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kcat
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 35
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 Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 3:08 am Post subject: How does this measure up to the norm? |
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Hi, Im a teacher (I usually teach in Korea) and I was offered a job in Bangkok, air-conditioned school, 38 000 B/month, small flight allowance, 50 % severence, run by a foreigner, hours are 8-4, 5 days a week, 40 holidays, next to a university, medical insurance (limited I think but some)....how is this in comparison to typical standards? I know I won't make the same money as I would in Korea but I need a change and I loved Thailand when I visited. I just wonder if this is a good offer or not. Feedback is appreciated:)
-K |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 5:23 am Post subject: |
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On paper it looks pretty good when compared with other jobs in Thailand, but a lot of hours. How many teaching hours? What about class size? What kind of school is it? Language school? Kindergarten? Pathom [elementary]? Mattayom [secondary]? etc.?
Also, you say it's run by a foreigner... What kind of foreigner? Is it a legitimate school? Have you asked about visa and work permit?
Anyway, again it's looks better than average but try to get as much info as possible. If you go to Thailand and then look for work you can have a look and choose carefully from a greater number of options. But then of course you'd have to pay for your flight, but it can't be that much from Korea. |
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kcat
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 35
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| Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 6:16 am Post subject: |
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| sigmoid wrote: |
On paper it looks pretty good when compared with other jobs in Thailand, but a lot of hours. How many teaching hours? What about class size? What kind of school is it? Language school? Kindergarten? Pathom [elementary]? Mattayom [secondary]? etc.?
Also, you say it's run by a foreigner... What kind of foreigner? Is it a legitimate school? Have you asked about visa and work permit?
Anyway, again it's looks better than average but try to get as much info as possible. If you go to Thailand and then look for work you can have a look and choose carefully from a greater number of options. But then of course you'd have to pay for your flight, but it can't be that much from Korea. |
Hi, thanks for the reply. 21 teaching hours was stated on the site. It's a highschool student language center, it's run by a British man with an impressive resume, I've spoken to him, I believe class size is 14-17 (in that range), it is certified, I would be receiving a work visa, and he has managed to keep his staff a number of years (I was referred to this job by one of them, I didn't apply). So I agree, I need to do a lot of research but I have nothing to compare it to-I do have a number of years experience teaching in KOREA. Thailand is a while new ball park for me. Thank you. |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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| he has managed to keep his staff a number of years (I was referred to this job by one of them, I didn't apply |
Well, if the teachers are happy, that's certainly a good sign.
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| I would be receiving a work visa |
Work visa or work permit? There's really no such thing as a "work visa". It's a "non-immigrant" visa. What you need is a "work permit" to be working legally. You need to get a "non-immigrant visa" to apply for a "work permit".
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| 21 teaching hours was stated on the site. |
That's reasonable for 38K/month [about 450 baht/hr], but the 8 - 4 thing isn't. That's 40 hours/week or 235 baht/hr. That's about USD $11.70 vs. $6.10.  |
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GreenDestiny
Joined: 27 Nov 2004
Posts: 88
Location: International
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| Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:56 am Post subject: |
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Does 30k for 20 teaching hours + 250 baht per additional hour (only if I want extra hours) and not required to be at school unless teaching sound fair? This includes full international flight refund after 1 year, all Thai Holidays paid + 1 month paid off in October, 5 days per week with 2 consecutive days off.
Thanks for any feedback. Cheers!
All the best,
GreenDestiny
PS Has anyone bought a suit from these tailors?
http://www.khaosanroad.com/KSRFashion/index.html |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Does 30k for 20 teaching hours + 250 baht per additional hour (only if I want extra hours) and not required to be at school unless teaching sound fair? This includes full international flight refund after 1 year, all Thai Holidays paid + 1 month paid off in October, 5 days per week with 2 consecutive days off. |
Not really. Do the math. 30K divided by 80 hours is 375 baht/hour, about USD $9.80. 250 baht is only $6.50. It sounds like some kind of university or college job.
For 20 hours it should be at least 35K and the overtime should be around 350 - 400 per hour. That's still not a lot but it would be about average for Thailand. |
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GreenDestiny
Joined: 27 Nov 2004
Posts: 88
Location: International
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| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 10:19 am Post subject: |
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What seems unusual to me is that the *extra hours* @ 250 Baht/hour is less (obviously) than the initial 375 B/h @ 20 hours. Wouldn't additional hours past 20 (the norm) receive a greater rate of pay?
It seems teaching in a university/college in Thailand is less pay than a language school. Am I correct in this assumption?
For example, I think Japan pays more for uni/college positions.
All the best,
GreendDestiny |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 3:54 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| What seems unusual to me is that the *extra hours* @ 250 Baht/hour is less (obviously) than the initial 375 B/h @ 20 hours. Wouldn't additional hours past 20 (the norm) receive a greater rate of pay? |
That's a good point. Some schools may figure that teachers will accept a lower rate because of the convenience of not having to travel to another location. Traveling around Bangkok between 4 - 7 pm is a real pain. These extra classes are usually in the evenings. But if they're truly optional then you can go somewhere else that pays more.
| Quote: |
It seems teaching in a university/college in Thailand is less pay than a language school. Am I correct in this assumption?
