How Can I Get A Job In Thailand?

[Geets]

Hello , I am an Indian and have 15 years of experience in the field of education . Have taught at all levels of school education and BEd college level too! I have done BEd, M Ed, MA ( Economics) and MA English . What is the process of getting a job in Thailand? I had visisted Thailand as a tourist in Feb and found a lot of similarities in culture between Thailand and India.

Please help Thanks.

Edited May 22, 2007 by Geets

[tayto]

Hello , I am an Indian and have 15 years of experience in the field of education . Have taught at all levels of school education and BEd college level too! I have done BEd, M Ed, MA ( Economics) and MA English . What is the process of getting a job in Thailand? I had visisted Thailand as a tourist in Feb and found a lot of similarities in culture between Thailand and India.

Please help Thanks.

I think that is your problem and one that is shared by the many other Asian (ie Phillipines) teachers.

Unfortunitly, especially for the more qualified Asian teachers, most of the schools are looking for native speakers.........some insisting that you are caucasian, regardless of the qualification reason being that the parents are paying a little bit more to be taught by a farang.

Hope you are successful in your search for a job.

Check out www.ajarn.com a good job site for teachers in Thailand

[aussiestyle1983]

Why do you want to be a teacher in Thailand?

Most places are very racist here, and unless you're white and a native speaker or a not too dark native speaker, it will be hard to find good paying decent work here, and if you do, you will be subjct to more rules. Of course with your qualifications something will eventually come up, but you will have to look harder and make an effort to find work. If you're white and a degreed native English speaker, work will find you. I never even palnned to be a teacher here, but one day I was walking down the street and got approached/ stalked by someone who worked for some place.............and now, I have been teaching for over a year. Good luck and just be prepaired to fight a long battle before you get a good job. If it helps, I knew a non native English speaking Australian passport holder originally from Sri Lanka, very dark skin, a bad accent and a lying son of a bitch, but he managed to lie his way into a job paying 55K per month with no experience as a grade 12 (M6) Chemistry teacher at a private school. There will always be a way.

[Geets]

Well ! I do not think what you said is right . In todays world we are all citizens of the world first. If we start narrowing down our vision then definately one cannot hope for widening horizons and learning and sharing and contributing for the cause of quality education. I am possitive that very soon I will make it to Thailand with the help of well wishers and teaching fraternity at large.

[jdinasia]

Well ! I do not think what you said is right . In todays world we are all citizens of the world first. If we start narrowing down our vision then definately one cannot hope for widening horizons and learning and sharing and contributing for the cause of quality education. I am possitive that very soon I will make it to Thailand with the help of well wishers and teaching fraternity at large.

Visit for a longer time ..... go on a few interviews .... don't dream of living here until you experience it a bit .....

[PeaceBlondie]

geets, welcome to ThaiVisa and to the Teaching forum. Surely, a man of your advanced education can distinguish between the personal opinion of several (Caucasian) foreigners who have taught in Thailand regarding the 'racist' or ethnic prejudice found in hiring practices in Thailand, and the fact that those are the facts, no matter what our personal opinions are. Your second post doesn't need to be pointed at us (but thanks for the personal opinion). The consumers who drive the TEFL market in Thailand are middle and upper class Thais who pay for native speakers to teach English to their children.

Perhaps the Ministry of Education, or the Ministry of Culture, would hire you for 2,000 baht per hour as an expert consultant, to teach the Thais what's wrong with their educational milieu. Meanwhile, them's the facts, unfortunately.

Good luck. Indian citizens generally receive lower wages than aliens whose heritage is basically European, to teach English to Thais, almost regardless of your qualifications!

