Advise From The People That Are Teaching Or Have (Thailand)

[Kiggs]

As you might have seen I'm thinking of opening something up in the sticks but this is more of a side thing.

Is it worth getting my 120 hour tefel course before I move over? I have no experience in this field or degree.

So in a nutshell would I be able to get any work or would I just waste £xxxx of money with the course.

The only reason I'm thinking this so if things go bad or slow I have a plan B.

[SlyAnimal]

Depends on where you live, and what level of salary you're after.

Without a degree you can get work with just a TESOL Certificate, particularly at language schools and universities, or at countryside government schools.

Government schools in the city will be a lot more difficult to get a job at with just a TESOL Certificate, and language schools (From what I've seen of friends at language schools, others will no doubt disagree) often pay less and have terrible hours.

So basically, you won't have the pick of the crop, however yes you'll be able to get a job (Assuming your accent, manner, appearance etc are all fine. Personally I think that the second most important qualification schools are looking for, after a bachelor degree or higher, is to simply be a fun loving, jovial, well presented person. As this often trumps your teaching experience/ability as far as they're concerned).

[Kiggs]

Thanks for the advise. I'm from the north of England (Manchester)but can work on the accent a little.

I'm thinking this only as a plan B so the salary doesn't have to be the best. If I can get a job near the family home it will be perfect.

But still all just ideas atm.

Think I will sign up later this week or at least talk some people about it.

Will not do any harm to have the qualification.

[SlyAnimal]

Oh and I should say, to ensure you don't get an unwelcome surprise. Government schools won't be able to issue you a work permit if you don't have a bachelor's degree or higher (Which is why the city schools often won't hire you without one, however countryside schools know that the government never check unless there's a problem, so aren't as fussed).

I think a University can, and I've heard that language schools can too (However I've also heard that they often don't do it, so I don't know if you can necessarily get a work permit or not).

[robenroute]

Kiggs,

If possible, I'd certainly go for a CELTA certificate; it's well regarded here in Thailand. If the accent isn't too strong, I wouldn't worry about it too much. As SlyAnimal explained, attitude is most important. Wear a shirt and tie, proper trousers and polished shoes, and you should be okay (mind you, the Thais do appreciate a fresh and neat mop chop).

Salaries vary, as do the costs of living in the different neighbourhoods in Bangkok. If you're looking for a decent room in a reasonable area (e.g. Lad-Prao, Rama 9, Rama 4), depending on the room size and amenities, between 5,000 and 8,000 should get you a proper place to live. Anything more towards downtown (Sukhumwit area) will get more expensive; you should be prepared to fork out 10,000 and (much) more.

Under normal circumstances (yes, that includes the odd beer), 40k a month should keep you on the right side of things.

Good luck (and have fun!)

[phuturatica]

My first piece of advice would be to learn how to spell 'advice' - Nothing worse than having an English teacher being unable to spell.

My second piece of advice which is much less sarcastic is... I am also from Manchester and I did my TEFL in the UK before moving over. In order to be a qualified teacher over here you also need to have a BA degree of some kind otherwise you cannot get a work permit.

@robenroute is right by getting a CELTA - it is much better and much more intense of a course and you would be more than qualified but it does cost a lot more money. I'm not sure though if it is the case that without the CELTA you do not get decent pay. I earn more than some of my colleagues and I only have a TEFL and they have CELTA, I think it really depends on the establishment and where you are teaching.

Also the city has more money to offer than out in the sticks but it would definitely be easier to get a job in countryside.

[jpinx]

Beware the employer who offers you work and promises to sort out the workpermit "soon". You will be illegally working and risking your future in Thailand. There have been posts in TV about similar situations where the employee was stranded by the employers failure to get the workpermit and now faces a trip to their home country to start again.

[Kiggs]

Ye just spotted the typo. Blame the phone!

Thanks for all the great advice (had to tell this thing not to change the c) anyway!

Its going to be the back of beyond where I start to look for work due to the other venture,but will look tonight when I'm home about the courses you have all mentioned.

Edited September 10, 2012 by Kiggs

[Kiggs]

My second piece of advice which is much less sarcastic is... I am also from Manchester and I did my TEFL in the UK before moving over. In order to be a qualified teacher over here you also need to have a BA degree of some kind otherwise you cannot get a work permit.

.

Please dont slap me down for this but you say "a BA degree of some kind" so this does NOT have to be a teaching degree?

If thats the case can i get a dodgepot one from the net? This sounds bad but you get what i mean.

[Scott]

Do NOT get a dodgy certificate. The Ministry of Eduction is getting quick at spotting them and a few people have run in major legal problems because of it. It is not worth the hassle. You also need the transcript.

[Loaded]

Do NOT get a dodgy certificate. The Ministry of Eduction is getting quick at spotting them and a few people have run in major legal problems because of it. It is not worth the hassle. You also need the transcript.

In my province you don't need transcripts. I think many other provinces are the same.