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In general yes. Depends on which language school you're talking about. But often language school salaries are tied to the number of hours you teach. At universities that's not the case. Teach 15 hours/week you get paid your salary. Teach 0 hours/wk you get paid your salary. If you use that time to make more money it usually balances out. Also, there is little chance that you will have teach kids. |
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Sheep-Goats
Joined: 16 Apr 2004
Posts: 527
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 7:14 am Post subject: |
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| GreenDestiny wrote: |
What seems unusual to me is that the *extra hours* @ 250 Baht/hour is less (obviously) than the initial 375 B/h @ 20 hours. Wouldn't additional hours past 20 (the norm) receive a greater rate of pay?
It seems teaching in a university/college in Thailand is less pay than a language school. Am I correct in this assumption?
For example, I think Japan pays more for uni/college positions.
All the best,
GreendDestiny |
Your offer is quite good -- though on 38,000B you'll be lucky to save 100USD a month. When they say "next to a university" you should take that as a negative -- most universities are out in the boonies or border areas of Bangkok, which makes getting into the city proper impossible, given finances and practicality and such, for most of the week. What's the exact location?
The 8 to 4 thing here is niegh impossible to avoid, so you've found a rather unusual job there. Less pay for overtime, compared to regular teaching "hours" (not couting sitting on your hands hours like Sigi's encouraging you to do) is typical because most teachers here are desperate for extra cash -- but 250B/hr is quite low (less than 400 and hour isn't worth your time, most won't get out of bed for less than 500/hour).
Lanugage schools here typically pay more than universities. They offer less time off (though not that much less -- at a university you'll likely have four months of non-class time but only one where you're allowed to not punch in and out -- effectively meaning only one month's vacation). Most decent language schools do have a paid vacation, and it's only slop house joke jobs (like at AUA -- though some like their system...) that don't.
Don't buy a suit on Khao San Road. There are hundreds of tailors elsewhere who aren't rip off merchants. Rent on KSR is very expensive and you basically can't run an honest tailoring business there. That being said, I'm sure the suit would be okay. |
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GreenDestiny
Joined: 27 Nov 2004
Posts: 88
Location: International
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| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 2:38 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Sheep-Goats. Perhaps you mixed my post with Kcat's initial post. I didn't mention that my offer is near a university, nor is it 38 Baht month.  My offer is 30 B/m for 20 teaching hours.
Anyway, the 250 B/h rate seems low.
All the best,
GreenDestiny |
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GreenDestiny
Joined: 27 Nov 2004
Posts: 88
Location: International
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| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 2:41 am Post subject: |
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| sigmoid wrote: |
| Quote: |
| What seems unusual to me is that the *extra hours* @ 250 Baht/hour is less (obviously) than the initial 375 B/h @ 20 hours. Wouldn't additional hours past 20 (the norm) receive a greater rate of pay? |
That's a good point. Some schools may figure that teachers will accept a lower rate because of the convenience of not having to travel to another location. Traveling around Bangkok between 4 - 7 pm is a real pain. These extra classes are usually in the evenings. But if they're truly optional then you can go somewhere else that pays more.
| Quote: |
It seems teaching in a university/college in Thailand is less pay than a language school. Am I correct in this assumption?
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In general yes. Depends on which language school you're talking about. But often language school salaries are tied to the number of hours you teach. At universities that's not the case. Teach 15 hours/week you get paid your salary. Teach 0 hours/wk you get paid your salary. If you use that time to make more money it usually balances out. Also, there is little chance that you will have teach kids. |
Thanks Sigmoid. |
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GreenDestiny
Joined: 27 Nov 2004
Posts: 88
Location: International
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| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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| GreenDestiny wrote: |
Does 30k for 20 teaching hours + 250 baht per additional hour (only if I want extra hours) and not required to be at school unless teaching sound fair? This includes full international flight refund after 1 year, all Thai Holidays paid + 1 month paid off in October, 5 days per week with 2 consecutive days off.
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Addendum: The contract is for 11 months, with October off (paid), so my last paycheck is considered the airfare refund. The school is approximately 1 hour (bus) from BKK, and am told one can get an apartment in the 3-5000 range.
As I haven't actually seen the contract yet, the above is all I know thus far concerning the position. Since I'll need to be in Thailand by the beginning of April, then I assume the contract is April-Feb or May-March for 11 months. Teaching Grades 1-6.
Also, the acutal contract I will sign abroad, purchase my own airfare, and sign another contract when I arrive and meet the school. Do I have any flexibility in negotiating on the contract terms?
Any advice is truly appreciated!
GreenDestiny
PS It seems not taking on additional hours @ 250 B/h and doing outside privates (or p/t on weekends at a language school) is much more lucrative. Comments? |
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