OK I decided to take the plunge. Arriving in March. I am 27 with no degree and plan to teach English unless something better comes up.

What can I do to get legal?

Get a degree.

It is very hard to find someone who will be able to get your a WP without a degree, yes it can be done but not very often.

Try language centres for part time work is a good option.

You will find some agents will get you a job, but you will not be legal as you will be on a tourist visa doing visa runs, and with no Work permit.

Get a school to hire you and help you get a Non B Visa and Work Permit. (live link edited out) has some job listings.

also what do you mean "Until something better comes up" what skills do you have?

I taught for years with a college diploma and no Tesol course, as a native English speaker.I currently have a degree but it did not matter to the 4 schools that I have worked at.

Are going to get a visa before your travel? You should at least get a single entry tourist visa which would give you a 60 day entry that can be extended for 30 days before you make trip.

Are there any degree programs there?

I worked in the family printing business but time to get out on my own.

If you want to stay long term go home get a degreee with a teaching certificate and then come back. If you have a real job at a top notch internation school your ability to stay long term are brighter. A friend of mine who lived here teaching for 10 years realized if he wanted a real life here he needed the teaching certificate, he already had a degree. He came back to the states enrolled in school got his teaching certicate. It took him 5 years to do it with a 2 year period in Korea. He now works at one of the top schools in Bangkok, he is paid around 5,000 US dollars a month.

Being in Thailand without enough money isn't a fun proposition, what are your long term goals here just hanging out with the bros. drinking beer, this only goes so far and you still need money for this.

"I taught for years with a college diploma and no Tesol course, as a native English speaker.I currently have a degree but it did not matter to the 4 schools that I have worked at."

Is that the reason that none of those schools kept you on?

TerryYou taught 'for years' without a degree, yet you now have one. Did you go to school here, or take an online course?

I don't mean to discourage you, but to be perfectly honest: Forget it!!! You won't make it here for long.

Thailand is one of the hardest countries to migrate to and it takes years of preparation to be successful here or to get a job. Even a degree alone won't probably help you. If you have loads of money though, you may have different options... Or you may be just an extraordinarily lucky guy...

Cheers

I don't mean to discourage you, but to be perfectly honest: Forget it!!! You won't make it here for long.

Thailand is one of the hardest countries to migrate to and it takes years of preparation to be successful here or to get a job. Even a degree alone won't probably help you. If you have loads of money though, you may have different options... Or you may be just an extraordinarily lucky guy...

Cheers

In my opinion you are wrong, I prepared nothing, came here to get away from a difficult and messy divorce, spur of the moment thing. Had luckily enough got a job by using ajarn.com, had nothing in my pocket, now am married, have two condos, a car, go on holiday with my wife and MIL every year to Europe.

To the OP, try to get a job lined up before coming, otherwise forget it as it is gonna be very difficult.

I sent my resume to a place called Siam Computers and they say I can get a job but they recommended I get a degree.

Any ideas about Siam Computers?

Have any of you heard of this place they told me about, Thongsook College?

http://thongsookinternational.com/

Beano did you keep teaching or get into another job? Seems like pay is only about $1,000 per month

There are vacancies on

www.eslcafe.com

www.refl.com

www.efl.com

www.ajarn.com

No real employer charges you to work

NB you still need a WP to volunteer waht ever they tell you.

Excuse tpo above its

www.tefl.com of course

Pm me if I can be of any help I used to train folks here .

Its not lucrative unless at top International schools and for that you'll likely need bckground check e.g. valid CRB etc and a real degee from a real university that said mny do work here legally and otherwise without either

As you'll discoverits flexible and not always in the best way.If you are working illegally its hard to maon when paid late or not at all the scams are not new but continue.

Fake degrees viss all sorts of shenangans best plan if you wish to settel is get a real degree or if too long costly do at least get a real Trinity type efl/esol/esl cert from a native speaking country.Te online courses can never emulate classroom experience TP do are never enough for real academic situatins.

You may discover the white face is window dressing or your real job is childmind/sell more hours to businesses,plenty of other advixe here and on chatboards of aforementioned teaching sites plus another source I can send you

Good luck Anything is possible.Sad to say I will be happy to be contradicted but dark skin will bar you from most posts regardless of passport.I fear few will dispute this. so please don't shoot the messenger

As this is an English teaching thread will move into that section of the forum.

OK I will keep my options open about jobs but good to have at least one rather firm offer from Siam Computers. Its apparently teaching in local schools.

Any comments about the degree at Thongsook College? From what I have read you can get your degree because you study during the school holidays. And its only about $100 per month.

Beano are you still teaching?

Yeah I did the same thing about a year ago. It hasn't been perfect buts its been great. Its tough working in a Thai school but I love most of the kids to death. Watch out for the ones with rich parents, though.

I think Thongsook BA TESOL is the way to go. Its a good program and the people who run it are really trying to make it as convenient as possible. Its been great.

A few of the guys I know work at Siam Computer. Its got good support and a pretty good place to start if nothing else. You will get paid.

Beenthere2 and others reading this, no program is perfect and none will meet the needs of everyone.

We wish to be transparent. Anyone wishing to visit our campus is welcome. We will have classes Monday through Friday from 9 m to 5 pm beginning again in March 3rd. In fact all are welcome to attend a week of our degree program at no obligation. Just PM or Email me

I know from experience that Siam Computer will not get you a WP or a Non Immigrant Visa both are required.

In my opinion you are wrong, I prepared nothing, came here to get away from a difficult and messy divorce, spur of the moment thing.................

You and almost everyone else ...............................

Good to know about the work permit. Are there better schools out there?

So Thongsook looks very interesting.

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