Any BKK Teachers Want a Volunteer Teacher Assistant?

[Bywayofcalifornia]

Hello All ,

I spent the last 8 months or so living and doing some teaching here in Thailand and had originally planned to head back state side this week. For better or for worse, I have found myself with an additional month here in Bangkok. Cutting to the chase, are there any of you that teach here in BKK that would like some assistance in the classroom for a few weeks?

I am in my mid-twenties, a NES, have about two years of classroom experience from the USA (a blend of assisting, tutoring and teaching), a Bachelors degree, a CELTA and will hopefully be starting a Masters program in the next year to become a certified elementary school teacher in the USA. I also already have my own living arrangements (live not too far from BTS Ekkamai).

Most "voluntary" positions I've looked into here seem to involve paying a contractor hundreds of $$s in order to get abandoned in a classroom of 50 Thai children, this is not something I am interested in.

I really love working with students, but I do not want to spend my last month in Thailand stressed out lesson planning and leading a classroom. I would, however, love to do something productive with my time, gain some valuable classroom experience, and make someone else's job easier by prepping materials, circulating and assisting students during lessons, etc.

I'd prefer to assist in an English speaking International school, but would be fine with an ESL/EFL Thai classroom too .

If you are interested, please reply to this post or feel free to PM me. THANK YOU!

Edited June 20, 2015 by Bywayofcalifornia

[bigt3116]

That would be illegal work, a temporary work permit is only valid for 15 days, and no school is going to go to all the hassle and paperwork to make you legal for just 1 month.

[Bywayofcalifornia]

Thanks for your reply bigt3116. Would it really be illegal? I thought that tourists are allowed to volunteer as much as they like with out needing a work permit. Seems like there are certainly a lot of programs that do just that (though that never is a sign of legality here I guess).

[lostinisaan]

Please check facebook, there's a webpage for teachers in Bangkok. You might find what you're looking for. Best of luck.

[casualbiker]

Thanks for your reply bigt3116. Would it really be illegal? I thought that tourists are allowed to volunteer as much as they like with out needing a work permit. Seems like there are certainly a lot of programs that do just that (though that never is a sign of legality here I guess).

Nope. Officially need a WP. But honestly unless there's a clampdown, no problems...... Until of course there are!

[lostinisaan]

David Ray updated the description.

May 19

Now launched to match with our new link on our website. The facebook group is specifically for people looking for casual or part time work paid by the hour.

Please remember some advertisements will be posted from our host website www.ajarnrecruit.com

Only posts from our website will show, If you would like to advertise on our website please contact me for more details.

Dear Mods, hope that this link will be allowed? Thanks in advance.....

[lostinisaan]

Thanks for your reply bigt3116. Would it really be illegal? I thought that tourists are allowed to volunteer as much as they like with out needing a work permit. Seems like there are certainly a lot of programs that do just that (though that never is a sign of legality here I guess).

Nope. Officially need a WP. But honestly unless there's a clampdown, no problems...... Until of course there are!

How many guys are actually working on tourist visas for some weeks, waiting for the paperwork from educational area xxx and so on.....?

Some, who've already got a Non-B from a neighboring country even have to leave the country for a second time, because either the school couldn't get their asses up, or the TCT didn't proceed the docs, because one was missing.

The chances to get caught are as slim as a razor blade...

Edited June 21, 2015 by lostinisaan

[casualbiker]

Thanks for your reply bigt3116. Would it really be illegal? I thought that tourists are allowed to volunteer as much as they like with out needing a work permit. Seems like there are certainly a lot of programs that do just that (though that never is a sign of legality here I guess).

Nope. Officially need a WP. But honestly unless there's a clampdown, no problems...... Until of course there are!

How many guys are actually working on tourist visas for some weeks, waiting for the paperwork from educational area xxx and so on.....?

Some even have to leave the country a second time, because either the school couldn't get their asses up, or the TCT didn't proceed the docs, because one was missing.

The chances to get caught are as slim as a razor blade...

But they generally have the receipt from the labour office stating that the process has started.. Bit different. No?

[lostinisaan]

Thanks for your reply bigt3116. Would it really be illegal? I thought that tourists are allowed to volunteer as much as they like with out needing a work permit. Seems like there are certainly a lot of programs that do just that (though that never is a sign of legality here I guess).

Nope. Officially need a WP. But honestly unless there's a clampdown, no problems...... Until of course there are!

How many guys are actually working on tourist visas for some weeks, waiting for the paperwork from educational area xxx and so on.....?

Some even have to leave the country a second time, because either the school couldn't get their asses up, or the TCT didn't proceed the docs, because one was missing.

