Questions About Qualifications

[anthonyaus]

It is my understanding that the Australian version is more or less modeled after the British PGCE but it may have slightly different name.

Not sure if each others quals are cross accepted or not.

[Loaded]

Is the PGCE mainly a British thing or do the Australians have it too?

You can obtain a very reputable distance-learning PGCE from the university of southern queensland, or is the the southern university of queensland... no hang on it's the queensland university of the south... bugger!!! someone will be along soon to tell you the right name.

[PeaceBlondie]

I believe you can also get a post-graduate certificate in education from Texas Southmost College, although the certificate and the school each have another name.

[way2muchcoffee]

I'm trying to decipher what your post means PB.

[PeaceBlondie]

I'm trying to decipher what your post means PB.

Aw shucks, I am not sure where the truth ended and the joke began. And there I was, trying to be enviously enigmatic, but now bear the stigma of being pitifully pathetic.

Just as Loaded was telling a joke about names of universities in southern Queensland, I joked about the real name of a uni in southernmost Texas, where my youngest daughter attends, trying to become a Texas History teacher (really!). Its full name is now University of Texas at Brownsville-Texas Southmost Colege. The American equivalent to a PGCE exists, but I doubt I have heard its name. The esteemed Mr. Wangsuda tells me that holders of American PGCE's (by whatever name) consider themselves to be better professional educators than those who only have a B.Ed. (a degree which my oldest daughter, BA and M.Ed., says is not granted in the state of Texas).

[way2muchcoffee]

Thanks for the clarification. Texas has some particularly interesting alternative certification routes. It does require relocation, which rules it out for me, but I have investigated many alternative certification routes in the US, and Texas has some of the simplest.

Edited December 14, 2008 by way2muchcoffee

[paully]

Something to think about: After your PGCE, you need to do the NQT year (assessed and supervised teaching, as PB said) before you can call yourself 'qualified'.

Yes, this is not strictly correct - only teachers in the UK state sector need to complete an induction year in terms of 'qualification'. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) means exactly that - you're a qualified teacher and they give you a lovely, shiny certificate to prove it. You're technically qualified to teach any subject as QTS is not subject specific.

However, of course, it's extremely advisable to do a couple of years (or more) of teaching after your PGCE in the UK to make yourself far more marketable to the better international schools. There really is no sure-fire short cut that I'm aware of (unless the school head is your uncle).

Edited December 17, 2008 by paully

[Ijustwannateach]

^Good reply.

This is all kind of a qualification thread, so I am merging it with our flagship thread, Questions About Qualifications.

[RussOz]

Hi,

A bit about myself. I'm 26, Male and from Australia, graduated High school and have worked my way up to management with a diploma. I have done allot of traveling but I want more as most people on here do. I was looking at doing a TESOL course with 3 specialisation courses yet to be decided, maybe a bit of feedback on this one? But the major question about doing this is what can I expect once I have done the course. Is a TESOL on itself enough? With only a TESOL course to my name how easy or hard will I find a job and what type of pay may be offered?

Cheers

• Teaching Pre-School (Grades 1&2)
  
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• Teaching Adolescents English
  
• Teaching Adults English
  
• Teaching TOEFL Preparation
  
• Teaching Business English
  

• Teaching Computer English
  
• Teaching Legal English
  
• Teaching Medical English
  
• Teaching Aviation English
  
• Teaching Hospitality English
  
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• Teaching Grammar
  
• Tutoring English
  
• Teaching ESL Locally
  
• TESOL Teaching Practicum
  
• TESOL Instructor Course
  
• Graduate TESOL Course
  

[Loaded]

I started writing a response but then I thought it's better to advise the op to use the search button and find the many threads where this has been discussed in great depth before. The short answer to the op's question is yes.

[PeaceBlondie]

Yes

Start with a 120 hour course with supervised teaching practice before you finish a doctorate.

[southerndown]

Yes

Start with a 120 hour course with supervised teaching practice before you finish a doctorate.

mmmmm!!! removing posts that you don't like now are we? could this not be an open forum? at least you removed your own post to cover it. smart

[RussOz]

Thanks for the info....

[Ijustwannateach]

Moved to Questions About Qualifications, which is a thread that the OP should read carefully.

[dentbox]

Since this is my first post, before I start rambling I'd just like to introduce myself - Hello everyone, my name's Robin, pleased to meet/read you all.

Rather than asking about qualifications and salaries I think I'd just like to go over what I've picked up, and raise a few of the concerns I have and hopefully some of the experts here can help me out (or, as seems to be the SOP for the Thai way of life; shrug their shoulders and wish me luck). I'm aware this is the Qualifications thread, but I hope this fits nicely into it anyway.