[Ijustwannateach]

I'm afraid I must agree with all of my fellow posters. You will experience a lot of prejudice and inequality based on your nationality and skin colour, regardless of your qualifications. It is not impossible to achieve some financial success, but it will take more time, effort, competence, and I daresay some ruthlessness as well. I'd guess you'll earn from 20-25,000B in your first job experiences in Bangkok here, if you're lucky; but no one finds a good first job. You'll need to learn the ropes and bounce around for awhile before you find a fairer position.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

"Steven"

[Geets]

I'm afraid I must agree with all of my fellow posters. You will experience a lot of prejudice and inequality based on your nationality and skin colour, regardless of your qualifications. It is not impossible to achieve some financial success, but it will take more time, effort, competence, and I daresay some ruthlessness as well. I'd guess you'll earn from 20-25,000B in your first job experiences in Bangkok here, if you're lucky; but no one finds a good first job. You'll need to learn the ropes and bounce around for awhile before you find a fairer position.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

"Steven"

Thanks Steven for your balanced opinion . For one thing if I am to get the packagae quoted then I am better off here . Unless the profile matches with my present one which is a senior position ie Curriculum Coordinator at a school which follows International Primamary Curriculum . Still I feel its the mindset , the so called colour distiction. India is land of diversity where respect diversity in all forms be it social , cultural, geographical, political and so on. We in India have people belonging to almost ALL the races in Asia and Europe too ! We do not have any bias here. Regarding the position and place I think I continue to solicit help and earnest guidance , from well wishers like you . Whether I stay or not will I think will be finally be decieded by the quality of work I put in. Thanks a ton for the post.

[Geets]

geets, welcome to ThaiVisa and to the Teaching forum. Surely, a man of your advanced education can distinguish between the personal opinion of several (Caucasian) foreigners who have taught in Thailand regarding the 'racist' or ethnic prejudice found in hiring practices in Thailand, and the fact that those are the facts, no matter what our personal opinions are. Your second post doesn't need to be pointed at us (but thanks for the personal opinion). The consumers who drive the TEFL market in Thailand are middle and upper class Thais who pay for native speakers to teach English to their children.

Perhaps the Ministry of Education, or the Ministry of Culture, would hire you for 2,000 baht per hour as an expert consultant, to teach the Thais what's wrong with their educational milieu. Meanwhile, them's the facts, unfortunately.

Good luck. Indian citizens generally receive lower wages than aliens whose heritage is basically European, to teach English to Thais, almost regardless of your qualifications!

Thanks a lot for the free and frank suggestion. I would like to clarify that I kept my initial note shortand crisp. At no point am I looking at a position in TEAVHING ENGLISH only. I am looking at a senior position one that matches this point with my carreer graph.The qulaifications were quoted basically tos uggest that do hold paper qulaifications if I may say so. Apart from that and the more valuable side is my 360 degree exposure with the many facets of education and thus the yearning to extend my competencies in the international scene and also learn to bring back home knowledge and skill and experience thus gained. Keep intouch. Cheers Geets

[aussiestyle1983]

Well ! I do not think what you said is right . In todays world we are all citizens of the world first. If we start narrowing down our vision then definately one cannot hope for widening horizons and learning and sharing and contributing for the cause of quality education. I am possitive that very soon I will make it to Thailand with the help of well wishers and teaching fraternity at large.

<deleted>! Or however you spell that word!

Why do you ask our advice and opinion if you don't think it's right? If you knew what was right or what goes on here you wouldn't need to ask the question! Just come here for yourself and see, we are just trying to warn you what to expect, but if you are to blind or naieve to want to accept it, up to you. I will also inform you, if you are with a bar girl and she says she needs money to feed the sick buffalo, it is a lie! Wheather or not you believe it.

Anyway, what do I know, I have only been teaching here 18 months, Im sure someone who has never taught here before has a lot more experience to comment on you original post, after all what do I know?

[aussiestyle1983]

In my first post, I gave a description of a teacher I knew for the OP's info. I actually got a PM from another member today who knew a similar person and when they named the person to check if it was the same person, guess what it was! I feel sorry for the school this guy is teaching at now, I only knew him for 2 weeks, but from story one I knew everything was a lie, nevertheless, he was a non native speaker, dark skined and he was earning a decent salary for who he claimed to be. I am just making two points in this thread, yes, a lot of Thais are racist and they want white people who are native speakers, because they are looked at as money makers for the school (I am a walking billboard at me school, I spend more time in front of the school than in the classroom!). This is not always the case and anyone with two eyes will eventually find a job, but this is how is works most of the time. I work with some excellent Filippinos, some ofthe best teachers and best people I have known, but it is sad to see how they get treated and have to work harder because of their background. So OP, you will need to face these race issues here, but know that you will get a job. The other point I have tried to make is that it is a small world. Just by posting a brief description of a teacher to give you an example of what is available, I have allready had the guy named! Maybe this guy gets around or is well know for his record and lies, nevertheless, I was quite surprised that someone else figured out who this guy was that I was talking about. So it is a small world, and this applies to schools here as well. They might gossip with each other if you make problems, so juts be carefull what you say and to whom. Good luck.

