Teaching In Chiang Mai

[james24]

Hi

Just wondering about qualifications needed to teach in Chiang mai. Do they impose the law of having a work permit up there a bit more. Was thinking of going up there but wanted to get my facts straight first.

[mizzi39]

Hi

Just wondering about qualifications needed to teach in Chiang mai. Do they impose the law of having a work permit up there a bit more. Was thinking of going up there but wanted to get my facts straight first.

It depends on what school hires you. I teach at a Govt. school in Issan and all of the foreign teachers need to be legal, that means you must possess a non B visa and WP.

Edited July 26, 2008 by mizzi39

[PeaceBlondie]

I have been here for over five years (almost all of them in Chiang Mai) and I have never seen a real, live work permit. Language centers and agencies do not issue WP's, nor did the two govt. schools I worked at full time. Is that like Bangkok or Phuket or Chonburi? I doubt it. Wages here are lower than the aforementioned places, and living costs are less. I have not heard of any school or Labour or Immigration requiring any of the TCT bullshit such as Thai Culture Course or the Professional License, yet.

Unless you talk about the real honest international schools, which number about five, the Thai schools are about as poorly administered as Thai schools elsewhere. But the older Thai teachers in Lanna dresses are quite proper and polite.

[mizzi39]

I have been here for over five years (almost all of them in Chiang Mai) and I have never seen a real, live work permit. Language centers and agencies do not issue WP's, nor did the two govt. schools I worked at full time. Is that like Bangkok or Phuket or Chonburi? I doubt it. Wages here are lower than the aforementioned places, and living costs are less. I have not heard of any school or Labour or Immigration requiring any of the TCT bullshit such as Thai Culture Course or the Professional License, yet.

Unless you talk about the real honest international schools, which number about five, the Thai schools are about as poorly administered as Thai schools elsewhere. But the older Thai teachers in Lanna dresses are quite proper and polite.

Yes and like I stated peaceblonde it depends. Many schools here out in the sticks of Issan do not require a Non B, WP, or any other bullshit either, but there are exceptions. I think that it is a total misconception that teachers who are used to the way things are run in BKK. move to the sticks and assume that the same "rules" don't apply when in fact they may. Many EP's in Issan (and I would assume Chiang Mai) insist that their teachers are legal since most parents are paying 35,000 baht plus per term. Many of my students parents are doctors, lawyers, politicians, etc. on a local and provincial level which means that the school administrators are not going to risk "losing face" by employing illegal teachers, so all of us foreigners must carry real live WP's., so again it depends. May I add that most language centers and agencies do not issue WP's because they simply do not have the means to. Many of these "agencies" are private and poorly regulated if regulated at all, so the emphasis is to get the teacher into the school, and not worrying about legalities.

Edited July 26, 2008 by mizzi39

[PeaceBlondie]

mizzi, we agree. Some schools in Chiang Mai go by the book, or even better.

[james24]

cool ok cheers. i teach in phuket at mo through an agency but fancy a change. Ill have to post in the relevant section about what its like up there but im hoping the locals arent so heartless as they can be here. anyway cheers guys

[Loaded]

Chiang Mai has 5 unis (CMU, Rajmankla, Rajabaht, Maejo and Payap), around 6 Vocational Colleges, around 20 private education institutions/schools, numerous government schools and about 20 language schools. As PB said language schools are unlikely to provide wps. Some government schools will provide wps if you don't have a degree. I can give you names by pm if you want. With a degree plus TEFL the world is your lobster as Del Boy would say.

PS

The locals are great up here.

Edited July 26, 2008 by Loaded

[southerndog]

Teaching's a joke. find another way to support yourself.

[james24]

i dont really think teachings a joke. Ive been travelling for two years because of teaching English. Every country Ive taught in it has helped me more learn about the actual place than I probably would have otherwise. Ok the money isnt great but I eat well enough and have a nice little gaff and the experiences I have had so far being a teacher has made me not think about money too much. Im 24 and this is perhaps the best job I can have in regards to freedom it gives me to be able to travel.

[southerndog]

i dont really think teachings a joke. Ive been travelling for two years because of teaching English. Every country Ive taught in it has helped me more learn about the actual place than I probably would have otherwise. Ok the money isnt great but I eat well enough and have a nice little gaff and the experiences I have had so far being a teacher has made me not think about money too much. Im 24 and this is perhaps the best job I can have in regards to freedom it gives me to be able to travel.

Sorry, man. I should have said teaching in Thailand is a joke.

[Sathip2008]

Sorry, man. I should have said teaching in Thailand is a joke.

Totally agree