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dudeteacher
Joined: 27 Feb 2010
Posts: 173
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 Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 6:10 pm Post subject: Do non whites have a problem getting work in Thailand? |
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I am of East Indian descent. I was born in the Caribbean and grew up in Canada. Eng. is the first language of my family and I speak and write it perfectly.
However, when I worked in Turkey some employers made a judgement call based simply on the way I looked. My CV although pretty damn good and chock full of experience didn't seem to sway their prejudice.
I have noticed that some jobs for Thailand have stressed caucasians only.
Other times they have stressed the major Eng. countries such as US, Canada, Austalia, NZ, UK, etc. I have often encountered surprise from certain nationalities who seem to be unaware of the large ethnic mix of Canada, England and the US and that they do speak Eng. as a first language.
Does this problem exist in Thailand to any great degree. Will it inhibit my potential to get a job?
Thanks,
Dude |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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Two issues.
Nationality is a visa/immigration issue. If you are from Can, USA, UK, NZ or Aus you are considered to be a native speaker and are exempt from requiring a TOEIC/TOEFL/IELTS score when you apply for the visa and work permits and you get paid (entry level) in the 35k THB range to start.
EVERYONE ELSE is considered to be a non-native speaker, is required to present a TOEIC score as part of the visa application process. Wages are also substantially lower (by about 1/2) in the 15-20k THB range.
Will race play its part = yes but since you have a Canadian passport, (and a Canadian degree) not nearly as much as it would if you didn't. When asked, you are Canadian, not Indo-Canadian.
(without the Canadian passport, as a person of East Indian decent, your chances for employment fall from 100% to nearly "0" and wages would fall from 35k to 15k for any job that you did find.)
If you lack the degree from a Canadian university (since you didn't mention it) to go with your Canadian passport your chances of legal work fall to close to "0" anyway since the degree is a requirement for the visa and work permit as a teacher.
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 12:27 am Post subject: |
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| I get the impression that although not impossible, without experience you will have some trouble finding a job in Thailand. How strong your accent is and how experienced you are will be the key factors. There are many french speakers that know a lot of english, but have found themselves to be unhirable now because of their strong accents. If you come looking make sure that you have plenty of money to hunker down on while you're waiting to get hired. Also expect wages lower than what native speakers are getting. Because you're a near native speaker, how experienced you are in teaching will be the main factor in getting a job here. |
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dudeteacher
Joined: 27 Feb 2010
Posts: 173
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| Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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I have a Canadian degree.
I have my Can. passport.
I have two TESL diplomas including a CELTA.
I currently work as an Editor for NATO - with international security clearance.
My accent is soft Caribbean-Canadian and considered quite attractive by native speakers.
I have 12 years of experience as an ESL teacher - no student ever had a problem with my accent as opposed to a strong Australian or Liverpool accent which those teachers never even tried to tone down.
Well I arrive for a holiday in BK in July, let's see what happens.
Thank you for the feedback.
Dude |
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dudeteacher
Joined: 27 Feb 2010
Posts: 173
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| Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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| plumpy nut wrote: |
| I get the impression that although not impossible, without experience you will have some trouble finding a job in Thailand. How strong your accent is and how experienced you are will be the key factors. There are many french speakers that know a lot of english, but have found themselves to be unhirable now because of their strong accents. If you come looking make sure that you have plenty of money to hunker down on while you're waiting to get hired. Also expect wages lower than what native speakers are getting. Because you're a near native speaker, how experienced you are in teaching will be the main factor in getting a job here. |
Correction, I am a native speaker.
Dude |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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 Anybody considering Thailand for work or travel needs to begin following the news out of Bangkok immediately in order to to stay informed about events as they unfold on a daily basis.  |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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| You won't have a problem with being non-white. You will get hired with the standard wages. However you might have to wait untill the current semester ends, I believe it is in September, until some positions open up. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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| dudeteacher wrote: |
I have a Canadian degree.
I have my Can. passport.
I have two TESL diplomas including a CELTA.
I currently work as an Editor for NATO - with international security clearance.
My accent is soft Caribbean-Canadian and considered quite attractive by native speakers.
I have 12 years of experience as an ESL teacher - no student ever had a problem with my accent as opposed to a strong Australian or Liverpool accent which those teachers never even tried to tone down.
Well I arrive for a holiday in BK in July, let's see what happens.
Thank you for the feedback.
Dude |
TEFL certs are irrelevant.
You hold a DEGREE from a Canadian university to go with your Canadian passport then you are good to go.
REMEMBER that when anyone asks.. you are CANADIAN, not Indo-Canadian, Caribbean-Canadian, etc.
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dudeteacher
Joined: 27 Feb 2010
Posts: 173
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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| tttompatz wrote: |
| dudeteacher wrote: |
I have a Canadian degree.
I have my Can. passport.
I have two TESL diplomas including a CELTA.
I currently work as an Editor for NATO - with international security clearance.
My accent is soft Caribbean-Canadian and considered quite attractive by native speakers.
I have 12 years of experience as an ESL teacher - no student ever had a problem with my accent as opposed to a strong Australian or Liverpool accent which those teachers never even tried to tone down.
