TCT course for foreign teachers

[wwest5829]

15 minutes ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

You just may be the exception to the rule...

Perhaps, I have not studied the data. If we want the best educators we need to look for both the dedication and be willing to provide the economic incentives. Always amazed me was the argument that in order to attract and retain the best in corporate leadership we must provide a high compensation package. Apply that to educators (not the education corporate administrators) and we are told it is just not affordable. I have no issue with professional responsibility but … right now, little or no balance of citizen responsibility in support of educators (nor, it seems others in public services).

[MarcelV]

Please guys, create your own topic if you wanna discuss these matters.

I don't care about your retirement, as I'm still working and will be working for the next 14-20 years at least.

[mrwebb8825]

20 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

Prepared by a commercial site with no affiliation to KSP.

 

No on knows what going on as KSP keep moving the goal posts. 

 

I constantly tried to get a licence from 2006 to 2019. Nothing but hassle. Just as one qualifies, the rules changed. In the end, I gave up.

My 3rd renewal still has a yr left - want to borrow it? (I've retired)

 

but then, I'm an actual qualified teacher

[youreavinalaff]

13 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

My 3rd renewal still has a yr left - want to borrow it? (I've retired)

 

but then, I'm an actual qualified teacher

I, too, was qualified. 

 

Until they changed the rules. Again and again. 

[mrwebb8825]

12 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

I, too, was qualified. 

 

Until they changed the rules. Again and again. 

Then you'll notice that my post is in the present simple form as yours is in the past simple form. (i.e. I'm still qualified)

[youreavinalaff]

2 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Then you'll notice that my post is in the present simple form as yours is in the past simple form. (i.e. I'm still qualified)

So am I still qualified. However, not in the eyes of KSP. 

 

KSP are the topic of this thread, hence my use of past tense.

 

I'm qualified to teach in UK. Not In Thailand. Amazing when you think about it.

 

 

 

 

[Skipalongcassidy]

20 hours ago, MarcelV said:

Please guys, create your own topic if you wanna discuss these matters.

I don't care about your retirement, as I'm still working and will be working for the next 14-20 years at least.

You are not required to read our replies... just ignore and all will be good... grow up.

[Skipalongcassidy]

On 8/26/2023 at 10:24 PM, MarcelV said:

Does anyone know when, how or what?

I have downloaded the ONE app on my phone, but besides the Thai webinars there ain't nothing there for aspiring, unlicensed teachers.

 

Apparently, I gotta pay some kind of fee or something before the end of August, but there ain't no info whatsoever by the TCT. No emails, nothing.

Does anybody know more, like what to sign up for and when it starts? Also, I can't find the payment link anymore.

There sure "AIN'T"

[Punika580]

I have a Canadian female friend who has been teaching here for over 10 years. She has obtained a B.Ed from the Philippines (which has permanently shut down) a while ago but has never gotten a license here. She is currently enrolled with The University of the People M.Ed. Will the TCT accept her qualifications? I'd appreciate your help. Thanks!

[Pouatchee]

On 8/27/2023 at 8:35 PM, SoilSpoil said:

I prefer an unlicensed teacher for my kids than someone as rude as the above, which is clearly an indication of a low EQ.

 

 

i would prefer a rag doll of poop over an overly emotional near neurotic bub like you. spoken from the heart

[NobleELT]

Don't know enough about the details of the teacher license as they stand now (mainly because I've been working at universities for a while), but I feel your pain, OP, regarding the confusion and moving goalposts. First and of course obvious advice is simply to remain calm as the FUBAR type process is a double-edge thing...yes it's chaotic and seems essentially 'unfair'...but also it's slow and plodding to the extent that it rarely claims any real victims. 

That's not to say one shouldn't pay any mind to the need for stated required qualifications, etc. But my point stands. 

All else I have to add on the topic is that I knew a fellow who completed a weekends/hybrid course at St. Theresa's College out at Klong 13 or so, just across the Nakon Nayok border and subsequently got his Thai teacher's license. I could put you in touch with him if requested earnestly. 

