Seeking Information About International Schools And Hiring

[ivan96822]

I have appealed to those in the know before and gladly inquire more information from helpful individuals on this forum once again...

I am a qualified teacher in the west who is seriously thinking of teaching in Bangkok for a year or two (or more if I'm so inclined), preferably at an international school since I have a teaching credential and Master's degree in education (as well as four years of teaching experience in the States) as my qualifications.

I will be brief and to the point:

1. My school year does not end until mid-May of 2013. Will there be openings at the international schools at around this time?

2. Being hired abroad sounds interesting, but most recruits go to major cities in the U.S. I, on the other hand, live in Honolulu, Hawaii, and it would be somewhat costly to have to fly to the mainland for one of these interviews. Is it likely I can be hired directly from Bangkok at a decent international school?

3. As I will be taking a leave of absence from my school, they will pay me for up to one year at half my regular salary. Therefore, I will have an income that I can survive on for at least twelve months. Can this factor in in any way (i.e., if I have to wait a few weeks to get a job at an international school)?

Please offer your opinions on this matter. I do appreciate you taking the time to read this post.

[ivan96822]

Thanks for the speedy response...

So when would you say that I would have to completed an interview by?

Also, if hiring ends in February, hypothetically, if I was hired, when would I have to physically get to Bangkok?

[Markaew]

Some of the international schools have the same schedule as the schools in foreign countries as in starting in August/September (US).

If you are a real teacher as I am, Thailand is not a good choice unless you just want to get away for a year or two. It is nothing like you have been trained to do. In the US you are in control of your class and it's grades where in Thailand you have no control over anything and you are treated like yesterday's trash. There are a lot of emploment agencies now that schools are preferring verses direct employment and they are really bad for teachers here. They wash out teachers on a whim and the salaries are lower. Everytime you get new employment you have to spent a ton of money to leave the country and get a new visa because your visa is attached to your job. Think about it before you jump into this hell hole.

Edited October 25, 2012 by Markaew

[ivan96822]

Markaew,

You definitely offer insightful advice, but surely other qualified english teachers don't feel the same way?

Granted I'm interested in teaching in bangkok--not london, vancouver, or sydney--i know the experience will not be the same cup of tea I an teaching in hawaii, but still, the idea of teaching thete in bkk is attractive, even if just for a year or two...?!?!

Are there any other qualified teachers and / or english teacher veterans who teach / or have taught in bkk that can contribute to this discussion?

Thanks!

[ivan96822]

And Markaew,

If it is so dam_n bad teaching there, pray tell, what are you doing there?

With all due respect, please reply.

Cheers

[Scott]

Some of the local Thai Schools with English Programs can have some pretty weird practices.

[rijb]

And Markaew,

If it is so dam_n bad teaching there, pray tell, what are you doing there?

With all due respect, please reply.

Cheers

I think he is trying to give you a healthy respect for the differences between here and the U.S. Your experience and education has not prepared you for the cultural differences you will have to learn and deal with as an educator in Thailand.

Many amateurs and experts come here and fail. Some go home. Some give up and continue to draw a paycheck. Some of us work very hard to continuously learn and appreciate Thailand's cultural nuances while trying to make a difference.

You want money, this isn't the place. You want adventure, this isn't the place. You want to find out if you're a real teacher, this might be the place.

[sirchai]

And Markaew,

If it is so dam_n bad teaching there, pray tell, what are you doing there?

With all due respect, please reply.

Cheers

I think he is trying to give you a healthy respect for the differences between here and the U.S. Your experience and education has not prepared you for the cultural differences you will have to learn and deal with as an educator in Thailand.

Many amateurs and experts come here and fail. Some go home. Some give up and continue to draw a paycheck. Some of us work very hard to continuously learn and appreciate Thailand's cultural nuances while trying to make a difference.

You want money, this isn't the place. You want adventure, this isn't the place. You want to find out if you're a real teacher, this might be the place.

Guess it's a huge difference to teach any languages beside Thai in this country, compared to the States, or somewhere in the old world.

But as somebody already had mentioned, you'll find out if you're really a teacher. Jindee Dhonn Lharb. (Welcome).

[DaBloodyMess]

As I said in another thread it is possible to come here and apply locally without being disadvantaged in your contract. I know I did, and this applies to a number of other teachers that are newly started at my school this year. For example some of these teachers were retired in Thailand, but have now decided to teach for a few more years- they still get flights home included as part of their contract.

It is not ideal of course, but those that say the sky will fall in if you dont get hired from your home country are frankly just drawing on their own experiences and a whole lot of hearsay.