I am thinking of moving over to Thailand around September this year since I would like to get a taste of life outside of the UK, and do something I'll find challenging, interesting, and hopefully rewarding (for all parties involved). My first priority is to get a 4-6 week TEFL course completed at a Text & Talk academy, since I hear generally good things about this company and am under the impression that learning to TEFL within Thailand will prepare me for the education system over there, and considerably bolster the quality of my teaching.

Ideally I would like to teach in somewhere outside of Bangkok - but my concern is that my course ends in the first week of November. Is that in time to catch the new term at schools? Would I be better concentrating my efforts in the capitol in order to secure employment?

Finally, am I to expect that I will need to make regular "runs to the border" in order to remain in the country? Or does that just depend on the luck of the draw when it comes to getting a job?

Just to clarify:

I have a BA (hons) degree in Philosophy from Cardiff University (UK)

Once I start looking for work out there I will have a 4 week TEFL course under my belt.

I am not planning to stay here and make a career out of this (not yet at least), so working for lower wages is not so much of an issue, and hurdles that those working here on a long term basis I hope will not be so relevant to me.

I am young (23), and while doing a good job at my school is my priority, having people my own age to socialise with will be of importance. Basically I don't think I'd be ready to be the only farang in the village, so when I say "outside of Bangkok", I don't mean in the middle of nowhere.

I have no teaching experience (other than taking lessons when I was in the Army Cadets) although I am looking into volunteering at a school one day a week until I head out.

Looking forward to hearing any advice you may have to offer.

Robin.

[Ijustwannateach]

November is too late- most schools start and finish their midyear breaks during October. Any school still hiring in November has serious planning problems or other serious staffing problems (i.e., you probably won't want to stay there long). I'd suggest you wait for the end of the school year in March/April.

Whether or not you want to stay in Bangkok depends on how much you like it and whether you will make enough to cover the difference in cost of living. From your degree I'd guess you'll be stuck with teaching English, unless you have some pretty serious logic and mathematics somewhere in that degree. Living out in the country here is not the same as living in the countryside in the UK- you may wish to try a trip there first.

To avoid border/visa runs, you will have to have a pretty good job with a pretty good school director who cares about you- both are pretty rare here, and will generally require at least the appearance of a medium-long term commitment.

Short term is a good way to plan it here, because that is usually what you get.

Have fun and read this subforum carefully.

[dentbox]

Cheers, really appreciate your help. Will take a look at rejigging my plans to either be TEFL'd up and in Thailand by mid-October, or hang fire until the spring.

Thanks again, and I shall be reading aplenty in the mean time.

Robin

[cardula]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Steve. This is my first post here. I am considering coming to Thailand this year to teach English. I am a native English speaker holding a Canadian passport. If I came to Thailand, I would be expecting to earn between 40000-50000 baht per month from one or two teaching jobs.

I have a few college certificates, planning to do a TEFL course, a bit of teaching experience, but I've only finished 3 years out of a 4 year degree.

My question is, if I bring all of my qualifications and transcripts with me to Thailand, would the fact that I'm one year away from finishing a degree make things hard for me?

I would really like to finish my degree first but due to circumstances outside of my control, I don't know if that will be possible.

[PeaceBlondie]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Steve. This is my first post here. I am considering coming to Thailand this year to teach English. I am a native English speaker holding a Canadian passport. If I came to Thailand, I would be expecting to earn between 40000-50000 baht per month from one or two teaching jobs.

I have a few college certificates, planning to do a TEFL course, a bit of teaching experience, but I've only finished 3 years out of a 4 year degree.

My question is, if I bring all of my qualifications and transcripts with me to Thailand, would the fact that I'm one year away from finishing a degree make things hard for me?

I would really like to finish my degree first but due to circumstances outside of my control, I don't know if that will be possible.

cardula, welcome. Three years of study in a university beats none; put it on the resume. Maybe they pay that much for an above average newcomer in Bangkok; probably not anywhere else.

[mxyz250newb]

Heres the skinny, I'm 22 years old, Canadian, no high school diploma or GED.

I want to get teaching in thailand, but heard they require a bachelors degree (is this true?).

Also, was wondering if there are any universities that would accept me without a high school diploma (open university) in bangkok.

I visited bkk for a few months and decided to "jump ship" from this canadian wasteland...

[Ijustwannateach]

I'm sorry to say this, but please stay home and work on your GED. It may be possible for you to land a job here- even a legal job- but it won't be good for you or your students in the long run- and it's really just common sense to say that you should have better educational background than your students- so that leaves kindergarten and elementary school.

[mxyz250newb]

I'm sorry to say this, but please stay home and work on your GED. It may be possible for you to land a job here- even a legal job- but it won't be good for you or your students in the long run- and it's really just common sense to say that you should have better educational background than your students- so that leaves kindergarten and elementary school.

