TEFL jobs for the over 45s ?

[Stewmac]

Hi I'm looking to move to Bangkok In 12 months to be with my girlfriend , so the problems I envisage are by then I will be 47 & no degree . I was wondering whether a TEFL course here in Perth Australia is better or wait till arrive in Bangkok ? Plus are the chances of securing employment slim based on age & no degree ? I really need to be in Bangkok so can't go rural , appreciate any replies

Thank you

Stew

[Scott]

You will most likely be able to find work. If you have a TEFL you will know what you are doing in the classroom. You may have to do some looking, but it's possible.

Best of luck.

[Stewmac]

Thanks Scott , b a big move leaving well paid job here but fingers crossed be worth it , should be bringing over around 1.8/2 million baht so won't have to hit ground running

[wilcopops]

You will most likely be able to find work. If you have a TEFL you will know what you are doing in the classroom. You may have to do some looking, but it's possible.

Best of luck.

To get a work permit you will need a degree - officially - there are ways around this but you will be moving into a "gray" area.

[wilcopops]

Most private language schools employ some or all teachers illegally - their teachers either work part-time on the wrong visa or have a work permit that doesn't actually cover their work. Working around Bk the chances of getting caught are small....but it leaves you open to being informed on by anyone who takes a dislike to you.

Edited April 6, 2014 by wilcopops

[janpharma]

Age is no problem, I took the TEFL whilst "57" in Thailand and could practice during the course...it was a great experience.

[Blindside]

Stew, what visa are you planning on?

[Stewmac]

Not sure if a 90 day tourist visa or ED visa is the easiest ?

[wilcopops]

To work legally, you need a business visa and work permit.

These are inter-connected.

You need to apply outside Thailand for the B visa but first you'll need all the paperwork relating to the company that is employing you.

Simultaneously you need to apply for a work permit with the dept of labour....this is more or less impractical so any school worth its salt will have someone in admin/HR who will sort this out for you.

Somewhere along this line(s) you will need to show your degree - which you don't have - some schools (govt?) seem to have managed to get round this.

there are quite a few people working without degrees who have had jobs for a long time - even they get worried from time to time as you can never guarantee that some immigration Nabob may decide on a "clampdown". It also means that it can be VERY difficult to change jobs.

There are also many people teaching who have FAKE degrees - again the same applies, probably with stiffer penalties.

Edited April 6, 2014 by wilcopops

[bendywire]

Hi Stew,

I would advise you to be careful in your choice of agency as there are many out here who prey on the teachers without both experience and degrees. Having a degree is important for the longer term as the salaries being offered are getting lower for teachers without degrees. If you want more details pm me and I will help you find a good agent for work.

Dave

[wilcopops]

PS - if you want to teach English in Thailand there is one more thing that will prove invaluable....that is the urge to TEACH.

As a teacher you have a responsibility to your students and just hoping that it will give you a way of financing your stay i Thailand with your g/f is not enough.

[wilcopops]

Hi Stew,

I would advise you to be careful in your choice of agency as there are many out here who prey on the teachers without both experience and degrees. Having a degree is important for the longer term as the salaries being offered are getting lower for teachers without degrees. If you want more details pm me and I will help you find a good agent for work.

Dave

it's important because it's the law!

[sirchai]

Hi Stew,

I would advise you to be careful in your choice of agency as there are many out here who prey on the teachers without both experience and degrees. Having a degree is important for the longer term as the salaries being offered are getting lower for teachers without degrees. If you want more details pm me and I will help you find a good agent for work.

Dave

So the job you're offering him is one without the right type of visa, nor having a work permit. Then this "agent" can do with the OP what he wants.

Sorry, but that can't be a good start as a teacher in Thailand. OP states that he needs to work in Bangkok.

Might be worth to get hired as a "trainer", if the director/superiors of the school do so.

Sorry, but I do not like any agents who take a part of my monthly salary. Cheers.-

Edited April 6, 2014 by sirchai

[tingtongtingtong]

PS - if you want to teach English in Thailand there is one more thing that will prove invaluable....that is the urge to TEACH.

