience when choosing his teachers. However, I am not sure if this goes for all, or even most headteachers and schools.

I have accepted the job in Saudi Arabia, however the visa process is taking ages. I was int contact with a few other teachers that were also offered a position at the school (they had 3 and 5 years experience in Enbgland). We haven't heard word from the school in 7 weeks, so we are a little bit apprehensive of commiting fully to this offer. As, I understand, the visa process can be a nightmare for working in Saudi Arabia. However the financial benefits are well known.