Jobs for the 'non-natives'

[Annu Nair]

After obtaining a Celta, I tried to get a job in Thailand as an English teacher for roughly six months but I couldn't because of competition from native speakers of English. It is a sad reality. Maybe I was just plain down on my luck as I am sure there were plenty teachers working in Thailand who were non-native speakers of English. I guess they are socially well-placed. I was on my own.

I am yearning to go back to Thailand. It will do me a ton of good if an angel out there who is reading this -- does not matter if s/he is a native speaker of English, ha -- for a change tells me if there are other jobs I can to look at. 

 

I am currently working in sales in India. 

[Annu Nair]

Hi,

 

I was willing to work for just food and accommodation but I did not say as much during my interviews at  the places where I applied for a teaching assignment. I thought it would be demeaning myself as a teacher to do so and would tantamount to showing disrespect to the profession and the school as well if I chose to put it that way . But I honestly think I did not have any other expectations. Was I being unrealistic?

[Annu Nair]

NB: I do not begrudge the competition nor hold any ill-will against the native speakers of English. If instead of the 150 years of the British Raj in India , had we been ruled by the Arabs, I am sure we would be speaking Arabic now as fluently as the Sheikhs of Saudi Arabia and I would be chancing my arm in Dubai.  

 

 

[Annu Nair]

Apologies for putting these up in the wrong place. Thanks for putting me right on that! 

[tonray]

What types of schools have tried ? Public/Private/International ? Locations within Thailand ?

 

How do you present yourself ?

 

Age, mode of dress (conservative, modern, etc) ?

 

Accent ? Very noticeable or not at all ?

 

 

[Annu Nair]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

Thanks tonray for your response! Appreciate it. Below are my answers to your questions.

 

What types of schools have tried ? Public/Private/International ? Locations within Thailand ?

I had applied to private schools in Thailand, and visited Tefl/Celta training institutes in Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket and Bangkok.

All accepted my application attached with my video and audio files and never got back to me   :'-(    

 

How do you present yourself ?

I like to appear formal and friendly. One could tell I was some kind of instructor a mile away. Where I took the Celta certification, they had included a session of

how to appear for interviews. 

 

Age, mode of dress (conservative, modern, etc) ?

I am 38. I dress appropriately for a teacher. In my personal life too I am in formal casuals! I sell insurance in my own time! :-) 

 

Accent ? Very noticeable or not at all ?

I speak clearly betraying a thorough understanding of RP. I do not believe in putting on an accent. 

Hope this helps. Thanks.

Quote

 

 

 

[Annu Nair]

Hi,

 

Can someone please tell me if teachers of English who are non-natives are no longer acceptable in Thailand? I am planning to visit Thailand to try my luck again. Anybody with a large heart can give me tips on how I can better my chances of landing a job, Thanks! 

[stubuzz]

You didn't mention your nationality.

[Annu Nair]

1 minute ago, stubuzz said:

You didn't mention your nationality.

 

I am an Indian.

[tonray]

You should be able to find any teaching position. If you cannot direct hire from a school you most certainly can work thru an agency. 

 

Try ajarn.com

[Annu Nair]

9 hours ago, tonray said:

You should be able to find any teaching position. If you cannot direct hire from a school you most certainly can work thru an agency. 

 

Try

I read somewhere that ajarn was closed.  Hey, thanks for the recommend, appreciated! I can see it's a lovely website.

[brewsterbudgen]

I read somewhere that ajarn was closed.  Hey, thanks for the recommend, appreciated! I can see it's a lovely website.

The Forum closed but the website for jobseekers is still running.

[Annu Nair]

Thanks and God bless!

[tonray]

5 minutes ago, Annu Nair said:

I read somewhere that ajarn was closed.  Hey, thanks for the recommend, appreciated! I can see it's a lovely website.

There was a forum for teachers closed but this is the main teaching jobs site. 

[Scott]

I did hiring for several schools and there is a lot of discrimination against people from India.  

 

I am surprised with a CELTA that you would have trouble.   It seems that this past year it was very, very difficult to fill a lot of the positions with Native Speakers.  

 

Best of luck.  

[Annu Nair]

10 hours ago, Scott said:

I did hiring for several schools and there is a lot of discrimination against people from India.  

 

I am surprised with a CELTA that you would have trouble.   It seems that this past year it was very, very difficult to fill a lot of the positions with Native Speakers.  

 

Best of luck.  

Hi Scott, I have not been able to visit Thailand this year.

[Annu Nair]

10 hours ago, Scott said:

I did hiring for several schools and there is a lot of discrimination against people from India.  

 

I am surprised with a CELTA that you would have trouble.   It seems that this past year it was very, very difficult to fill a lot of the positions with Native Speakers.  

 

Best of luck.  

Why is there a discrimination against people from India? Any tips for improvement? 

[Scott]

I am not sure.   It's harder if you are not a native speaker to begin with.   Be as deferential as possible.  Don't argue.  

[Annu Nair]

I have all but given up on becoming a teacher of English. I am working in tourism sales in Kochi, Kerala and sometimes double up as a guide cum cab driver and it gives me the satisfaction of using my English language skills with foreign tourists. Welcome to Kerala, to God's Own Country.

[j8k]

I always struggle to understand Indians, even the ones who live in the UK. 

 

Not surprised you struggled.

 

Thai's are also racist against dark skin, probably didn't help you either.

 

Finally Teaching English is a losers job. You had a lucky escape.

[otherstuff1957]

I have worked with a few Indians, but they were not English teachers.  They were usually hired to teach Science, Math, IT or other subjects. 

 

With the growing number of EP programs, subject teachers, especially Math and Science, are greatly in demand.  If you can teach another subject in English, schools would probably be much more interested in you.

[Annu Nair]

On 7/30/2017 at 10:59 AM, otherstuff1957 said:

I have worked with a few Indians, but they were not English teachers.  They were usually hired to teach Science, Math, IT or other subjects. 

 

With the growing number of EP programs, subject teachers, especially Math and Science, are greatly in demand.  If you can teach another subject in English, schools would probably be much more interested in you.

Thanks., hmm,  I can teach Hindi and Sanskrit maybe but there wont be anybody interested in learning them. I have received some encouraging responses from schools in Japan, from places I had not heard of before. But I will miss the life in Thailand for sure. Have received one email from an American who wants to know if I can teach him Sanskrit in Cambodia but I am waiting for the election dust to settle there. Peace.

[Annu Nair]

On 7/29/2017 at 4:11 PM, j8k said:

I always struggle to understand Indians, even the ones who live in the UK. 

 

Not surprised you struggled.

 

Thai's are also racist against dark skin, probably didn't help you either.

 

Finally Teaching English is a losers job. You had a lucky escape.

Racism is a strong word, buddy. Not that I havent faced something like that in India so wont be much different  if it happens to me elsewhere as long as they dont physically hurt me. The Thais might not be comfortable dealing with you unless you speak spiffing fluent Thai but they have always been good to me. They havent been able to give me a job but that's okay. 

Why do you say teaching English is a loser's job?  

[Scott]

The OP has been removed from the board, so this topic will be closed.