Teaching Position In Bangkok Area

[Nisa]

What is the deal with getting a teaching job? What is required?

I've heard many things but have never paid attention to closely but now am giving some thought to occupying my days doing some English teaching if in deed this is an option.

I've heard everything from certain University degrees or international teaching certificates being required to some schools not caring at all about these things and/or accepting certificates bought at Kason road. Are the requirements different depending on the school and/or level of pay?

Anyway ... just wondering if anyone can give me kind of a run down and point me in the right direction. I am not so concerned with salary but also would be curious what the high and low end would be .... actually probably the low end because I obviously don't have that one international teaching certificate (can't remember acronym) that I have heard a lot about and probably wouldn't get it either ... I may not be overly concerned with salary but am not looking to invest a lot of time and money into being able to teach.

Oh, and also curious how hard it is to teach English if your Thai is limited and if it is easier to teach and get a job with younger kids, older kids or adults.

I appreciate any thoughts anyone cares to share. Thanks.

[vpi78]

Try ajarn.com

[lomatopo]

There is a "Teaching in Thailand" sub-forum here, maybe take a look there?

[beano2274]

I know many agents that do not even worry if you have no degree or certificates.

A guy I personally know, has been in Thailand for 7 years, just has a TEFL, has had many jobs and keeps getting more offers, his only problem is that he is a drinker.

I know other guys who have nothing and have been working in places for 600per hour and getting around 15 hours a week at Universities. Others even work full time and get around 50,000 a month.

Some language centers want experience not paper qualifications.

Ability to speak Thai is not important.

Edited August 16, 2011 by beano2274

[toenail]

If you want to teach English, then you first need to get your TEFL degree. After that, you may be able to get a job teaching English in some Thai school/ university but it may not be in the BKK area.

The other kind of schools, the accreditied "international schools" --the ones that have a mix of various nationalities, hire (of course) experienced, certified teachers who have teaching degrees from their home countries. These school do not hire people "off the street" since they are licensed from their home countries and follow the proper paper work that the ministery of education requires. There are a few so called "international schools" that have 95% Thai students that hire a few "token" Western lilly white teachers to have the parents think they have an international staff of teachers.

If you are experienced in teaching, one can look into tutoring after school hours.

[REM]

There are different requirements for different schools. The terrible schools will hire anyone. The public schools require a bachelor's degree and a certificate, which you can get here in Thailand (that is internationally certified). International schools require a teachers certified in their home country.

Mind you though, the quality of students is a big issue. Some are great, most are terrible. My best advice is to look at what you want to do, where you want to do it, and then ask that institution. Best bet though, if you want any remotely decent money, get a CELTA certification, it's about 30,000 baht.

[beano2274]

I would recommend tutoring, put a few flyers around the local area, maybe in your condo, the local shops, the local hospital, it might take time but you will get students. Also try flyers in some of the local schools, and offer discounts for groups, you can easily pull in 4000 for 4 hours work.

I had someone ask about teaching at a company on Ratachada, on Friday evenings, they just wanted me to give them a quote, this was as my name was on a website and was advertising English classes. My wife put something on another website and I had a company in Thonburi ask about teaching their staff.

You can put your CV on ajarn.com and also try ajarnjobspace.com

Edited August 16, 2011 by beano2274

[Nisa]

Thanks guys! I didn't finish university and don't see myself taking the time or expense to get a CELTA or TEFL certificate at this point. I certainly might if I really find I have a passion for teaching but am currently only interested in giving it a shot for a semester or two. The extra money would be nice but it is a lot to do with simply occupying my time and I do enjoy teaching (owned my own business and did a lot of training in my careers) as well as enjoying kids (having my own and doing a lot of sports coaching) regardless if older or younger.

So, I guess I would be limited to the crappier schools, which is okay by me in terms of what I am looking for at this point.

Any more tips you could provide would be appreciated especially in terms of schools in the Bangkok area I might want to check-out as well as when the schools typically do their hiring.

Thanks Again.

PS. Feel free to PM me

Edited August 16, 2011 by Nisa

[Nisa]

I would recommend tutoring, put a few flyers around the local area, maybe in your condo, the local shops, the local hospital, it might take time but you will get students. Also try flyers in some of the local schools, and offer discounts for groups, you can easily pull in 4000 for 4 hours work.

