Hi Chaps!

This is my first ever post on this forum, and any friendly advice would be helpful.

I arrive in Thailand in June this year to start my TEFL.

I have a National Diploma with excellent grades (which is equivalent to 2 A Levels).

The TEFL school I am going to study at have advised that I should get a "non immigrant B visa".

I did stress I would be willing to work in rural areas outside of BKK (I built a home in Isaan fo my wife so I am no stranger to rural areas).

Are my chances of reasonable employment and a work permit good?

Has anyone done this or know a friend who has?

Hi Neilfarang, I don't think that it will be easy for you to find legal work without a degree. I say not easy, but probably not impossible. Some people do claim to still manage to pick up work. The requirements do seem to be getting a lot tougher, and I recently spent a bit of times searching for work up-country. I have a degree, experience, and had already commenced a PGCE, but it still involved a bit of looking. There didn't seem to be any places that were even accepting applications from non-degree holders. This may change though as it gets nearer to the new term in May and schools become more desperate.

If you are coming anyway then just be prepared to knock on a lot of doors. It might take a while. I would also recommend that you consider trying to get a degree. Preferably one in Education, as this seems to be what they are looking for. I am not sure what type of diploma you have but you may be able to use it towards a degree via the Credit Accumulation System(CAS) used by distance learning providers such as the Open University.

Good luck to you anyway.

Perhaps somebody else will be able to give you more positive feedback.

Hi Neilfarang, I don't think that it will be easy for you to find legal work without a degree. I say not easy, but probably not impossible. Some people do claim to still manage to pick up work. The requirements do seem to be getting a lot tougher, and I recently spent a bit of times searching for work up-country. I have a degree, experience, and had already commenced a PGCE, but it still involved a bit of looking. There didn't seem to be any places that were even accepting applications from non-degree holders. This may change though as it gets nearer to the new term in May and schools become more desperate.

If you are coming anyway then just be prepared to knock on a lot of doors. It might take a while. I would also recommend that you consider trying to get a degree. Preferably one in Education, as this seems to be what they are looking for. I am not sure what type of diploma you have but you may be able to use it towards a degree via the Credit Accumulation System(CAS) used by distance learning providers such as the Open University.

Good luck to you anyway.

Perhaps somebody else will be able to give you more positive feedback.

Thanks Garro.

I may look into doing an OU degree or even doing one out in Thailand (I have heard stories of westerners doing this). Not sure of the fee's (can't remember the name of the Uni but I know it isn't the main one).

This is an option, hopefully I'll still be allowed to teach part-time if this is what happens.

Yes there are many westerners doing distance learning degrees in Thailand. The OU works out more expensive when you are not resident in the UK, but there are other options. None of them are cheap. You could also attend a 'bricks and mortar' course in Thailand, but if you are living somewhere very rural this might be difficult.

Yes there are many westerners doing distance learning degrees in Thailand. The OU works out more expensive when you are not resident in the UK, but there are other options. None of them are cheap. You could also attend a 'bricks and mortar' course in Thailand, but if you are living somewhere very rural this might be difficult.

Apologies for my ignorance here, but what is a "bricks and mortar course". I've heard fees for the Uni in BKK for a degree in Education are fairly low. One guy I know said it's less than £1,000 pa. Sound cheap, but I suppose it must be for the Thai nationals to afford it.

Thanks too for the ajarn advice.

A 'bricks an mortar' course is where you actually attend a university.

Doh! Thanks Garro.

I'm off to bed now, so have a good day and thanks for the advice.

Will move this to the teaching forum where those with such experience lurk.