Job Discussion Forums

[canadaboy]

Hello! This is my first post on this discussion board. I must say, I find all the posts very interesting and for the most part educational.

I am a recent graduate from Canada. I have a B.A. and a B.Ed. I am planning on heading to East Asia this fall. I plan to be there late or early November. I am planning on flying into Bangkok.

I am very interested in teaching, but I do not want to sign a year contract. I would love to find a place that I like and teach there for a couple months. But nothing really permanent. Is this possible? If anyone has any advice in what would be the best thing(s) to do to achieve this goal, I would appreciate it. I am also planning on going down to Indonesia and do some traveling. How are the jobs down there?

Also if anyone has any advice on traveling East Asia, I would appreciate it. This is the first time I will be over seas, so I will be a rookie compared to many of the weathered travelers on this forum.

Thank you!

[Jared]

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hello canadaboy:




I can't speak for all employers,

but trying to land work for a few months

may be a hard sell.


Most schools are looking for one year as a minimum,

since they may have to train you, arrange your visa, etc ...

and nobody wants to invest that time on somebody who's passing through.


Having said that, you *might* find some part-time contracts through

some of the larger language schools. Hard to say!


In terms of employment resources, try the links in Part II :: TEFL in Thailand

which you'll find on The Master Index & TEFL FAQ Thailand 'sticky post'

located at the top of this forum.


Have fun and

[k8tell]

Hi canadaboy,

I'm interested in the same, i.e., working for several months in Thailand. I'll be in Bangkok in October looking for work, so I'll let you know how difficult or easy it is to find a temp position. Good luck to you!

[Welshguy]

Hi,

You can get plenty of work for short term stuff in my opinion and experience. Sure people like to do things on a yearly basis and this can be good for school and teacher alike but there are so many places which are basically merry -go-rounds that you shouldnt have a problem. An awful lot of places find it very difficult to keep staff for 12 months for whatever reasons. Thailand is still very much a place where you can turn up suck it and see. With your quals you could come here get a gig and see a bit of the place and then maybe kick over to Taiwan/Korea/Japan when you need to earn a few more quids. I know one guy who has been doing six months in Taiwan and the rest of the time on short hours contracts in thailand for 20 years. He's happy earning and saving in Taipei and chilling in Thailand for the rest of the year. I'd say just get your ass over there and take it from there, a lot of us have.

Best of luck

W

[brake23]

To those who've done that--travelled to Asia before making arrangements with a school: What are some other tips you might have? I'm thinking of flying to Taipei or Bangkok and then looking for a school to work at. Is it easy to navigate and find the schools? Is there some kind of directory with a list of schools? How much money would you recommend to bring as fall-back or time-buying funds? I've heard, from many friends who have taught in Asia, that if they could do it again they would travel and then find work rather than set something up beforehand. Any info. or tips would be much appreciated!

Cheers!

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hello brake 23


Being on the ground has its advantages.

For one thing, you can meet the people you'll be working with

and hopefully see the classrooms you'll be teaching in.

Plus, you can ask a lot more questions face-to-face

than you can by e-mail.


In Thailand in particular, school managers like to meet potential teachers

before making a firm offer. This is due in part to the large number

of tourists & backpackers posing as teachers, and in part because

Thais value a neat appearance, and they can't really judge that

very well by looking at the photo on your resume from 1985.


Here are 4 general tips for the Thai TEFL marketplace:


1. try to set up a few interviews before you arrive

2. get a mobile phone on your belt the day after you land

3. pack a good suit, a couple new ties & a few long-sleeved shirts

4. bring 3 or 4K (US) in 'seed money' - which should tide you over until your first pay day


You'll probably spend less than 4K, but it's better to have

a cushion, than to phone home and beg for a wire transfer.


In terms of Thai schools, you'll find directories of schools & universities

on The Master Index Thailand sticky post, located at the top of this forum.

Just scroll down to Part II :: TEFL in Thailand.


The first 3 links at the top of that category contain current job offers,

which you can browse through and reply to according to your preferences.


You might also want to located at the bottom of the page in Appendix B.



Hope that helps a little?

[Volodiya]

Welshguy wrote:

[brake23]

Very helpful Kent, thanks a million!

[kenkannif]

Plenty of language schools and agencies will employ you for 3-4 months...but don't expect a WP etc.

[stormrider]

So i get the feeling that one just shows up and school hops until he's happy. How much is a good school rate for an hour of teaching in Phuket for example...?