As a teacher you have a responsibility to your students and just hoping that it will give you a way of financing your stay i Thailand with your g/f is not enough.

No truer words

[bendywire]

Hi Stew,

I would advise you to be careful in your choice of agency as there are many out here who prey on the teachers without both experience and degrees. Having a degree is important for the longer term as the salaries being offered are getting lower for teachers without degrees. If you want more details pm me and I will help you find a good agent for work.

Dave

So the job you're offering him is one without the right type of visa, nor having a work permit. Then this "agent" can do with the OP what he wants.

I'm not offering him a job. I am just offering some practical help. Yes to work you need a degree but until this is achieved why let someone get screwed over by a shark agency! The OP asked for advice and I am happy to help without being judgemental regarding his degree or non degree status.

Maybe instead of looking for the negatives you could share your experience and help him also.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[bendywire]

Hi Stew,

I would advise you to be careful in your choice of agency as there are many out here who prey on the teachers without both experience and degrees. Having a degree is important for the longer term as the salaries being offered are getting lower for teachers without degrees. If you want more details pm me and I will help you find a good agent for work.

Dave

So the job you're offering him is one without the right type of visa, nor having a work permit. Then this "agent" can do with the OP what he wants.

Sorry, but that can't be a good start as a teacher in Thailand. OP states that he needs to work in Bangkok.

Might be worth to get hired as a "trainer", if the director/superiors of the school do so.

Sorry, but I do not like any agents who take a part of my monthly salary. Cheers.-

As stated below I am not an agent. I was merely pointing out that there are many agencies who WILL screw him over given his status. I have read my post again just to check that I didn't offer him a job and I am happy to report there was no such offer. Read it again and refrain from making assumptions based on nothing.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Maroon Watcher]

Get a "Foreign" TEFL get some volunteer practise - And take an online or part-time degree whislt you have the time here.

Better in the long run for all concerned.

And yes Teaching/Training is a responsible job but more easygoing in most schools

[sirchai]

Hi Stew,

I would advise you to be careful in your choice of agency as there are many out here who prey on the teachers without both experience and degrees. Having a degree is important for the longer term as the salaries being offered are getting lower for teachers without degrees. If you want more details pm me and I will help you find a good agent for work.

Dave

So the job you're offering him is one without the right type of visa, nor having a work permit. Then this "agent" can do with the OP what he wants.

Sorry, but that can't be a good start as a teacher in Thailand. OP states that he needs to work in Bangkok.

Might be worth to get hired as a "trainer", if the director/superiors of the school do so.

Sorry, but I do not like any agents who take a part of my monthly salary. Cheers.-

As stated below I am not an agent. I was merely pointing out that there are many agencies who WILL screw him over given his status. I have read my post again just to check that I didn't offer him a job and I am happy to report there was no such offer. Read it again and refrain from making assumptions based on nothing.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I apologize. It might be much better for the OP to go from school to school and seek employment as a "trainer", or "Teacher's assistant."

Reasons for are pretty easy to understand, as the OP would bypass the Khuruspa ( TCT) and would only have to deal with the labor department and Immigration,

Labor department on the other hand wouldn't be suspicions as Op had never taught on a waiver here before. Might be a good way to go and completely legal..

Good luck!-

Edited April 6, 2014 by sirchai

[Stewmac]

Thanks for alll the replies , I'm looking at TEFL in Bangkok too at least that would give me something to do when I get there & become more aware of the Thai people

Edited April 6, 2014 by Stewmac

[mogo51]

Thanks for alll the replies , I'm looking at TEFL in Bangkok too at least that would give me something to do when I get there & become more aware of the Thai people

The teaching industry can be a difficult one to trek as many will tell you, especially as you do not have a degree, but many accept TEFL, however, as far as I am aware Thai Immigration have tightened up the requirements officially.

