Bangkok TESOL Beginnings

[GreenCurryorDie]

My wife and I are planning a move to BKK in July. I plan to work in the TESOL field, and would welcome any suggestions from the seasoned ones on this forum.

You TESOLers, if you had it to do over again, how would you do it? Arrive on a tourist visa? Get the TESOL Certification or is that a waste of money? Recommendations? Things to avoid?

I'm interested in working in a language school/center or corporate setting, not a public school. I have a BA (in Russian) and exactly one half of a MA in TESOL/Bilingualism (interrupted when I was posted overseas and never completed).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or constructive comments. We lived in BKK previously and can't wait to get back! (I'm emailing the big language schools now to test the waters, so if you work in one, you may recognize me.) Thanks again.

[fifthcolumn]

Language schools like to hire young 20-30 somethings preferably hipsters. You will need to contact an agency in most circumstances to obtain "corporate" work. Those jobs are not always consistent employment, often involve evenings (as language schools) and agencies which are notorious in the way they manage their staff (teachers).

It is my impression that persons hired to do corporate gigs have prior experience teaching. Perhaps even CELTA.

You "unfinished" MA in what precisely?? Anyway, that amounts to about three classes is my guess. IMO unfinished gets the goose egg here as everywhere else. Seems like an empty boast even to place three classes on your resume. Better to have had a TEFL. I personally do not find unfinished degree work the least bit impressive (not being snarky).

You might have great sucess teaching Russian, but honestly I don't see Thais learning Russian. I had a semester of it and found it quite insane (no wonder they drink so much).

Public schools which you are not interested in require a BA in Education or better (or so it seems at present, the lic. commission is an abdolute mess). Jobs pay 30k month, ten months a year often.

Traching corporate lessons without a permit you will really open yourself up to getting screwed by non payment. In fact, this is true simpky working for agencies.

[kingalfred]

No work in language schools.Its hammered by the protests in Bangkok.furthermore it's paid by the class,very few contract positions.Supply of teachers outweighs demands.If you are looking for a nice easy number with no hassle in a centre and a good salary think again.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[isawasnake]

I would pass on the TESOL for sure. Just forget mentioning any unfinished education. The whole point of that stuff, in my eyes, is to show that you can be dedicated and finish something. I actually think mentioning unfinished education as one of the best things you can do if you want to make yourself look bad..... the closer you got to finishing, the worse you look (why didn't you just finish the 1 last class? not talking to op ).

Head to ECC and some others, you may get lucky? Wall Street would be my preferred gig, but they may be tougher to get into. Keep trying and I bet you will get one. Once you have one, then let the true suffering begin

[zeichen]

Fifth Column is full of gloom and doom. He is not even close to being accurate on most things that he stated, so please just review all of his posts in the past 6 months and you will see how credible his statements are.

"Public schools which you are not interested in require a BA in Education or better (or so it seems at present, the lic. commission is an abdolute mess). Jobs pay 30k month, ten months a year often."

This isn't true. The only requirement for the work permit and temporary license is a BA/BS degree in any field. There are literally thousands of teachers working legally with non education BA/BS degrees.

TEFL/TESOL/CELTA is not a requirement for a work permit, but many schools like to see it for those without any experience.

As far as language schools go, yes you can find work in them. They hire anyone and like people that are dependable and hard working. You do need to treat it like a business though and act accordingly. (just because they have a preference for young good looking people, that doesn't mean that is all they hire. FYI all jobs in all countries hire good looking people first.) Language schools do have their strengths as work environments go but are quite demanding. Language schools are after school/work so you will be doing nights and weekends. Split shifts can be tiresome. The pay is very low at the bottom so if having a certain amount of income is necessary, you might want to reconsider.

Corporate jobs are usually earned by contracts, or referrals. Do not deal with agencies or recruiters. It isn't difficult to get work, but sharing your salary with an agency isn't the best thing when you are paid so low to begin with.

Experience trumps all things, however you don't have that so you will need to start at the bottom and work your way up into the field.

Finish your masters, work in your own country, then come to Thailand and you will get some great jobs. The entry level positions suck, but if this is just a gap year or 2 then no problem just come. But it is hard to build a career in Thailand without qualifications and valid experience. Most teachers burn out too quickly.

Good luck

[GreenCurryorDie]

Thanks for the replies. I'm leaning toward taking the CELTA to be a little more competitive. Any suggestions on where to take it?

[lostinisaan]

Language schools like to hire young 20-30 somethings preferably hipsters. You will need to contact an agency in most circumstances to obtain "corporate" work. Those jobs are not always consistent employment, often involve evenings (as language schools) and agencies which are notorious in the way they manage their staff (teachers).

It is my impression that persons hired to do corporate gigs have prior experience teaching. Perhaps even CELTA.

You "unfinished" MA in what precisely?? Anyway, that amounts to about three classes is my guess. IMO unfinished gets the goose egg here as everywhere else. Seems like an empty boast even to place three classes on your resume. Better to have had a TEFL. I personally do not find unfinished degree work the least bit impressive (not being snarky).

You might have great sucess teaching Russian, but honestly I don't see Thais learning Russian. I had a semester of it and found it quite insane (no wonder they drink so much).

Public schools which you are not interested in require a BA in Education or better (or so it seems at present, the lic. commission is an abdolute mess). Jobs pay 30k month, ten months a year often.

Traching corporate lessons without a permit you will really open yourself up to getting screwed by non payment. In fact, this is true simpky working for agencies.

Language schools like to hire young 20-30 somethings preferably hipsters. You will need to contact an agency in most circumstances to obtain "corporate" work. Those jobs are not always consistent employment, often involve evenings (as language schools) and agencies which are notorious in the way they manage their staff (teachers).

I don’t understand what you’re talking about and consider myself a specialist regarding Thai schools. Your post pretty much socks.

It is my impression that persons hired to do corporate gigs have prior experience teaching. Perhaps even CELTA.

Did you take LSD when typing this? Please be honest.

You "unfinished" MA in what precisely?? Anyway, that amounts to about three classes is my guess. IMO unfinished gets the goose egg here as everywhere else. Seems like an empty boast even to place three classes on your resume. Better to have had a TEFL. I personally do not find unfinished degree work the least bit impressive (not being snarky).

Three classrooms full of gossip. Have had a degree. What English is that? A TEFL is even worse than real toilet paper.

You might have great sucess teaching Russian, but honestly I don't see Thais learning Russian. I had a semester of it and found it quite insane (no wonder they drink so much).

How the heck can you make such things up and post it. Insanity at its best.

Public schools which you are not interested in require a BA in Education or better (or so it seems at present, the lic. commission is an abdolute mess). Jobs pay 30k month, ten months a year often.

In require a BA? Unrequire maybe? Or Unreplublished, because it’s nonsense. Or an abdulete mass.

Traching corporate lessons without a permit you will really open yourself up to getting screwed by non payment. In fact, this is true simpky working for agencies.

You should get a proper spell check. Congrats for creating new English words will receive the Surin 2014 Pulitzer Prize, as there wouldn't already be a sort of too many of them.

Edited March 15, 2014 by lostinisaan