Coming to see the schools before committing to a contract may also allow you to avoid the negative experiences that some people have clearly had. You can always duck down to KL or Singapore and get hired from there if a local hire will disadvantage you

[Scott]

^{Thanks for clearing up some of the misconceptions. I do know one person who was hired locally and he did not get the same package as those from overseas, but it was still a very, very, good deal. I don't remember what the differences were, but they were reasonably minimal.}

Edited October 26, 2012 by Scott

[ivan96822]

And Markaew,

If it is so dam_n bad teaching there, pray tell, what are you doing there?

With all due respect, please reply.

Cheers

I think he is trying to give you a healthy respect for the differences between here and the U.S. Your experience and education has not prepared you for the cultural differences you will have to learn and deal with as an educator in Thailand.

Many amateurs and experts come here and fail. Some go home. Some give up and continue to draw a paycheck. Some of us work very hard to continuously learn and appreciate Thailand's cultural nuances while trying to make a difference.

You want money, this isn't the place. You want adventure, this isn't the place. You want to find out if you're a real teacher, this might be the place.

Guess it's a huge difference to teach any languages beside Thai in this country, compared to the States, or somewhere in the old world.

But as somebody already had mentioned, you'll find out if you're really a teacher. Jindee Dhonn Lharb. (Welcome).

As a high school teacher in Hawaii, it is a lot different than, say, a high school teacher in Kansas: my students come from many corners of the globe, the majority being from China, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Micronesia (Chuuk, Pohnpei, the Marshall Islands, and Kosrae), Hawaii, the mainland USA, Guam, Samoa, Tonga, and in smaller numbers Europeans, Indians, Cambodians, Africans, and Thais.

People sometimes forget that Hawaii is a melting pot, and when I look at the faces of the students in Thailand, both the public school kids and the international school kids, they look a lot like the students in my classroom.

Edited October 26, 2012 by ivan96822

[rijb]

That's a great start. Sounds like fun.

However, students in Hawaii are usually expected to follow western culture as they learn English.

In Thailand, the onus is on western teachers to deal with Thai-specific cultural considerations, not just language interference.

[ivan96822]

Just because they are in Hawaii does not mean they embrace western culture with a smiling face and open arms.

Many fight assimilating into western culture to the death and only associate with those from their corner of the globe and communicating in their native tongue.

Thus it is a challenge that I am comfortable in on a daily basis and would gladly accept the opportunity and challenges of teaching abroad.

[jen1025]

I have to agree that you'll probably get a better deal being hired from stateside than a 'local hire.' The fact that you have a few years of experience will help you greatly. I have an American teaching credential - without stateside experience. I graduated when the economy tanked. Came over here - working my way up. I'm realizing it's a lot more difficult than I originally bargained for, but I haven't given up. If I had it to do again, and I might do it again after pursuing a higher degree - I'd get to a recruiting fair.

Generally I tell people "come and see for yourself," rather than warning people off.

But you really cannot prepare for everything that Thai culture will throw at you without experiencing it. It doesn't matter how diverse your classroom was in the US. The culture shock is part of the process.

The first time you realize the Ministry of Education actually makes failing illegal - well, that's one moment you start to realize how different things are. The 'Love Thai King' grade is fun, too. That's coming from a Government EP, not my current school. I just wrote a whole column of 3 out of 3s for that mark.

Do be looking now, but things will continue to open up. I landed a position in March/April; things come up.

That said, I'm a local hire at a small school - I get no airfare, I don't get the fancy benefits package sort of stuff.

What I get out of this position is experience in my subject, instead of just teaching English.

And like any teaching gig, the kids are what make it fun.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Honestly, if it's something you're determined to do, then just do it. Hindsight is 20/20 - and looking back on so many things I've done in life I likely would have thrown in the towel if I could see all the struggles from the outset. Sometimes easier to just go with the forward momentum and take it as it comes.

[Jimjim]

If you're taking a leave of absence for just one year and getting that half salary, just take a year and have a vacation in Thailand for a year and then go back to Hawaii at the end of the year!

That half salary would be enough for me to survive in Thailand for a year quite comfortably. Though others would disagree as they would tend to spend far more money than me.

Anyway, I'd say consider it. Even if you just came over and got a job at one of the international schools that weren't quite in the top tier but could just pay you 40K-50K baht per month, with your half salary coming in as well that would definitely be enough I'd say. You'd get more experience teaching and you'd have enough money to live decently.

[Vee83]

Hi everyone,I am a French teacher of English and have followed my husband here in Bangkok. He works at the French International School where I hoped I could get a job too but there are no offers at the moment in ESL. I was wondering if it is even remotely possible to consider applying for a job in the other international schools as a non-native speaker. I have all the French degrees in Education plus a Master's Degree in English Literature. Back in France I taught for a few years in secondary schools and at the English Department of my hometown University. Right now I am in the third year of my PhD in Postcolonial Studies. Of course my accent is not perfect and never will be but I've lived in London for two years so it's not too bad either. I don't know what the policy is regarding non-native speakers, if anyone can help I'd be glad to know.Thanks.

