aridion

Thank you for the detailed and informative responses LucidLucifer and tonititan. You have both made valid and excellent points.

My plan is this: I am willing to work in an international school that follows a British curriculum. I have had 2 offers for Qatar and Saudi Arabia. I have gone with the Saudi Arabian offer, as it presents an excellent potential to save cash and gain experience. Also the contract for the Saudi Arabian school is for 1 year, giving me the chance to return to the UK and try to find an NQT position if things don't work out to plan.

After a couple of years teaching in the ME, I plan to a) move to either a school in the ME that is higher up the pecking order, a school in, let's say China, that offers an IB curriculum, or c) a 'decent school in Thailand that can offer a fairly good contract. I am aiming for schools like Ascot, Regents etc.

I know that it is precarious to have such a set plan, but it is something that I definitely am aiming for and had planned to do even before I started this PGCE.

I am not sure if it is totally viable, but fromt he responses that I got on TES forum, it seems quite possible.

What are your opinions on this.

One of the reasons that I am thinking this way is also that it is very difficult to find an NQT post right now, in the area of England I am in.

It may harm me in the future. That is true. However, I have no intent on teaching in the UK as a career option.

I know that a few years at an international school can result in moving onto a 'better' international school.

I understand the 'name and shame' thing.

The problem is that I am in the UK and will be interviewed in the UK. So, I won't have a chance to visit the school.

I am not sure if I can name a school on this site or not. I know that I can't name people or other members by name. If this post is immflammatory or goes against forum rules please feel free to delete.

I am just finishing my PGCE and see that Heathfield International School is advertising for a Primary Teacher. I am quite interested in this position and am thinking of applying. However, I have never heard of Heathfield before and cannot really find much info. from their web site or from the net.

Anyone know of the school? Is it okay?

I presume they offer a decent expat teacher package.

Thanks in advance,

Aridion.

I have heard some good things about St John's. They are a well established school connected to the University. Central Ladprao is quite nearby.

However, I also heard that they reduced the teacher's salaries a few years ago. However, probably still decent.

Maybe, better to contact them then? I got that info. from their web site.

Unless your missus is on more than 50k sterling.

and here I am walking around with a shirt that says "Besaat Farang"...

sure? Besaat farang? Should it not be Isaat farang? farang animal..

Well as I am actually a woman, I think it is better then being called Mister..which is quite often. Or Kwai and Kee Nok which is what men are often called.

Sometimes I can get a bit tired of it and retort with KON THAI! KON THAI! back at the KON Thai who is making a point of identifying me as a foreigner. If you are a man and were always called Miss you might find Falang a better alternative.

Why you not call them Kon Dam, Kon Dam.

UOB will give a home loan to anyone and you can negotiate the interest rate after 3 years.

Even to a foreigner without a thai spouse?

I checked on the UOB site. To obtain a homeloan one needs at least a yearly income of 100,000 sing dollars. That is about 50,000 sterling. Not too good for a 'younger' guy or someone who doesn't have that income right now. Bah Humbug...

UOB will give a home loan to anyone and you can negotiate the interest rate after 3 years.

Even to a foreigner without a thai spouse?

Amy, I wouldn't work for an agency that deducted your salary when you had to go to immigration. They are screwing you.There are a lot better agencies out there.

Hi IrishTexasAggie again,

Just wondering which post they offered you. As far as I know there are different pay structures for different posts.

I might be able to give you more info. about the position...

Regards

If you still need a job, I know of an agency looking for teachers. The salary will be above what you stated.

No, they will not pay for accommodation. They will pay for the initial flight to Bangkok.

Not a bad deal. At least flights are covered.

70,000 minus the tax should be a decent salary for living in Bangkok. Not the best for an international school, but definitely not the worst.

I know a few teachers working at Keerapat. Good friends of mine.

Are they offering you accommodation and flights?

Understood. There's always the re-run of Dad's Army to look forward to tomorrow night... Real nostalgia!

Edit: That's just about as exciting as it gets in UK. When I'm in Thailand the last thing I think about is "Oh, I must post a thread on TV"

Me too. I never use Thai forums when in Thailand. Ironic, na?

Cheers ^

I wouldn't bank on it.......there will be a mass exodus from BKK on the 10th and 11th of April......that will be fully booked for sure. There will also be a mass influx of people such as myself who will be flying in for Songkran.

You should be OK but why would you not want to be sure and book earlier?

Because I don't know how to book online from the UK. I have tried a google search but found nothing.

Remember it will be getting close to Songkran........I would book it to be on the safe side.

We travel on the 6th of April. It should be okay then, no?

I am flying into Bkk on a Saturday morning and hope to train it to CM. From the lonely planet book it says to book the tickets a week in advance. Is this really necessary? Is the sleeper train that busy in early April? Can we rock up at the train station and get a ticket to go to CM the same day?

Thanks for any help,

Aridion.

also forgot ,

double check with them that they are issuing 6 month validity as standard with double and triple entries, that will help with staying longer and gives extra options.

if you want to stay longer than 9 months then you can also get another visa here in asia at a later date.

So basically with a triple entry, my friend could get on arrival a 60 day stay + a further 30 day when he applies for it in Thailand? Then leave at end of this 90 days and get another 60 days? then get the extra 30 day? and do it again? Making it 270 days total stay.

That sounds quite good.

A good friend of mine is planning to take an extended time out form working in the UK after the death of his mother recently. He wants to live in Thailand for a while.

What are the rules for the Thai tourist visa? How long can he stay in Thailand with a turist visa? How many times can he extend it?

Thanks in advance,

Aridion.

Maybe I will just do some training in the UK before coming to Thailand to get the 'ropes'. Then I will be ready to ride a bike when i reach Thailand.

I am not a native speaker but my instinct says it depends on the subject we are talking about.

7% of the money / milk goes missing. 7% of the oranges go missing.

Correct.

So, I guess that getting licensed in Thailand ain't too difficult. Did youse do it in Bangkok?