Has My Brother A Chance Of Teaching In Thailand?

[BlimeyCharlie]

My brother who has a pretty successful job in the UK wants to teach here in Thailand. He has worked his way up the ladder to become a project manager for the company he works for and has being doing so for about 4 years. He's well educated but doesn’t have a degree. He did teach other professionals in his job which was relevant to his work.

He has taken his TEFL training mainly out of interest but has had enough of the rat race in the UK.

I don't know enough to tell him to come and try. I just wondered if his chances of teaching here were any good. He's 33 and not planning this just for a long holiday. He intends to come here with his fiancée for the long term. His fiancée is from the UK also.

Many Thanks

[PeaceBlondie]

Blimey, Charlie, it's always hard to say, even back home when someone has the official "qualifications" to do a new job, straight out of uni.

But yeah, okay, I'll guess that IF your brother is also personable, a proper dresser, can adapt to the new culture, etc., then he could get a job for 28K starting pay in Bangkok, maybe even 32K, maybe even for all the months of his first year (after he starts, of course). His financeé as well, even without a TEFL certificate, since women are at a premium.

But it isn't a career, usually, not like a real career back home. Not a financially rewarding career with lots of built-in opportunities to keep advancing. But if he does it well, it's personally rewarding. And from what I recall of Western occupation attitudes, a job you hate is not worth a million pounds a year.

[the swagman]

My brother who has a pretty successful job in the UK wants to teach here in Thailand. He has worked his way up the ladder to become a project manager for the company he works for and has being doing so for about 4 years. He's well educated but doesn’t have a degree. He did teach other professionals in his job which was relevant to his work.

He has taken his TEFL training mainly out of interest but has had enough of the rat race in the UK.

I don't know enough to tell him to come and try. I just wondered if his chances of teaching here were any good. He's 33 and not planning this just for a long holiday. He intends to come here with his fiancée for the long term. His fiancée is from the UK also.

Many Thanks

He would possibly be looking at a language school position.

As many of us are aware, qualifications can not make a good teacher, yet most of the jobs that provide decent benefits, ie work permit, holidays, time off etc, will need to see a degree. Language schools are less inclined to worry if the person is well presented and reasonably articulate.

I can't see a career for your brother in teaching.

[Loaded]

BlimeyCharlie

If he is planning on teaching in Chiang Mai, I'm happy to have a chat with him about work here. pm me if you're/he's interested and I'll give you my email.

As PB said if he's a personable bloke and well-presented, there's work here - language school, college and school. In my opinion the TEFL is more important for the employer than a degree for most non-uni work in Thailand.

CM you'll earn around 20-24K/month at a language school over a 6 or 7 day week(depending on hours), 25-30K/month at a school over a 5 day week, 18-25K/month over a 5 day week at a vocational college.

Advantages of language schools are flexibility and usually no weekday mornings but usually no work permit (don't worry as there are 10s if not 100s of teachers here in CM working without a wp).

Advantages of schools and colleges are usually wp and 5 day week but maybe a 7.30 start and up to 50 kids in a class.

[2long]

The situation for teachers here means that he'll get a job easily. In a language school he can earn 40-50,000B/month quite easily on a 6 day week. His fiancee will do just as well, too. However, I've seen several couples come through our language school and there's always one of them they can't live in Bangkok for one reason or another. You find that professional couples want more out of life tha teaching here offers. i've been doing it for nearly 7 years. I have a wife and baby and my salary alone feeds us all and gives us a trip to the uk every summer. We live comfortably, so on two salaries they will do very well. Just bear in mind that their relationship will probably be the reason they can't stay for more than a year. Best of luck to them both, whatever they choose to do.

[Laulen]

Give it a go, as whatever happens, Thailand will change his life and that of his fiancée too.

Little more to add to the already excellent posts full of sound advice.

Do not worry about Work Permits; I survived for three years without one, although I did have to make a Visa trip (read 1 week's holiday) every 90 days, during which I was still paid a salary from the school I worked for. A great way to see Laos, Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia if you are on a budget.

You may find life a challenge after a while, when both you and your fiancée are from Britain. My experience suggests that each of you might find different aspects of Thai culture you like, and dislike.

If you are lucky enough to have property in Britain, do not sell it for any reason; just rent it out like I did. Best advice I was ever given, as I had a place to come back to.

Cherish each hour of this day for it can never return.

Og Mandino (1923 - 1996)

[julie_f]

Me and my fiance did similar a few years ago. I wasnt sure at the time but have grown to like it. I had a degree and got a job at a language school quite easily. Paid 30,000 a month which was enough for both of us to live. I got a work permit after a few months. Without a degree you cant normally get a work permit.

Just think of it like this, If you dont like it you can always go back.

[kenkannif]

He'll be fine.

It's actually possible to get a work permit without a degree and seems to be happening more and more often.

He can but try!

[Loaded]

I know quite a few people without degree but with wp as well. I agree with Ken that it's becoming more common.

[kenkannif]

Yeah I'm seeing more and more.

Also I know plenty of people with degrees that don't have a WP!!!