Experience Through Volunteer Work

[SlyAnimal]

Ok just to set the scene a little so you understand where I'm coming from.

I've just finished my TESOL Course (Well technically still doing 4 specialisations via online correspondence)

I've got a BCom (So can work legit)

I used to work in Account Management (so am quite confident etc)

I'm relatively young (Will be 28 in Oct)

I don't have any teaching experience (Which makes me feel a whole lot less confident than I'm used to lol)

My master plan is, that I'm going to Thailand in October, with the intention of teaching English (Although have to pop back for my brother's wedding in Jan, so probably can't commit to work til after that). But however, I've been lurking in the forums here + checking out job ads, and I've come to a few realisations, which undermine my master plan:

Teaching English is a lot broader than just what they covered in my TESOL course.

Most positions require some experience, which I don't have.

Everything seems to be on 1 year contracts, which are tied into your Visas / Work Permits. So am a bit scared of getting locked in with a school that's horrible, then if I quit having to also leave the country.

So, with these in mind, I figured that the best solution, is that while I'm in Thailand, but unable to actually work, I could volunteer at a few schools to help out. Hopefully I could then observe how their existing English teachers teach, learn a few tips and tricks, maybe take a couple of lessons myself even, and meet some other falang. All the while building my confidence.

Do schools allow you to do something like this? Or would I need a teaching licence / waiver in order to volunteer / observe in a classroom?

Do schools charge for a service like this? Or maybe even they'd want to pay me? Or would it be something they'd only do if I was going to be teaching for them the following semester?

Do you guys know of any schools which allow you to do something like this? Or ideally even schools where you're teaching at yourself and could perhaps help me out? Anywhere in Thailand is fine, as any excuse to travel is a good one, and I need to get as much experience from as many different levels / ages and regions as I can.

If I can learn more about teaching, and more about what type of school suits me best, then I'll be much better equipped to find the best school for me when I go job hunting.

Edited August 28, 2010 by SlyAnimal

[BWPattaya]

I think you will find that you cannot do volutary work in schools. You would need a work permit even if you are doing unpaid work. Work is work whether it is paid for or not. I have met many expats who would freely give their time to help kids learn English but the law doesn't allow it.

Edited August 28, 2010 by BWPattaya

[SlyAnimal]

Although just sitting in on some of the classes to watch how it works would probably still be fine right?

Also I could get a Working Holiday Visa instead of a tourist one when I initially arrive, which would allow me to work. It just costs more and requires a few extra documents, so I wasn't going to bother (Since I'd have to upgrade to a Non Immigrant Class B Visa anyway within 3 months).

Anyone teaching at a school which they think might be able to let me come in and watch a few classes etc?

[SEETEFL]

To legally volunteer in Thailand you will need an appropriate non-immigrant visa and a volunteer work permit.

Graduates of our TEFL training program are eligible to volunteer as TEFL teachers at local temple schools and the Vieng Ping orphanage through the DSS Foundation. We can administer without charge all paperwork to obtain the appropriate long-term non-immigrant visa and volunteer work permit. The only costs to the volunteer are the direct costs of the visa and work permit (around 5K THB). This is a benefit we offer to our TEFL course participants only. Administration of the paperwork to process visas and work permits is very involved and the cost of this administration is subsidized by the volunteer's TEFL course fee.

John

SEE TEFL

Forum Sponsor

http://seetefl.com/thailand-volunteer-visa/

[SlyAnimal]

Ahhh ok, I've paid for my TESOL course in New Zealand, which cost me quite a bit, probably not too keen on paying for another one in Thailand.

Does your TEFL course only do placements of volunteers if they have done your course?

As I could get a Working Holiday Visa which should allow me to volunteer/work at schools

How did most of the teachers who are already teaching first start out? Did you guys just get jobs straight away without work experience? Or did you do some volunteer work first?

[skybluestu]

Ahhh ok, I've paid for my TESOL course in New Zealand, which cost me quite a bit, probably not too keen on paying for another one in Thailand.

