Job Discussion Forums

[brewsterbudgen]

As an inexperienced newbie (44 years old, BA Honours degree, smart appearance ) who plans to have completed his CELTA at ECC in November, is it unreasonable to be thinking about getting a first job, preferably in Bangkok, at 40,000 baht plus? Most of the jobs advertised on Ajarn or similar seem to be in the 25-30,000 baht range.

I am hoping that better paid jobs are likely to be available once I am in Bangkok and able to apply in person. The alternative is to "play safe", accept a newbie salary of 25,000 baht and take the ECC "Train Then Teach" option. However, everything I read here suggests it's wise to give ECC jobs a wide berth!

Brewster

[kenkannif]

Probably not at that time of year. You might get that amount with two jobs though or extra work in the evening/weekend.

Depends on how well you can 'sell' yourself and work it. Luck will often factor into it IME!

All the best though!

[Sheep-Goats]

Possible, but unlikely. November isn't a bad time to look for a job, but it's not a fantastic one either, being a bit too close to the typically week-long new year's break most schools see.

You could certainly find that working two jobs, or if you found one job with a lot of overtime on the platter. 20 hours a week (or so) is the "usual" amount for a single job. To get to 40kB, you'll likely have to scrape together 30 somehow.

Oh, and employers won't really care that your BA has an honors distinction attached to it. Some might care if it were in English or Linguistics.

I know plenty of people who've used ECC as a way to fill out their hours, but the biggest problem with the school is its stygma -- only losers seem to work there full time. AUA, British American, Direct English and Siam Computer are in a similar boat to slightly varying degrees -- what all of these schools have in common is stupidly low overtime rates -- 250B an hour where most teachers in Bangkok swear up and down they won't get out of bed for less than 500B (though will probably do the work for 350 if they can get enough hours in a solid block). Inlingua has a better reputation, but frankly the salaries there are just as bad. EF (English First) is a bit of a step up as far as salary goes. And, of course, there's lots of work at normal Thai schools to look at.

Don't be discouraged by all the 25-30k ads on ajarn. There're a few 35k jobs on there, even a few 50k ones, probably. You likely won't land the 50k ones, but since you have a BA and a CELTA, and aren't over 50, you'll be suprised how well you do in the competition for the 35k jobs. Get a cell phone lined up the minute your feet hit the tarmac.

[thecollected]

There's a lot of good information here, thanks everyone. I was wondering about the contract with my 'main' job. I am about to start there and the contract (which I would sign after the first month) states that the teacher cannot take up any outside employment without permission from the school. Have any of you had a clause like this in a contract? Did you moonlight anyway? Their salary would sustain me month to month but I wouldn't mind trying to make a little more cash on the side.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ School managers are sometimes afraid that you'll steal their students out from under them

(which does happen sometimes) hence the clause in question requiring 'permission'.

Students at language schools will often approach their teacher either before or after class

and 'hint around' that they'd like you to teach them privately. "This will be our little secret."

Longterm, this can cost a school lots of $$$ if they don't nip it in the bud.

I taught at a school in Tokyo that was so anal they actually required teachers

to report directly to the manager ANY contact with a student outside the classroom;

even if you happened to walk past a student at the train station and just said 'hi'.

Imo, after you get settled in a bit and build up some mutual trust,

most DOSs won't care too much what you do in your free time.

Managers just want to be certain that you're not 'in bed' with their students,

figuratively speaking, of course.

[ghostdog]

EF pays better than the other chain schools? This is certainly different than other countries in Asia. Is there a general consensus on this. Or any idea why?

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ reposted from the EF Bangkok webpage on Ajarn:

Full time staff are required to teach for between 60 and 80 hours per month. In return EF provides a salary of between 30,000 and 35,000 Baht/month, a work permit, medical insurance and two to three weeks paid holidays.

Part time teachers are paid between 350 and 400 Baht/hour for in house work and 400 - 450 Baht/hour for outside corporate work. (These figures include a 50 baht/hour bonus for successful completion of the course.)

_________________________________

Their full-time contract package is average.

At the higher end, their hourly rates are indeed not too shabby.

fyi - I teach strictly company classes (w/o a contract) and earn between

375 and 500 Baht per hour depending on the client, # of students, travel time, etc.

imo - hourly rates of 350 Baht [or more] are acceptable in Bangkok.

As the saying goes, the more, the merrier.

[Sheep-Goats]