Teaching

[BarryM]

I'm interested in teaching as a vocation.

I'm 44 and had a couple of months' experience of teaching in India. I've had experience in training staff in a variety of roles in the Uk, within a business Employing up to 110 people that I founded and have recently sold.

I don't have a degree, having dropped out of uni after two years.

Can anyone advise on what teaching courses would best equip me to succeed in sharing my (modest) skill set, should I want to set up a small school in Cambodia?

I'm financially independant and prefer to stay that way.

Thanks for any insights.

[Scott]

This forum is for Teaching in Thailand. There may be a few posters who have sone knowledge about this, so we'll leave it open for now. You should visit the SE Asian forum, (I am having a computer problem and can't copy the link)

Other posters should be able to help you on courses you might need to take.

[Scott]

Here's the link to the SE Asia forum: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/123-southeast-asia-forum/

You will likely get better advice about business matters. Here, you will likely get better advice on qualifications and courses.

Best of luck.

[BarryM]

Thanks Scott

I'm more interested in hearing what people with teaching experience would recommend with regard to training. that would make me a more effective teacher in se Asia.

I hope I'm not having a mid life crisis here, but I really feel like taking a year or two out to help within a small, less advantaged community.

By financial neccesity I am non resident from the Uk, otherwise would gladly work there. The main obstacle to my considering teaching in Thailand, is that in my experience here, learning is not much encouraged - far less, thinking outside the box.

[paulfr]

Barry

What is it that you feel you are qualified to teach ?

English ?

What else ?

Teaching in Thailand is no easy endeavor.

You will be strongly interacting with Thai culture and

that is no picnic. Being a tourist or retired individual here

is vastly different than coming up against the edges

of Thai ways. You touched on one. Large segments of Thais

do not value education or hard work. And discipline for a

Farang is much harder than for the Thai teachers who themselves

can have a hard time. Most use microphones to just be able to

be heard in many schools. And nearly all schools that pay well

will require a Bachelors Degree to get an interview.

Sorry to be negative here, but a dose of reality can save one

years of agony. I would advise buying a small business that

interests you instead. You will be in control.

But if teaching is what you crave, you can volunteer to substitute

or even teach part time for free at some well chosen school.

Every schools has teachers out sick and covering their classes

is a pain for Mgt. Your services may be valued there.

And first, you should find some highly regarded teachers to

tutor you on what you need to know about Thai culture,

Thai students, classroom control, Thai Admin attitudes,

the curriculum [specific topics] of your chosen subject so you know what

you need to brush up on, varying conditions at the different types of schools;

Govt, Religious, Private, International, English Programs, etc.

Good luck

Edited September 14, 2010 by paulfr

[canuck1941]

Without a degree and esl training, it's unlikely you'll find any job worth the trouble, especially as you don't need the money (Congratulations.) But you do have a lot of skills to teach, especially in entrepreneurship. Not grduating from university didn't hurt you nor Bill Gates. You mention Cambodia and perhaps you have a sentimental reason for going there but may I suggest that you consider volunteering. A Google search would turn up many opportunities where you could match your skills to a sitution. Believe me, it's easy to get a job when you'll work for free. Chook dee.

[JiveTalker]

Thanks Scott

I'm more interested in hearing what people with teaching experience would recommend with regard to training. that would make me a more effective teacher in se Asia.

I hope I'm not having a mid life crisis here, but I really feel like taking a year or two out to help within a small, less advantaged community.

By financial neccesity I am non resident from the Uk, otherwise would gladly work there. The main obstacle to my considering teaching in Thailand, is that in my experience here, learning is not much encouraged - far less, thinking outside the box.

Thinking outside the box may not be encouraged, but if you're a good teacher you'll be able to influence this. The system may be broken but the students are eager and willing to learn in the most cases, and teaching here can be a thoroughly rewarding experience.

That being said volunteering here is difficult, visas are not easy to obtain. A job in a small school outside the big towns and tourist hot spots may be up your street. If you're able to invest some time and patience you've a good chance of making a difference. Without a degree it's a risk of course.

Edited September 16, 2010 by JiveTalker

[HongLeHuynh]

I am Vietnamese and i am running an English Language Center in Ho Chi Minh city, a big city which language education develops most. Our language is not very big but can attract most of the local students. So, i have some experiences in setting up a school and I have been teaching English to the kids as well as the teenagers and adults. I really hope to open the branch of our school in another place in Ho Chi Minh city but right now, i can't afford. If you want to executive your plan, we can co-operate together. Don't hesitate to contact me +84919053058 or send me email.

Edited October 30, 2010 by Scott
email address edited out/Scott

[Scott]

Welcome to the forum Hong Le. I have edited your email address out of the post. These are not allowed on the open forum.

If anyone wants to contact the poster, his telephone number is listed or you can send a PM.

[canuck1941]

Seeing as you are financially independent (congratulations, its wonderful, ain't it?) and you view it as a vocation, I think you should check out the Celta and the Trinity courses. A CELTA is good anywhere. It costs a lot of money and it's no pushover, not an online course, or some TEFL course of four weeks duration although that can get you on your feet.

[Loaded]

Seeing as you are financially independent (congratulations, its wonderful, ain't it?) and you view it as a vocation, I think you should check out the Celta and the Trinity courses. A CELTA is good anywhere. It costs a lot of money and it's no pushover, not an online course, or some TEFL course of four weeks duration although that can get you on your feet.

a Trinity or CELTA are also 4-week courses. A good Thai-based TEFL course gives non-immigrant visa support, training that allows for Thai cultural differences, teaching practices in Thai schools with Thai students and job support; CELTA courses don't offer this extra support.

There are no Trinity courses in Thailand but the CELTA courses run here are homogeneous and train teachers for language school classes with adults (TA in CELTA stands for Teaching Adults). Teaching practices are with small groups of adults and there's no visa support. British Council loves CELTA because it's a language school with many adult classes.