Does your TEFL course only do placements of volunteers if they have done your course?

As I could get a Working Holiday Visa which should allow me to volunteer/work at schools

How did most of the teachers who are already teaching first start out? Did you guys just get jobs straight away without work experience? Or did you do some volunteer work first?

I did my TEFL with SEE (excellent!) and then did some voluntary teaching when I finished at one of the schools we did some observed teaching at during the course, the school didn't mention a WP so, although it is a requirement, I wasn't aware of it and didn't get in trouble for it. I think if you just wanted to observe then that would be OK and then when you are there you may get a chance to do an ocassional lesson yourself.

Don't worry too much about things, once you are here and looking for work the best option is to just visit the schools yourself with resume/CV and make sure you present yourself well, that's what I did and worked out OK.

Good luck!

[Meawmanu]

Hi,

I just come across to this website , maybe you like to try it out

http://esljobs4teachers.com/

Ahhh ok, I've paid for my TESOL course in New Zealand, which cost me quite a bit, probably not too keen on paying for another one in Thailand.

Does your TEFL course only do placements of volunteers if they have done your course?

As I could get a Working Holiday Visa which should allow me to volunteer/work at schools

How did most of the teachers who are already teaching first start out? Did you guys just get jobs straight away without work experience? Or did you do some volunteer work first?

I did my TEFL with SEE (excellent!) and then did some voluntary teaching when I finished at one of the schools we did some observed teaching at during the course, the school didn't mention a WP so, although it is a requirement, I wasn't aware of it and didn't get in trouble for it. I think if you just wanted to observe then that would be OK and then when you are there you may get a chance to do an ocassional lesson yourself.

Don't worry too much about things, once you are here and looking for work the best option is to just visit the schools yourself with resume/CV and make sure you present yourself well, that's what I did and worked out OK.

Good luck!

[jfchandler]

No Thai visa gives you the legal permission to work in Thailand... A visa only gives you the right to enter the country.

Only work permits give you permission to work, and they have to be applied for separately, usually thru your employer.

Volunteering in schools, even for no pay, is considered "work" by the Thai govt., and you could get in trouble if doing that without a valid work permit.

Read some the threads lately about the farang husband getting docked by the authorities for simply greeting customers who came into the bar owned by his Thai wife... Get the picture???

[Mario2008]

No Thai visa gives you the legal permission to work in Thailand... A visa only gives you the right to enter the country.

Only work permits give you permission to work, and they have to be applied for separately, usually thru your employer.

Volunteering in schools, even for no pay, is considered "work" by the Thai govt., and you could get in trouble if doing that without a valid work permit.

Read some the threads lately about the farang husband getting docked by the authorities for simply greeting customers who came into the bar owned by his Thai wife... Get the picture???

If he is elligeble for a working visa (only for Australians and new Zealanders) his visa is his work permit and he can stay for 1 year, but not work for the same employer longer than 3 months.

[Mario2008]

I can connect the Op with a school who is sure to welcome a volunteer. But, as will be the case in most schools who need volunteers, there will be little guidence for you. In most cases schools will put you in front of the class and let you sort it out by yourself.

The working visa willbe the best for you, as you would not need to arrange for a work permit as a volunteer and have time to travel around and find a nice place where you want to work. When you found a place that you like, you could go and get a non-B visa from abroad and take a year cotract at that school.

[jfchandler]

Mario, I've never heard of this... There's some kind of special deal for Aussies and NZs???

If he is elligeble for a working visa (only for Australians and new Zealanders) his visa is his work permit and he can stay for 1 year, but not work for the same employer longer than 3 months.

[SlyAnimal]

Yeah that was basically my original plan. To just teach on the working holiday visa for free / cheap and then get a non immigrant class b (teaching) + work permit once I had a job offer from a good company.

Although from what I've been gathering based on my thread here + a few applications, it's not likely to happen that way (Particularly as places don't seem as keen since I've got to pop back to NZ in Jan for 1 week to goto a wedding)

So am probably just going to do what everyone else seems to do, and just initially turn up on a 60 day tourist visa and hope that I can find a job before the visa runs out

@jfchandler - Yep it's a special Aus / NZ Visa, details are at http://www.thaiembassynz.org.nz/ Visa section / Working Holiday Visa.