[paully]

Thanks a lot for the free and frank suggestion. I would like to clarify that I kept my initial note shortand crisp. At no point am I looking at a position in TEAVHING ENGLISH only. I am looking at a senior position one that matches this point with my carreer graph.The qulaifications were quoted basically tos uggest that do hold paper qulaifications if I may say so. Apart from that and the more valuable side is my 360 degree exposure with the many facets of education

The same discrimination re employment - probably more in fact - will apply to a 'senior position' I'm afraid, Geets. There's also the possible issue of non-teaching posts generally being restricted to Thai citizens in terms of obtaining the required work permit in order to work. Your '360 degree exposure' won't cut much ice if your're not Thai or at least light-skinned. Not being rude, just frank.

[Geets]

Thanks for the feedback. None the less I am very keen to work in Thailand . I am really wondering about this colour distinction !! Its not so much about the my teaching in Thailand but about sharing of experience and resources and for that I earnestly pray to God that even if I get a short term assignment of two or three months I will be more than happy ! Infact that way my stay would be time bound and I would have chalked down my prioroty areas and managed time wisely. Any help !!

Thanks all.

[Tarragona]

For the kind of position you seem to be interested in, you could try looking at (some of) the international schools. You'll probably get a fairer scrutiny of your credentials.

Edited May 24, 2007 by Tarragona

[Geets]

Thanks a lot Tarragona for the encouragement . I mean it . You have indeed verbalised what I am keen "an International School "since that will suite me very well. All the more because the school I am associated with in India is one which follows the International Primary Curriculum. I have no connections in Thailand . Any suggestions as to how I can move froward on this. Pls keep in touch.

Cheers!!

Edited May 24, 2007 by Geets

[paully]

Another possibility, Geets, if you mean by 'senior position' a teaching position rather than a management position, is trying to get on the International Programmes (subjects taught in English but not necessarily English teaching) of Thai universities, particularly if you can teach business-type subjects. Yes, I know it's not primary level - but one has to be flexible. Most of these are in Thai universities in and around Bangkok. Have a look at websites for: Mahidol (MUIC - Salaya campus), Bangkok University, Ramkhamhaeng Univ (IIS), Siam Univ, NIDA, ABAC (Assumption University) for starters. However, what people have told you earlier is still valid - discrimination will probably still apply in hiring for many of these, I'm afraid.

Edited May 24, 2007 by paully

[dada]

Geets with your qualifications I've got two words for ya----Webster Thailand

You'll be in like Flynn

They can't attract many Thais so race and color will be a non-issue.

Their busn dept head and most of the people working for him are either Indian or Philippino

The HR manager is a Philippino, never mind that this job for all intensive purposes should go to a Thai ?

You can join the coalition and keep those Farangs out even if they are more qualified than you!

[No beleeeeve!]

Well ! I do not think what you said is right . In todays world we are all citizens of the world first. If we start narrowing down our vision then definately one cannot hope for widening horizons and learning and sharing and contributing for the cause of quality education. I am possitive that very soon I will make it to Thailand with the help of well wishers and teaching fraternity at large.

Have you not been to Thailand? Your statements, if not a a troll, show you have no clue about this part of the world. Please read A LOT on the Internet about Thailand and modify your attitude so you can survive when you get there. Otherwise, trying to push forth this kumbaiyah (sp) attitude will get you broke and jobless quickly.

"We are all citizens of the world first?" You must be joking!

What most parents want to see when they pick up their precious little kittiporn after school is a Caucasian person in a clean dress shirt, tie, and shiny shoes and as pretty as an A & F model. Then they can go brag about that to the other parents who send their childen to "lesser" schools. This is a generalization with exceptions of course. But don't kid oneself that this exists. Heck, the Thai people I do business with joke about it all the time. They have no problem being honest about it. Unfortunately others delude themselves.

