Qualifications for English teachers

[peterkeip]

I am a non-native English teacher from Germany and I have got a TEFL-certificate (3-months-teacher-training) in 2008 and 5 years of experience teaching English at Language Schools.

Will this certificate be accepted for teaching at government or private schools in Isan ?

Or do I additionally need TOEIC as well ?

Thank you for your reply

[KhunBENQ]

I am afraid your question would better be placed in another forum section, e.g. in the "Teaching in Thailand Forum".

There should be nothing Isan specific about this question and here few experts reading.

Edited August 30, 2014 by KhunBENQ

[TerryLH]

Non native speakers of English require a TOEIC test. I think that is for the teachers license or license waiver.

[SlyAnimal]

You would need a TOEIC test score of 600+ (I think?) and a bachelor degree in any field

[lostinisaan]

I am a non-native English teacher from Germany and I have got a TEFL-certificate (3-months-teacher-training) in 2008 and 5 years of experience teaching English at Language Schools.

Will this certificate be accepted for teaching at government or private schools in Isan ?

Or do I additionally need TOEIC as well ?

Thank you for your reply

Dude, You could just say that you're an English teacher from Germany. A TEFL doesn't mean anything. You taught for five years at language schools, where you've got a "certificate" from?

A degree in any filed from your home, or another country. If not in English, it has to be translated into Thai and also verified

Then you'll have to have a TOEIC score of at least 600 ( which is about the level of a 6th grader in an English speaking country)

Then the Non-B visa and more......

Edited September 1, 2014 by lostinisaan

[peterkeip]

I am a non-native English teacher from Germany and I have got a TEFL-certificate (3-months-teacher-training) in 2008 and 5 years of experience teaching English at Language Schools.

Will this certificate be accepted for teaching at government or private schools in Isan ?

Or do I additionally need TOEIC as well ?

Thank you for your reply

Dude, You could just say that you're an English teacher from Germany. A TEFL doesn't mean anything. You taught for five years at language schools, where you've got a "certificate" from?

mo

A degree in any filed from your home, or another country. If not in English, it has to be translated into Thai and also verified

Then you'll have to have a TOEIC score of at least 600 ( which is about the level of a 6th grader in an English speaking country)

Then the Non-B visa and more......

Thank you for your reply. I got my TEFL-certificate from TTT-Language-School in Phuket.

One more question, please: where can I do that TOEIC-Test ? Eventually in Sisaket area or Ubon Ratchathani (I try to avoid Bangkok) ?

Edited September 2, 2014 by Scott
Reply moved out of the quote

[lostinisaan]

I am a non-native English teacher from Germany and I have got a TEFL-certificate (3-months-teacher-training) in 2008 and 5 years of experience teaching English at Language Schools.

Will this certificate be accepted for teaching at government or private schools in Isan ?

Or do I additionally need TOEIC as well ?

Thank you for your reply

Dude, You could just say that you're an English teacher from Germany. A TEFL doesn't mean anything. You taught for five years at language schools, where you've got a "certificate" from?

A degree in any filed from your home, or another country. If not in English, it has to be translated into Thai and also verified

Then you'll have to have a TOEIC score of at least 600 ( which is about the level of a 6th grader in an English speaking country)

Then the Non-B visa and more......

Thank you for your reply. I got my TEFL-certificate from TTT-Language-School in Phuket.

One more question, please: where can I do that TOEIC-Test ? Eventually in Sisaket area or Ubon Ratchathani (I try to avoid Bangkok) ?

You wrote your post into mine, but it doesn't really matter....There's no test center in Sisaket, nor in Ubon. Please see:

http://cpathailand.co.th/?article=8

http://cpathailand.co.th/?category=10

You didn't mention, if you're holding a degree in any field from Germany. If not, you won't be able top get a provisional Teacher's license.

If so, all of your documents, the degree, the transcripts have to be translated into Thai and verified.

Once you've made the test, you can pick your certificate up the next day. Why not spending a night in Bangkok.........

Edited September 2, 2014 by lostinisaan

[aidenai]

I am a non-native English teacher from Germany and I have got a TEFL-certificate (3-months-teacher-training) in 2008 and 5 years of experience teaching English at Language Schools.

Will this certificate be accepted for teaching at government or private schools in Isan ?

Yep. Do you hold a university degree? In general when working in government basic education schools - no degree > no TCT provisional teaching permit > no extension of stay based on employment > no work permit.

[TerryLH]

"Then you'll have to have a TOEIC score of at least 600..."

lostinisaan, if you don't mind, can you tell us what your TOEIC score was?

Not trying to dis you, just curious. Thanks

Terry

OP, you might try contacting the test center in Bangkok and see if they have any plans to test at other locations. I believe they send people to KKU once a month to do testing. They might be thinking of doing the same things in other areas.

[lostinisaan]

"Then you'll have to have a TOEIC score of at least 600..."

lostinisaan, if you don't mind, can you tell us what your TOEIC score was?