Well I arrive for a holiday in BK in July, let's see what happens.
Thank you for the feedback.
Dude |
TEFL certs are irrelevant.
You hold a DEGREE from a Canadian university to go with your Canadian passport then you are good to go.
REMEMBER that when anyone asks.. you are CANADIAN, not Indo-Canadian, Caribbean-Canadian, etc.
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TEFL Certs are irrelevant? REally?
That's a surprise. But hey, what do I know about Thailand. I am then guessing that almost anyone with a degree can get a teaching job.
Dude |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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| dudeteacher wrote: |
TEFL Certs are irrelevant? REally?
That's a surprise. But hey, what do I know about Thailand. I am then guessing that almost anyone with a degree can get a teaching job.
Dude |
To get the non-b (visa) and work permit you need:
i) passport from an anglophone country* or TOEIC of 600+
ii) clean police background check (not always asked for)
iii) DEGREE
i) + ii) + iii) = job + visa + work permit.
I didn't see a TEFL course in the list. Yes, any anglophone person with a degree can get a teaching job.
* UK, USA, Canada, Australia, N.Z.
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MaiPenRai
Joined: 17 Jan 2006
Posts: 390
Location: BKK
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 4:31 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
To get the non-b (visa) and work permit you need:
i) passport from an anglophone country* or TOEIC of 600+
ii) clean police background check (not always asked for)
iii) DEGREE |
YES, but just to clarify, these are the documents that the TEACHER need to supply. The SCHOOL also has to supply many many documents, so you are always reliant on your school to get things organized properly even if you have everything ready to go.
Some regions, some provinces and/or some individual officers can and may ask to also see Uni transcripts and/or a Uni degree confirmation letter. If you have them, it is a good idea to bring them with you.
| Quote: |
TEFL Certs are irrelevant? REally? |
As far as Immigration and Ministry of Labour and MOE are concerned, YES. They will just hand your cert. back to you in most cases and say its not necessary. Some schools may request or require a TEFL cert though. I have found that many schools that will require a TEFL cert will require a more recognized one (CELTA, Trinity , SIT, etc).
To the OP:
Follow what Tom said and just say you are Canadian, but expect some racism if you are darker skinned. |
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dudeteacher
Joined: 27 Feb 2010
Posts: 173
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:35 am Post subject: |
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| MaiPenRai wrote: |
| Quote: |
To get the non-b (visa) and work permit you need:
i) passport from an anglophone country* or TOEIC of 600+
ii) clean police background check (not always asked for)
iii) DEGREE |
YES, but just to clarify, these are the documents that the TEACHER need to supply. The SCHOOL also has to supply many many documents, so you are always reliant on your school to get things organized properly even if you have everything ready to go.
Some regions, some provinces and/or some individual officers can and may ask to also see Uni transcripts and/or a Uni degree confirmation letter. If you have them, it is a good idea to bring them with you.
| Quote: |
TEFL Certs are irrelevant? REally? |
As far as Immigration and Ministry of Labour and MOE are concerned, YES. They will just hand your cert. back to you in most cases and say its not necessary. Some schools may request or require a TEFL cert though. I have found that many schools that will require a TEFL cert will require a more recognized one (CELTA, Trinity , SIT, etc).
To the OP:
Follow what Tom said and just say you are Canadian, but expect some racism if you are darker skinned. |
I always say I am Canadian. However, I wanted to point out the ignorance I might experience.
I have NATO International Security Clearance - which clears me to work for the UN and NATO. Would suffice for "a police background check."
Sadly, yes I am prepared for not so much racism but ignorance.
Dude |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:49 am Post subject: |
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| dudeteacher wrote: |
| I have NATO International Security Clearance - which clears me to work for the UN and NATO. Would suffice for "a police background check." |
No. They wouldn't know what it was.
If it doesn't say "POLICE" and something to the effect of "no record found" on it they will make you try again.
A simple police check (Winnipeg police service since you are from Canada) can be done quickly by mail. You need a copy of your passport and one other piece of Canadian ID (plus the payment and signed application) to apply. Google their website.
If you are IN Canada then a simple "over the counter" police check from a city/municipal force or the RCMP will suffice.
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dudeteacher
Joined: 27 Feb 2010
Posts: 173
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:31 am Post subject: |
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| tttompatz wrote: |
| dudeteacher wrote: |
| I have NATO International Security Clearance - which clears me to work for the UN and NATO. Would suffice for "a police background check." |
No. They wouldn't know what it was.
If it doesn't say "POLICE" and something to the effect of "no record found" on it they will make you try again.
A simple police check (Winnipeg police service since you are from Canada) can be done quickly by mail. You need a copy of your passport and one other piece of Canadian ID (plus the payment and signed application) to apply. Google their website.
If you are IN Canada then a simple "over the counter" police check from a city/municipal force or the RCMP will suffice.
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Useful info. Thank you.
Dude |
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Eagle Eyes
Joined: 26 Apr 2012
Posts: 121
Location: Istanbul
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:31 am Post subject: |
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Actually Thais are "Non Whites" and they have no problem finding work in Thailand. The problem is when they teach English  . |
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