Looking For Some Advice And Insights

[agordon]

Hey all,

I am interested in moving away and teaching english in thailand. I have never done anything like this, so just wondering if ya'll had some advice for me.

About me:

I'm 22. In a year I will finish my uni degree. It is a combined Law/business degree in one of the best uni's in australia. I can only speak english, but I would consider my command of language excellent. I have done some private english tutoring before, but do not have any formal teaching qualifications. I would probably get one of those accreditation things before I leave.

So I am kind of doing this to run away from life. I would like to keep studying forever and not have to work but that's just not possible, so I've decided to just live overseas travelling by teaching english. i don't really want to be a lawyer or a business analyst - i just want something cruisy, not be judged by everyone and enjoy a really laid back lifestyle forever.

My plan is to spend about 1-2 years in a country and move on starting from Asia to Africa to South America and then eventually Europe.

I don't have much money, I might be able to save up $AU10,000 before I go but its not a big deal, I have been to chang mai and know its cheap to live. Basically, I'm going to be starting life again. I won't be telling anyone I'm going so I won't have any support.

But I do want to know my best options, because I'll need to save up money for emergencies and eventually a plane ticket for when I want to relocate to another country (probably vietnam next).

So given my qualifications, what could I expect to make a month? I know there are different types of ways to teach english - through language centres, highschools and universities - which is the best for my position? Please keep in mind I don't like

working too hard:), so what are they like in terms of hours and expectations of duties?

Also, I would probably prefer to live in chang mai since I absolutely loved that city when I was briefly there. Never been to BKK, but heard it can be a bit much at times.

Finally, how does the work permit work? Do you have to just get it once, or re apply everytime you start with a new employer? If I get a work permit, does that mean my visa is extended for the time I'm working or am I constantly on a tourist visa until I get PR?

Any help is greatly appreciated, I will be getting the drinks for everyone when I arrive!

[Petch01]

There are a lot of jobs available in Thailand. Bangkok, upcountry or in Chiangmai. Most employers require teachers to have a TEFL/TESOL certification beside a degree in any field. Teachers who have a B.Ed., have they andvantage of not having to do special tests or even have additional education in education as required by the Teacher's Council of Thailand. The latter are things that are going to happen in the near future.

New teachers can earn upcountry and in CM between 25,000 to 35,000 THB per mouth. Bangkok between 30,000 and 45,000 THB.

In a nutshell:

Working in Thailand means: 1) having a non-immigrant B. 2) an employee contract and permission of (currently) decentralised bodies of the Ministry of Education. Your visa will be extended all the times as long you have a job which means that your work permit will too.

Hope this helped,

Good luck,

Petch01

Edited December 14, 2007 by Petch01

[agordon]

There are a lot of jobs available in Thailand. Bangkok, upcountry or in Chiangmai. Most employers require teachers to have a TEFL/TESOL certification beside a degree in any field. Teachers who have a B.Ed., have they andvantage of not having to do special tests or even have additional education in education as required by the Teacher's Council of Thailand. The latter are things that are going to happen in the near future.

New teachers can earn upcountry and in CM between 25,000 to 35,000 THB per mouth. Bangkok between 30,000 and 45,000 THB.

In a nutshell:

Working in Thailand means: 1) having a non-immigrant B. 2) an employee contract and permission of (currently) decentralised bodies of the Ministry of Education. Your visa will be extended all the times as long you have a job which means that your work permit will too.

Hope this helped,

Good luck,

Petch01

Thanks for your reply,

Which is the best place to get a teaching job? - language centre or high school? Would universities accept me, and do they pay much more?

[Loaded]

with a uni degree and TEFL the world is your lobster in Thailand. Unis through to kindergartens will be interested.

Language schools offer flexibility but rarely security. Pay is usually hourly

Schools/unis offer security (usually) but big difficult-to-manage classrooms, early starts and stab wounds to your back. Pay is monthly

[JSixpack]

do not have any formal teaching qualifications. I would probably get one of those accreditation things before I leave.

So I am kind of doing this to run away from life.

I don't have much money

Forget it: you're about to fall in a hole. Stay there, live in the real world, and have a career path and future with financial security. Come to Asia for vacations and enjoy them thoroughly. Or get transferred here as an expat from your home country w/ expat benefits. Save and invest wisely and you can retire early.

The only exception is to teach formally in the public school system there for a few years and have a legit teaching license. Then, w/ a TEFL etc., you can teach in international schools worldwide at decent rates of pay and be treated well.

Seen too many younger farangs just making a mess of their lives here in Thailand, finally disillusioned with the lack of any real future and financial security, wasting what should be their good earning and career-building years back home but seemingly unable to return.

Some do insist on remaining in various degrees of denial, however. Maybe you're one. Best o' luck to ya.

[stevemiddie]

Hey all,

I am interested in moving away and teaching english in thailand. I have never done anything like this, so just wondering if ya'll had some advice for me.

About me:

I'm 22. In a year I will finish my uni degree. before, but do not have any formal teaching qualifications.

So I am kind of doing this to run away from life. I would like to keep studying forever and not have to work but that's just not possible, so I've decided to just live overseas travelling by teaching english. i don't really want to be a lawyer or a business analyst - i just want something cruisy, not be judged by everyone and enjoy a really laid back lifestyle forever.

