Job Discussion Forums

[Dustinb]

Hello I am interested in teaching in Thailand and I have a few questions. I am a 20 year old male from Canada with no experience or degree.
I will be taking a tefl course in september, will it be easy to find jobs in october? (I only want to teach kids) I see that the salaries range from 20,000 to 35,000 for around 25 hours a week I think. Is it possible to work more hours? I am used to working 40 hour weeks doing labour work and I will be supporting my girlfriend in Thailand unless she can get a job other than teaching(she does not want to teach). If you do work around 40 hours a week will it be enough for both of us to survive? I also would want to travel around either in country or out of, is this at all possible? Can you surf anywhere?? The main thing I really want is beaches, beer and surfing, but I don't expect it. Sorry for all the questions.
Thanks for any help.
Dustin

[kenkannif]

October is not a bad time to pick up some bits an pieces (it's a holiday for most 'proper' schools). November is a good time to get work at a school (full-time).

Yes, you can work more hours if you wish, but teaching can and is damn hard work so I would build yourself up gradually if I were you. Labour work is far, far different from teaching, it can shatter you (50 kids in a class mate .

If you play your cards right 35k will be enough for you both to live on (albeit you won't be having loads of fun!).

And if you want to work near a beach take 10k of the above amount (generally!).

Yes, you can travel, but you may find if you don't turn up for work you'll get the sack.

[sigmoid]

Without a degree or experience you'll probably have great difficulty finding a teaching job in Thailand.

20 to 35K baht isn't enough for one person to live off of, much less two.

[sigmoid]

[Dustinb]

Hey thanks for all the info guys. My girlfriend will have about $3000 can with her. After the flight probably $2000, so she will have a little money to live off of, but I don't think she would be able to get a job besides teaching english. I heard its possible to work extra hours, is this true? Most schools I see say the working amounts are about 20-25 hours. I am used to working 40 hour weeks, is this possible? Also kenkannif can you let me know of those schools that will pay to train teachers? Thanks again for the help I appreciate it.
Dustin

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

hi,

I'm an ex-pat canuck and thought I'd send you a note re thailand.

at 20,000 - 30,000 baht a month you'll be suckin' hind titty, my friend.

also, teaching 40 hours of classes to 25 screaming kids is not like working 40 hours a week washing pots and pans or welding down at the autobody shop. it can really be mentally draining and the travelling around from school to school takes its toll as well - especially with the extreme heat and high humidity and pollution and congested traffic.

stay in Canada and finish your degree, would be my best friendly advice before coming over to Asia.

you'll get over here, start working and then get trapped not having enough money to buy a ticket out of thailand.

your planning isn't very sound - rethink what you're doing.

At any rate, good luck in whichever route you decide to take!

yrs.
Rice.

[travelinbri]

Just out of curiosity, what makes you gusy think 25-25k baht isn;t enough to live off of? When i was traveling in Thailand, not working, I was barely spending more than 35k a month, and that's cause I was spending on whatever I wanted. Or are you figuring that it will be much more expensive if he wants to live on a beach...

[sigmoid]

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

Ok - I won't agrue that you cannot live comfortably in Thailand on Baht 30,000 a month.

But how long will a guy have to work and save in order to travel back to Canada or Europe (with spending money) on Baht 25,000 a month?

Many Thai TELF'ers get stuck in the Kingdom and left with few options if they stay too long.

I really like visiting Thailand but I'll continue to collect my pay checks in Taiwan or Japan.

Ps - Even if you can live well on B25,000 a month, how do you pay off those student loans or other debts - not, likely!

[jakee]

You know, I don't think Thai's really need more english. Honestly their primitive English gets by in all the Tourist hotels and they understand the language much more than we do Thai. So, you know what I think? I think the Thai gov't is much more interested in entrepreneurs and foreign investors than ESL teachers. Thai's speak better english than any other asian country as far as I know (I've only been to Thailand and Japan).

I suggest westerners stop using their mother's tounge to make a lifestyle in a third world? Developing country? Be a capitalist, that's what they think they need.

[kenkannif]

^ Actually that's completely wrong! There's more and more so called 'international' programs and 'bilingual' programs popping up more and more often!

Check out the MoE website and you'll see the demand to an extent is outweighing the supply (for some of the reasons Sig states!).

[AsiaTraveller]