I think a distinction can be made between fake degrees from khao san road and life-experience degrees (some issue transcripts) from the internet. You are committing fraud using a fake degree. You aren't committing fraud with a life-experience degree. However, there is a significant chance it won't be accepted by your employer. Saying this, I know teachers who have been here many years with a life experience degree. They have work permits, non-imm Bs and the TCT has regularly issued 2-year waivers, The waiver only requires a written request from the school director and there is no examination of the degree certificate by the TCT.

The TA in CELTA stands for teaching children. This certificate is good at what it does - prepare teachers to teach adults in a language school - and like McDonald's, it is widely recognized; however, whether you will learn the skills to teach Thai kids in a formal school environment is debatable.

[Loaded]

Do NOT get a dodgy certificate. The Ministry of Eduction is getting quick at spotting them and a few people have run in major legal problems because of it. It is not worth the hassle. You also need the transcript.

If you mean "hippo', he had a khao san road degree and was committing fraud.

[masuk]

I have read and spoken English for well over half a century. I worked and studied in the Science field, but I wanted to teach English after retirement and did a TEFLA course in Australia, and was amazed and what I didn't know about my own language.

My advice is that no matter what you might have studied and obtained a degree in, be it Ag. Science or English Lit. , if you're going to be a specialist in the English language and teach it, then do a TEFLA or CELTA or similar course.

If you make spelling mistakes or punctuation errors, the students might be polite enough not to say anything, but they'll pick it! At least, that was the case with high school students in Indonesia.

Good luck.

[Kiggs]

When I said dogdepot degree I was talking about the life skills ones you see all over the net. I didn't mean a fake.

Thanks again for all the input will carry on looking tonight.

[brewsterbudgen]

Do NOT get a dodgy certificate. The Ministry of Eduction is getting quick at spotting them and a few people have run in major legal problems because of it. It is not worth the hassle. You also need the transcript.

In my province you don't need transcripts. I think many other provinces are the same.

I think a distinction can be made between fake degrees from khao san road and life-experience degrees (some issue transcripts) from the internet. You are committing fraud using a fake degree. You aren't committing fraud with a life-experience degree. However, there is a significant chance it won't be accepted by your employer. Saying this, I know teachers who have been here many years with a life experience degree. They have work permits, non-imm Bs and the TCT has regularly issued 2-year waivers, The waiver only requires a written request from the school director and there is no examination of the degree certificate by the TCT.

The TA in CELTA stands for teaching children. This certificate is good at what it does - prepare teachers to teach adults in a language school - and like McDonald's, it is widely recognized; however, whether you will learn the skills to teach Thai kids in a formal school environment is debatable.

The 'A' in CELTA stands for 'adults' not children. I realise it was a typo in your post, but you may want to amend it!

Edited September 11, 2012 by brewsterbudgen

[Kiggs]

STD members can't edit. 7&7 might do it if he sees it.

[Scott]

Do NOT get a dodgy certificate. The Ministry of Eduction is getting quick at spotting them and a few people have run in major legal problems because of it. It is not worth the hassle. You also need the transcript.

If you mean "hippo', he had a khao san road degree and was committing fraud.

That was a rather well known topic and was on this forum and the other major teaching forum. There were 2 teachers who were also sprung in Bangkuthien (BKK area) and deported.

Teachers with Life Experience degrees some years back could probably get through the system. I don't know that is the case at this point in time.

[Scott]

An inflammatory post has been removed. This site is for teachers and about teaching. Unasked for critique is not welcomed.

[colinneil]

Kiggs dont worry about mancunion accent i am from that area ,and have no problems with children understanding me, i teach out in the sticks (hill tribes). dont have a degree but got plenty of life experience have my own way teaching kids make it fun ,kids love it forget all this rubbish about government schools cant get you wp. , if they want they can believe me talking from my own experiences.

[phuturatica]

My second piece of advice which is much less sarcastic is... I am also from Manchester and I did my TEFL in the UK before moving over. In order to be a qualified teacher over here you also need to have a BA degree of some kind otherwise you cannot get a work permit.

.

Please dont slap me down for this but you say "a BA degree of some kind" so this does NOT have to be a teaching degree?

If thats the case can i get a dodgepot one from the net? This sounds bad but you get what i mean.

I wouldn't bother as you don't get a transcript with a fake degree and you'll most probably get caught out and then you'll be nose deep in the s%&*

Basically... You cannot legally work in Thailand without a work permit and you can't get a work permit without a BA degree or equivalent. Of course you can still get a job but you are working illegally. Up to you.

[thunder30101]

Whatever cert you decide on I would highly suggest you get it here. If you choose a decent school you will learn a lot about thai culture (ouch) and the infamous thai education system which resembles nothing you have experienced before lol and also hopefully get some actual class time with thai students (god help you). Bangkok, where I have never taught, is much stricter in rules and regulations for teaching but where I live in Issan anything goes (remote outposts have their perks). The pay is 30-35K a month compared to bkk which should be 40k and up but my expenses are lower (sticky rice and chicken feet). Dive in the waters fine, just look out for the rocks.

[Kiggs]

Thanks for the post Thunder. I was going to take the course in the Uk,never even thought about doing it in Thailand . Ta