Looking for a Thai-English Speaking Mediator

[connda]

Among my various skills are skills related to teaching. Specifically teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and teaching computer technology.  I have multiple years experience teaching both.

 

Over the last five years I've offered to volunteer teach for free to numerous agencies and individuals who have influence within the educational system of our Amphur, Tabon, and villages. My only insistence is that they provide a representative who can act as their agent from their organization to act as an intermediary with the necessary credentials to be able to complete the process of obtaining the necessary work permit for me to engage in teaching within this community – completely for free as a volunteer.

Five years. No individual or agency has taken up the offer. With a credentialed, NES, TESOL instructor retired in their communities, and they do nothing.

I'll take one last shot at this before I wash my hands of it.

So, I'm looking for a Thai who has an extremely good command of the English language, preferably university degreed and with a background in Thai-English translation and mediation/facilitation. In three months I'm going to make a decision to go from a marriage extension which allows me to legally 'work' or in my case 'volunteer' with a work permit to a retirement extension which does not. The key here is: I will not volunteer work without a valid work permit, nor will I volunteer work on a retirement visa. That is non-negotiable.

I would like to organize a meeting of the local officials responsible for education within our local Amphur, Tabon, and local village to discuss what exactly I can do for them in return for them working with the MoL to obtain a WP for my volunteer activities, and possibly also working with the Amphur government agencies to help facilitate a program to work with Amphur agencies such as the local hospital to offer ELS classes to key employees who are the most likely to encounter English speaking patients. I can set that meeting up. But I need the Thai-English mediator to facilitate the meeting and to give me an accurate translation of the outcome.

What I need is the Thai-English speaking mediator who is willing to work at a reasonable fee to help facilitate and possible win-win situation for setting up and English program within the Lamphun province with in the area which I live.

So I'm looking for references for a Thai-English speaking mediator who can work with me and government officials within my Amphur here in Northeastern Lamphun. That person probably will come from Chiang Mai, but if there is such a person within Lamphun that would be fine too.

 

This person needs to be an activist who can understand the significance of what I'm proposing and who is willing to help their own communities either pro-bono or for a modest fee. I'm not looking for a self-serving lawyer who is interested in padding their own pockets.  I'm looking for individuals who care about the welfare of their own countrymen.

If you know of such a unicorn, please let me know.

Edited December 30, 2017 by connda

[Bill97]

They do not want you. You are viewed as disruptive.


Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect

[scottiejohn]

I take it you do know the rules about work permits. 

Who is going to fund the WP etc?

[Puwa]

Get over yourself. 

[orang37]

I am afraid that in this Magic Kingdom the choice of "my way, or the highway," is not available. A better translation

 

cheers, ~o:37;

[NancyL]

Connda, many volunteers start out working "under the radar" for an organization and once they've proven their worth, the organization may be willing to go thru the hassle of making the investment in getting a volunteer visa and work permit for them.  Many are not willing to take on a volunteer over age 60 and/or someone who wants to work less than full-time.  

 

You could give of yourself through "community service" through the local wat or a recognized community service organization such as Rotary or Lions (if there is on in your province)  Be warned, however that when foreigners get involved in Thai service organizations such as Rotary and Lions, they can't be one-man shows doing their own thing.  They have to contribute within the club-sanctioned service projects and rarely do those projects involve teaching English to the local people.  

 

Actually, I've seen more situations where the local hospitals, hotels and business ask the local English-language schools that employ native speakers to conduct short courses of the type you proposed for their employees.  Perhaps you should consider taking a real, live job with an English-language school.  The wages are so low that it is practically volunteer work.

[connda]

On 12/30/2017 at 6:01 PM, Puwa said:

Get over yourself. 

How amazing!  As the old saying goes, "Let no good deed go unpunished."
So perhaps true - the hell with it.

 

I have other gardens, real ones, which need planting and care.

 

Basin, water, soap - towel.  I'm done.
Mod: you can close this.

[jimmym40]

Connda, hey, don't give up yet.     Don't let a few negative posts turn you away.     You are good people and we need more of you.    Just be a little more nonaggressive.   Good things happen on a whim.   You may get some positive reponses or possibly some PMs.

 

Good Luck to you.

[Puwa]

I don't want to ring in the New year by bickering here. If you read your own OP objectively, you can understand the dismissive replies. It reeks of the white man's burden. Judging from your many posts over the years defending and explaining bargirl relationships in acute detail, one would think your mastery of language and culture would prepare you to represent yourself in all local matters.

[scottiejohn]

1 hour ago, jimmym40 said:

Good Luck to you.

He will need it with his attitude.

[Peterw42]

Isn't the minimum teaching qualification a degree, which the OP appears not to have. I doubt whether any Gov department, school, Ampher, hospital etc will, or even can, arrange a work permit for someone who doesn't meet the minimum qualification, even if they are volunteering.

OP,  a TESOL course is usually for existing teachers who wish to expand into teaching English second language etc, its not a stand alone qualification that makes you a teacher.

[Scott]

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