Low Grade At University - Still Counts?

[supptoyou]

Hey guys, I'm about to get my results from university in a week or so, I'm looking at a really low grade (3rd class honours) - my course is a Ba (Hons) in modern languages from a british university - does this satisfy their definition of holding a degree?

Assuming this counts, would it be possible to turn up in bangkok and simply apply for a load of jobs once i arrive? I've read online about being able to get a job in 10 days, and 4 of those days seemed pretty empty - I have friends there at the moment who could get my phone ready and everything set up for when I arrive...

Thanks for any help!

[Scott]

If you have a degree, you are definitely qualified, but it might not be easy. The school term has already started, so jobs probably aren't as plentiful as a few months ago.

Be sure and look at the questions about qualification and the other pinned topics. Get a police clearance and bring your degree and transcript along.

[supptoyou]

If you have a degree, you are definitely qualified, but it might not be easy. The school term has already started, so jobs probably aren't as plentiful as a few months ago.

Be sure and look at the questions about qualification and the other pinned topics. Get a police clearance and bring your degree and transcript along.

That's fine, I'm really looking to start in about 6 months - when would you say is ideal for the start of the next term?

I had a look through the questions about qualifications but I just kept seeing Ba and I don't really classify mine as a degree because of the low grade, nice to know the thai schools will though! :-)

If I arrive at the right time (feb/march perhaps?), have the police clearance, 3rd in a Ba, is it as easy to get a job as people suggest? Sorry, I know this has been asked a thousand times over but I'm worried about leaving my job, moving abroad and getting nothing!

Thanks again

[puyaidon]

They will probably look at your GPA. For some reason, they think a high GPA means you will be a better teacher.

I studied here in a university and the teachers with the high GPA's have this attitude that they know it all. Some even feel that a high undergraduate degree with a high GPA entitles them to a high GPA on their master's degree. And if you are a PhD, you know everything about everything. A lot of the PhD's with degrees issued here in Thailand are teaching as they don't have the knowledge to get a real job. Even if they got their degrees from abroad, they might fall in the same category. Some universities abroad just take their money and give them the degree as they know they will never see them again after they leave. Most who get the degree are only looking for the POP. A piece of paper.

[supptoyou]

They will probably look at your GPA. For some reason, they think a high GPA means you will be a better teacher.

I studied here in a university and the teachers with the high GPA's have this attitude that they know it all. Some even feel that a high undergraduate degree with a high GPA entitles them to a high GPA on their master's degree. And if you are a PhD, you know everything about everything. A lot of the PhD's with degrees issued here in Thailand are teaching as they don't have the knowledge to get a real job. Even if they got their degrees from abroad, they might fall in the same category. Some universities abroad just take their money and give them the degree as they know they will never see them again after they leave. Most who get the degree are only looking for the POP. A piece of paper.

could I quite easily get my hands on a thai postgrad or something then? How much do you have to pay for that kind of thing?

assuming they look at my gpa (will they understand the british system?), does that mean I'll be rejected from most places for that? :-(

[sarahsbloke]

They will probably look at your GPA. For some reason, they think a high GPA means you will be a better teacher.

I studied here in a university and the teachers with the high GPA's have this attitude that they know it all. Some even feel that a high undergraduate degree with a high GPA entitles them to a high GPA on their master's degree. And if you are a PhD, you know everything about everything. A lot of the PhD's with degrees issued here in Thailand are teaching as they don't have the knowledge to get a real job. Even if they got their degrees from abroad, they might fall in the same category. Some universities abroad just take their money and give them the degree as they know they will never see them again after they leave. Most who get the degree are only looking for the POP. A piece of paper.

could I quite easily get my hands on a thai postgrad or something then? How much do you have to pay for that kind of thing?

assuming they look at my gpa (will they understand the british system?), does that mean I'll be rejected from most places for that? :-(

If you have a degree and speak English you are vastly overqualified to teach in a Thai school, they might not hire you because they think you are too expensive.

Why not spend another year in the UK and get your PGCE.

You would be amazed at the number of builders labourers, etc. with no education and a 4 week TEFL who are working in Thailand as teachers (because they are cheap).

Can you really live in Thailand on 400-500 UKP a month?

Edited June 22, 2010 by sarahsbloke

[thaicbr]

sarahs bloke.............. if you are only earning 400-500 uk pounds i suggest you look for another job as the starting salary in most schools is 600-700 uk (eg 30-35,000b)

[sarahsbloke]

sarahs bloke.............. if you are only earning 400-500 uk pounds i suggest you look for another job as the starting salary in most schools is 600-700 uk (eg 30-35,000b)

I've found very few schools actually paying out over 30kbht/month, mostly 25kbht gross.

Reduced hours, no holiday pay and other scams, I would be interested to hear of any teachers in a Thai state school (outside BKK) who get over 30kbht a month.

PS

As a qualified UK schoolteacher, I prefer to only work in the UK where I am paid, 6000bht a day

Edited June 22, 2010 by sarahsbloke

[Scott]

Some schools will look at the transcript carefully, others will not. The Ministry of Education will review it. If you passed, then you passed, but that doesn't mean they aren't going to question your qualifications. However, at the end of the day if you have a BA, you have one.

With a Bachelor's you should be able to start at 30-35K.

I would think very carefully about your situation before moving because it's a big move and I wouldn't trade something secure for a roll of the dice in Thailand.

The money isn't all that good and finding a school you like and likes you can be a real challenge.

Thais are a rather fickle bunch at times.

[supptoyou]

Some schools will look at the transcript carefully, others will not. The Ministry of Education will review it. If you passed, then you passed, but that doesn't mean they aren't going to question your qualifications. However, at the end of the day if you have a BA, you have one.