Anyway...any updates from the OP? Surely over time the OP can be expected to make some progress on this, and surely isn't waiting for a thread here to blossom into great actionable knowledge and insight. Not sure where exactly you are, but don't discount heading directly into whatever Krusapa office you can get to. And smile. Smile, goddammit! In my experience, a lot of foreigners seemingly never understand the incredible power of being super friendly in Thailand. Smile and thou shalt recieve...;D 

That goes for your school's HR people too. If you weren't doing it from the first day at the job...they're the ones you need to be waiing, joking with, getting friendly with, giving little gifts to, etc. They WILL help those rare foreigners who seem, in their eyes, like khon dee.

Good luck 

[MarcelV]

8 hours ago, NobleELT said:

All else I have to add on the topic is that I knew a fellow who completed a weekends/hybrid course at St. Theresa's College out at Klong 13 or so, just across the Nakon Nayok border and subsequently got his Thai teacher's license. I could put you in touch with him if requested earnestly. 

Anyway...any updates from the OP? 

 

I'm not gonna do that, or any other course not offered by the TCT anymore.

First, I live and work more than 1000 km away from Bangkok and I'm not willing to move there. And second, I already have a diploma in teaching from St. Robert's Institute in Bangkok, which was a course that was offered online back during the Covid years. The institute is, however, not accredited by TCT, so that diploma accounts for nothing.

 

This year marks my eighth year teaching and if I don't get a fifth waiver, it will be probably be game over as my school isn't gonna go through the hassle of shifting my formal position to a non-teaching role.

 

I am hoping for leniency by TCT. Not just for me, but for all people in my situation. If not, I fear I must leave my Thai wife, our cats and most of my worldy possessions behind to emigrate and find a teaching job in a country like Vietnam or Kazakhstan. 

[NobleELT]

11 hours ago, MarcelV said:

 

I'm not gonna do that, or any other course not offered by the TCT anymore.

First, I live and work more than 1000 km away from Bangkok and I'm not willing to move there. And second, I already have a diploma in teaching from St. Robert's Institute in Bangkok, which was a course that was offered online back during the Covid years. The institute is, however, not accredited by TCT, so that diploma accounts for nothing.

 

This year marks my eighth year teaching and if I don't get a fifth waiver, it will be probably be game over as my school isn't gonna go through the hassle of shifting my formal position to a non-teaching role.

 

I am hoping for leniency by TCT. Not just for me, but for all people in my situation. If not, I fear I must leave my Thai wife, our cats and most of my worldy possessions behind to emigrate and find a teaching job in a country like Vietnam or Kazakhstan. 

Oh man. Alright, so that's a pretty clear look at the situation. Sounds like yours is a great case for leniency/understanding from the TCT. It's sad that teaching requirements policy lands so awkwardly - it's as if there's no standards at all OR there's strict, limiting ones...and nothing or at least not enough in the reasonable middle. 

I'm wishing you the best. You've comported yourself well while the thread bubbles up with all the usual boring exhortations we've all heard 7000 times. 

Hopefully you update it as things continue on so it's actually a contribution to knowledge and awareness for others. 

[MarcelV]

My understanding is that Thailand only wants foreigners who have proper teaching qualifications in their home countries to come and teach here.

Well, to that I say: good luck! Prepare for Thai schools' English programs to disappear and for the students' English skills to take a nosedive.

The dinosaurs will have their xenophobic wishes fulfilled, and see the rich-poor gap widening, as only the rich parents will be able to afford education delivered by foreigners.

 

Btw, I have already been offered jobs elsewhere in other countries, but have turned them down until now. My time here is running out though, so I might be inclined to actually take one of these - much-better paying - jobs at some time.

These countries (a.o. Russia, Vietnam and several South-American ones) don't seem to be so stringent when it comes to education degrees and value experience more. And pay way better too. Just too bad my wife could not possibly leave her government job here, but, hey-ho, I have to think about my old age too.

[NobleELT]

23 hours ago, MarcelV said:

My understanding is that Thailand only wants foreigners who have proper teaching qualifications in their home countries to come and teach here.

Well, to that I say: good luck! Prepare for Thai schools' English programs to disappear and for the students' English skills to take a nosedive.

The dinosaurs will have their xenophobic wishes fulfilled, and see the rich-poor gap widening, as only the rich parents will be able to afford education delivered by foreigners.