I had someone ask about teaching at a company on Ratachada, on Friday evenings, they just wanted me to give them a quote, this was as my name was on a website and was advertising English classes. My wife put something on another website and I had a company in Thonburi ask about teaching their staff.

You can put your CV on ajarn.com and also try ajarnjobspace.com

Thanks, that is a good idea. However, I still would be more interested at this time in having some steady hours at an actual job but this is something I definitely will do too.

Edited August 16, 2011 by Nisa

[DocW]

I would recommend tutoring, put a few flyers around the local area, maybe in your condo, the local shops, the local hospital, it might take time but you will get students. Also try flyers in some of the local schools, and offer discounts for groups, you can easily pull in 4000 for 4 hours work.

I had someone ask about teaching at a company on Ratachada, on Friday evenings, they just wanted me to give them a quote, this was as my name was on a website and was advertising English classes. My wife put something on another website and I had a company in Thonburi ask about teaching their staff.

You can put your CV on ajarn.com and also try ajarnjobspace.com

A VERY misleading way of going about it. Don't forget that teaching or working or even volunteering in Thailand is illegal WITHOUT A work Permit and can end you up in jail and with deportation as well.

Putting flyers out with your name and number etc is probably the fastest way to get deported from Thailand and can get you in some SERIOUS trouble. Trust me when I say that this should not be taken lightly and It might not have happened to anyone YOU know however hundreds of people have been deported and this is not a nice process either. They can take you striate to the airport and off you go not even being able to go back to your home here to collect your things. Free ticket home and your government foots the bill (then foots you the bill and stamps you as "undesirable for travel)

People here on TV should NOT post or reply to an OP if it can land them up in trouble. This person should NOT give this advice regarding the flyers etc. Yes go through ajar.com and if you are not willing to put out a few bucks for a TEFL or CELTA certificate then you shouldn't be teaching as you sound like a fly-by-night teacher who just wants extra traveling cash anyways.

Without this you might end up with a job that will give you 25 - 30k per month but you will be stuck in the worst shietehole with the worst students and working conditions imaginable.

WORKING IN THAILAND WITHOUT A WORK PERMIT IS ILEGAL

[vpi78]

I would recommend tutoring, put a few flyers around the local area, maybe in your condo, the local shops, the local hospital, it might take time but you will get students. Also try flyers in some of the local schools, and offer discounts for groups, you can easily pull in 4000 for 4 hours work.

I had someone ask about teaching at a company on Ratachada, on Friday evenings, they just wanted me to give them a quote, this was as my name was on a website and was advertising English classes. My wife put something on another website and I had a company in Thonburi ask about teaching their staff.

You can put your CV on ajarn.com and also try ajarnjobspace.com

A VERY misleading way of going about it. Don't forget that teaching or working or even volunteering in Thailand is illegal WITHOUT A work Permit and can end you up in jail and with deportation as well.

Putting flyers out with your name and number etc is probably the fastest way to get deported from Thailand and can get you in some SERIOUS trouble. Trust me when I say that this should not be taken lightly and It might not have happened to anyone YOU know however hundreds of people have been deported and this is not a nice process either. They can take you striate to the airport and off you go not even being able to go back to your home here to collect your things. Free ticket home and your government foots the bill (then foots you the bill and stamps you as "undesirable for travel)

People here on TV should NOT post or reply to an OP if it can land them up in trouble. This person should NOT give this advice regarding the flyers etc. Yes go through ajar.com and if you are not willing to put out a few bucks for a TEFL or CELTA certificate then you shouldn't be teaching as you sound like a fly-by-night teacher who just wants extra traveling cash anyways.

Without this you might end up with a job that will give you 25 - 30k per month but you will be stuck in the worst shietehole with the worst students and working conditions imaginable.

WORKING IN THAILAND WITHOUT A WORK PERMIT IS ILEGAL

Expats .... is there anything they do not know; I mean other than how to use a spell checker?

[beano2274]

I would recommend tutoring, put a few flyers around the local area, maybe in your condo, the local shops, the local hospital, it might take time but you will get students. Also try flyers in some of the local schools, and offer discounts for groups, you can easily pull in 4000 for 4 hours work.

