Job Discussion Forums

linvestor · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 11

My wife and I are considering an offer to teach with Siam Computer & Language School. We are looking for any recent information regarding this orgainization and the placements they offer. Our biggest concern is for our 5 year old son who will of course be coming with us should we choose to accept.

If anyone can share their insight good or bad, we ask that you spare us no details either through this forum or via MSN.

Regards

tirelesstravelerasia · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Dalian, China

This school gets slammed a lot, but I worked for them for over 2 years in Bangkok and had a great experience, met and worked with a lot of good people. Although I'm in China now, I still have a lot of valued friends I keep in touch with, friends I met while working there.

I think most of the bad press seems to come from a franchise of Siam in either Petchaburi or Surat Thani -- sounds like things are REALLY bad there, lots of broken promises, lousy living conditions etc.

Siam Computer hires both 'internal' teachers to work in their branch schools, usually located at shopping malls, and 'external' teachers to work in Thai elementary and primary schools. The conditions and pay are quite different, depending on which contract you sign. If you're recruited by the parent school, you're talking to Michael or Ian, both North Americans, and you should be getting a straight deal. Anyone else, you could be talking to a franchisee -- not sure what your deal might entail.

Why don't you send me a PM and I'll help out all I can.

Best of Luck!

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

Your post seems to imply that you are not yet in Thailand. The only places in Thailand that hire from overseas are the very top (the international schools) and very bottom ends of the market. Siam Computer is the latter.

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

I run a site for teacher to report on their experiences and you know what? I hear a lot through the grapevine about Siam Computer and it isn't all bad. It is a lower level school but most people do not have a bad experience with it. In fact, of countless posts dealing with schools in Thailand, no one has posted about a bad experience with Siam, yet.

tirelesstravelerasia · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Dalian, China

I'd be careful about saying someone's at the bottom of the market - I worked for a more respected school than Siam Computer for a bit, but made less money. Another bi-lingual program offered more cash but was just, for me, unworkable. If you've got a personal experience, it's good to share -- but it's hard to categorize places just on heresay.

One thing I have to say about Siam -- if you work for Siam Computer, main office at Victory Monument -- not one of the franchises they've sold, and over which they have no control when it comes to pay, management, teaching conditions, etc. -- it's not a bad gig. Mr. Michael is the guy in charge of hiring, in this instance.

If you're talking with a Thai, the post is outside Bangkok, the paperwork offered to you is obviously written by a non-native -- then you might be getting into a bad situation.

And - don't mean to be a contrarian - but there are a number of places that hire from abroad, and often offer better conditions than when they hire for the same job from in-country. Bell, Sarassas Schools, Wall Street, English First - all recruit from abroad. The majority of schools don't to be sure - they're very 'appearance conscience'. Either approach - getting a gig beforehand (especially if you have good quals), or just heading over -- is legitimate.

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

Actually Sarassat are what I really had in mind with 'bottom of the market'. I stand corrected on the others, though.

linvestor · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 11

Thanks to everyone for posting mesages so far. Now that I have been told a few more details from "Siam Computer..." (I have to believe that this is one of the sold franchises as the contact who emails me from Thailand is a person named "BOONROD" and does not seem to have a Western style name as some of you have mentioned) maybe I can ask those of you with experience to follow up with more comments.

The schools name is "Petchaburi School" and the rest of the details given me so far include, "bht.250 per hour for 15-25 teaching hours a week and we pay extra bht. 50 per hour for the non teaching hours that you have to work in the school exclude lunch hour. If that teacher has to work from 8.00-16.00 Monday to Friday. Some of our teachers do not be in the schools whole day and they will earn only teaching hours and can go back after finish the classes." (as written by Boonrod).

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

If you would have viewed the Job Information Journal back a year ago, Siam Computer in Petchaburi had several posts about it. Run, don't walk away. Tireless is right on about the main branch, I met Mr Michael when I first arrived in Bangkok and he seemed a-ok. This Petchaburi branch has had enough bad press that it needs to be avoided.

Why not go to ajarn.com and look at the jobs available on that board? They have had several hundred new Thailand job ads in the last week.