Not trying to dis you, just curious. Thanks

Terry

OP, you might try contacting the test center in Bangkok and see if they have any plans to test at other locations. I believe they send people to KKU once a month to do testing. They might be thinking of doing the same things in other areas.

A pretty fair question, Terry. I have a TOEIC score of 865 points,( out of possible 990) even after a sleepless night on the train from Sisaket to Bangkok.

Train was late, as usual, then right ahead to the TOEIC test center. And i wasn't happy about my score, as I couldn't answer the last six questions, as I thought I'd still have enough time.

At the end of the second part are long reading assignments. So I was just trying to tick any box to complete it, but was informed that it wasn't allowed doing so.

A TOEIC score of 600 is pretty poor and in my opinion maybe okay for a flight attendant.But not for somebody who wants to teach English.

Please see attached document, that shows that a TOEIC score of 600 is equal to a B1, or B 2 CEFR level. I also mastered C 2 level. Please see:

http://www.examenglish.com/CEFR/cefr.php

It seems that CEFR becomes the new tool of testing in Thailand, but also in many other ASEAN member countries.

Return to Top Page.docx

Edited September 2, 2014 by lostinisaan

[peterkeip]

"Then you'll have to have a TOEIC score of at least 600..."

lostinisaan, if you don't mind, can you tell us what your TOEIC score was?

Not trying to dis you, just curious. Thanks

Terry

OP, you might try contacting the test center in Bangkok and see if they have any plans to test at other locations. I believe they send people to KKU once a month to do testing. They might be thinking of doing the same things in other areas.

A pretty fair question, Terry. I have a TOEIC score of 865 points,( out of possible 990) even after a sleepless night on the train from Sisaket to Bangkok.

Train was late, as usual, then right ahead to the TOEIC test center. And i wasn't happy about my score, as I couldn't answer the last six questions, as I thought I'd still have enough time.

At the end of the second part are long reading assignments. So I was just trying to tick any box to complete it, but was informed that it wasn't allowed doing so.

A TOEIC score of 600 is pretty poor and in my opinion maybe okay for a flight attendant.But not for somebody who wants to teach English.

Please see attached document, that shows that a TOEIC score of 600 is equal to a B1, or B 2 CEFR level. I also mastered C 2 level. Please see:

http://www.examenglish.com/CEFR/cefr.php

It seems that CEFR becomes the new tool of testing in Thailand, but also in many other ASEAN member countries.

Hi Terry, KKU ? Which city do you mean ?

One more question, please: What´s happening, when at the age of 65 or older (for example unable to work any longer). Are you expecting an old-age pension from your home country ?

[lostinisaan]

"Then you'll have to have a TOEIC score of at least 600..."

lostinisaan, if you don't mind, can you tell us what your TOEIC score was?

Not trying to dis you, just curious. Thanks

Terry

OP, you might try contacting the test center in Bangkok and see if they have any plans to test at other locations. I believe they send people to KKU once a month to do testing. They might be thinking of doing the same things in other areas.

A pretty fair question, Terry. I have a TOEIC score of 865 points,( out of possible 990) even after a sleepless night on the train from Sisaket to Bangkok.

Train was late, as usual, then right ahead to the TOEIC test center. And i wasn't happy about my score, as I couldn't answer the last six questions, as I thought I'd still have enough time.

At the end of the second part are long reading assignments. So I was just trying to tick any box to complete it, but was informed that it wasn't allowed doing so.

A TOEIC score of 600 is pretty poor and in my opinion maybe okay for a flight attendant.But not for somebody who wants to teach English.

Please see attached document, that shows that a TOEIC score of 600 is equal to a B1, or B 2 CEFR level. I also mastered C 2 level. Please see:

http://www.examenglish.com/CEFR/cefr.php

It seems that CEFR becomes the new tool of testing in Thailand, but also in many other ASEAN member countries.

Hi Terry, KKU ? Which city do you mean ?

One more question, please: What´s happening, when at the age of 65 or older (for example unable to work any longer). Are you expecting an old-age pension from your home country ?

Khon Kaen University. Located in the middle of Isaan. They did monthly tests in the past. Please see::

http://www.kiwitoday.com/home/htm/Academic.aspx?ContentID=126&CategoryID=52

Edited September 2, 2014 by lostinisaan

[TerryLH]

"I have a TOEIC score of 865 points"

Thanks for answering. That's a good score.

"One more question, please: What´s happening, when at the age of 65 or older (for example unable to work any longer). Are you expecting an old-age pension from your home country ?"

That's almost impossible to answer without specific info, starting with who it was directed to.

I think each individual will have a different answer - detail wise.

If a person reaches 65 and doesn't have something coming in, they might be in trouble unless they started with a lot.

If you are enrolled in Thai Social Security you can keep health coverage if you were paying into the system for 12 months by signing up to pay on your own. 432 baht per month.