 

Btw, I have already been offered jobs elsewhere in other countries, but have turned them down until now. My time here is running out though, so I might be inclined to actually take one of these - much-better paying - jobs at some time.

These countries (a.o. Russia, Vietnam and several South-American ones) don't seem to be so stringent when it comes to education degrees and value experience more. And pay way better too. Just too bad my wife could not possibly leave her government job here, but, hey-ho, I have to think about my old age too.

 

It sounds like you might be living in a small provincial town, but are there any langauge centers who'll employ you? Thai universities also provide a licensure-free career option, but requirements/preferences in hiring vary (many positions expect an MA at least, but there's plenty of variance and...well, need). If you interview well at a small provincial uni campus, you could get a job. 

It takes a bit of effort just to find uni job announcements online, but it's certainly not impossible. Just thinking out loud here. 

[MarcelV]

20 hours ago, NobleELT said:

 

It sounds like you might be living in a small provincial town, but are there any langauge centers who'll employ you? Thai universities also provide a licensure-free career option, but requirements/preferences in hiring vary (many positions expect an MA at least, but there's plenty of variance and...well, need). If you interview well at a small provincial uni campus, you could get a job. 

It takes a bit of effort just to find uni job announcements online, but it's certainly not impossible. Just thinking out loud here. 

I do not teach English, so my options are much more limited than those of a random ESL teacher.

[NobleELT]

On 2/12/2024 at 5:29 AM, MarcelV said:

I do not teach English, so my options are much more limited than those of a random ESL teacher.

Aha, I must have missed this info earlier in the thread or perhaps you didn't share that before. That does limit your options then doesn't it! 

So what do you now see as your probably 'deadline' for this? Getting any insights from those in your scene? Do you work with any licsensed foreign teachers where you are? Others in the same boat? 

[MarcelV]

13 hours ago, NobleELT said:

Aha, I must have missed this info earlier in the thread or perhaps you didn't share that before. That does limit your options then doesn't it! 

So what do you now see as your probably 'deadline' for this? Getting any insights from those in your scene? Do you work with any licsensed foreign teachers where you are? Others in the same boat? 

 

The deadline is this year, specifically October. If I don't get another waiver, it's the end of the line for me in this country. Another foreign teacher already had to leave because of it, and my second colleague kept the honor to himself, after the school had managed to hire him as 'specialist' or something for a few years.

Some new foreign teachers have joined us recently. They're still on their first waiver.

None of us are properly licensed (i.e. holding an actual Thai teacher license) to teach in Thailand.

[Callmeishmael]

After months of inactivity the TCT has announced that the 7 modules are back!  My school recently go this from the TCT.

 

I haven't read it in detail, as I already have a Teaching License, but I thought that some teachers here might be interested.

 

Rule of KSP.pdf

[SlyAnimal]

On 2/10/2024 at 8:01 AM, MarcelV said:

 

I'm not gonna do that, or any other course not offered by the TCT anymore.

First, I live and work more than 1000 km away from Bangkok and I'm not willing to move there. And second, I already have a diploma in teaching from St. Robert's Institute in Bangkok, which was a course that was offered online back during the Covid years. The institute is, however, not accredited by TCT, so that diploma accounts for nothing.

 

This year marks my eighth year teaching and if I don't get a fifth waiver, it will be probably be game over as my school isn't gonna go through the hassle of shifting my formal position to a non-teaching role.

 

I am hoping for leniency by TCT. Not just for me, but for all people in my situation. If not, I fear I must leave my Thai wife, our cats and most of my worldy possessions behind to emigrate and find a teaching job in a country like Vietnam or Kazakhstan. 

You should be able to get a full license using your Graduate Diploma from St Roberts? 
They are accredited via a university in the Philippines.
Some of the teachers at my school have also done their diplomas there and have their full licenses as a result (Or as far as I'm aware they have anyway).

Also if you can't get another license, try and save up your 400k THB, or borrow if you can't save it, then move onto a marriage extension.
You won't be "legally teaching", but your school won't care, it's extremely unlikely anyone will come looking for you (Especially if you've got a good reputation at the school & previously had a WP etc) and you'll be legally allowed to stay in the country.  That'll give you more time to sort something out so that you can continue down the legal path.

