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Help! VIETNAM VS. THAILAND
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jrizbriz



Joined: 13 Nov 2014
Posts: 13
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
PostPosted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:51 am    Post subject: Help! VIETNAM VS. THAILAND Reply with quote
Hey guys,

My partner and I are currently based in Thailand. We both have approx. 6 months teaching experience, working with children. I have a TESOL, B.A. degree and a British TEFL certificate. My partner has a British TEFL certificate, an online TEFL certificate and a BA degree. I've worked in a government and a private primary school, for a 2 month internship and one semester respectively. My partner has worked for one semester in a government secondary school.

We've been job-hunting for the past 2-3 weeks, looking for a one-semester contract in a primary school in either Bangkok or Nakhon Si Thammarat. We have a few options (1 semester contract with a secondary school in BKK with a well-known agency, possibility of a primary position in Nakhon with a smaller agency and the possibility of a primary school position in BKK through two other agencies, one of which offers extra after-school classes for additional earnings.)

We both have two solid job offers in Bangkok but we want to save 10,000-15,000 baht a month ($282-$423). With the salaries for these jobs (34,000-37,000/month), this doesn't seem feasible once we factor in accommodation, transport, food & some kind of social life.

SO we're now considering Vietnam. We've read a lot about higher wages (around $20/hour for language centre work, or $1200-2000 a month in a public/private school) and the low cost of living, and it seems like a better option for saving money. However, we're concerned about timing. We gather that the next public/priv school term starts in February, and we need to be earning ASAP. Therefore, we're looking at finding language centre work.

Can anyone offer advice about how quickly you can find work, assuming we put the effort into visiting many schools in person with CVs, and schools we should target?

Any info muchly appreciated, as we're trying to decide whether to stay in Thailand, or take the leap to Vietnam!
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EFL Educator



Joined: 17 Jul 2013
Posts: 988
Location: Cape Town
PostPosted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 2:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
By all means stay in Thailand...the land of Smiles and Thai Baths! Very Happy
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sigmoid



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 9:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
However, we're concerned about timing. We gather that the next public/priv school term starts in February, and we need to be earning ASAP.


There's fairly high turnover in VN, so have a look at online job listings before you rule out the possibility of getting a salaried position mid-term. Check the "international" schools.
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EFL Educator



Joined: 17 Jul 2013
Posts: 988
Location: Cape Town
PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 5:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
It is possible to receive as many Thai Baths in Vietnam as in Thailand...given the choice of a smile I think you would be happier in the Land of Smiles! Very Happy
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plumpy nut



Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
PostPosted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 2:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The "international schools" are unlikely to give you a job given their need to show their list of teachers that are licensed and in some cases with Masters degrees. Thailand is probably so overrun with Westerners that want to stay there that they can be this picky even though their credentials are fake. Vietnam has much higher pay than Thailand. In Thailand without a license from your own country you're most likely going to get paid between 30000 and 40000 Baht.
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Hermosillo



Joined: 17 Jun 2014
Posts: 176
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
PostPosted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 4:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
plumpy nut wrote:
The "international schools" are unlikely to give you a job given their need to show their list of teachers that are licensed and in some cases with Masters degrees. Thailand is probably so overrun with Westerners that want to stay there that they can be this picky even though their credentials are fake. Vietnam has much higher pay than Thailand. In Thailand without a license from your own country you're most likely going to get paid between 30000 and 40000 Baht.


The schools are often complicit with the fakes, otherwise, I think there are plenty of foreign teachers, who would "out them." When the crackdown comes; the teacher with the fake will take all of the blame. Salary closer to 30K (and below), except for some expensive areas of BKK.

I'm familiar with "soapy massages," but I've never heard of Thai Baths in the 18 years of been visiting. It does seem like 'Educator mention "Baths" in about every post. Perhaps he/she could explain to us newbies.
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TeachtheFuture



Joined: 31 Jan 2013
Posts: 13
Location: BKK, Thailand
PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 5:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
"Thai Baths" is just the common way people misspell the Thai currency the Baht.
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plumpy nut



Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 1:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hermosillo wrote:
Salary closer to 30K (and below), except for some expensive areas of BKK.



All the Brits receiving government dole and willing to work for the meager Thai school salary at the same time most likely keep the salaries down. Unfortunately I had to work with a whole slew of them at my school, they where in the majority, while receiving the ubiquitous 30,000 at the same time. For prospective teachers wanting to come to Thailand from the USA this may be something to think about.
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EFL Educator



Joined: 17 Jul 2013
Posts: 988
Location: Cape Town
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 3:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Me has noticed a lot of Vietnam Vets moving to the Land of Smiles to teach English....must be the Thai Baths!!!! Shocked
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Tazz



Joined: 26 Sep 2013
Posts: 512
Location: Jakarta
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 8:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
How would it be possible to claim 'the dole' while living/ working in Thailand? Wouldn't you need to go and sign on every couple weeks....?!! Shocked Shocked
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EFL Educator



Joined: 17 Jul 2013
Posts: 988
Location: Cape Town
PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Earning Thai Baths in the Land Of Smiles can be quite a rewarding experience...it depends on one's education and experience....as an EDUTAINER! Shocked
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