Looking For Some Advice And Steps To Take.

[new2here]

New to the forums, though read it via the twitter feed - very good overall.. Sorry if i've posted improperly or against protcols, I didn't see a better place to post this - if there is a moderator-initated move would be welcomed.

Hoping to draw from the knowledge pool here. Looking for some insight and hopefully actionable advice or steps to pursue. Sorry it’s a bit long, but I didn’t want to short anyone on details or critical information as i know that not having it makes giving solid advice harder.

A little background on me and my situation:

I’m a US national of Japanese decent, native English speaker and University graduate (Pac-12 University) with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering. I don’t have an English-as-foreign language teaching certificate as that wasn’t a required thing for my in-house work.

I’m retired now, but only in my very 40’s as I started work while I was a junior in college. I spent 20 full years working for a Japanese airline in the Training and Development unit.

Basically my entire 20 years was spent conducting English “workshops” in person, at most of our foreign cities. These workshops were created by the
airlines’ TD unit and designed to train, coach and insure our staff were able to speak, read and write, reasonable, accurate and correct business
conversational English and were familiar with necessary industry terms. I had a pre-determined curriculum to follow, but could deviate within reason as needed.

They’d last around three to six weeks each session and depending on the needs, I’d conduct anywhere from one to five sessions in total before moving on to a new city.

I’ve actually lived and worked here in Bangkok twice before as this is a big city for us in the region and there’s a large staff presence. The first time was in 1999 to early 2001 and the second time was in 2007 to early 2008.

I’ve always wanted to teach outside of the transport industry largely because my passion is helping others achieve, as I think there’s a lot of personal satisfaction in seeing someone advance and be successful due in part to your efforts. On a purely personal front, I really want something that makes me get up and out of the condo each day. I’ve golfed all I think I can. I’m getting bored fast as most of my friends are stll actively employed. So I’d like to teach as I’ve essentially done that for many years - albeit on the corporate level, love doing it and it helps me by filling out the days between Sunday and Friday.

My personal case is that I’m not looking for huge pay. I’m lucky as I have a decent monthly pension, and retirees’ medical coverage. I also have rental income from a house I own in the SF Bay area, but do use about 33% of that rent income to offset my mortgage on my house in the Redondo Beach (LA) area. So I have monthly cash flow alreadty. I have a multiple-entry B visa already that's good until end of Jan 2014. I live right now in the Lumpini area, very close to the US Embassy and Residence.

As far as the pay goes, I’ve done some very rough math and figure that if I draw about 25k a month, after deducting work-related things
(like transport costs, lunches outside, etc) that this in addition to my pension, etc, would be more than ample. I’m not looking to get rich—just have a more enriching life here. however, this is a very rough estiamte as I lack a lot of sepcfiics that would help me get a more accurate picture.

I’d be willing to work either FT or PT, but I’m more concerned about the work itself and the conditions; that's the management and coworkers. I guess I’d be happier working P/T for less, but in a place that was more to my liking, than working FT in a place that just didn’t fit me.

So… I pose to you as the community, what do you think is my best course of action here given the above?

I guess I don’t know what the process is to get hired here. Do you email around? A centralized hiring agency? Walk-in? I just don’t know the process here nor exactly where and how to start -- that's the part thats killing me and daungting.. I don't even know where is the 'start here' line.. Help!

Also, how do I prepare and package myself to a prospective employer? Paperwork? Officialdom?

Hope some of you experts and long-timers can help a noobie find his way around and get some tips I can implement.

My plan is to start actively looking on 1 May, so from now until then is all prep work. Again I'm not expecting huge fiancial rewards, but something that helps me out, gives me something productive to do, helps others and is fun- all rolled together.

Happy to hear any constructive replies or PM's.

Regards,

[Soutpeel]

Why dont you send one of the mods a PM and get them to move this post to the teaching forum, you will most like get the answers you seek there, based on the info you have given you should be able to get yourself a bit more cash wise than 25k/m

although I work in Thailand I wouldnt have a clue were you would start either in what your trying to do but good luck all the same

[rgs2001uk]

I’ve actually lived and worked here in Bangkok twice before as this is a
big city for us in the region and there’s a large staff presence. The
first time was in 1999 to early 2001 and the second time was in 2007 to
early 2008.

Start at where you left off.

Contact your former employer and see whats available.

[Canada]

You'll find teaching Thai students considerably different than your years of teaching. I would start by deciding what type of students you want to teach here in Thailand. That'll give you a sense of direction at least. Then the "teaching forum" is a good start as one poster already suggested.

Good luck

[Suradit69]

You'll find teaching Thai students considerably different than your years of teaching. I would start by deciding what type of students you want to teach here in Thailand. That'll give you a sense of direction at least. Then the "teaching forum" is a good start as one poster already suggested.

Good luck

Given your experience why not start out by contacting Thai Airways or other businesses with employees who have to deal with English speaking customers. If you are not used to dealing with school age children, but have extensive experience dealing with adults who have a connection with tourism and business travel, you'd probably feel more comfortable sticking to those sorts of students you've worked with the past 20 years. Improving their work skills should be satisfying for you and a great help to them and you'll probably find them well-motivated.

