Job Discussion Forums

[canadianjennie]

I am 20 years old and will be graduating with a 2 year diploma from a private college this spring. My boyfriend and i are going to get our TESL certificates while still in Canada (where we live and are from) and soon after we're going ot travel to Bangkok to find a teaching job. I've been to Thailand before, traveld for 6 months there 2 years ago, and adored it so that is where the interest from the country comes from. We're going to try and pay off our debts before we leave because as i've heard time and time again Thailand is not the country you want to be in to make money. I have relatives who live in Japan who teach ESL there though because of my lack of a university degree i know i wont be able to go there to teach.

I have a few questions...I heard that in Thailand you also need a university degree, is this true? If i have a TESL certificate and land in Bangkok to try and find a job will i be sucessful? Is it easy for a couple to find jobs together at the same school? (we will both be equally qualified). I heard the minimun to take per month is 25,000 baht, will this be adaquate to live in a one bedroom apartment in BKK?? Neither of us drink or party much but we'd like to be able to travel down to Samui and Phi Phi on our weeks off (bus of course)....will 25,000 be enough to do that?

I'd also like to know about apartments; is it possible to find one fully furnished downtown, close to whatever school we end up at, or is that totally unrealistic? We're not terribly picky on what sort of state we live in, when i was there 2 years ago my friend and i were paying 2$ each on Chaweng, imagine what a rat hole that was.

When going for interviews should we expect to be interviewed as we walk in or should we get a cell phone as soon as we get there to have a way of being contacted? I'd like to know about what schools are recomended as well, i heard Inlingua is good. Would they accept 2 tecahers without degrees?

Sorry for all the questions but that's what a forum is for right? Thanks, Jennie

[ronin]

Hey girl I'm trying to the same, but looks like the visa laws have changed recently in June 04. Before June you can come to Thailand on a tourist Visa and re-new it by doing boarder runs as many times as you want. But with the new law you can only do this three times, and after your third you have to leave the country for 6 months before you are allowed back into the country. The only way you can get multiple entry visas is if you can provide them with proof of sufficient funds, but you cannot tell them that you are working because it�s illegal to work in Thailand with out a proper work permit. And to get one you need a university degree I think, unless there are ways around it which I highly doubt. I have an uncle that owns a hotel in Bangkok so he can probably help me out, but without a University degree I agree it is getting harder and harder. That is why if Thailand doesn't work out for me I'm just going to head to Indo while I'm finishing my degree over the net. Also the school I got my TESL cert from has a job placement agency with lots of connections in Asia and around the world so I am hoping that they will find me something. Well keep me updated maybe all three of us can leave together, I live in Toronto.

P.S. I might be wrong about the above but this is what I have been hearing from other Thai message boards, but if some one can prove me wrong please go right ahead.

[canadianjennie]

hey thanks for the response. This is what i keep hearing too, that a uni degree is required. I have a 2 year diploma and i'm wondering if they will consider that. I mean it shows i'm educated!!!

Well i hope it works out for you going there as well. I too have an uncle that lives and works there (2d cousin actually but it counts, haha), and maybe he can get some info for me.

About leaving together, that would be awsome but we're moving back to BC, where we're originally from, before we go.....but keep in touch!! plans always change.
J

[kenkannif]

[canadianjennie]

YOU RE-KINDLED MY FIRE TO TEACH IN THAILAND!!! Thank you so much. It's very nice to hear that you don't need a degree because i was talking to my aunt and uncle who teach in japan and they did some looking around for me and said a degree is needed in japan, korea and most places in taiwan. I wanted to go to BKK anyway .
If you have any more info on teahcing, the more the merrier. Thanks, Jennie

[kenkannif]

Tons to tell about teaching, but wadda ya wanna know!

[blindjackdog]

Regards visas, I agree with previous posters. Generally there are no problems.

As for other questions, 25000 Baht is ok but it won't leave you a lot of change. Getting away to the islands tends to be more difficult in terms of time - most language schools will have you in 6 days a week, including at least one weekend day.

You want to get an apartment near to where you get a job, so get the job first. Make sure, however, that you're easily contactable when you're applying - buy a cell phone. Schools will not contact a teacher whose phone number is some guest house.

Most apartments come with basic furnishings - a bed, a wardrobe. For more you'll pay more. You'd want to get something pretty basic on your income - a room with a bathroom. With the improved transportation you don't need to be too close to your school, but it would have its advantages. When you know where you want to live, just wander the streets a bit, go into the apartment buildings you like the look of and ask what they have available. Asking a nearby motorbike taxi to take you around the apartments in the vicinity can be good, but speaking Thai might be necessary. And always agree on a fee in advance.

Inlingua is not a bad place to work for a start. It's fairly typical but has quite nice working conditions, air con etc. There are several branches around BKK. The Central Pinklao one would be a good place to start. ECC is inlingua's poor cousin and is also apparently ok. Elite on Silom Rd is also good for beginners. And AUAA can potentially be a good place to start out, especially if you don't want to teach kids, which is more or less compulsory elsewhere. Basically you just need to walk the streets applying everywhere you see. You'll have a job fairly smartly. Avoid the really dodgy looking places. And don't just look around the central city; good opportunities exist everywhere.

As for being a couple, really it makes little difference. Some Thais would like the implied stability; others would see potential for dissolution and disharmony. There are not many female teachers about, which makes you attractive in that sense. Basically most schools will take whatever teacher is standing in front of them at the time they need them.

Be prepared, though, for flirtatious Thai office staff who may take a liking to your boyfriend - who may also enjoy the attention. That kind of silliness could put a strain on your relationship, especially if you're working in the same school. Best to ignore it. Also, staff rooms tend to be dominated by single, cynical men who enjoy the 'nightlife' of BKK. In that respect schools are not really couple-friendly. Not hostile at all, but rather they might view a normal relationship as an alien life form. It's no big issue, but personally if I was in your situation I would consider working in different schools. That said, though, at a place like inlingua you'll generally be working quite different hours anyway.

Check out ajarn.com

Best of luck.

And don't wear sandals. Thais don't like any blurring of the clear distinction they see between western tourists and western teachers.

[marge_81]

I found this very useful thank you.

My boyfriend has no degree but is a qualified youth worker and has the FAETC (further and adult education teachers cetificate). He is planning on doing TEFL certificate this year. Here is the TEFL course he is planning to take

http://www.teflireland.com/aboutwt.shtml

Would he have any dificulties in acquiring a job?

[ronin]

Ok well I guess I was wrong lol! I just hear a lot of things from other people, but I guess they just want to scare people away from coming to paradise and keep it all to them selves. Thanks Kinnkinnaf for clearing things up you are also making me think twice and I am seriously thinking about going to Thailand to teach. Hey Jennie when are you and your man leaving? maybe I can hook up with you guys.