|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
wilan884
Joined: 16 Apr 2012
Posts: 6
|
 Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:18 am Post subject: Newbie - Khon Kean Voluntary Contract |
 |
|
Hi everyone,
I am 25 year old male from New Zealand. I have a B.A. in Geography and Politics and a Master of Planning (Urban/Resource Planning). I have experience as a university tutor and I have spent a year as a volunteer teacher/co-ordinator at a youth drop in center in Vanuatu.
I am moving to Khon Kean next month to take up a voluntary English teaching role for three months, and I have a couple of questions:
- Although I am a volunteer, I would like to get some paid work outside of my voluntary position. How possible is this in Khon Kaen?
- What is the social/expat scene like there? Some background information on the lifestyle there would be appreciated.
- Considering my forthcoming and previous experiences, would I need to do a TESL course if I were to get a formal paid contract down the line, either in Thailand, or elsewhere?
Thank you in advance! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
MaiPenRai
Joined: 17 Jan 2006
Posts: 390
Location: BKK
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
1. Go to the local language schools and ask if they need anybody for evenings or weekends. Get to know the community and then set up private classes (this would seem very strange as you are "volunteering" at a local school so why would you then charge people for the same service. You would have been much better off getting a "job" at a school and then volunteering on the side (where it would do more good).
2. Khon Kaen city is one of the bigger cities in Thailand, so there are things to do and there is a decent expat scene, although mostly older gentlemen from what I remember. Keep i mind that anything outside Bangkok and other tourist destinations, the nightlife scene will be very very Thai aside from a few of the expat watering holes.
3. A TESOL/TEFL cert is not a requirement to work legally in Thailand.
Please see other threads on volunteering at Thai schools for more information. You will see why I am not a big fan of "volunteer teachers" in Thai schools. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wilan884
Joined: 16 Apr 2012
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for your reply. I have some further comments:
I understand why you might think volunteering and asking for paid work is 'strange', but I have been given this opportunity from the Thai Govt. to volunteer, with all expenses paid. I will not however be paid for the teaching I do. I have not signed up with a 'voluntary agency' and am certainly not paying to work as a volunteer.
In terms of doing some paid teaching on the side, I will only do this if I really enjoy the teaching, have the time, and I am able to under my contract. That being the case, I do not see any issues with the idea of me making some extra money to help fund my next venture. You mentioned getting a job and then volunteering on the side - I'm simply seeking to do this the other way around, therefore, 'doing some good'.
I believe the opportunity will provide me with a good taster for what the ESL life is all about and whether I feel I need to do more. I believe that I will most likely enjoy the role and look to 'work' as a teacher afterwards. Thus, a positive spin-off, considering comments you have made elsewhere. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well, it's a bit of a moot point. If you are volunteering then you will not be able to get the type of visa and work permit that allows you to work legally in Thailand, since you will already have the visa (and work permit?) that is issued to volunteers.
Have you inquired with them regarding these details?
You may still be able to work "illegally", but in some cases the Thais are known to be quite strict about this kind of thing.
You have good qualifications already. A TEFL cert is unnecessary, especially for Thailand, which as far as i know is a teachers market when it comes to English teaching since fewer and fewer people want to teach there.
| Quote: |
| ...I will most likely enjoy the role and look to 'work' as a teacher afterwards. |
Are you implying that teaching isn't work? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wilan884
Joined: 16 Apr 2012
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Your question regarding teaching as work seems a bit odd, otherwise, I really appreciate your advice. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:23 pm Post subject: Re: Newbie - Khon Kean Voluntary Contract |
|
|
| wilan884 wrote: |
- Although I am a volunteer, I would like to get some paid work outside of my voluntary position. How possible is this in Khon Kaen?
! |
Possible, but you have to do the work. Check the Ajarn website they have jobs from all over Thailand.
-
| wilan884 wrote: |
- Considering my forthcoming and previous experiences, would I need to do a TESL course if I were to get a formal paid contract down the line, either in Thailand, or elsewhere?
! |
Don't have to No, it's not a requirement for a work permit. Employers tend to look upon TEFL certificates as some kind of experience or knowledge in teaching ESL. ESL can be a lot different than other subjects.
ESL classes in Thailand teach both about teaching ESL and about Thailand in general. If your school doesn't use books to teach English, it will be essential.
List your volunteer experience when applying for a job. Thais will hire you for that alone. It's called the "Warm Heart" or something like that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wilan884
Joined: 16 Apr 2012
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Thank you |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MaiPenRai
Joined: 17 Jan 2006
Posts: 390
Location: BKK
|
| Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 9:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I have not signed up with a 'voluntary agency' and am certainly not paying to work as a volunteer. |
That's good.
