How About Teaching Something Else?

[Tokker]

I understand that there are so many wannabe english teachers that they are paving the road with them in Thailand. I also have a master degree in engineering. Does this give me a headstart to teach something else like science or math? Or better stick with my plan to do a TEFL course and concentrate on teaching english?

[alex100]

I spent 14 years in saudi teaching young saudis how to fix lightnigs, hawks and tornados anythig is possible - if you have the right intentions???????????????????/

[PeaceBlondie]

Assuming that you'll be teaching science or math in English, without a terrible accent - yes, there is a much greater demand for those subjects, and higher pay. That's clever, about 'paving the streets with English teachers." They're not quite that abundant.

[chownah]

I taught physics and math at a community college in Thailand and I've got a bacehelor of science degree in engineering AND I'm a licensed professional engineer. In the state where I lived I was qualified to teach at the community college level because of the combination of degree and license. I put this on my resumee (you might call this a CV) and it probably wasn't necessary for the reasons PeaceBlondie has mentioned but they did note that I was qualified to teach in the US in the interview so I think it helped.

[Ijustwannateach]

Just out of curiousity, what's a professional engineering license? I always thought that was basically called "an engineering degree." Or are you talking about some particular industry which grants its own licenses?

"Steven"

[PeaceBlondie]

Just out of curiousity, what's a professional engineering license?  I always thought that was basically called "an engineering degree."  Or are you talking about some particular industry which grants its own licenses?

"Steven"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Steven, a PE has to pass a rigorous state test; some engineers with degrees don't even try it. My Georgia Tech-MS friend passed it the first time, and was one of the few in his state office (highway planning) with one. It's comprehensive, and gives you state permission to do almost anything as an engineer, although the wise engineers stay in their specialities. It's to engineering what a CPA is to accountancy - it's one hurdle to get the degree, quite another to have the professional piece of paper, with or without a master's.

[Ijustwannateach]

^Thanks, PB!

Given that bit of information, I'd say OP is vastly overqualified for any math/science teaching position in Thailand. Unless you just really want to get away from engineering, you'd be doing much better as a consultant/go-between working AS an engineer for some company here seeking to do business outside Thailand, as there is a dearth of local English-speaking engineering-qualified talent (I know of one company here which pays American consultants big bucks to help them secure contracts in Saudi Arabia and India, for example).

"Steven"

[chownah]

Just out of curiousity, what's a professional engineering license?  I always thought that was basically called "an engineering degree."  Or are you talking about some particular industry which grants its own licenses?

"Steven"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Steven, a PE has to pass a rigorous state test; some engineers with degrees don't even try it. My Georgia Tech-MS friend passed it the first time, and was one of the few in his state office (highway planning) with one. It's comprehensive, and gives you state permission to do almost anything as an engineer, although the wise engineers stay in their specialities. It's to engineering what a CPA is to accountancy - it's one hurdle to get the degree, quite another to have the professional piece of paper, with or without a master's.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You are exactly correct. As a licensed engineer I can sign and stamp ANY document requireing a PE's stamp in any engineering discipline and its up to me to determine if I'm qualified in that discipline.