I had someone ask about teaching at a company on Ratachada, on Friday evenings, they just wanted me to give them a quote, this was as my name was on a website and was advertising English classes. My wife put something on another website and I had a company in Thonburi ask about teaching their staff.

You can put your CV on ajarn.com and also try ajarnjobspace.com

A VERY misleading way of going about it. Don't forget that teaching or working or even volunteering in Thailand is illegal WITHOUT A work Permit and can end you up in jail and with deportation as well.

Putting flyers out with your name and number etc is probably the fastest way to get deported from Thailand and can get you in some SERIOUS trouble. Trust me when I say that this should not be taken lightly and It might not have happened to anyone YOU know however hundreds of people have been deported and this is not a nice process either. They can take you striate to the airport and off you go not even being able to go back to your home here to collect your things. Free ticket home and your government foots the bill (then foots you the bill and stamps you as "undesirable for travel)

People here on TV should NOT post or reply to an OP if it can land them up in trouble. This person should NOT give this advice regarding the flyers etc. Yes go through ajar.com and if you are not willing to put out a few bucks for a TEFL or CELTA certificate then you shouldn't be teaching as you sound like a fly-by-night teacher who just wants extra traveling cash anyways.

Without this you might end up with a job that will give you 25 - 30k per month but you will be stuck in the worst shietehole with the worst students and working conditions imaginable.

WORKING IN THAILAND WITHOUT A WORK PERMIT IS ILEGAL

thanks for the warning but I already know that. I am allowed to post whatever I like same as you, if everyone who posted on here were to be banned for giving some information that would be construed as illegal then TV would have about 10 people on it (Torrents, long stay visas for ED purposes, getting a new passport as an old one is too full of Tourist Visas). Get a life!!!!!

How many teachers here work for agents who have promised them work permits but nothing ever comes of it? How many language centers employ teachers in their centers, but in reality should not as a WP is tied to a specific job or area?

Funny enough as I said I know teachers with degrees earning 25,000 to 30,000 in shietholes (as you call them), but I know teachers with nothing pulling in 70,000baht per month. Also I know of teachers at Top Private Universities who work part time, have no work permits but pay Tax.

[Longbow212]

I would say if you are not prepared to invest the time and effort into developing at least some rudimentary teaching skills then perhaps you should not be teaching. Thai families pay A LOT of money for you to teach their children English, it would be wrong to take this money and not deliver quality teaching. There are also many Thai teachers that can speak English and teach that would not get anywhere near what you would get paid - not your fault but puts into perspective that you should at least know what you are doing.

Your heart might be in the right place but you won't be doing anyone any favours if you don't have the teaching skills required and I speak with experience in this area. I started out teaching English unqualified but was naive and needed the money. However, I did apply myself and invested a lot into professional development including eventually returning to home country to gain home country teaching qualifications. Looking back I did fail some of the kids, I do feel bad about this but also that it was not my fault - I put in 110% effort and was open about my experience, I also had no guidance whatsoever and got the job because I was white and looked like the school had imported a real western teacher.

What I would recommend is you volunteer to take some English classes or observe and help out a trained teacher - you do say it's not about money but to occupy your time. This would also benefit you enormously in deciding if you want to teach.

Edited August 16, 2011 by Vigilante

[vpi78]

I would say if you are not prepared to invest the time and effort into developing at least some rudimentary teaching skills then perhaps you should not be teaching. Thai families pay A LOT of money for you to teach their children English, it would be wrong to take this money and not deliver quality teaching. There are also many Thai teachers that can speak English and teach that would not get anywhere near what you would get paid - not your fault but puts into perspective that you should at least know what you are doing.

Your heart might be in the right place but you won't be doing anyone any favours if you don't have the teaching skills required and I speak with experience in this area. I started out teaching English unqualified but was naive and needed the money. However, I did apply myself and invested a lot into professional development including eventually returning to home country to gain home country teaching qualifications. Looking back I did fail some of the kids, I do feel bad about this but also that it was not my fault - I put in 110% effort and was open about my experience, I also had no guidance whatsoever and got the job because I was white and looked like the school had imported a real western teacher.

