Working As English Teacher

[english teacher]

Hi iam Holding a degree of Chemical Engineering and i want to change my career to be an english teacher i just want to know what should i need to be an english teacher?

Edited March 26, 2006 by english teacher

[lopburi3]

This has got to be a troll?

Perhaps you could tell us where you wish to teach? Different places have different requirements.

[nonthaburial]

I get a feeling this person is not in THailand and perhaps wishes to find the requirements of being able to teach English here.

For a start the OP would need a TEFL I think, can anyone tell me how long it would take to achieve this and at what cost ???

[PeaceBlondie]

TEFL courses last from four to six weeks full time, and should include 7 to 12 hours of actual practice teaching to EFL students. The courses cost at least 45,000 baht or $US1,200, but this varies.

If you have a solid background, you might be able to teach science or math in secondary schools. Then, instead of a starting salary of about 30,000 baht per month, you might get 6,000 baht more (less in the provinces than in Bangkok). Nobody gets rich just teaching English in Thailand.

Newcomers who want to teach in Thailand should read the thread at the top of this forum, about Qualifications.

[robitusson]

This has got to be a troll?

...or could be someone inquiring about working in Thailand? Give people the benefit of the doubt. Sheesh!

[lopburi3]

This has got to be a troll?

...or could be someone inquiring about working in Thailand? Give people the benefit of the doubt. Sheesh!

I gave him that. But with the English usage of his post I hope my children never have him as a teacher. And I know full well that a good teacher does not have to have great technical abilities; but he should at least know when to use his caps key.

I believe his degree could be a lot more useful to both him and others than trying to teach English. Engineering degrees are very much in demand in developing countries.

If you or I wrote a post like that would you seriously consider us as potential English teachers?

[robitusson]

Well, we can't all be pefect. I wouldn't want my children educated here at all, maybe in an International school. Besides, this is Thailand. The fact is that even a foreigner with a poor grasp of English could quite easily be a better English teacher than probably most of the Thai teachers and definitely some of the native speaking teachers doing the rounds. The fact is the system and techniques the Thais use to teach are rubbish. The average Thai's English ability after their usual 4 or 5 years of English at school is testament to this. Good luck to this guy.

Edited March 27, 2006 by robitusson

[nonthaburial]

lopburi3, standing in tather hasty jusdgement methinks. Firstly you keep referring to the OP as "he" and is a troll etc.

I have no idea of the gender of the writer but I do not think this is a troll

However your comments about you would think that such a degree holder would be employable in the degree field in a developing country were interesting ! Thailand is a developing country would you care to suggest to the poster a number of vacancies here available to him/her

[lopburi3]

He or she has not said what nationality they are or where they plan to teach. The post was not put in the teaching forum by the poster. As for jobs that would depend on experience as with anything else.

The fact is I also do not believe this is a troll. That was the reason I included the question mark. But I do believe the person should consider options other than English teaching from the only post we have to judge with.

[PeaceBlondie]

Not only did the original poster put the initial post in the wrong forum, but he or she did not realize that an informal request on a non-teaching forum would get him/her subjected to ridicule for poor spelling or grammar or punctuation.

That's precisely why I suggested that (s)he might look into teaching science or math(s), since s(he) might not be in great demand for "Advanced Tertiary Practicum in Rhetorical Pedantry." I never suggested the (s)he teach English as a subject.

Perhaps when the original poster is well rested, familiar with ThaiVisa, and addressing a professional audience, (s)he might surpass the Duke of Edinburgh in proper English.

[lopburi3]

Well English Teacher, who isn't yet, is back in the new teachers pinned thread so hopefully will obtain good information. And it is indeed a girl with a UK boyfriend so I guess just looking for income to be with him in Thailand rather than a career move. I would still advise looking for employment in her field as there has been a serious shortage of engenders here for years and that has been a cramp on development and there are many companies here who need such people. Most Thai opt for business type education.

[Neeranam]

I've been both an English teacher and a petroleum engineer - the teaching is by far the better option, for me.

[Ijustwannateach]

I would suggest that OP consider teaching science in an elementary EP program (where strict English will not be a problem), or else teach English to very low-level speakers in the countryside who will not mind or see her mistakes. Remember, it's not only students who will see her work but also Thai and potentially foreign colleagues.

[Neeranam]

I would suggest that OP consider teaching science in an elementary EP program (where strict English will not be a problem), or else teach English to very low-level speakers in the countryside who will not mind or see her mistakes. Remember, it's not only students who will see her work but also Thai and potentially foreign colleagues.

I'm thinking of sending my daughter to an elementary EP program and would want the science teacher to be fluent in English, but as you say, no real problem about writing. I am worried, as I've worked in these programs, that the science teacher will be an ex-butcher, and the Mathematics teacher a dope-smoking backpacker who doesn't give a toss.

Low level speaker in the countryside are different to those in the city - what is this supposed to mean.

[Doza]

there has been a serious shortage of engenders here for years...Most Thai opt for business type education

But with the English usage of his post I hope my children never have him as a teacher

Same could be said about you lopburi?