The chances to get caught are as slim as a razor blade...

But they generally have the receipt from the labour office stating that the process has started.. Bit different. No?

Some might have such a receipt, but a lot of teachers are still without the right type of visa and without a work permit now....

Just wondering how all the agencies are handling that. Guess you know the answer.......

[bangmai]

Thanks for your reply bigt3116. Would it really be illegal? I thought that tourists are allowed to volunteer as much as they like with out needing a work permit. Seems like there are certainly a lot of programs that do just that (though that never is a sign of legality here I guess).

Pay to volunteer is one of the newer segments of the Thai Economy. Tom Sawyer would be envious. You got people paying to shovel elephant dung in Lampang for two weeks. Then you got the people paying to be orphanage volunteers; more than borders on weirdness. But in your case, you wouldn't have the protection of an agency, and you are correct, and would be thrown into a lion's den with 50 students and the schools would be paying the agency for your services, and you would get nothing. Kind of like a tree cutter, who charges people to remove a dead tree, then sells it to the neighbors for firewood.

It would actually be safer to just "enhance" your resume a little bit, by saying you worked in a camp or something. They are very bad about checking foreign references in the States, unless it was a full time, long-term position.

[casualbiker]

Thanks for your reply bigt3116. Would it really be illegal? I thought that tourists are allowed to volunteer as much as they like with out needing a work permit. Seems like there are certainly a lot of programs that do just that (though that never is a sign of legality here I guess).

Nope. Officially need a WP. But honestly unless there's a clampdown, no problems...... Until of course there are!

How many guys are actually working on tourist visas for some weeks, waiting for the paperwork from educational area xxx and so on.....?

Some even have to leave the country a second time, because either the school couldn't get their asses up, or the TCT didn't proceed the docs, because one was missing.

The chances to get caught are as slim as a razor blade...

But they generally have the receipt from the labour office stating that the process has started.. Bit different. No?

Some might have such a receipt, but a lot of teachers are still without the right type of visa and without a work permit now....

Just wondering how all the agencies are handling that. Guess you know the answer.......

Yup. I know the answer.... They are not dealing with it as it's not them that get into trouble! Bullshit isn't it?

[bangmai]

I think a lot of the recruiters, themselves, lack the proper paperwork. As stated, a slip of paper showing that you had applied for a WP, would be a lot better than nothing. At least you would have the proper visa. Getting caught on a Tourist visa, with no WP wouldn't be good at all.

[bigt3116]

David Ray updated the description.

May 19

Now launched to match with our new link on our website. The facebook group is specifically for people looking for casual or part time work paid by the hour.

Please remember some advertisements will be posted from our host website www.ajarnrecruit.com

Only posts from our website will show, If you would like to advertise on our website please contact me for more details.

Dear Mods, hope that this link will be allowed? Thanks in advance.....

You mean, " people looking for illegal work" ?

Why would an employer want to advertise on a website that condones illegal workers ?

That means you as the agent, them as the client and the teacher as the employee are all breaking the law !

[bigt3116]

Thanks for your reply bigt3116. Would it really be illegal? I thought that tourists are allowed to volunteer as much as they like with out needing a work permit. Seems like there are certainly a lot of programs that do just that (though that never is a sign of legality here I guess).

Totally illegal, and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.

Edited June 21, 2015 by bigt3116

[lostinisaan]

David Ray updated the description.

May 19

Now launched to match with our new link on our website. The facebook group is specifically for people looking for casual or part time work paid by the hour.

Please remember some advertisements will be posted from our host website www.ajarnrecruit.com

Only posts from our website will show, If you would like to advertise on our website please contact me for more details.

Dear Mods, hope that this link will be allowed? Thanks in advance.....

You mean, " people looking for illegal work" ?

Why would an employer want to advertise on a website that condones illegal workers ?

That means you as the agent, them as the client and the teacher as the employee are all breaking the law !

I've got nothing to do with this website. Just found it and posted it, trying to help the OP.

[bigt3116]

David Ray updated the description.

May 19

Now launched to match with our new link on our website. The facebook group is specifically for people looking for casual or part time work paid by the hour.

Please remember some advertisements will be posted from our host website www.ajarnrecruit.com

Only posts from our website will show, If you would like to advertise on our website please contact me for more details.

Dear Mods, hope that this link will be allowed? Thanks in advance.....

You mean, " people looking for illegal work" ?

Why would an employer want to advertise on a website that condones illegal workers ?

That means you as the agent, them as the client and the teacher as the employee are all breaking the law !

I've got nothing to do with this website. Just found it and posted it, trying to help the OP.