If you were in that system for 180 months, you can get a small retirement amount each month. Very small compared to what most expats would be used to. (I believe the 180 months is accurate, but it's been a long time since I've looked at the SS Act.)

[peterkeip]

"Then you'll have to have a TOEIC score of at least 600..."

lostinisaan, if you don't mind, can you tell us what your TOEIC score was?

Not trying to dis you, just curious. Thanks

Terry

OP, you might try contacting the test center in Bangkok and see if they have any plans to test at other locations. I believe they send people to KKU once a month to do testing. They might be thinking of doing the same things in other areas.

A pretty fair question, Terry. I have a TOEIC score of 865 points,( out of possible 990) even after a sleepless night on the train from Sisaket to Bangkok.

Train was late, as usual, then right ahead to the TOEIC test center. And i wasn't happy about my score, as I couldn't answer the last six questions, as I thought I'd still have enough time.

At the end of the second part are long reading assignments. So I was just trying to tick any box to complete it, but was informed that it wasn't allowed doing so.

A TOEIC score of 600 is pretty poor and in my opinion maybe okay for a flight attendant.But not for somebody who wants to teach English.

Please see attached document, that shows that a TOEIC score of 600 is equal to a B1, or B 2 CEFR level. I also mastered C 2 level. Please see:

http://www.examenglish.com/CEFR/cefr.php

It seems that CEFR becomes the new tool of testing in Thailand, but also in many other ASEAN member countries.

Hi Terry, KKU ? Which city do you mean ?

One more question, please: What´s happening, when at the age of 65 or older (for example unable to work any longer). Are you expecting an old-age pension from your home country ?

Khon Kaen University. Located in the middle of Isaan. They did monthly tests in the past. Please see::

http://www.kiwitoday.com/home/htm/Academic.aspx?ContentID=126&CategoryID=52

Thank you Terry. In my opinion, this is very risky, because I could work/teach in Thailand until 65, 75 or whatever (now I am 49), but for sure I will get in big troubles because my old-age-pension from my home country will not be over 12.000 THB/monthly. With just a TEFL-certificate (but no TOEIC/Bachelor/Master degree), non-native English speaker, there will be difficulties to find a Job in Thailand, too. Do you agree ?

[aidenai]

Yes. i agree. That is working legally. Correct permission of stay and work permit.

[TerryLH]

Yes, it's risky.

Why not go back home and put in a few more years at a good wage and have a better pension waiting for you?

[lostinisaan]

Dear OP,

I had to go to my country of origin, which is Germany as well, because I had a motorcycle accident with my bike. The operation was pretty messed up at the Sisaket hospital, and even after eight months on crutches, there’s no chance to be able to walk again…

.

To get to the point. My motorcycle insurance only covered 12,000 baht, while my Thai social security covered the rest. It was 85,000 baht…..

So I had to go back to Germany and actually found a way to get back into the “system” that I was entitled to have coverage for a serious operation, which turned into a nightmare, as they’d given me a bacterial infection in one of the best hospitals, where I received an artificial knee joint.

No work permit, no social insurance for you. And you won’t be able to work, until you’re 75 here. Even with a Master’s in education, as Thai teachers usually retire in the age of 60.

I checked on my retirement insurance in Germany and found out that I’ll only receive about 15 K/month, as I didn't pay in for the last 12 years living in Thailand. ( Impossible on a teacher's salary here)

If I were you, I’d go back, pay in some more years and once you've got enough money, just come back to Thailand and have sufficient funds to live here. Anything else is wishful thinking.

You’re five years younger than I am, and you’ll have to work until you’re 67, or so. It depends on when you were born. I’d have to work until I’m 66.5 years old….as they do not have enough money anymore. Thanks to the European Union……

P.S. Sorry for my long post,as i felt it was necessary to mention a few points.

Wish you best of luck. Alles Gute.

Edited September 2, 2014 by lostinisaan

[SlyAnimal]

You guys are lucky with the German system, that you can still receive money while living in Thailand.

The NZ system means I wouldn't be eligible unless I spent more than half of the year in NZ, and I'd have to have worked at least 10 years in NZ (at least 5 of which must be after 50).

Although I've still got a long time until I'd even be eligible (65) for a pension anyway, so either the rules or my situation might change before then lol

[peterkeip]

You guys are lucky with the German system, that you can still receive money while living in Thailand.

The NZ system means I wouldn't be eligible unless I spent more than half of the year in NZ, and I'd have to have worked at least 10 years in NZ (at least 5 of which must be after 50).

Although I've still got a long time until I'd even be eligible (65) for a pension anyway, so either the rules or my situation might change before then lol

Hi and thanks for your reply. Where are you teaching ? What are your plans for the future ? Will you go back to NZ soon ?

[SlyAnimal]

I was teaching in Roiet but am taking 1 year off to study Thai in Bangkok.

I don't plan on returning to NZ to live at all, although you never know what the future holds. However I do pop back to NZ if there is a good reason to go back (e.g. Weddings of close friends/family).