Job Discussion Forums

[Dunk]

Hello all,

Is it possible to hold a Primary PGCE from UK and teach teenagers in Thailand, having experience of teaching this age group as ESL students ?

I am talking about international schools and their requirements in particular. Do they just want to see a piece of paper stamped PGCE or would they insist on marrying up the age groups ?

Many thanks for any advice on this.

Dunk.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

hi dunk:


I'd say it's possible, yes. I'm not sure, really.

Depends on the International School in question -

and how badly they need you at that particular moment.

Regardless; a PGCE is a huge feather in your cap!


On a sidenote: You mentioned you have experience teaching teens.

Personally, and based on my fairly brief experience in Thai schools -

I'd take the primary aged kids over the teenagers any day.

Puberty creates little monsters here as elsewhere.


I found the younger kids (under 13) much easier to handle, much

more curious and far less apathetic than their teenaged counterparts.

Not only that, the younger ones seemed to be more excited in general

& more accepting of their tall, white-skinned 'farang' teacher.


I should mention I taught briefly at a public school.

International Schools may be a totally different story,

to the extent of attracting a 'higher calibre' of student.

I'm not sure, but I'd be interested in hearing from others

about this particular 'age' aspect of teaching in Thailand.


Anybody else care to spill their gutts?

[Dunk]

Kent,

Thanks for the post, hopefully a few others will put their twopenneth in aswell.

As for the little'uns - I do get a headache at times ! But, yes, they are also more curious and less surly of course. I was thinking I might get more chance of discussions and feedback on topics etc from International School teens - who knows ?!

I'm still keen to know the lowdown on this PGCE question anyway, so we'll see if anyone adds to this thread.

Thanks again,

Dunk.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ You're very welcome !


As for your PGCE, my best hunch is

"don't ask, don't tell" will rule the day.

It is a rare qualification among the TEFL crowd here in Thailand,

so you may get very little in the way of constructive feedback.


By the way, you could take a few minutes and write to ISAT:

They can tell you for sure: http://www.isat.or.th/home.asp


As for teaching kids ...

they all give me a headache.