What I would recommend is you volunteer to take some English classes or observe and help out a trained teacher - you do say it's not about money but to occupy your time. This would also benefit you enormously in deciding if you want to teach.

Excellent post and even better advice.

[falangjim]

I have heard a lot about (TEFL/CELTA)and probably wouldn't get it either ... I may not be overly concerned with salary but am not looking to invest a lot of time and money into being able to teach.

Maybe you should just finish your holiday and go back home.

[Nisa]

I would recommend tutoring, put a few flyers around the local area, maybe in your condo, the local shops, the local hospital, it might take time but you will get students. Also try flyers in some of the local schools, and offer discounts for groups, you can easily pull in 4000 for 4 hours work.

I had someone ask about teaching at a company on Ratachada, on Friday evenings, they just wanted me to give them a quote, this was as my name was on a website and was advertising English classes. My wife put something on another website and I had a company in Thonburi ask about teaching their staff.

You can put your CV on ajarn.com and also try ajarnjobspace.com

A VERY misleading way of going about it. Don't forget that teaching or working or even volunteering in Thailand is illegal WITHOUT A work Permit and can end you up in jail and with deportation as well.

Putting flyers out with your name and number etc is probably the fastest way to get deported from Thailand and can get you in some SERIOUS trouble. Trust me when I say that this should not be taken lightly and It might not have happened to anyone YOU know however hundreds of people have been deported and this is not a nice process either. They can take you striate to the airport and off you go not even being able to go back to your home here to collect your things. Free ticket home and your government foots the bill (then foots you the bill and stamps you as "undesirable for travel)

People here on TV should NOT post or reply to an OP if it can land them up in trouble. This person should NOT give this advice regarding the flyers etc. Yes go through ajar.com and if you are not willing to put out a few bucks for a TEFL or CELTA certificate then you shouldn't be teaching as you sound like a fly-by-night teacher who just wants extra traveling cash anyways.

Without this you might end up with a job that will give you 25 - 30k per month but you will be stuck in the worst shietehole with the worst students and working conditions imaginable.

WORKING IN THAILAND WITHOUT A WORK PERMIT IS ILEGAL

Advice on a working permit is not really what I was after in starting this thread but appreciate your comment and concern. I am aware of the requirements for working within in Thailand and don't want to get into talking about legalities for risk of this thread being closed. Lets just assume anything I do will be legal and that anyone positing here is familiar with the legalities of working within Thailand as a foreigner.

As for shietehole places with bad students, I have no problem at all with that. In fact, kind of would prefer it. I would find it much more rewarding to help less fortunate kids. I've worked with troubled kids throughout my life and previously being one myself, I've always had a knack for getting through to them. My wife and I have done lots of volunteer work but really am looking to do something more consistent and would be great to pick-up an extra 30k a month while doing something positive.

[Nisa]

I would say if you are not prepared to invest the time and effort into developing at least some rudimentary teaching skills then perhaps you should not be teaching.

I appreciate your comments and concerns but never said I wouldn't develop (or don't have) "at least some rudimentary teaching skills"

I simply am not currently interested in investing time or expense in a certificate that I've been told by numerous people did absolutely nothing to help them in Teaching in foreign countries except to help them get a better paying job. I'm sure you will agree that having a certificate doesn't determine the quality of farang teachers in Thailand. No doubt having a background being a career teacher would certainly provide an advantage but lets not pretend that any but the best schools are looking for this level of skills or that this even makes up a good portion of people teaching in Thailand.

I have little doubt there are many foreign teachers in Thailand with varying degrees of education, certificates and experiences that teach for the simple reason of being able to stay drunk in Thailand and have cheap sex.

A good teacher, especially in terms of teaching English in Thailand, needs to want to have the ability and desire to help people. If they don't have this then no experience or certificate will help.

[DP25]

There are also many Thai teachers that can speak English and teach that would not get anywhere near what you would get paid - not your fault but puts into perspective that you should at least know what you are doing.

A lot of Thai English teachers couldn't read The Cat in the Hat let alone have any sort of real conversation. Any native speaker is better than what most of the students will be exposed to. That's the reason none of the other Asian countries require any sort of teaching degree either, just a college degree in any subject at most. They need people who can speak and they don't have them.