Edited April 29, 2013 by Suradit69

[new2here]

I’ve actually lived and worked here in Bangkok twice before as this is a

big city for us in the region and there’s a large staff presence. The

first time was in 1999 to early 2001 and the second time was in 2007 to

early 2008.

Start at where you left off.

Contact your former employer and see whats available.

Thanks, I did ty that, however, due to a corporate re-structure of how this function is done, my former employer now actually flies onto Japan most of the staff they need to train as it's more cost effective to do it this way (airfare is near free obvously and we own several hotels, so lodging is also near free) than the way it has been done during my tenure.

[new2here]

You'll find teaching Thai students considerably different than your years of teaching. I would start by deciding what type of students you want to teach here in Thailand. That'll give you a sense of direction at least. Then the "teaching forum" is a good start as one poster already suggested.

Good luck

Given your experience why not start out by contacting Thai Airways or other businesses with employees who have to deal with English speaking customers. If you are not used to dealing with school age children, but have extensive experience dealing with adults who have a connection with tourism and business travel, you'd probably feel more comfortable sticking to those sorts of students you've worked with the past 20 years. Improving their work skills should be satisfying for you and a great help to them and you'll probably find them well-motivated.

Thai has a full blown "instruction" department which covers most all of their needs (unfortunately for me) but the idea of a general "tourism and business travel' business is a good idea.. Thanks.

[new2here]

You'll find teaching Thai students considerably different than your years of teaching. I would start by deciding what type of students you want to teach here in Thailand. That'll give you a sense of direction at least. Then the "teaching forum" is a good start as one poster already suggested.

Good luck

Good point.. I have given some thought to this question, but I've kind of decided that for me, part of this experience is for me to also grow, and if that means puting myself in some new and uncharted waters, so be it. I agree that traching the over-18 set would be what I know, but I guess at this stage I'm willing to put myself out there and teach to groups I havent been exposed to in the past, that uncharted water.

[Support]

Moving to teaching in Thailand forum

[Scott]

Here is a thread that might be of interest to you: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/635216-t-a-t-to-open-language-schools-in-a-bid-to-shore-up-thailands-lack-of-skilled-tour-guides/?hl=+tat

It might not be helpful at this point in time, but it might be something that you could pursue.

[Canada]

You'll find teaching Thai students considerably different than your years of teaching. I would start by deciding what type of students you want to teach here in Thailand. That'll give you a sense of direction at least. Then the "teaching forum" is a good start as one poster already suggested.

Good luck

Good point.. I have given some thought to this question, but I've kind of decided that for me, part of this experience is for me to also grow, and if that means puting myself in some new and uncharted waters, so be it. I agree that traching the over-18 set would be what I know, but I guess at this stage I'm willing to put myself out there and teach to groups I havent been exposed to in the past, that uncharted water.

Motivated Thai students may be hard to find . Ready for that?? I would stick with adults who pay to learn.

[doontp]

seach on ajarn dot com

many English teaching jobs posted there

[Phatcharanan]

Why do you look 'surprised' in your avatar?

[nietzche]

I’ve actually lived and worked here in Bangkok twice before as this is a

big city for us in the region and there’s a large staff presence. The

first time was in 1999 to early 2001 and the second time was in 2007 to

early 2008.

Start at where you left off.

Contact your former employer and see whats available.

Thanks, I did ty that, however, due to a corporate re-structure of how this function is done, my former employer now actually flies onto Japan most of the staff they need to train as it's more cost effective to do it this way (airfare is near free obvously and we own several hotels, so lodging is also near free) than the way it has been done during my tenure.

I would suggest approaching Thai Universities (preferably government ones).

If you don't care about salary too much and would prefer an ideal work environment then that is your ticket.

I know a guy who teaches at one of the better government uni's in BKK. His hours are only 12 per week, and the salary is around 30k or so. He only has to go in when he has class and say's the students are great.

He's in a similar situation to you where he has good rental income from the U.S., but an extra 30k a month goes a long way, plus he likes the work.

Aside from that you could sign up for some part time corporate work teaching english to company employees at their offices. I think the main reason most people don't like this type of gig is that it does not provide a visa and the hours are not regular or guaranteed.

I would stay away from any high schools or below. I've met people who teach in government schools here and they always look tired and stressed.

Edited May 5, 2013 by Scott

[otherstuff1957]

With your background and experience you shouldn't have much trouble getting a job here. As others have said, a university job would probably fit your needs as far as income and working hours. Another option would be any of the language schools that arescattered around Bangkok, like Inlingua or SCC or Wall Street English.

As for finding a job, put together a resume and hit the pavement. Friends and neighbors are always good sources for job leads, otherwise, just start knocking on doors. Thais are generally not good at responding to emails, a personal visit & a follow up phone call will usually work best.

When jobs are advertised in Thailand potential employers will usually get about 100 applications from Filipinos, a few Europeans and maybe two or three actual native English speakers with degrees. Make sure that your resume emphasizes thar you are a native English speaker who was born and educated in the USA.