Job Discussion Forums

[joem]

Thanks for giving us this invaluable service. As we all know, it is the teachers' trust,compassion, and caring that often allow others to try to rip us off. Very sad.

I have taught English, Public Speaking, (and a course to prepare beginning
English speakers) in California for 25 years at every grade level from
kindergarten to college . I possess a Masters Degree in English Education,
and three California teaching credentials.
I am 56 years old, caucasian (I mention this only because I have read of rampant discrimination out there), and am available to move to Thailand after June 27, 2005.
I want to teach either at the college or high school level.
I need any and all advice on the best way to do this.
Thanks,
Joe

[JosephP]

Your best bet is to go to Thailand, look around, ask around, get a feel for the place. Don't worry if you don't have anything set up. Life isn't always served on a plate, y'know.
So, the best advice, get on the plane and GO.
Choke dee.

[tedkarma]

Joe,

If you are an experienced and credentialed teacher in your home state - don't mess around with language schools or even universities in this part of the world. Find work with the international schools - for quite good wages and benefits. Typically a wage close to what you might earn (at close to entry level) back home, but with very low taxes (3-9% total might be typical), free housing, airfare, etc. Language schools and even universities won't even get close. Capitalize on your experience - and you'll enjoy yourself and have a much more rewarding time over here.

Check these two threads about people with roughly similar situations as yours - they will get you started in the right direction:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=19367&highlight=

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=23430&highlight=

Good luck!

Ted

[joe beets]

[tedkarma]

Ditto what Joe says. He is right on regarding recruitment from overseas. You will shoot yourself in the foot by arriving with resume in hand. Apply from there (as the threads I referenced indicated).

PM me for post 60 career options.

Good luck!

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

tedkarma just beat me to the submit button.

Allow me to throw a third voice behind what was just written with regard to International Schools offering better contracts, more benefits and higher salaries to candidates hired BEFORE they arrive in-country.

For run-of-the-mill language schools & Thai public schools, however, I would strongly agree with JosephP that being here on the ground - with a mobile phone on your belt - is a definite advantage.

i.e., The ideal approach to finding a job varies slightly depending on what kind of position you're aiming for!

In my humble opinion - your age could actually work in your favour, assuming you apply to an International School. They tend to prefer hiring the more serious-minded, older & wiser career teachers over the wilder & younger "Ken & Barbie" bunch.

With your 3 teaching credentials & an MEd, I'd definitely pursue the International Schools if I were you!

You'll find several links to these schools on The Master Index if you scroll down to Part II, TEFL THAILAND.

[joem]

Thanks a bunch, you guys! Appreciate the sage advice. I have started the ISS application process. Any idea of the response time once I've finished ?
(I want to be in Thailand on July 1, 2005).
Thanks again,
joe

[tedkarma]

It will, most likely, depend on when your employer wants you to start. Ah . . . realities of the real world. Generally they recruit far in advance.

I'm not sure of the school year for the international schools in Thailand. Someone, Kent maybe, can tell you.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

I'm not an expert in this area since I'm underqualified for these upscale jobs however ...

The typical Int. School academic year generally runs from August or September until June or July - followed by summer school - and then back to school again in August or September. This varies a bit from one school to another, so please use this only as a rough guide.

Anyway --- it looks like now would be a good time to get the ball rolling and begin applying for the next term.

[Welshguy]

Hi there,

I mailed some people I worked with in Thailand on your behalf and they say that the age thing isnt really on issue in most places, though others would rightly disagree. I personally felt that in five years in various Asian countries that older people seem to be more respected than they are in the UK. I guess its best to be aware of a possible issue. Also, there used to be a really nasty immigration rule which meant that long term over 55's had to show that they had all sorts of money arriving into the bank a/c every month. My knowledge of this is a little hazy and I certainly dont want to alarm you at all but it was part of a Thai government drive to prevent a load of ageing farangs cluttering up the place and came to my attention in 2001. However, my mate is 63 and he just waltzed in there on a one year business visa, bought a house and we havent seen him since!

With your skills and experience my guess is that they will bite your arm off and quickly. As mentioned above, try all the internationals from home before coming over. If they like what they see then they can help your relocation as well as paying you at the top end of the salary scale from the start.

I think virtually anyone can find something to do in the education sector in Thailand (for better or worse) and a career professional is unlikely to falter where many complete chancers have prospered (relatively).

Give it a go and best of luck.

W.

[JosephP]

Well, gee guys. Maybe the "op" was thinking of investing his passion in teaching somewhere other than in an international school. But, uh...yeah, getting a gig at an IS is a bit different.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hey JoeP:

Sorry if it looked like we were ganging up on ya!

That certainly wasn't my intention.

Based on the OP's quals, it just made sense to suggest the International Schools.

And --- for the first time, we've also touched on the different approach to applying for these non-TEFL positions.

I suppose that's a good thing, right?

[JosephP]

^

[Sheep-Goats]

You should roll into the International School game. You'll be making 2 to 3 times what most EFL teachers make here. You don't get into that game from inside of Thailand, though (this is the direct opposite of getting an EFL job). Ask some people you know, maybe your union, about how to arrange for work overseas -- I'm not qualified for international schools, and 99% of the people on this forum aren't either, so you're better off asking among those who are.

Oh, and the age thing is a HUGE problem for government schools (eg: Thai schools for Thai people) -- absolutely no one over 60 may be employed by them. Private schools find older teachers to be undesireable. Ideal age seems to be about 35 here. Age, however, may not be an issue among international schools -- there's no way for me to know for sure, and you likely won't find the answer to that question on this forum.

[kenkannif]

^ We have teachers over 60 working at goverment schools.