When I hired on in Thailand (at one of the better private government schools mind you), they were more interested in my modeling and acting career in Asia than my university degrees.

Back on topic....Geet, for you're own sake, learn about Thailand. It has wonderful things about it, I love it, but the culture is different. Not a better or worse thing, just different. Racism exists big time.

You alone will not change it.

Different rules with different countries.

[WapiJohn]

When I hired on in Thailand (at one of the better private government schools mind you), they were more interested in my modeling and acting career in Asia than my university degrees.

Back on topic....Geet, for you're own sake, learn about Thailand. It has wonderful things about it, I love it, but the culture is different. Not a better or worse thing, just different. Racism exists big time.

You alone will not change it.

The school I work at has me stand at the front gate once a week just to show they have a white Farang working there. Often when the school has visitors or parents around I am expected to show my presence here.

I work in North East Thailand where most of the students come from farming backgrounds and are therefore dark skinned Thais, so racism is not a problem here, but most Thais want to be white

( god knows why !). One of the biggest money earners here are Whitening creams, which are supposed to make your skin white ( some people will believe anything! )

If you want to see examples of racial " preferences " look at any Thai advertising ( magazines, products etc. ) or TV programs and adverts. You will never see a dark skinned Thai used to advertise any product, Which is crazy because the dark skinned Thai is in the majority!

( my father in law is as black as the ace of spades )

[WapiJohn]

Yesterday I had to sit in on an interview for a new English teacher who was Filipino.

Young but very well qualified ( more than me ! )

I am paid 35 K a month he was offered 25 K a month ( Same job description ) which he quickly accepted.

I am a White Englishman, he is a dark brown well spoken Filipino, very polite, and someone I am looking forward to working with.

The fact that his salary was offered to him in front of me, amazed me.

Discrimination ?? what do you think?

Edited May 29, 2007 by WapiJohn

[Scott]

Geets, at our school the native speakers are the only ones who teach English Language. We employ qualified non-native speakers to teach a whole host of other subjects including: Math, Social Studies, Science, Physical Education etc.

So, you might want to think about being a subject teacher if you really want to come here.

Best of luck to you.

[Loaded]

Geets

Teaching English will be difficult because you're not from one of the 'recognised' native-speaking countries but with your qualifications you shouldn't even consider life as a TEFLer. Contact International Schools and Universities to teach subjects.

It's a terrible world we live in that your skin colour is thrown at you as something negative.

Thailand is a wonderful place to live and work - that's why so many of us whiteys are here.

Best of luck and look at the positives.

[rott]

Well ! I do not think what you said is right . In todays world we are all citizens of the world first. If we start narrowing down our vision then definately one cannot hope for widening horizons and learning and sharing and contributing for the cause of quality education. I am possitive that very soon I will make it to Thailand with the help of well wishers and teaching fraternity at large.

Sorry chum, in todays world we are definitely NOT all citizens of the world first, definitely not in Thailand and definitely not in India.

A piece of constructive criticism:- perhaps a closer look at your second post will show why a native speaker is preferred.

[varun]

I think I'd be best qualifed to comment in this thread, being an Indian myself.

Quite frankly, I'd refrain from an English Teaching job in Thailand, period.

Furthermore, I vouch 100% for what the other's are saying.

Teaching English in Thailand revolves largely around the color of your skin.

Work permits are also a problem.

Being an Indian, you don't have the option of monthly visa runs.

Think about that.

However, you could try your luck at some of the international schools.

They're more multi-cultral due to the large mix of students, a lot of whom are Indian.

Since you have the qualifications, they'll definitely consider you.

Some schools I'd suggest :

Ruamrudee International School

NIST (New International School of Thailand

TSIS (Thai Sikh International School)

BPS (Bangkok Patana School)

It'd be best you contacted the schools directly regarding vacancies.

Their websites would probably post them as well.

Hope this helps.

[expatwannabe]

To all the naysayers:

If someone told you not to apply for a job because the owners were all racist and never hired caucasians, what would you say?" Answer: "You'd tell me to piss off, 'cuz you were going to try anyway!"

Geets:

Good luck on your job search. Your credentials are impressive and someone should recognize that.

Edited June 21, 2007 by expatwannabe