Employers tend to look upon TEFL certificates as some kind of experience or knowledge in teaching ESL. ESL can be a lot different than other subjects.
ESL classes in Thailand teach both about teaching ESL and about Thailand in general. If your school doesn't use books to teach English, it will be essential.
I hate to be picky, but we dont really teach ESL in Thailand, we teach EFL. Once you have done both you will (should) realize that there can be huge differences in how both the teacher and students (should) approach the learning process.
| Quote: |
Quote:
...I will most likely enjoy the role and look to 'work' as a teacher afterwards.
Are you implying that teaching isn't work? |
He/She is differentiating between paid and unpaid teaching/work.
| Quote: |
| If you are volunteering then you will not be able to get the type of visa and work permit that allows you to work legally in Thailand, since you will already have the visa (and work permit?) that is issued to volunteers. |
Very true. You should look into it.
The issues I have with volunteer teaching positions are that:
1.often the positions are short term (almost always less than 1 year or usually less than 1 semester) and often there is no/poor curriculum to work from and little organization. This means 2,3,4 or more different teachers over the course of a year. Good for exposure but horrible for continuity. Most often the students end up doing the exact same things over and over again (and never learning it, lol).
2. Schools/Admin begin to think that they can get free "teachers" and either pocket the money the get from the government to hire foreign teachers and/or fail to understand that what they need is properly trained teachers. This means paying higher salaries which they dont want to do because they are used to getting "free" volunteers.
3. It takes jobs/decent salaries away from foreigners who live in Thailand with Thai families that need and want the job. These people are not always the best teachers but they more often than not are willing to stay long term and many genuinely want to make a difference and help their adopted communities.
4. The students see a revolving door of foreign teachers and never learn to respect foreign teachers. Ive seen first hand the increase in respect for foreign teachers when they stay at a school long term. (assuming the foreign teacher is passionate, works hard, good with the students and professional).
As said before, nearly all aspects of EFL in Thailand (and many other countries) is about the business or money.
I hope the OP has a good experience in his volunteering and glad he/she is not supporting these pay to teach "volunteer" organizations. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MaiPenRai
Joined: 17 Jan 2006
Posts: 390
Location: BKK
|
| Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 9:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I have not signed up with a 'voluntary agency' and am certainly not paying to work as a volunteer. |
That's good.
Employers tend to look upon TEFL certificates as some kind of experience or knowledge in teaching ESL. ESL can be a lot different than other subjects.
ESL classes in Thailand teach both about teaching ESL and about Thailand in general. If your school doesn't use books to teach English, it will be essential.
I hate to be picky, but we dont really teach ESL in Thailand, we teach EFL. Once you have done both you will (should) realize that there can be huge differences in how both the teacher and students (should) approach the learning process.
| Quote: |
Quote:
...I will most likely enjoy the role and look to 'work' as a teacher afterwards.
Are you implying that teaching isn't work? |
He/She is differentiating between paid and unpaid teaching/work.
| Quote: |
| If you are volunteering then you will not be able to get the type of visa and work permit that allows you to work legally in Thailand, since you will already have the visa (and work permit?) that is issued to volunteers. |
Very true. You should look into it.
The issues I have with volunteer teaching positions are that:
1.often the positions are short term (almost always less than 1 year or usually less than 1 semester) and often there is no/poor curriculum to work from and little organization. This means 2,3,4 or more different teachers over the course of a year. Good for exposure but horrible for continuity. Most often the students end up doing the exact same things over and over again (and never learning it, lol).
2. Schools/Admin begin to think that they can get free "teachers" and either pocket the money the get from the government to hire foreign teachers and/or fail to understand that what they need is properly trained teachers. This means paying higher salaries which they dont want to do because they are used to getting "free" volunteers.
3. It takes jobs/decent salaries away from foreigners who live in Thailand with Thai families that need and want the job. These people are not always the best teachers but they more often than not are willing to stay long term and many genuinely want to make a difference and help their adopted communities.
4. The students see a revolving door of foreign teachers and never learn to respect foreign teachers. Ive seen first hand the increase in respect for foreign teachers when they stay at a school long term. (assuming the foreign teacher is passionate, works hard, good with the students and professional).
As said before, nearly all aspects of EFL in Thailand (and many other countries) is about the business or money.
I hope the OP has a good experience in his volunteering and glad he/she is not supporting these pay to teach "volunteer" organizations. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