To be honest...you sound like one of the drifter types that seems to think teaching is not serious and is only a means of surviving in a country.

Teaching......especially children ( of any nationality ) is not to be taken lightly. This is serious stuff as all the recent changes regarding police checks, verification of degrees, work permit regulations and immigration issues will show.

Why are you taking a Law/Business degree when you don,t want to work in that field?

IMHO you need to have a good hard look in the mirror and decide what you do want to do before you even consider trying to just " cruise " in SE Asia thinking that Education is some sort of joke here that will just fund your " cruising " lifestyle

Edited December 15, 2007 by stevemiddie

[agordon]

Well I won't say that it isn't an entirely inaccurate picture of what I want to do. Maybe its a mistake, but when I think about the alternative - getting a grad job, most things seem better.

I've been at uni for 4 years and its only recently that I've become somewhat dissillusioned, when I started I didn't really question the degree I was doing because I got a scholarship to do it. hel_l, I still have over a year before I finish studying so who knows what I might decide to do before then?

But honestly I can't imagine teaching being overly difficult. I realise this doesn't like a good attitude, but I have been a bookworm study nerd all my life, its more than just being able to speak well. I've also had a lot of work experience building up communication skills. Last year I did private english (not ESL) tutoring for an agency so I've worked with kids before.

I've seen some of my friends that have graduated and working grad positions in large firms. It is a shitty life. I don't want to work full time. I want to work like 25 hours a week. I'm actually a really lazy person.

I could get an easy public service job part time here and obviously I would be making more money than overseas, but I can't face what everyone will say. It sounds stupid to care so much about what other people think but its reality, its something I'll have to live with for a very long time and I don't like to be judged.

I really don't care about money and having a nice car. But people around me care. that's why I have to go somewhere where no one knows who I am and I can just be lazy, cruisy self.

[PeaceBlondie]

Well I won't say that it isn't an entirely inaccurate picture of what I want to do. Maybe its a mistake, but when I think about the alternative - getting a grad job, most things seem better.

....But honestly I can't imagine teaching being overly difficult.... I'm actually a really lazy person.....I don't like to be judged. I can just be lazy, cruisy self.

Then, don't teach! Don't come to Thailand to teach! It's the most difficult job you could even try to do! You would be judged, and found to be lazy! Stay home!

[agordon]

well I do think there are harder jobs out there. Seriously, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Teaching school kids that don't know english is hardly a difficult profession. I'm not exactly lecturing on quantum physics. I mean, to be qualified all you need is a 4 week course? I think that gives a fairly good indicator of what is expected. This is hardly 5 years of law school.

Reports I have read on the net tell me getting a teaching job is not hard, in bangkok they are practically begging for native speakers. I don't mean to sound arrogant but I really really doubt the actual teaching bit will be difficult, compared to the career I would most likely take if I continue living in Australia.

[stevemiddie]

well I do think there are harder jobs out there. Seriously, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Teaching school kids that don't know english is hardly a difficult profession. I'm not exactly lecturing on quantum physics. I mean, to be qualified all you need is a 4 week course? I think that gives a fairly good indicator of what is expected. This is hardly 5 years of law school.

Reports I have read on the net tell me getting a teaching job is not hard, in bangkok they are practically begging for native speakers. I don't mean to sound arrogant but I really really doubt the actual teaching bit will be difficult, compared to the career I would most likely take if I continue living in Australia.

This is a TROLL.

Lets leave this ****** to himself.

Edited December 15, 2007 by stevemiddie

[alaina]

well I do think there are harder jobs out there. Seriously, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Teaching school kids that don't know english is hardly a difficult profession. I'm not exactly lecturing on quantum physics. I mean, to be qualified all you need is a 4 week course? I think that gives a fairly good indicator of what is expected. This is hardly 5 years of law school.

Reports I have read on the net tell me getting a teaching job is not hard, in bangkok they are practically begging for native speakers. I don't mean to sound arrogant but I really really doubt the actual teaching bit will be difficult, compared to the career I would most likely take if I continue living in Australia.

Really, if arguing with a bunch of teachers about how easy their job is while asking for advice is a good idea to you... well, it doesn't take five years of study to figure out the response.

Yes, the jobs pay less than 30,000 baht a month that are teaching fifty kids in a room without desks and only a rickety fan to keep cool are a dime a dozen. Even in those jobs, most schools expect you to at least pretend to have a good attitude. Jobs of a higher caliber expect you to be able to answer interview questions like, "Why do you want to teach?" Hint: "Because I want to cruise through Asia", is not the right answer.

Many teachers here do care about their jobs, which is important because you are dealing with the education of children. We don't need more people that want to do the easiest thing possible here.

Edited December 16, 2007 by alaina

[Ijustwannateach]

I agree with Stevem. This thread is closed.

[agordon]

for real? Jeez you guys take things way too seriously. I am coming over there anyway. Thanks to the people that actually gave me useful advice.

[stevemiddie]

for real? Jeez you guys take things way too seriously. I am coming over there anyway. Thanks to the people that actually gave me useful advice.

We prefer to call it " professionalism "

Look it up in a dictionary. ( Its a big book with lots of words in. Not many pictures though. )

Edited December 17, 2007 by stevemiddie

[Ijustwannateach]

Thread re-closed; forum software must be acting up.