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HalfSquat

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Posts posted by HalfSquat

  1. I am coming to Bangkok in mid August 2009. I have accommodation in Bangkok.



    I have a 2.1 Bsc (hons) degree in an IT related area from a lowly London university. I have four years graduate work experience but no teaching experience or teaching related qualifications. I am 29, male and English.

    I am looking at TEFL courses in the UK at the moment which I am planning to take before I come out. Is this a good idea? Should I be looking at CELTA courses or something else?

    Can anyone recommend any books I should be reading that would help me become a good teacher to go along side whatever course I do?

    When I get to the Bgk, assuming I have done a course, what should I do to find a job, are they advertised in local papers or should I visit the schools in person or post them my CV/resume & covering letter?

    Is the work likely to be term based like in the UK or something else?

    Is the work full-time or part-time or is there the option to do both. I would like to see a bit of the country so short contracts with a break between would be nice but perhaps this is not possible.

    Ideally I would like to be earning 26500THB / 500GBP per month after tax. Is this likely and if so would it be full-time work?

    Thank you very much.

  2. Thanks for your posts dlwc. I have sent you a PM with the name of the school.

    I am just filling out the visa form now.

    Got a couple of questions for everyone about the form first:

    • Regarding the date of departure from UK and arrival in Thailand, how accurate to these have to be? We havent set dates yet.
    • Proposed address in Thailand: this is as yet unknown. Will it be better to wait until we do know?
    • Proposed duration of stay: ideally I would like to put 'up to 2 years' but is that too much? What should I put to have a realistic chance of getting approved.
    • Travel details after Thailand: not sure yet, shall I just put 'back to UK' or 'none'
    • Evidence substantiating purpose of visits (Non-Immigrant visa only): what does this mean?
    • Visa required: (please circle): TOURIST or NON-IMMIGRANT – __________ Number of entries: _______ I guess I want non-imm but how many enteries shall I go for?
    • Purpose of visit: Is 'staying with girlfriend who is living and working in Thailand' the best answer?

    dlwc, so you manage to get by with just one of you working? That must be nice, don't think my girlfriend would appreciate that though!

    Plus I have a loan I have to continue to pay back each month back here in England so will need to earn some money.

    Did you manage to make friends out there considering you were going with someone else who would be meeting people from work - how did you meet new people?

    Thanks!

  3. Are there many weight training gyms in Bangkok?

    Do they have air-con as I've heard it is quite warm out there?

    Do you know how much they charge?

    I've heard you can get performance enhancing drugs over the counter - is this true?

    Wouldnt mind doing some muay thai out there if its not too expensive once I get out there.

    I will be staying near a/the river but not sure where that is - any around there would be good.

    Cheers.

  4. I'm going out to Bangkok in August/September and I know it is very unlikely but I am interested in getting an IT or admin job out there.

    I currently work in IT which I have been doing for four years after graduating.

    I do and have mainly done support, implementation and administration.

    I know without the Thai language I don't have much hope but would at least like to give it a shot and would happy for any job that would keep me in that kind of work whilst away from the UK even at entry level or lower.

    So in order to have a look I guess I need to use a recruitment agency.

    Can anyone give me any tips or pointers of who to contact to help me in my quest?

    Many thanks.

  5. You have to weight that against the burden of having to do border runs every 90 days. With the extension there is no more need for border runs, just 90 day reporting.

    What does that mean? Once the 12 months has based you only have to do 90 day reporting inside Thailand rather than the 90 day border runs?

    If I go back to England and then back to Thailand during the 12 months it won't affect my visa will it?

  6. You can research working options when you arrive. You will need a Work Permit to work as will your Girlfriend assuming she is not Thai.

    Thanks for the information. If I came on the 'Non Imm O Multi Entry Visa' and then found a job, could I then apply for a work permit or does that have to be done before entering the country? Where it says Multi Entry does that mean I can leave and enter the country as many times as I like or is there a limit?

    You could also get an Ed-visa for learning Thai.

    See the sponsors on top of page.

    Thanks, I will have a look at the sponsors. Do you know if you can work part-time on a Ed-visa like you can on a student visa in the UK?

  7. Hello, I am from the UK.

    My girlfriend is starting a teaching job in Bangkok at an international school in August on a two year contract.

    I would like to go with her but am unsure on how long I could stay for.

    From what I can tell there are two routes I could go down: get a tourist visa or get a work permit. Is this correct?

    If I wasnt working would it be possible for me to get a 90 day visa and do visa/border runs for two years or is two years too long?

    If I wanted to work are my only options teaching english? I have a BSc degree but no TEFL.

    Does Thailand do a student visa? Could I student something like muay thai and get a visa?

    Any suggestions would be welcome.

    Thanks.

  8. Thanks people.

    I am comming from London UK which is quite expensive. Suprised to hear it is on a par with Bangkok, was hoping it would be a bit cheaper out there.

    I guess I am used to paying £3+ for a pint and £5 for two chicken breasts from the supermarket so it shouldnt be too much of a shock out there if its the same.

    I have a laptop I am planning to take but it is getting on a bit and am thinking of replacing it - just thought it might be better to wait until I got out there if they are cheaper. Accomodation shouldnt be a problem as my girlfriend gets it with her job.

    Wasnt planning on getting a car - how much is a 50cc scooter?

    Cheers!

    What I am spending now:

    £600 per month for a room in a shared house.

    £150-200 per month for my share of the bills and council tax

    £150 on food per month

    £100 on pubs

    £50 on eating out twice a month

    £17 per month gym

    £28 per month martial arts

    plus other stuff...I spend £1700 per month including £250 on debts.

    Was hoping to live on a lot less out in BKK.

  9. Don't suppose anyone could give me some pointers on how much things cost out in Thailand and Bangkok more specifically.

    Things like food from the supermarket?

    Meal out?

    A laptop?

    Gym membership?

    Anything really...

    Might be moving out there for a bit in September and just trying to gather some information.

  10. Thanks for all the replies.

    Some of the them are very interesting.

    I guess it all comes down to getting clients (whether in the UK or locally in Thailand) and having a permit to do the work.

    I don't even know how much a loaf of bread costs in Thailand so have lots of research to do as to what amount of work I would have to do etc.

    I could do my current day job remotely - it would be amazing if they let me do that from Thailand but I highly doubut it!

  11. Hi all.

    I am in the UK and am currently working full-time in IT and outside of work hours I also do freelance webdesign for individuals and small local businesses.

    I am thinking of comming to Thailand in about 8 months with my girlfriend who will be teaching.

    Do you think it would be possible for me to work freelance as a web designer in the same way I am doing in UK (i.e. small time local projects) and if so what kind of work permit would I need?

    I speak no Thai.

    Thanks for you help.

  12. Hello,

    My girlfriend is applying for teaching jobs in Thailand at international schools to start in September 2009.

    I would like to go with her but am not a teacher.

    Just wondering what my options are regarding visas and working?

    I am 28 and have a BSc degree (2.1) but no TEFL type qualifications.

    Would I be able to go there for a year?

    How does working over there work, what are the restrictions visa-wise?

    Thanks!

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