[JimShortz]

You should have no trouble finding your way into a school as a volunteer "additional classroom teacher" seeking experience, as long as you don't expect to be paid.

Dress up smartly with CV in hand and a nice concise covering letter, and go along to any schools where you would like to volunteer. Ask if you there is any chance that you could see the Principal, or the Head of English and then put your case to them. If it's not possible to see them at that time try to make an appointment for later, or at worst leave your paperwork and follow up with a phone call/repeat visit a couple of days later.

I'm sure you will have no problem.

The Visa thing here is a red herring - don't worry for now...

[Mario2008]

Yeah that was basically my original plan. To just teach on the working holiday visa for free / cheap and then get a non immigrant class b (teaching) + work permit once I had a job offer from a good company.

Although from what I've been gathering based on my thread here + a few applications, it's not likely to happen that way (Particularly as places don't seem as keen since I've got to pop back to NZ in Jan for 1 week to goto a wedding)

So am probably just going to do what everyone else seems to do, and just initially turn up on a 60 day tourist visa and hope that I can find a job before the visa runs out

@jfchandler - Yep it's a special Aus / NZ Visa, details are at http://www.thaiembassynz.org.nz/ Visa section / Working Holiday Visa.

A re-entry permit would allow you to leave and return to Thailand with your original permission to stay still intact.

Schools in Thailand start in May and end of October, November for the second term. Just before that is when most teachers are hired.

[SlyAnimal]

Also, the Thai Culture course which it seems everyone has to do before you can teach.

I see that a lot of places throw them in free for Teachers, but I was thinking since I'll probably be "chilling out" in Thailand for a little while before I pickup a job, I might as well do one if they aren't too expensive. Since it should increase my chances of getting a good position quickly if I've already got this sorted.

How much are they usually?

And is anyone able to recommend a good company to do them through? (One which just does the Cultural Course, as I don't need to do my TESOL aswell)

[Mario2008]

The culture course is offered by some Thai universities, it doesn't cost to much.

Most schools will be able to get a temporary waiver for you for a teachers license, meaning you don't have to do the course before you start teaching but will have at least two years to do the one weekend long course.

[JimShortz]

The culture course is offered by some Thai universities, it doesn't cost to much.

Most schools will be able to get a temporary waiver for you for a teachers license, meaning you don't have to do the course before you start teaching but will have at least two years to do the one weekend long course.

Yes, it's normal that you don't have to have attended the Thai Language and Culture course to begin teaching. What does surprise me is that places offer it as a weekend course. It comprises 9 units, some of which are designed to be 2 hours long, and others 3 hours - 20 hours total, covering a wide range of different topics. To do the course justice in two solid days sounds unlikely to me. A shame really, since the modules spread out throughout the year can actually produce a meaningful course enjoyed by most participants (if well delivered, of course...).

[djdos2004]

For information guys on the thai language course at thai universites.

Chang mai, has cancelled all courses for farangs, as of yesterday. Thai language and culture and cultrual exchange program axed.

They also handle the enrollment for Khon kean uni, so thats my plan out the window.

I have lost my deposit, and have a visa letter thats wothless. Bad times

How this will effect the TEFL courses I am not sure, getting any inforation from them is hard.

Happy days....handed my notice in work, 1 hour later, letter saying my course is cancelled.

Time to rethink........

[Scott]

This thread is about someone inquiring about doing volunteer work. One of the issues is taking the Thai Language and Culture course, which is a rather short 20+ hour course that is sponsored by some Thai Universities and is set up by the Thai Teacher's Council, if I am not mistaken.

The previous post, I am guessing, is referring to a comprehensive Thai language course.

There is more information on the Thai Teacher's Council here:

There is also a thread concerning the visa situation at CM University and how it is impacting farangs, but I can't find it right now.