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Argofoto
Joined: 28 Aug 2012
Posts: 61
Location: Philadelphia
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 Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 4:21 pm Post subject: If you can make it here, can you make it anywhere? |
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I was wondering if it were reasonable to say if you can make it in Thailand and save a bit of pocket cash, that you can make it anywhere (documentation, immigration, physical, and metereological issues notwithstanding)? I am not trying to put Thailand on the same level as NYC, which famously has the reputation for "if you can make it here you can make it anywhere", but I gather that if you can have the patience to rough it out here, the other places will be a sigh of relief and you may be better for it...
I plan on staying in Thailand for 2 years beginning next spring and have quite a few reasons why but a few more will help. |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 2:05 am Post subject: |
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| ...if you can have the patience to rough it out here, the other places will be a sigh of relief and you may be better for it... |
Well, it depends which countries you're referring to and which aspects of life you're talking about.
In many ways, Thailand is "soft" compared to other countries such as Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia...
On the other hand, many people swear they will NEVER EVER teach in Thailand again.
Can you make your question more specific? |
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Argofoto
Joined: 28 Aug 2012
Posts: 61
Location: Philadelphia
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 3:37 am Post subject: |
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Thanks
I was thinking considering the difficulties to teach in Thailand, and if you can overcome those difficulties, then teaching by comparison, say a not so reputable hagwon in Korea, in other places would be much easier. So, what I am trying to get at is if you can learn to cooperate and be patient to work with the Thai "system", then the systems of other places will seem more manageable.
Of course each country has their own caveats, or maybe I am just being naive and stupid to want to start ESL in Thailand, but I would like to think a start in Thailand would frame a decent base to start off of... especially if one considers the more affordable Master's degrees (and accredited too) available here. |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 4:11 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| ...if you can overcome those difficulties, then teaching by comparison, say a not so reputable hagwon in Korea, in other places would be much easier. So, what I am trying to get at is if you can learn to cooperate and be patient to work with the Thai "system", then the systems of other places will seem more manageable. |
Well, there's some logic to what you're saying in theory, but in practice I think you will find challenges wherever you go. Various countries are different from each other but not necessarily better or easier and, as a result, a lot of people tour "the circuit" of Asia, moving on when they get tired of a particular place.
A lot depends on your employer and the type of school you work for, as well, whether it's kindergarten, language school, high school, university, company, etc.
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| ...maybe I am just being naive and stupid to want to start ESL in Thailand, but I would like to think a start in Thailand would frame a decent base to start off of... ...available here. |
Well, I don't think it is naive or stupid to want to teach in Thailand. There are numerous good reasons to do so.
If you're already there, then I'm not sure what's holding you back. You can easily research the job market, see if you find anything interesting and start work. If it doesn't suit you then you can decide where else to go. |
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flow
Joined: 31 Aug 2012
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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Go to Thailand with the intention of having a good time and you won't regret it. You go as a "serious/career" teacher wanting to make a change in the lives of your students and you'll be in for a shock  |
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PattyFlipper
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 572
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| Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 10:51 am Post subject: |
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| sigmoid wrote: |
In many ways, Thailand is "soft" compared to other countries such as Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia...
On the other hand, many people swear they will NEVER EVER teach in Thailand again. |
I have worked in three of those countries mentioned, and they were a walk-in-the-park compared to the exigencies of teaching in Thailand. Put me down for the NEVER EVER AGAIN group. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm about to go to Saudi Arabia now. The contract stipulates the same teaching hours as I had in Thailand but six times the savings. |
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Argofoto
Joined: 28 Aug 2012
Posts: 61
Location: Philadelphia
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| Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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| I have a feeling I'll be alright in Thailand... I did a pirate party for a bunch of 6 years with a local volunteer group that helps kids with english, and once you figure out what they want, it becomes much easier. Of course there isn't someone ready to fire you at the blink of an eye, but bureaucracy aside, i think if you can do alright in the classroom you'll be fine. By alright I mean doing good, but not doing so much that you exceed the other teachers and make them lose face.... That's the mindset I suppose I should have |
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PattyFlipper
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 572
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| Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Pirate party. That just about epitomizes 'education' in Thailand, in more ways than one. I certainly agree with the sentiments expressed in this thread that a desire to be professional and actually teach something is generally more of a handicap than an advantage in Thailand. |
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