 

[MarcelV]

"Announced on 24 July 2023" 🙄

[MarcelV]

1 minute ago, SlyAnimal said:

You should be able to get a full license using your Graduate Diploma from St Roberts? 
They are accredited via a university in the Philippines.
Some of the teachers at my school have also done their diplomas there and have their full licenses as a result (Or as far as I'm aware they have anyway).

Also if you can't get another license, try and save up your 400k THB, or borrow if you can't save it, then move onto a marriage extension.
You won't be "legally teaching", but your school won't care, it's extremely unlikely anyone will come looking for you (Especially if you've got a good reputation at the school & previously had a WP etc) and you'll be legally allowed to stay in the country.  That'll give you more time to sort something out so that you can continue down the legal path.

 

 

St.Roberts is no longer recognized by TCT.

Furthermore, my school does not wanna go through the process of hiring me in a non-teaching role.

Also, a school in Yakutsk, Siberia, has again expressed interest in hiring me, and so has a school in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. So I have my picks of new schools already. Both schools would pay significantly more too.

[Gecko]

On 8/27/2023 at 7:37 AM, Swiss1960 said:

Please get a full teacher's education in your home country, Thai children deserve better than "aspiring unlicensed" - I.e. dumb with no idea about the what and how of a curriculum - foreigners, already plenty of them around. 

I wonder how many foreign teachers in Thailand have such a qualification. 10%? Or less? 🤔

[MarcelV]

1 hour ago, Gecko said:

I wonder how many foreign teachers in Thailand have such a qualification. 10%? Or less? 🤔

Because of the stupid changes of rules by the teacher council, soon the only qualified foreign teachers will be Filipinos and other cheap NNES. You reap what you sew.

[BusNo8]

On 8/27/2023 at 8:39 PM, FruitPudding said:

Most Thais can't afford that kind of teacher.

 

Get real.

 

They had me

 

[BusNo8]

7 hours ago, MarcelV said:

Because of the stupid changes of rules by the teacher council, soon the only qualified foreign teachers will be Filipinos and other cheap NNES. You reap what you sew.

 

The real issue imo with Filipino teachers is the Bee-sai-yan accents and inability to teach writing. Other than that they are far more attentive and responsible. I see their salaries starting to break into the 30k range. English often have similar issues with accent. I've known students complain they couldn't understand NES.

 

Almost no one these days can teach writing - composition, adv comp, organization, structure, style, etc. They are so vapid they can't even teach with assistance from LLMs.

 

Here's another worksheet class. When your done just put it in the pile that I won't look at but just give a completion grade. I'll just be hanging out in class messaging middle aged hookers on Line for ego boost.

 

It took me two years of wife's prodding to begin teaching due to all the nonsense I'd heard about foreign teachers. I'd say those rumors and stories were 100 percent correct. There's little or no teaching of anything, certainly in a manner that elicits learning.

 

Students must sit for hours while their good time is wasted.

 

As a former HoD / admin once said to me:

 

Pity the students #8, pity the students..

[Gecko]

11 hours ago, SlyAnimal said:

Also if you can't get another license, try and save up your 400k THB, or borrow if you can't save it, then move onto a marriage extension.
You won't be "legally teaching", but your school won't care, it's extremely unlikely anyone will come looking for you (Especially if you've got a good reputation at the school & previously had a WP etc) and you'll be legally allowed to stay in the country.  That'll give you more time to sort something out so that you can continue down the legal path.

 

Not true in my experience. Immigration came to all schools in town and checked  the teachers. 

Schools won't let you teach  anymore without a work permit. 

[MarcelV]

2 hours ago, Gecko said:

Not true in my experience. Immigration came to all schools in town and checked  the teachers. 

Schools won't let you teach  anymore without a work permit. 

Exactly. Immigration is actively enforcing the rules now and doing checks on WPs and passports. If you can't produce those on very short order, your ass is going to the detention center.

Working without a WP, especially at a formal school, is a huge gamble, and I would never do it.

Like I said l, I'd rather live in Siberia (with temperatures dipping below -60 °C), or in war-torn Myanmar, than stay in Thailand illegally. It just ain't worth it.