With a Bachelor's you should be able to start at 30-35K.

I would think very carefully about your situation before moving because it's a big move and I wouldn't trade something secure for a roll of the dice in Thailand.

The money isn't all that good and finding a school you like and likes you can be a real challenge.

Thais are a rather fickle bunch at times.

Thanks for all the information! 35k starting in central bkk sounds doable, although I might look at a tefl course and anything else that will possibly increase my thai salary while I'm still in the UK. I assume the ministry of education is fairly simple to pass through, they'll just write to my university, right?

Any idea when is the ideal time to move out there to find a teaching job? Is there a chance of being hired before I arrive? I assume to do that I just have to apply for everything on ajarn and give them an arrival date, right?

Thanks!

[Scott]

Nothing is simple in Thailand. First, you find someone that wants to hire you. The employer then sends your documents to the Ministry of Education (MOE). They review the documents and decide you are qualified--how closely is hard to tell. It most likely depends on the person doing it, some are pedantic and others aren't. I haven't heard of anyone getting refused because of low grades.

The MOE then writes a letter asking an officer at a Thai embassy to issue you with a non-immigrant B visa. You take the letter with you to the specified embassy (you can decide where you want to go, but then you must go to that embassy/consulate). They give you the non-immigrant B. Your employer then applies for a Teacher's License (or a waiver) and a work permit. In your case, the Teacher's Council will grant you a waiver that is good for 2 years.

You get your waiver and work permit and you are legal. A TEFL isn't required, but it's helpful, especially if you don't have experience.

The best time to be looking for work is March and April when schools are hiring. The other time is in September-October when there are school breaks.

Foreigners tend to come and go, so there are always openings, but they may be more competitive. Language schools hire year around.

Of the new teachers I hired (and who were new to teaching in Thailand--or relatively new), I would say the average time they spent looking for work was 3 months. Most were doing part-time tutoring or other work, but they spent quite a bit of time knocking on doors.

[supptoyou]

Nothing is simple in Thailand. First, you find someone that wants to hire you. The employer then sends your documents to the Ministry of Education (MOE). They review the documents and decide you are qualified--how closely is hard to tell. It most likely depends on the person doing it, some are pedantic and others aren't. I haven't heard of anyone getting refused because of low grades.

The MOE then writes a letter asking an officer at a Thai embassy to issue you with a non-immigrant B visa. You take the letter with you to the specified embassy (you can decide where you want to go, but then you must go to that embassy/consulate). They give you the non-immigrant B. Your employer then applies for a Teacher's License (or a waiver) and a work permit. In your case, the Teacher's Council will grant you a waiver that is good for 2 years.

You get your waiver and work permit and you are legal. A TEFL isn't required, but it's helpful, especially if you don't have experience.

The best time to be looking for work is March and April when schools are hiring. The other time is in September-October when there are school breaks.

Foreigners tend to come and go, so there are always openings, but they may be more competitive. Language schools hire year around.

Of the new teachers I hired (and who were new to teaching in Thailand--or relatively new), I would say the average time they spent looking for work was 3 months. Most were doing part-time tutoring or other work, but they spent quite a bit of time knocking on doors.

That's probably the most informative post I've read on this site so far haha! Thanks for all that information

In that case, I think my goal will be to arrive around march to boost my chances - it seems weird to go to a country without a visa though, just in hope of getting one from the ministry...sounds like a massive mess but I might like it!

Thanks again

[thaicbr]

sarahs bloke.............. if you are only earning 400-500 uk pounds i suggest you look for another job as the starting salary in most schools is 600-700 uk (eg 30-35,000b)

I've found very few schools actually paying out over 30kbht/month, mostly 25kbht gross.

Reduced hours, no holiday pay and other scams, I would be interested to hear of any teachers in a Thai state school (outside BKK) who get over 30kbht a month.

PS

As a qualified UK schoolteacher, I prefer to only work in the UK where I am paid, 6000bht a day

As a qualified Uk school teacher you would get at least 70,000b from most International schools here in Thailand. I worked in Thai state schools a few years ago and my salary was 30,000b now i work in a private school (but still within the state system) and earn about 48,000b taking into account free accommodation, free flight back to the UK once a year etc

ps its also a 12 mth contract. and i'm not in BKK.

I prefer to be here in Thailand than back in the Uk because my money goes further and i'm happier. So yes there are decent jobs available but you may need to search for them.

[supptoyou]

sarahs bloke.............. if you are only earning 400-500 uk pounds i suggest you look for another job as the starting salary in most schools is 600-700 uk (eg 30-35,000b)

I've found very few schools actually paying out over 30kbht/month, mostly 25kbht gross.

Reduced hours, no holiday pay and other scams, I would be interested to hear of any teachers in a Thai state school (outside BKK) who get over 30kbht a month.

PS

As a qualified UK schoolteacher, I prefer to only work in the UK where I am paid, 6000bht a day

As a qualified Uk school teacher you would get at least 70,000b from most International schools here in Thailand. I worked in Thai state schools a few years ago and my salary was 30,000b now i work in a private school (but still within the state system) and earn about 48,000b taking into account free accommodation, free flight back to the UK once a year etc

ps its also a 12 mth contract. and i'm not in BKK.

I prefer to be here in Thailand than back in the Uk because my money goes further and i'm happier. So yes there are decent jobs available but you may need to search for them.

Hey guys, thanks for all the help in this thread - I got results back and it was a 2.1 so I'm going to do my PGCE (applied today although possibly a little late!) and then head over to thailand after that I think!

Thanks for the help!