Search for job, go teaching or study?

[Infamous]

Hi guys, I really need your advice on my current situation. Read a lot of information and have a total mess in my head now and no understanding of what to do. My questions may sound naive, pls apologize me for that.

My aim is to stay in Thailand permanently and legally.

Now im running out of my student visa (first year thai language course). In my school they said that starting from year 2 it wont be that easy to get student visa as they will test my thai in the embassy (just speaking). Its pretty stressful and unreliable for me as I havent succeeded much in thai language.

I was trying to find a job which would give me a work permit upon my qualification. That was a total fail which is no surprise.

So what I see for myself now is either risk and try to get second year student visa for thai language course. Or enter some university to get a thai degree and then search for a job. Which is totally abstract as I have no idea which university is nice but not super expensive and which qualification I should get.

It seems to me that the most realistic for me is to teach English. My questions are:

- how is it at all possible that almost anyone can teach english and gett visa easily and stay and work in Thai for years while specialists with university degrees have to go through the long procedure of getting wp or cant find work at all? It is a rhetorical question. I just try to understand.

- i guess to make my visa situation secure I need to get TEFL or TESOL certificate. For example this course (link edited out) guarantees placement. Do such courses provide student visa for the term of study and more importantly where am I supposed to get such certificate if Im not a native speaker? Will that influence my employment?

- Is it possible to get a job as a teacher in a regular school for thai kids, not just language school having only TEFL\TESOL certificate and being farang? I dont care about salary.

-what problems do teachers face extending visas or if you are a teacher you can stay as long as you want?

-any other thoughts on my situation are welcome.

Thank you in advance.

Edited September 19, 2013 by Scott
Link edited out

[OMGImInPattaya]

Maybe better in the Ajarn sub forum.

[Sceptict11]

Going by the information provided your aim to stay in Thailand "permanently and legally" is unrealistic.

[Infamous]

Going by the information provided your aim to stay in Thailand "permanently and legally" is unrealistic.

what info should i provide?

[Mario2008]

Without any idea what you would like to study, study doesn't seem to be an option.

A TEFL or TESOL will help you find a job, but only for a language school. For elementary or secondary schools you need to have a teaching degree in order to get a teaching license. But teaching is a job you must like or both you and the students won't have a good time.

You could get a temporary waiver of the teaching license, but that will only be for a few years and you must have an university degree for that.

[Briggsy]

Go and work for a language school for the next 30 years and all your problems have been solved.

[Infamous]

Without any idea what you would like to study, study doesn't seem to be an option.

A TEFL or TESOL will help you find a job, but only for a language school. For elementary or secondary schools you need to have a teaching degree in order to get a teaching license. But teaching is a job you must like or both you and the students won't have a good time.

You could get a temporary waiver of the teaching license, but that will only be for a few years and you must have an university degree for that.

so theoretically one can work as a teacher in a language school as long as he wants and immigration wont give problems with visa?

[Briggsy]

A language school will sort out your work permit and yearly visa extension and you don't need a degree, depending on the policy of the language school.

[Mario2008]

Without any idea what you would like to study, study doesn't seem to be an option.

A TEFL or TESOL will help you find a job, but only for a language school. For elementary or secondary schools you need to have a teaching degree in order to get a teaching license. But teaching is a job you must like or both you and the students won't have a good time.

You could get a temporary waiver of the teaching license, but that will only be for a few years and you must have an university degree for that.

so theoretically one can work as a teacher in a language school as long as he wants and immigration wont give problems with visa?

Correct.

[Loaded]

Without any idea what you would like to study, study doesn't seem to be an option.

A TEFL or TESOL will help you find a job, but only for a language school. For elementary or secondary schools you need to have a teaching degree in order to get a teaching license. But teaching is a job you must like or both you and the students won't have a good time.

You could get a temporary waiver of the teaching license, but that will only be for a few years and you must have an university degree for that.

Most formal schools require their teachers (Thai and foreign) obtain a teacher license. There are many paths to obtain one and an education degree is only one. You can obtain a permanent teacher license with a degree in any subject if you pass the TCT's 4 exams and attend a 20-hour culture and ethics course. Most teachers obtain 2-year waivers from the TCT which exempt teachers from taking and passing all 4 exams. These have been renewed 2 or even 3 times.

However, according to a thread on this forum, the TCT teacher licensing process is being reviewed as it prevents Thailand from recruiting sufficient numbers of teachers in specialist subjects such as English teaching.

"A TEFL or TESOL will help you find a job, but only for a language school." I disagree with this. Look at the job adverts on ajarn. Formal and non formal schools often request one especially if the teacher has no experience.

Edited September 19, 2013 by Loaded

[Colabamumbai]

You can find teaching jobs with a high school diploma, I have had many, including hotel management. Without Tesol courses, they are not necessary as some would like you to believe. They do not guarantee you a job, althought some schools may for a few months (Tesol Schools) A little Thai goes a long way. Like you I went to Thai school, but just for 3 months when I arrived.

I was offered a teaching job immideately and have been for four years now, in 6 months, and at 63 I am still teaching. I do not really want to but as a Canadian, no pension till 65.

I do have a degree but have only ever offered to show it if demanded. I like to see how far I can get on a Diploma in International Trade.

[Infamous]

Thank you for sharing your experience. My concern is that i wont be offered job easily as im not a native speaker. Thats why im thinking of getting a certificate. So how have you started teaching with no experience in that field? Did the school provide you with materials?

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[Briggsy]

If you are not a native speaker and not fully confident of your ability, go for lower ages if teaching school kids, say up to the age of 10. Alternatively if you teach at a language school, go for classes at pre-intermediate or lower.

You'll be fine, It's Thailand, everyone can get a teaching job. I mean everyone. Really there is no need to worry so much.

[Infamous]

Thank you!

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