English Teacher in Thailand

[DavidBrandon]

I'm interested in coming to Thailand to teach and looking for more information. One problem is I just graduated from college and don't have much finance. I have seen good information online. A forum I was reading a guy wrote in and said research it. You really can not find everything online. You need someone who has been there an done that to get advice from. I would appreciate any advice on this matter. What's the best company to go with. Is there a way to get sponsored financially to get there. I have worked on the ambulance and I'm a licensed EMT, I want to volunteer with ems and rescue on my time off but I need to find employment. Thanks 

[tonray]

You cannot get sponsored financially. with thousands of people coming here on their own schools will never pay to bring someone over to teach.

 

It is very unlikely you can get any work, volunteer or otherwise as an EMT or ambulance rescue team.

 

My best advice...work for a couple of years, put some money in the bank and then make a trip for a month to see if you like it. don't come here with no money because you will not have much fun.

[lostinisaan]

Not sure if I waste my time to as troll post now. 

 

 

     You can't work on an ambulance ( using your own wording)  and you can't do any EMS rescue work as a foreigner. 

3 minutes ago, tonray said:

You cannot get sponsored financially. with thousands of people coming here on their own schools will never pay to bring someone over to teach.

 

It is very unlikely you can get any work, volunteer or otherwise as an EMT or ambulance rescue team.

 

My best advice...work for a couple of years, put some money in the bank and then make a trip for a month to see if you like it. don't come here with no money because you will not have much fun.

 

 

  

  It happened at least once where they sent a guy from the UK a good sum to come to work at a government school. It wasn't just money for the ticket, they' were so nice that they put some good pocket money on top for hotels, etc..

 

Unfortunately, did the guy never make it to the school in the lower northeast and he must have found out that a free holiday in Pattaya isn't something to deny. He certainly did fly to Thailand, but the "I love you too much brigade" must have changed his mind in a second. 

 

  OP, you can't just volunteer as an EMT and I guess you don't speak Thai, right? 

 

   If you really want to work here save some good money first. It could take a while to find a job, so having enough money to survive is a must.  Then you could send your resume to schools. Here's one website: www.ajarn.com where you might find a job. But...and there are so many but. ---------

 

      But you don't have any teaching experience and you should use your time to Google, read plenty threads on here, another very good website is Thailand teaching Asia and you'll find out that it's not that easy as you might think. Then the visa issue. 

 

  You're not allowed to work at a hospital or as a rescue worker, even on a voluntary basis. Such jobs are only for Thai citizens. Good luck. 

 

   

 

   

[Slip]

No one will sponsor you.  If you want to come for a year or two for life experience then fair enough, (although not really for the students), Thailand is no longer a place to come to make a career in TEFL.  For example, 15 years ago many schools gave a 10% a year increase, now those are as rare as hen's teeth.  You will come to work on a pittance and in 10 years you will still be on a pittance.  If I were you I would look at other countries.

[Scott]

David, I m assuming when you say you graduated from college that you have a Bachelor's degree because that is essential to getting anything that comes close to a reasonable job and it also will be necessary for getting the correct visa and work permit.  

 

Unless you have a Bachelor's in Education and a teacher's license from your home country, you will be in the competitive portion of the market for relatively low paying jobs.   If you have a degree in education, then you are eligible for some of the better jobs.  

 

There are a lot of jobs to be had, but you can expect to start at about 35,000 baht per month -- give or take.   That is a comfortable living here, although it is not a lot and unless you come with a good financial cushion, getting a place to live and getting set up will be a major hurdle.  

 

Some schools do hire from overseas, but that is not common.   Even if they do, they very, very rarely pay for you to come to Thailand.   (The exception would be some of the International Schools).  

 

Your EMS background is interesting and would be an added benefit, but without a knowledge of the language, you would be at a distinct disadvantage.  

 

Best of luck.  

[muzmurray]

As for the EMT side of life, might be worth firing off an email to the top hospitals in Bkk. They certainly do employ foreigners in various roles - though not sure about EMT.