Edited November 20, 2012 by Vee83

[yourauntbob]

Some of the international schools have the same schedule as the schools in foreign countries as in starting in August/September (US).

If you are a real teacher as I am, Thailand is not a good choice unless you just want to get away for a year or two. It is nothing like you have been trained to do. In the US you are in control of your class and it's grades where in Thailand you have no control over anything and you are treated like yesterday's trash. There are a lot of emploment agencies now that schools are preferring verses direct employment and they are really bad for teachers here. They wash out teachers on a whim and the salaries are lower. Everytime you get new employment you have to spent a ton of money to leave the country and get a new visa because your visa is attached to your job. Think about it before you jump into this hell hole.

I am a real teacher. I simply dont have a teaching diploma from the west. There are many bad teachers here, but there are also many bad teachers in the USA as well. Having a certificate does not make you a "real" teacher, connecting with students does.

OP, check the websites of schools you might be interested to teach at. Many international schools will post job openings online and you can apply directly from Hawaii. Here is a list to get you started (http://www.isat.or.th/index.php?option=com_cbimzsearch&view=cbimzlist&Itemid=130)

[ivan96822]

Some of the international schools have the same schedule as the schools in foreign countries as in starting in August/September (US).

If you are a real teacher as I am, Thailand is not a good choice unless you just want to get away for a year or two. It is nothing like you have been trained to do. In the US you are in control of your class and it's grades where in Thailand you have no control over anything and you are treated like yesterday's trash. There are a lot of emploment agencies now that schools are preferring verses direct employment and they are really bad for teachers here. They wash out teachers on a whim and the salaries are lower. Everytime you get new employment you have to spent a ton of money to leave the country and get a new visa because your visa is attached to your job. Think about it before you jump into this hell hole.

I am a real teacher. I simply dont have a teaching diploma from the west. There are many bad teachers here, but there are also many bad teachers in the USA as well. Having a certificate does not make you a "real" teacher, connecting with students does.

OP, check the websites of schools you might be interested to teach at. Many international schools will post job openings online and you can apply directly from Hawaii. Here is a list to get you started (http://www.isat.or.t...list&Itemid=130)

Thanks, mate, but McAfee gave me a warning about heading in that direction....Got another site you would suggest?

Thanks.

[isawasnake]

I think if you are ok pretty much forgetting all the stuff you learned in school, and being compelled to listen to bosses that have no idea what they are talking about, and dealing with unruly kids that you can't give any punishments to, you should do just fine.

You say Hawaii is a melting pot, I'll take your word for it, but it is a melting pot, in your case, consisting of students who have traveled and are doing so because they are motivated to learn. If you can roll with the punches, you'll be fine here.

[ivan96822]

I think if you are ok pretty much forgetting all the stuff you learned in school, and being compelled to listen to bosses that have no idea what they are talking about, and dealing with unruly kids that you can't give any punishments to, you should do just fine.

You say Hawaii is a melting pot, I'll take your word for it, but it is a melting pot, in your case, consisting of students who have traveled and are doing so because they are motivated to learn. If you can roll with the punches, you'll be fine here.

Just because they are here in Hawaii does not mean they are motivated to learn. I give ten vocabulary words a week--A WEEK!--how easy is that???--and I consistently get students who get 0 out of 10 on their weekly vocabulary exams....

[isawasnake]

I think if you are ok pretty much forgetting all the stuff you learned in school, and being compelled to listen to bosses that have no idea what they are talking about, and dealing with unruly kids that you can't give any punishments to, you should do just fine.

You say Hawaii is a melting pot, I'll take your word for it, but it is a melting pot, in your case, consisting of students who have traveled and are doing so because they are motivated to learn. If you can roll with the punches, you'll be fine here.

Just because they are here in Hawaii does not mean they are motivated to learn. I give ten vocabulary words a week--A WEEK!--how easy is that???--and I consistently get students who get 0 out of 10 on their weekly vocabulary exams....

If your students there act like monkeys, listen to nothing you say, and cannot be failed, and you have no say in how to improve the system, then you should fit right in. The preferred teaching method here is to go into the classroom, put up some slides, act like a monkey, never mind if anybody understood, and pass them all. That is literally what they want from you. Oh and don't forget to dress nice.

I would question getting a job at a good school that quick though. Most employers will want to meet you (exceptions for sure), and those jobs don't get given up too much. I'd just take a year off and relax; you'll thank me later

Edited November 24, 2012 by isawasnake

[JimShortz]

International jobs can potentially become available at any time, it is always worth regularly checking the websites of any schools that you are interested in. Lanna International School, in Chiang Mai, for instance, currently has a job for a (properly qualified) teacher to work in the school's developing Intensive English programme. You would only find out about jobs in the smaller international schools by regularly checking their websites.