All that website does it cut and paste jobs from other websites (ajarn.com for one) then presumably get in touch with the employer and ask for a "finders fee".

"Ajarn recruit is your best resource for finding Teaching Jobs and non Teaching Jobs in Thailand and the rest of Asia" - clearly lying through their teeth !!!

[bigt3116]

David Ray updated the description.

May 19

Now launched to match with our new link on our website. The facebook group is specifically for people looking for casual or part time work paid by the hour.

Please remember some advertisements will be posted from our host website www.ajarnrecruit.com

Only posts from our website will show, If you would like to advertise on our website please contact me for more details.

Dear Mods, hope that this link will be allowed? Thanks in advance.....

You mean, " people looking for illegal work" ?

Why would an employer want to advertise on a website that condones illegal workers ?

That means you as the agent, them as the client and the teacher as the employee are all breaking the law !

I've got nothing to do with this website. Just found it and posted it, trying to help the OP.

Maybe a little bit of research next time, before you post ?

[lostinisaan]

David Ray updated the description.

May 19

Now launched to match with our new link on our website. The facebook group is specifically for people looking for casual or part time work paid by the hour.

Please remember some advertisements will be posted from our host website www.ajarnrecruit.com

Only posts from our website will show, If you would like to advertise on our website please contact me for more details.

Dear Mods, hope that this link will be allowed? Thanks in advance.....

You mean, " people looking for illegal work" ?

Why would an employer want to advertise on a website that condones illegal workers ?

That means you as the agent, them as the client and the teacher as the employee are all breaking the law !

I've got nothing to do with this website. Just found it and posted it, trying to help the OP.

Maybe a little bit of research next time, before you post ?

I'm sorry, Sunday is my lesson planning day and I have a family. Apologies if this one isn't kosher, I just found it on facebook, that's all.

Didn't mean to give any false information though.

[Suradit69]

I can't imagine too many schools would be that thrilled to have someone suddenly appear who wants to spend time in a classroom without vetting his credentials & experience, and to go to that bother for someone who will (maybe) show up for one month is probably more hassle than it's worth.

If you had a child in school would you want some random twenty-something tourist to just pitch up and start interacting with your kids? Or would you want tourists working in hospitals or orphanages when the whim moved them, based on their verbal claim to be qualified? Do schools in the US welcome people in off the street to assist in the classroom?

And yes it is illegal to perform any work while here on a tourist visa and without any formal permission to work. Do some people get away with it, sure. Does that make it any more legal, no.

Edited June 21, 2015 by Suradit69

[Bywayofcalifornia]

Thank you all for your responses (especially lostinisaan for the link).

I just thought there might be a teacher/administrator out there who might want a hand. I guess I just got too used to Isaan way of life where many tourists risk becoming a "teacher" by just having fair skin and walking by a school.

[Bywayofcalifornia]

I can't imagine too many schools would be that thrilled to have someone suddenly appear who wants to spend time in a classroom without vetting his credentials & experience, and to go to that bother for someone who will (maybe) show up for one month is probably more hassle than it's worth.

If you had a child in school would you want some random twenty-something tourist to just pitch up and start interacting with your kids? Or would you want tourists working in hospitals or orphanages when the whim moved them, based on their verbal claim to be qualified? Do schools in the US welcome people in off the street to assist in the classroom?

And yes it is illegal to perform any work while here on a tourist visa and without any formal permission to work. Do some people get away with it, sure. Does that make it any more legal, no.

PS Suradit69, I do appreciate you taking the time to reply to my post and verifying that I would need a visa to do volunteer work, but I think the rest of your post was a bit unnecessary and negative. Thanks though.

[zeichen]

Actually I thought his post was spot on. It is weird to expect a school to openly want transient teachers for a month or less. It would be one thing to have a guest speaker or presenter for a day but just some random tourist wanting to get their feet wet teaching EFL without making a commitment.

What I would do is meet some teachers in the are you are staying and build a friendship with them. Then ask them if you could shadow their class for a week. You would also like to see how they lesson plan and prepare. They might even let you do a lesson. Make sure that they get permission from their school.

Yes the pay to volunteer is a loophole around the work permit issues.

No matter if you are a volunteer or a full time teacher, stay away from recruiters. They really area black hole in the industry.

[bigt3116]

Actually I thought his post was spot on. It is weird to expect a school to openly want transient teachers for a month or less. It would be one thing to have a guest speaker or presenter for a day but just some random tourist wanting to get their feet wet teaching EFL without making a commitment.

What I would do is meet some teachers in the are you are staying and build a friendship with them. Then ask them if you could shadow their class for a week. You would also like to see how they lesson plan and prepare. They might even let you do a lesson. Make sure that they get permission from their school.