Lets say I get the GED then whats the next step? Please realize I plan on bettering myself and I dont think me or my future students would have much to worry about so lets stay positive ok.

[Ijustwannateach]

If you had the GED, you'd be at the bottom end of the TEFL world here, and it ain't pretty. At least with a high school qualification you can actually get into the university system here- they do check- or you could possibly do an undergrad program at one of the online English-language open universities. But your long term prospects would still be limited, and though it is not a legal requirement to have a degree to teach English, having one does open more doors than not having one.

[PeaceBlondie]

I agree with IJWT, that it is best to at least get a GED to attest you have the supposed equivalency of a secondary education. Some of my own high-school drop-out kids got their GED certificates, but their grammar is still atrocious. The challenge to teach here is huge, and you need all the preparation you can get.

[mxyz250newb]

I'm sure its no cake walk, but you guys act just because I don't have a degree I am mentally handicapped. I hate to say this but you don't have to go to university for 20 years to become smart or good at something. Getting my GED will be peanuts I just have always had a great job so I didn't bother. Now things have changed and my lifestyle has changed. We will see how it goes.

I agree with IJWT, that it is best to at least get a GED to attest you have the supposed equivalency of a secondary education. Some of my own high-school drop-out kids got their GED certificates, but their grammar is still atrocious. The challenge to teach here is huge, and you need all the preparation you can get.

[Bastian]

My native language is german, but my command over the english language is quite good, partly because back in high school my parents always used to send me to a language school in Brighton during the summer break, partly because I have been listening to some vile, hate-spewing american talk show host three hours a day, five days a week for the past six years.

I had been studying economics at a University in Berlin and already 4 semesters of my 6 semester course for a BSc under my belt, when during a visit to Thailand I fell in love with a native and suspended my studies to live here with her. I am technically still enrolled, just taking one vacation semester after another.

I have now been living in Thailand near Chiang Rai for about a year and a half and my spouse and I had our first child.

For several reasons I would like to take up a teaching job, if possible in the area around Chiang Rai.

My experience in teaching so far is fairly limited, I used to tutor single students in math, but I have no experience in teaching in a classroom.

I had thought about investing in a course at a language school like this one to get certificates and some practice. Is that a good idea?

For the beginning I would be happy with a monthly salary of 20k-25k.

Could I work at all without having a degree or should I forget about it?

[mijan24]

I'm sure its no cake walk, but you guys act just because I don't have a degree I am mentally handicapped. I hate to say this but you don't have to go to university for 20 years to become smart or good at something. Getting my GED will be peanuts I just have always had a great job so I didn't bother. Now things have changed and my lifestyle has changed. We will see how it goes.

I agree with IJWT, that it is best to at least get a GED to attest you have the supposed equivalency of a secondary education. Some of my own high-school drop-out kids got their GED certificates, but their grammar is still atrocious. The challenge to teach here is huge, and you need all the preparation you can get.

Sorry to jump in but IJWT & PB offered some very sound advice and by your response you have answered "why you need to gain further education" before you take the big plunge. Remember education is not only gained in the classroom, by your response it would appear that a short course in maturity would not go astray.

If you post seeking advice but only want to hear what you want not what you need to know please prewarn the board memebers with a PS: and serious replies will not be entered into.

[Ijustwannateach]

You're being a bit sensitive. No one has remarked on your intelligence. However, as experienced teachers in Thailand we are pretty experienced and qualified to evaluate your skills and your chances, and you've had some honest remarks here.

[PeaceBlondie]

To mxyc etc.,

I do not think anybody here has asked you to have a full uni degree, just a GED. You can get non-teaching jobs without a degree. My daughter was a cocktail waitress and her brothers were a condom saleman and a pot dealer. My daughter now wishes to be a school teacher, and is attending university.

You do not have to go to uni 20 years. You could at least just get a GED, which 2 of my kids got whilst addicted to pot and/or booze (one was pregnant). They said it was easy. They still can't spell.

If you don't want honest, well-intentioned, professional advice, go ask a condom salesman or dope dealer.

[otherstuff1957]

Regardless of what we, as Westerners, think, Thais place a lot of importance on certificates and degrees. I've been to a gazillion (and taught quite a few) seminars with Thai teachers and they always treasure the cheap Certificates that are printed up by the office girl half an hour before they are supposed to be presented .

A University Degree may just be a piece of paper that doesn't really say how qualified or unqualified you are, but they are far more important in Thailand than they are in the US/UK/Aussieland.

Did you know that you cannot get a job at a 7/11 in Thailand without a High School Diploma ?