[Longbow212]

I appreciate your comments and concerns but never said I wouldn't develop (or don't have) "at least some rudimentary teaching skills"

You specifically stated you did not want to invest in any sort of certificate or training. Without any training you would simply be taking a stab in the dark at teaching and while you may develop some approaches that work for you I somehow doubt they would be what is considered best practice. Perhaps you could expand on what skills you do have and qualified and experienced teachers can determine if you should bother with the TEFL course or not.

I simply am not currently interested in investing time or expense in a certificate that I've been told by numerous people did absolutely nothing to help them in Teaching in foreign countries except to help them get a better paying job. I'm sure you will agree that having a certificate doesn't determine the quality of farang teachers in Thailand. No doubt having a background being a career teacher would certainly provide an advantage but lets not pretend that any but the best schools are looking for this level of skills or that this even makes up a good portion of people teaching in Thailand.

If you took the official TEFL/CELTA etc I am very sure it would help you. If you do an online or Thai island holiday camp mickey mouse version then benefits would be limited. Actually the proper qualifications are quite difficult and passing them shows that the candidate has had some professional training. I am sure that the standard of teaching from people with the official qualifications as opposed to a mickey mouse version or none at all, is very different in the majority of cases.

I have little doubt there are many foreign teachers in Thailand with varying degrees of education, certificates and experiences that teach for the simple reason of being able to stay drunk in Thailand and have cheap sex.

There are many that don't also. Is this how you justify the lack of desire to pursue some type of training? You should be aiming higher as a potential role model for young people.

A good teacher, especially in terms of teaching English in Thailand, needs to want to have the ability and desire to help people. If they don't have this then no experience or certificate will help.

They should have this ability and desire full stop. This and professional training and experience make a big difference. Your heart is in the right place. Bottom line is the proper official versions of the qualifications will benefit you, I suspect other people will chime in later on this but it looks like you just want to role up and teach some English lessons and pick up a nice wage for minimal investment or effort, easy money eh! Trust me on this, you don't know what there is to learn about teaching until you have studied it. What you are saying sounds like a butcher looking to land a job as a surgeon. If you genuinely care about helping people, invest in the training and help them even better.

.

[Longbow212]

A lot of Thai English teachers couldn't read The Cat in the Hat let alone have any sort of real conversation. Any native speaker is better than what most of the students will be exposed to. That's the reason none of the other Asian countries require any sort of teaching degree either, just a college degree in any subject at most. They need people who can speak and they don't have them.

Firstly speaking is not teaching, a qualified and experience teacher would be stimulating different cognitive processes in a purposeful manner that leads to second language acquisition. As for the standard of many Thai teachers - this is because the salary is so low. Raise it to 30k as the OP suggests and you would get Thai applicants you would not stand a chance against if you are unqualified

[Longbow212]

What you are wanting people to tell you is "yeh you can just turn up talk some English to em and pick up 30k a month" While this is possible, If you really want to benefit your learners invest in the proper training.

You state you don't have any university qualification let alone a teaching qualification. I know some interesting and fun teachers that don't have one or the other but these are by far the exception. I have offered very good advice here and have been very fair and reasonable.If you choose not to take this advice good luck to you.

[Nisa]

<snip>

Again, your thoughts are appreciated but everybody doesn't fit into your mold or need certificates to learn how to be good at something. Especially when every person I have ever talked to have told me the TEFL certificate provided absolutely zero value to them except for helping them secure a better paying job and did't at all help them to be a better teacher or even prepare them to teach. I hear exactly what you are saying and will say for a 3rd time I appreciate your comments but pretending I said I wouldn't prepare myself or learn to do a job very well is kind of odd as is your feeling a need to reply to select comments and pretend that is the whole of what I said. There is nothing I have pursued in life where I have not done my best to be successful and vary rarely have I even not been successful. I caught the first time 'your" requirements for what "you" needed to be successful and once again appreciate your thoughts and hear you but can only tell you I am not you, nor do I have the same motivations as you.

So, really no need to try to continue to go on about things that I've already stated are not applicable to me just because you have some issues on a subject not at all related to what I was asking posters about. You've already overly stated your concerns and can now calm down.

Edited August 16, 2011 by Nisa

[Longbow212]

Well, best of luck to being very successful at teaching off your own back.