Finding teaching work in Bangkok -how to do it?

[Deserted]

Hi all, I have just arrived in Bangkok and would like to work here. I've applied to a few things on-line but haven't had much response. I was wondering if anyone had any advice from previous experience on how to go about it? I am experienced and qualified but aged 50 I notice I am too old for some jobs. Does cold calling help much in Bangkok? What about social networks? Would Linkedin help much? Has anyone found means of finding work that the Thais seem particularly responsive too? Any thoughts would be appreciated. It may seem like a silly question to ask but the last time I was in Bangkok I also found it to be tougher than I expected. Where's best to look? Shopping Malls?

[Onerak]

3 hours ago, Deserted said:

Shopping Malls?

Hmm Shopping malls? What jobs in Shopping malls you expect to find?

[Iamfalang]

3 hours ago, Deserted said:

I've applied to a few things

ah, OK.................slightly confused, but no worries.

 

AJARN jobs            Put that in the 'ol Googler and should be easy peasy.....low pay, bad jobs, but the system is so broken that anyone who can string together a few A,B,C's should be OK until they fix or patch the problem.

 

Normally, I'd be like, "no way!" but I've seen much, much, much worse.    Years ago I met many, many English teachers who couldn't speak English.   I can't imagine things have changed after COVID.

 

 

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

BKK is where everyone arrives, everyone tries, and everyone wants to be near the action. You'll have the most difficult time there.

 

If you have high level degrees, certs, references, you could try a private or international school for a higher salary, but also be prepared to deal with insufferable, arrogant attitudes, which I wouldn't do again.

 

People are probably tired of me saying this here, but your best luck is out in the Issan provinces to the Northeast. Korat, Khon Kaen, Sisaket, Ubon. Show up at some schools, ask to see the head of the English or Foreign Language Dept. You'll be surprised how easy it might be. Many teachers are likely to have gone home due to Covid and haven't been back. These schools have had a hard time filling these positions as everyone wants to be in BKK. My boss just said the other day she won't know what to do once I go. Heh.

 

You could go through an agency who'll arrange everything for you, visa and work permit, but for this they do take a cut of your salary. If you go through the school directly, this is yours. You should be able to negotiate a salary of around 40k baht. Sell yourself, talk up your experiences, about how you've connected with students and their interests, and how you want to get them involved in activities that immediately have them making use of the language, this is what they most want to see.

 

Most importantly, ignore all the negativity you're likely to hear from other foreigners. Haha. Good luck.

[simon43]

Let me just say that I had about 6 teaching job offers from international schools in Myanmar (120,000 THB, every school that I applied to made me a job offer), one job offer from a school in Cambodia (100,000 THB, I only applied to one school), and absolutely zero interest from every school in Thailand that advertised for teachers - not one of the 50 or so schools that I applied to replied to my email... I'm 63 years old.  These were not international schools, they were low-paying government and private schools, circa 30k - 40k per month.

 

Since it is proving difficult to return to Myanmar (business visa problems - they won't let me back in!), I've decided to go and relax somewhere in Thailand and forget about teaching in this country - ageism is alive and kicking here ????

Edited October 27, 2022 by simon43

[JaiMaai]

50 minutes ago, Onerak said:

Hmm Shopping malls? What jobs in Shopping malls you expect to find?

Language and tutorial schools in the larger ones.

[proton]

1 hour ago, Onerak said:

Hmm Shopping malls? What jobs in Shopping malls you expect to find?

Many shopping malls have English lesson tuition places, some well known. 

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, Onerak said:

Hmm Shopping malls? What jobs in Shopping malls you expect to find?

They have English Learning centers in many Malls.  MBK has quite a few on one of the top floors.

[ThailandRyan]

27 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Let me just say that I had about 6 teaching job offers from international schools in Myanmar (120,000 THB, every school that I applied to made me a job offer), one job offer from a school in Cambodia (100,000 THB, I only applied to one school), and absolutely zero interest from every school in Thailand that advertised for teachers - not one of the 50 or so schools that I applied to replied to my email... I'm 63 years old.  These were not international schools, they were low-paying government and private schools, circa 30k - 40k per month.

 

Since it is proving difficult to return to Myanmar (business visa problems - they won't let me back in!), I've decided to go and relax somewhere in Thailand and forget about teaching in this country - ageism is alive and kicking here ????

You are correct on that one Ageism is alive and well.  Additionally, they do not seem to want a person over 50 who has been disability retired either.  Many rejections for Supervisory/Management positions as I was either to old, or at a second glance they found I was medically retired due to many work related disabilities.

[brewsterbudgen]

8 hours ago, Onerak said:

Hmm Shopping malls? What jobs in Shopping malls you expect to find?

Actually, a lot of Bangkok shopping malls have language schools.  The OP could try Ekkamai Gateway as there are about 5 schools on the 3rd floor, or the Trendy in Sukhumvit soi 13, Centralworld (offices). Do some Googling...

 

Edit:  Just seen your reply too @JaiMaai @proton @ThailandRyan- you got there first!

Edited October 27, 2022 by brewsterbudgen

[markclover]

You have to be Filipino or Russian.  No native speakers allowed.

[CharlieH]

Reported inappropriate remark removed.

[dijam]

@Deserted

Hello, I saw your original post re. finding teaching work.  and was wondering if you had any success

 

I am planning to move to Thailand later this year so trying to do some preparatory research.

Thanks,

 

Jamie