Job Discussion Forums

[surfer]

Hello there. I have a degree in English (Lit), and I'm currently taking a distance learning/weekend tefl course. I've been reading these boards for quite a while and I'm hoping to get a job teaching English in Thailand.

I really like the sound of Phuket. I've grown up near the sea, and I would really like to live and work near some of the fantastic beaches that I've seen.

I was wondering if there are many opportunities to teach English there? Are there many schools who recruit efl teachers?
Will I have trouble finding a job there? I don't have any previous teaching experience.

I hope that you can give me some advice. Thanks in advance

[Miyazaki]

I think there are several previous posts on this in this forum - try a search.

I know that there is an ECC in Phuket town. My guess is that they draw trained teachers from their CELTA training courses, however.

There's people on here who know more about Phuket EFL scene than I do who might be able to provide you with more info.

[tedkarma]

While the demand for EFL teachers has certainly increased over the last few years - competition remains quite high as there are at least six TEFL/CELTA schools on the island. And, of course, it is a popular place to want to live!

I think you will find a marked preference for experience and some sort of full TEFL Training (100+ hours of classroom training, plus at least six hours of observed teaching practice).

Phuket is do-able. Your best bet is public/private schools - most of the language schools won't be able to give you enough work to support yourself (just my opinion) and they will also have a preference for people who have gone through their training courses.

People here are quite aware of the differences between an on-line or weekend course - and a full blown teacher training course.

Experience would help a LOT.

[surfer]

Thanks for the advice guys. Do you know of another area of Thailand near the coast, with tefl jobs? I didn't really like the sound of Bangkok. Ideally I'd love to find an area with a fairly big town/city not too far from the beaches. Sorry to sound so demanding!

[tedkarma]

Surat Thani seems to have a hard time finding teachers. Near the sea - near Samui (an hour ferry ride) - low cost of living.

[angrysoba]

surfer:

I took my CELTA at the ECC in Phuket it seems like a reasonable school. They employ quite a few teachers but only two of them have CELTA certificates as I remember.

[surfer]

Thanks for all the good advice. Roughly how many language schools would you say there are on Phuket? I've done searches on lots of tefl job boards and very few schools pop up, as recruiting teachers. I'm starting to think that my dream of living and working near fantastic beaches, is just that!

[angrysoba]

The CELTA that I took in Phuket was at a very cheap rate. Apparently if you train for ECC then work for them after you can get half of the CELTA fee repaid by the company.

Personally I think CELTA is worth taking if you are serious about teaching English long-term. I don't know very much about the actual working conditions of ECC so I can't say with confidence how good they are as employers.

Here's the link anyway:

http://www.eccthai.com/

[tedkarma]

There are quite a few language schools on the island - the number changes almost daily.

I would never give up a "dream" - but you might need to realize that it might take some time to do it exactly the way you want to do it.

[surfer]

Once again thanks for all your help and advice- wise words.
If it turns out that I can't teach near the coast, how viable would it be for me to travel from BKK to the coast on the weekend to dive etc? Please bear in mind that I'll probably be earning the usual 30-35,000 Baht. Will it simply cost too much to live in the city and travel to the coast?

[Christoforos]

I'v been in Thailand only for vacation once but I did not teach there (hopefully I will after the end of my course). From what I read here, I could just sense that it wouldn't be so easy to travel from Bangkok to Phuket with the 35 000 Baht, especially if you take the plane. If you do it by bus it will be a torture. Waste Friday afternoon on the bus, have a Saturday in Phuket, leave on Sunday and you may tired on the next day in the class. If beach is what you're looking for, you might as well travel from Bangkok to Pattaya, just an hour by car. It is indeed a 'sex town' and it gets a bit annoying, but there are great beaches, and day trips to nearby much less crowded islands. I hope this helps.
I grew up in an island and my home in my country is 15 inutes by the beach so I understand you completly.

[cameron.mayo]

Around this time last year I took the bus to Phuket from BKK and flew back. The bus was around 15 hours and in true Thai style they dropped us off at the tip of Phuket and we had to pay another 100bht to get to Patong etc. For around 400bht I flew back on airasia.com. Bear in mind there is travel required to/from both airports. Hua Hin is only a few hours from BKK by bus I believe.

[isanity]

Hua Hin would actually be a very nice place to live, though there isn't much diving there. The diving in Pattaya is better than nothing, but not great, and prices are hefty. You could also look into Rayong and Songkhla.

[Chitchat]

Monthly teachers pay in Phuket is anything from 25,000 bht a month in a language school. Pay in Bangkok can be from 30,000bht a month.

An apt is anything from 4,000 bht a month Phuket / Bangkok (Basic apt.)

Food off the street can be from 15 bht a month

Contracts are normaly 1 year

Hope this helps.

[tedkarma]

A B4,000 apartment is very basic. Probably no A/C and certainly no phone line or even cable TV. Just depends on how basic you want to live.

Street food is okay for a while, but it won't keep you healthy in the long run.

The job market is booming in BKK. Several of my TEFL Cert students over the last several months are making as much or more than I am. But then again, I work a better schedule . . .