Yes the pay to volunteer is a loophole around the work permit issues.

No matter if you are a volunteer or a full time teacher, stay away from recruiters. They really area black hole in the industry.

Just to be clear, even if you pay to volunteer in Thailand - you still need a work permit, there is no loophole.

[zeichen]

"Just to be clear, even if you pay to volunteer in Thailand - you still need a work permit, there is no loophole."

No actually you don't, go to any labor lawyer and ask them. I know of several rescue centers that have volunteers pay to help out and they have ISO number. There is no way they are getting an ISO if there is something shady in their business model.

You are paying for an experience and are not classified as a worker. You are in a sense a student.

It is a billion dollar industry here and there is no way that the government is going to interfere. Because the language is so vague in the labor act washing your friend's car could be construed as work and be illegal but in fact it isn't.

The law is vague on purpose. You are the same type that tell me that I cannot do the repairs on my own house because it is work.

[bigt3116]

Section 4. This Act shall not apply to the performance of specific duties by the alien in the Kingdom in the following capacities: (1) as a member of a diplomatic mission; (2) as a member of a consular mission; (3) as a representative of member countries and official of the United Nations and specialised institutions; (4) as a personal servant coming from foreign countries to work regularly for the person under (1) or (2) or (3); (5) as a person who performs duties or missions in accordance with agreements between the Government of Thailand and foreign government or international organisation; (6) as a person who performs duties or mission for the benefit of education, culture, art, sports or other activities as may be prescribed by the Royal Decree; (7) as a person permitted, with or without any condition, by the Council ofMinisters to enter and perform any duty or mission.

Can you show me the Royal Decree that is relevant to what you are saying ?

"There is no way they are getting an ISO if there is something shady in their business model." Are you serious ! Jeez, just look at every building site that has its ISO and look at the unsafe practices going on every second of every day.

[bigt3116]

Work permit for charity workers
Foreign volunteer workers need to have valid Visas and Work Permits even if they are not paid for the work they are doing in Thailand.
Foreigners are legally required to have a work permit for any work they do in Thailand, not having a legal Work Permit can result in fines, jail, deportation and blacklisting. Work Permits for volunteer organizations are not difficult to get; the non-profit organization must apply with a document stating that you have joined them as an unpaid volunteer.

[bigt3116]

This from an animal welfare charity website "IMPORTANT: for the Tourist Visa please state 'tourist' on the form and do not mention work or volunteering. The concept of volunteering is not familiar to many visa clerks and this has caused issues in the past." Why ? Because the charity does not provide paperwork for either the correct visa or work permit !!

[bangmai]

This from an animal welfare charity website "IMPORTANT: for the Tourist Visa please state 'tourist' on the form and do not mention work or volunteering. The concept of volunteering is not familiar to many visa clerks and this has caused issues in the past." Why ? Because the charity does not provide paperwork for either the correct visa or work permit !!

One of those same type charities got in trouble with the law in CM, for soliciting donations...they were not registered.

[DLang]

A friend got done for teaching on a Tourist Visa.

Slept with a teacher.

She thought there was more to it.

nope.

So she dobbed him in to the Dept. of Labor and Dept. of immigration for working on a Tourist Visa.

Was was led away. Fined 500b, and was home by lunch time.

[Bywayofcalifornia]

Actually I thought his post was spot on. It is weird to expect a school to openly want transient teachers for a month or less. It would be one thing to have a guest speaker or presenter for a day but just some random tourist wanting to get their feet wet teaching EFL without making a commitment.

What I would do is meet some teachers in the are you are staying and build a friendship with them. Then ask them if you could shadow their class for a week. You would also like to see how they lesson plan and prepare. They might even let you do a lesson. Make sure that they get permission from their school.

Yes the pay to volunteer is a loophole around the work permit issues.

No matter if you are a volunteer or a full time teacher, stay away from recruiters. They really area black hole in the industry.

Thank you all once again for taking the time to reply, and clarifying the legal restriction surrounding volunteer work, while also addressing the realities on the ground in terms of how (or if) these laws are implemented.

However, this conversation is getting further and further away from my original post.

Just to be clear, I never intended this thread as a solicitation towards schools. I had hoped to do exactly as Zeichen suggested, meet a teacher in my area, build a friendship with them and assist/shadow them for a month.

I am not trying "to get [my] feet wet teaching EFL without making a commitment".

As I originally posted, I TAUGHT HERE in Thailand for a number of months and have a CELTA. I also have a BA and two years experience back in the States.

I just wanted to do some rewarding and low stress volunteer work in my last month here in Thailand.

Hope you all have a good week