[stubuzz]

Thailand is no longer a good place to teach. Schools are only concerned with price not quality and are trying to cut costs wherever they can. The cost of living has increased, but salaries have not  and now schools are trying to exploit teachers with contracts that do not pay in the school holidays.

[BruceMangosteen]

29 minutes ago, muzmurray said:

As for the EMT side of life, might be worth firing off an email to the top hospitals in Bkk. They certainly do employ foreigners in various roles - though not sure about EMT.

There is a team in Pattaya. I'm not sure if they speak Thai, but can confirm at least one ambulance service staffed with two farangs. I'm not sure if they are paid, doubt it. 

 

Yes, to confirm the other advice, foreigners teaching in Thailand schools has eroded to a system to save(earn) money for the school, not the teachers. There is no future in teaching English in Thailand other than "International" schools paying western wages. Those are of course going to require a Masters Degree in Education from a real University in the west. 

[DavidBrandon]

That's strange ,considering I know someone from America who is an EMT in Thailand an volunteers in rescue, I think some people don't know as much as they think. There is 2 companies I'm talking too about doing EMS. I wonder who actually knows what there talking about. I'm also talking to 4 school about teaching and got a offer. I have an associate of arts but I have more college. As far as lostinisaan , what the hell is not waste time to as troll post now lol. Lord if you are an English teacher, I feel sorry for those kids. Yes I wish that no jerks waste there time talking to me. You can work in ems in Thailand. I appreciate the ones who were decent an professional. I thank you for responding. 

[Scott]

Best of luck to you.   You are in the Teaching Forum, so many of our posters would have very little knowledge of anything doing with Emergency Medical services.  

 

Keep us posted and ignore the trolls.  

[janejira]

I think it's quite rare to be sponsored to come over, unless you are working for an international school (Ed. degree most likely required).

 

If you do come over, one thing to keep in mind is that some hospitals hire English teachers part-time to teach their nurses/staff.  Your EMT experience might give you an edge on other applicants.  Problem is finding the job vacancy.

[Scott]

An off-topic, baiting post removed.   

[lostinisaan]

On 11/7/2016 at 7:31 PM, DavidBrandon said:

That's strange ,considering I know someone from America who is an EMT in Thailand an volunteers in rescue, I think some people don't know as much as they think. There is 2 companies I'm talking too about doing EMS. I wonder who actually knows what there talking about. I'm also talking to 4 school about teaching and got a offer. I have an associate of arts but I have more college. As far as lostinisaan , what the hell is not waste time to as troll post now lol. Lord if you are an English teacher, I feel sorry for those kids. Yes I wish that no jerks waste there time talking to me. You can work in ems in Thailand. I appreciate the ones who were decent an professional. I thank you for responding. 

 

 

  Please stop sending Linked In requests with the same old bs to people you don't know. Thank you for your consideration. 

[Johnniey]

On 07/11/2016 at 7:31 PM, DavidBrandon said:

That's strange ,considering I know someone from America who is an EMT in Thailand an volunteers in rescue, I think some people don't know as much as they think. There is 2 companies I'm talking too about doing EMS. I wonder who actually knows what there talking about. I'm also talking to 4 school about teaching and got a offer. I have an associate of arts but I have more college. As far as lostinisaan , what the hell is not waste time to as troll post now lol. Lord if you are an English teacher, I feel sorry for those kids. Yes I wish that no jerks waste there time talking to me. You can work in ems in Thailand. I appreciate the ones who were decent an professional. I thank you for responding. 

I think he is a non-native speaker of English.

 

I came here in 1985 with 1000 GBP. After a week, I'd blown the lot and got a job at ECC within a few day. I'm still here btw, a wife and 4 grown up kids later. Ignore all the negative posts - get a few quid and take an adventure. 

 

Remember, ESL teaching is not very well paid and if you want a family here, you'll need to find other work. Golden rules, learn to speak the language, make Thai friends, never get married withing 5 years and never buy a house withing 10 years, AT LEAST.