More importantly, how long have you been with your g/f, at your age, leaving a well paid job in Oz is a big step, so I hope you are done your homework in that area. One bit of advice, dont tell her about the amount of money you have - nor her family.

[Stewmac]

Cheers Mogo51 I am aware of a percentage of Thais love nothing better than to rip off a farang , hopefully mine isn't one of them

[luteplayer1981]

Hello Stewmac

I was in pretty much your situation about 9 years ago and did a little research by asking some farangs who were teaching in local language schools about the experience. I decided it would not be feasible as a long term profession if I did not have a degree as most language schools offer very insecure work at low pay (250-400 baht/hour)without stability. Also, as some have commented, to teach in most reputable schools, colleges, universities etc. a BA plus a TEFL plus some teaching experience is a requirement (for a work permit and to be legit in terms of visas).

In addition, teaching is not an easy way to survive here and you must have a professional and ethical attitude to be fair to students, i.e. the few who genuinely like English and will admire their 'ajaan'. Otherwise, it might be possible to locate a school that will hire you if you look right (typical white guy, not bad looking, dress conservatively) as most decisions made by Thai staff are largely based on appearance, not qualifications, provided you have the minimum.

In the end, I found the few foreigners and even a few trainers I had interviewed knew little about English and almost nothing about language in general and often very little of Thai which puts one in a weak position to actually help Thai speakers learn anything effective about the language. Also, understanding the culturally and socially imposed intellectual obstacles Thai learners live with is important to be of much help to them.

But you could just come here and get a job.

Imagine this scenario. You come to Bangkok, have a contact who knows someone in a school who wants a foreigner fob (as they work for less e.g. 20-25 k/baht per month). The school interviews you, loves you, hires you. Now you find yourself in front of a classroom of 45 little kids (aged 8-17 depending on grade) who can't understand a word of English, and a large portion of whom appear to have ADHD. That is something I have seen and heard of in other schools. It's not an implausible scenario ( it happened to me in Chiang Mai).

In the end, you will be better off if you take some courses in Aussieland where standards are high and you will actually learn something. It's not impossible. After reviewing the situation 9 years ago, I went back to my country, finished a BA in linguistics in 2 years, got the TEFL in Chiang Mai university- by the way, the TEFL is utterly worthless as a teacher training course. 130 hours of nonsense and forcing poorly prepared trainees to teach every day after sitting in mind-numbing classes- and subsequently got a job in a university in a major city where I've been for more than 6 years.

Truth is, teaching is really really hard, and it's even more difficult here where there is minimal teacher support or infrastructure. Thais don't really care about what you do as long as kids and parents like you. Effective second language learning pedagogy is considered 'stuffy' and old-fashioned. But current methods are obviously not working as most kids come through school with a very confused and inaccurate understanding of English if they haven't had the benefit of years of outside training with tutors, foreign travel, etc.

If you want to teach English here, learn about teaching, learn about English, get some experience, come and stay.

All that takes about 2 years during which you can visit frequently.

Good luck to you.

[Tywais]

All posts and replies with a silly spelling argument of grey/gray - synonymous, as off topic and argumentative.

//edit - some off topic posts removed also.

[EASYDOGG]

You will most likely be able to find work. If you have a TEFL you will know what you are doing in the classroom. You may have to do some looking, but it's possible.

Best of luck.

I would say it would be hard to find a job in Bangkok. So many options would not be available to you. You could start a degree course soon and work your way towards it. It will take time, but ensures you have a wider choice of work and not scraps. Bangkok is a horrible city at the best of times, it's even worse if one has no money.

I would also like to add that a TEFL cert doesn't mean he will know what to do in the classroom. It will give him some form of heads up, but to know what you are doing really only comes in time and after one lands a job.

Edited April 6, 2014 by EASYDOGG

[puukao]

PS - if you want to teach English in Thailand there is one more thing that will prove invaluable....that is the urge to TEACH.

As a teacher you have a responsibility to your students and just hoping that it will give you a way of financing your stay i Thailand with your g/f is not enough.

