Moving To Thailand To Teach English

[richardpwills]

Hi All,

I'm planning to come over to Thailand in December to hopefully get a job in the Chiang mai area to teach English. I have a flight booked with a return flight 2 months down the line just encase i need to return but can move the flight back for a year if need be. I have a TEFL Certificate with a degree.

But im still questioning how much money is needed to be "Set Up". In other words once landed, how much is needed until you were to get you first months pay from the school your working in.

Does anyone have any experiences on what is needed and how much is needed. I know it can range from one persons needs to another and the more money the better but what are peoples experiences on this?

I know there will be expenses such as

finding an apartment and paying the first months rent along with deposits

Buying a motorbike

Buying items for your apartment (Pillows etc...)

Living costs for the first few months before getting paid etc...

The more info the better

Cheers

[longstebe]

Renting a motorbike would be a better option.

I'm sure you can get a decent room for around 10k-15k baht per month.

Start with the bare necessities.

Check the teaching forum out, there maybe more info on there.

[basinboy]

Plenty of accommodation in Chiang Mai in the 5-10,000 bht/mth.

Check Chiang mai forum and Thia Visa classifieds

[allane]

Normally, you have to pay 3 mo's rent on move in (1st and last mo's rent + 1 mo. damage deposit, so let's say B 15,000

Two month's pay ( 1 mo. to find a job, another mo. while you await your 1st paycheque) B 50,000*

Extra for set-up costs (household items & other misc. costs - there is always something) 8000*

Subtotal: 73,000

In my view, you can live without a motorbike, at least initially. Allow another B 20,000 if you must have one.

* Based on a monthly salary of B 25,000. Don't accept any position which pays less than that. These sums may be reduced if you have ready access to cash in your home country, and/or a credit card which you can use to cover emergencies, etc.

[JusMe]

If you're going to be teaching English, it might be a good idea to review some basic spelling and punctuation, particularly apostrophes.

[Loz]

Unless you have "reserves" else where, don't leave home without 150k. Never go anywhere without three months generous living expenses in hand. Better to be safe and comfortable than sorry and in the shit.

150,000 bht is about 3000 pounds. If you can't put your hands on that amount readily, I hope you don't plan on meeting any women out here.

Sorry to be blunt, but I would hate to read another horror story based on lack of awareness.

[scorecard]

It's a different subject, but hope you've done your homework about the need to have a work permit, which will very likely incur the costs of travelling out of Thailand (possibly also accommodation) to then re-enter and obtain a one year visa which recongizes that your working here.

[sarahsbloke]

What degree do you have, what teaching qualifications, how much teaching experience?

Without any of these you will need enough money to keep you for the entire duration of your stay in Thailand.

[Loz]

It's a different subject, but hope you've done your homework about the need to have a work permit, which will very likely incur the costs of travelling out of Thailand (possibly also accommodation) to then re-enter and obtain a one year visa which recongizes that your working here.

You clearly didn't complete your homework because there is nothing to stop him from arriving here with a multiple non imm B visa obtained in his home country, as long as he has a job offer before setting off to the embassy/consulate ( as I did, myself). With this he can start work and begin the process of applying for a work permit.

My advice, get you job before you arrive. It's not hard. And if it does prove hard at least you;ll have found that out before arriving here with pocket full of spent sweetie wrappers and a smile.

[richardpwills]

OK, Thank you for the posts. I have a degree in computing and have done a small amount of teaching assistance in the UK but I don't have a PGCE. I have been to Thailand a few times before and have met several teachers. They never had degrees or teaching experience and now are doing very well for themselves out there and don't need to rely on money from a UK bank account. I wonder how some of them can even teach to be honest.

[rgs2001uk]

OK, Thank you for the posts. I have a degree in computing and have done a small amount of teaching assistance in the UK but I don't have a PGCE. I have been to Thailand a few times before and have met several teachers. They never had degrees or teaching experience and now are doing very well for themselves out there and don't need to rely on money from a UK bank account. I wonder how some of them can even teach to be honest.

"now are doing very well for themselves"

Well I suppose thats thats a relative term, how do you define doing very well for yourself, earning 60k baht upcountry?

Ask them what shape their retirement portfolio is in, how about their pension plan, how are they doing on the property market?

I dare say if i was from Somalia I might consider myself to be doing well.

Sorry mate, what a waste of a PGCE, you can do a lot better than teaching, try the UN for starters if you want to be in Thailand.

Japan or Korea may be a better option.

[richardpwills]

OK, Thank you for the posts. I have a degree in computing and have done a small amount of teaching assistance in the UK but I don't have a PGCE. I have been to Thailand a few times before and have met several teachers. They never had degrees or teaching experience and now are doing very well for themselves out there and don't need to rely on money from a UK bank account. I wonder how some of them can even teach to be honest.

"now are doing very well for themselves"

Well I suppose thats thats a relative term, how do you define doing very well for yourself, earning 60k baht upcountry?

Ask them what shape their retirement portfolio is in, how about their pension plan, how are they doing on the property market?

I dare say if i was from Somalia I might consider myself to be doing well.

Sorry mate, what a waste of a PGCE, you can do a lot better than teaching, try the UN for starters if you want to be in Thailand.

Japan or Korea may be a better option.

I don't have a PGCE, one of the reasons of going to Thailand was to gain experience in teaching and maybe go back to the UK and enrol on a PGCE. I know if I had a PGCE it may be a waste to go to Thailand.