[robitusson]

I would suggest that OP consider teaching science in an elementary EP program (where strict English will not be a problem), or else teach English to very low-level speakers in the countryside who will not mind or see her mistakes. Remember, it's not only students who will see her work but also Thai and potentially foreign colleagues.

This is Thailand ferChrisake! Since when has the teaching standard been above the level of the OP. Need all the truisms about Thailand be repeated? Good teachers of any background or a token white face at the top of the room? The latter. Quality lessons or keeping up appearances? The latter. Substance or style? The latter.

Edited March 30, 2006 by robitusson

[Lormaak]

What you should have:

- White skin

- A shirt and tie

- A smile

- Patience

What you shouldn't have:

- (Large) Visible tatoos

- Dreadlocks or pink hair

- Dyslexia

- BO

- Halitosis

- Dirty clothes

You could probably get away with the last three (maybe four) depending on the place. Oh, and don't forget, you should also be an alcoholic incompetent. Or is that you shouldn't be...?

(White Skin? Yes, yes, I know before you start, there are plenty of Filipinas, Indians and others who teach English here, but usually at much lower wages etc...)

[Ijustwannateach]

*Some* of the EP programs are becoming more academic and more selective about their employees, especially when the smarter parents become involved. I'd say in Bangkok it's getting harder and harder to be a fake (especially subjects other than English)- and I'm happy of it, myself. Of course, those other things you mention are also required to survive long.

"Steven"

[robitusson]

*Some* of the EP programs are becoming more academic and more selective about their employees, especially when the smarter parents become involved. I'd say in Bangkok it's getting harder and harder to be a fake (especially subjects other than English)- and I'm happy of it, myself. Of course, those other things you mention are also required to survive long.

"Steven"

What's a 'fake'? Unqualified? How many qualified teachers are there in Thailand? What's the percentage of qualified teachers here? As far as I'm concerned if someone is teaching here without a third level teaching qualification then they're not a teacher. They may be teaching but they're not real teachers. That means about 98% of us.

[kenkannif]

^ I'm guessing he means those using a fake degree???

If you have a TL you're basically a teacher here in Thailand.

[sting01]

^ I'm guessing he means those using a fake degree???

If you have a TL you're basically a teacher here in Thailand.

Just noticed, people still love to be sarcastic.

So as I am not a native (anglo saxon native I mean), as I do not teach, and as I noticed people were complaining about caps (high case I suppose?), I would like to have some light.

How do you teach your student about 'couleur' did you teach color or colour? And why?

What about ' hello, I Pornchita, my sex is female ...' No one chocked here? I supposed it was gender the correct word?

About caps, does the rules are the same in the colonies (USA) or in main land (Poms country or if you prefer around Westminster, London .... in engliand I mean).

About teaching english, what is the most recommanded if you want to last long? Be a pedantic but clever Oxford diploma, or be able to act as a white monkey (ling in thai for those who still wonder what their beloved students say the morning) in front of 50 teenagers , more motivated by everything but english language (anyway the parents have already pay, so they will get the diploma at the end, even if they are only able to say 'same same').

The last professional teacher I met, was from Sout africa, afrikaan for sure, with an accent the most typical. Another one was obviously corkney and was spoken to the students like people speak in the lower suburbs around Manchester (oh oh Cantona ....). Not sure, but maybe one those who commented the OP post are in that list (afrikaan, or spoken low class slang, ....

Also, teaching english in Nakhin Nowhere is obviously different than teach english in Chula. In the earlier, obviously you are only a master parrot who have to make students repeated what the real teachers (the thais) have already tought. You have to make the kids fluent, not eally important if their future fluency is almost correct, or with some minors mistakes, or corresponding to the actual critrion of the perfect australian english (just learned recently it was existing). How many of you, ladies and gents, do a real teaching job? How many of you are only the official caution for the thai teachers in some remote schools (remote stand here for any schools who do not fit the standarts for EU, UK US or Australian schools, and not only remot geographically)?

That subject was one of the favorites in ajarn some years ago, and I do not think things have changed. So be nice with the newcomers and do not be pedantic and/or sarcastic. Many of the so called 'english teachers', maybe the main bady of them, are teaching here because they can not do so in other countries (Japan, Korea) where obviously the quality of work is better, the female are also asian, where people usually have a fair level of english language and arereally willing to learn. Isaid the main body, because yes there isgenuine teachers in thailand, that I am sure, but so many simply do not have the level of competence that we can find in western countries.

[robitusson]

^ I'm guessing he means those using a fake degree???

If you have a TL you're basically a teacher here in Thailand.

That's a good definition.

[Ijustwannateach]

I meant that, whatever your qualifications, faking it is becoming less of an option. If you're going to pretend to be a science or math teacher and you don't have a clue, even if the kids are fooled (and they're often not) the parents won't be.

Of course, this hasn't yet led to the higher salaries it should- as dim school administrators realise that the TEFLers they paid 25K a month for teaching "hello" are not quite up to M.3 algebra... but with luck it will eventually.

"Steven"

[Lormaak]

<moved>

Edited April 24, 2006 by Lormaak