I agree with this. It's all about your passion for teaching. I hope you love teaching, helping others, and seeing them learn. However, I know plenty of teachers in the USA who have this; however, they also LOVE it when they don't teach and talk more about their 60k USD salary with summers off than caring about their students. They also get benefits, etc. It's not a ton of money, but it is when compared with Thailand. So, since you getting about 7 or 8x less than USA teachers, I can understand you getting burned out at times. Ideally, of course, you are teaching without money as the main object; however, there is an opportunity cost of your time. i think teaching in Thailand is difficult in the long-term, so hopefully you have the right mind-set before you begin. Moreover, of all the teachers I know at all levels (10 in total), not one seems to really care what happens to a student 10 years from now. their responsibility is to make money for their family, and then just hope it all works out for the rest. how many times did you go back and contact your middle school or high school teacher, years later?

[wilcopops]

Hi Stew,

I would advise you to be careful in your choice of agency as there are many out here who prey on the teachers without both experience and degrees. Having a degree is important for the longer term as the salaries being offered are getting lower for teachers without degrees. If you want more details pm me and I will help you find a good agent for work.

Dave

So the job you're offering him is one without the right type of visa, nor having a work permit. Then this "agent" can do with the OP what he wants.

Sorry, but that can't be a good start as a teacher in Thailand. OP states that he needs to work in Bangkok.

Might be worth to get hired as a "trainer", if the director/superiors of the school do so.

Sorry, but I do not like any agents who take a part of my monthly salary. Cheers.-

As stated below I am not an agent. I was merely pointing out that there are many agencies who WILL screw him over given his status. I have read my post again just to check that I didn't offer him a job and I am happy to report there was no such offer. Read it again and refrain from making assumptions based on nothing.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I apologize. It might be much better for the OP to go from school to school and seek employment as a "trainer", or "Teacher's assistant."

Reasons for are pretty easy to understand, as the OP would bypass the Khuruspa ( TCT) and would only have to deal with the labor department and Immigration,

Labor department on the other hand wouldn't be suspicions as Op had never taught on a waiver here before. Might be a good way to go and completely legal..

Good luck!-

Only certsn jobs are open to certain citizens - I'd be surprised if "assistant" jobs were open to anyone outside ASEAN, and "trainer

" is highly ambiguous - back into that GRAY area.

[steve73]

A 58 yo friend of mine recently came here permanantly from Oz to teach. He did some on-line stuff before he came, and then a local course/training and is now teaching Business English in Rayong province. It's only part time, but 2-3 hours most days at 500bt per class is enought to survive until he can get a more permanant position somewhere.

OK, I do realise you (OP) asked specifically about Bangkok, but I'm sure there'd be similar opportunities there.

...and it does seem that his age was a positive for the business English course.

[sms747]

PS - if you want to teach English in Thailand there is one more thing that will prove invaluable....that is the urge to TEACH.

As a teacher you have a responsibility to your students and just hoping that it will give you a way of financing your stay i Thailand with your g/f is not enough.

Not just the urge - he needs the ability to teach English, and in a manner that works with Thai kids. The OP does not say if he has ever taught before and getting a TEFL that almost nobody can fail is a bit like getting a Thai driving licence and thinking you can drive. It should be far, far harder for foreigners wanting to teach here, no wonder the level of English in Thailand is so poor. Thai kids are being taught by Thai teachers who mostly cannot speak it, and foreigners who mostly cannot teach it effectively. My advice is do the kids a favour and don't do it.

Edited April 7, 2014 by sms747

[Stewmac]

Thanks for your input SMS , if everyone thought that way nothing would ever get done & I have been a trainer in my job for 5 years so do have some of the teaching concept

[sms747]

Nothing is ever done about unqualified foreigners coming here and 'teaching' English just for their own benefit, unfortunately. You are NOT an English teacher so why do it without proper training, without a degree you will be illegally employed anyway. Would you let a novice fix your car or take care of your teeth? or teach your kids? Thailand really does not need another clueless English teacher thank you.

Edited April 7, 2014 by sms747