English The Only Option?

[bangbuathongben]

Hi I am a young Englishman living just outside Bangkok. As everyone I am very eager to find work in Thailand, near to where I live in Bang Bua Thong. What I mainly wanted to know is as I am a fully qualified furniture maker, is there any demand for a teacher of this skill. I know this sort of labour in Thailand is very cheap, so I am not getting my hopes up but was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on this for me. Otherwise looks like I will have to sell up everything and go back to the UK once my beer money runs out....

[NeckThai]

Hi I am a young Englishman living just outside Bangkok. As everyone I am very eager to find work in Thailand, near to where I live in Bang Bua Thong. What I mainly wanted to know is as I am a fully qualified furniture maker, is there any demand for a teacher of this skill. I know this sort of labour in Thailand is very cheap, so I am not getting my hopes up but was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on this for me. Otherwise looks like I will have to sell up everything and go back to the UK once my beer money runs out....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey Ben! While I can't offer you advice, I CAN tell you that I will be living in Bangbuathong too!

[bangbuathongben]

cool are you working here or just bumming around?

[chownah]

I believe that furniture making is classified as wood carving and as such is one of the types of work not allowed to foreigners. Teaching it might be different, I don't know. As far as being able to find a job teaching furniture making....I'm thinking that there are already lots of Thai people who know how to make furniture and why is it that they should hire a foreigner who they will have a difficult time communicating with as a teacher? In other words what is it about you or your furniture making ability that is unique enough or special enough so that they should want to hire you? Won any awards? Graduated from any famous furniture making or art schools? Worked with any world famous woodworkers? (especially any Asian ones?) etc. etc.

[kayo]

Hi Ben,

I have been out of Thailand for over a year now,

but when I left a popular new system of education was being introduced into abotu 200 schools around the country.

Called the E.P (English Program), various schools, and consenting classes and parents of those student bodies, were being "totally immersed" in ENglish, ie: Getting all of their lessons in English, ALL, except Thai Culture (history) and Thai Language. I did English, Maths, and a little Computer Science for M1-3.

A friend of mine was doing English, Science, and P.E. (Physical Education)

Look into this, the English Program (E.P.)

Kanchananukroh School in Kanchanburi Center is one of the original Schools of the program.

Do not confuse the E.P with it´s younger, more common sister the M.E.P. which is the basic streamlined version (mini english program), and does not do as many subjects in English: "Partial Submersion".

Hope this helps somewhat.

Ciao,

kayo

Edited June 10, 2005 by kayo

[kenkannif]

Yeah not much chance of getting a job teaching furniture making here. It seems (at least to me) a lot of the 'skilled' jobs like that (and bricklaying, building etc.) aren't thought of as skilled jobs and thus people aren't paid much to do them.

Edited June 12, 2005 by kenkannif

[EVO]

Indeed, i agree with the above. Your best bet would be teaching English, but do it properly and get qualified first. Spend some of the beer money you have left on getting a CELTA.

[kenkannif]

^ Depends though if he wants to teach kids that won't help him.

[Emxily]

Hi Ben,

I have been out of Thailand for over a year now,

but when I left a popular new system of education was being introduced into abotu 200 schools around the country.

Called the E.P (English Program), various schools, and consenting classes and parents of those student bodies, were being "totally immersed" in ENglish, ie: Getting all of their lessons in English, ALL, except Thai Culture (history) and Thai Language. I did English, Maths, and a little Computer Science for M1-3.

A friend of mine was doing English, Science, and P.E. (Physical Education)

Look into this, the English Program (E.P.)

Kanchananukroh School in Kanchanburi Center is one of the original Schools of the program.

Do not confuse the E.P with it´s younger, more common sister the M.E.P. which is the basic streamlined version (mini english program), and does not do as many subjects in English: "Partial Submersion".

Hope this helps somewhat.

Ciao,

kayo

Hi, I don't suppose you have any contact info for that school in Kanchanaburi? I have searched the net but can't find anything.

I hope to move to Kanchanaburi but it's proving really hard to find work - any other suggestions? Do you know of any international schools or pre schools there?

I am up to try anything, but can't find any advertised.

[Ijustwannateach]

It would probably be better, Emilyx, if you sent a PM (private message) to Kayo- this thread is very old and he probably won't be watching it.

[The Dan Sai Kid]

Yeah not much chance of getting a job teaching furniture making here. It seems (at least to me) a lot of the 'skilled' jobs like that (and bricklaying, building etc.) aren't thought of as skilled jobs and thus people aren't paid much to do them.

That's certainly true for the standard of most Thai builders...

[thomo]

Maybe you could put your skills to use and make/carve furniture where you live now and then export it for sale in your country of origin. It would take time and money though.

Make a shipping container's worth of carved garden furniture or something, organise a contact/garden centre in your c.o.o. and sell it that way.

As said, It would take time and money though.

Edited January 20, 2007 by thomo