Job Discussion Forums

Dray · Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 31 Location: England

I'm considering heading to Thailand next. I'm in Korea now. I'm aware that I won't make much money in the Land of Smiles, but I'm interested in going there purely for the experience. But why shouldn't I go? What's bad about teaching English in Thailand?

junkmail · Joined: 19 Dec 2004 Posts: 377

You already said it. The money.
Thailands lovely and in particular Bangkok; at least for me.
Personally I earn money elsewhere and enjoy it for vacations. Once I have a pension fund I'll prolly retire there.
Political instability but, it doesn't really affect foreigners much to be honest, just avoid that stuff.

Yeah, do it for the crack it'll be fun but try to come with Korean savings and make those savings last to really enjoy it.

You'll get better advice from the board regulars I'm just adding my bit 'cause I haven't submitted anything for a while.

White_Elephant · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 175

Dray, have you been to Thailand? If so, for how long? Seems to me that if you had spent a significant amount of time in any place you'd already have an idea about the good and bad aspects. Personally speaking, and I think the vast majority of Thais would agree, something needs to be done about transportation and traffic congestion. The Skyline is great. I just wish it were MUCH more expansive. Further, the old train system from up country to south could really use a new face lift. Put the Seoul subway and KTX in Thailand and you'd see the whole country prosper by leaps and bounds. That's my 2 cents.

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

norbdemn · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 128

Mr. Kruhoeffer that is a great summary of what to expect in LOS!

I have been out here over a year teaching this time (and have visited several times).

Another thing I would like to add (which goes under your 'irratation' point) is the abscence of organization and communication in the workplace (depends on the school though).

It takes time to adjust out here, but it is doable. Regardless of the frustrations the people are pleasant here in my opinion and can be a pleasure to work with if they are reasonable/flexible with farang.

One area I am still trying to figure out is how to size up an employer at an interview to determine whether they are dodgy or fair enough.

Lately, I have been in the job market for a new gig in Bangkok. I went to about 6 interviews and got offers in all of them but one. Out of the 6, there were only 2 schools I felt comfortable to work in. I turned down one of the 2 because I did not like the area otherwise it would have been a good fit. The other one, I did not get hired since there was too much competition (hiring season) but would have taken the opportunity if they hired me.

One of the schools I turned down advertised 40K/month but when I got to the interview they were trying to convince me to settle for 32K and the interviewer did not seem to pleasant for a Thai director.

You gotta be careful when you go to these interviews. If you are a newbie it is far easier to get sucked into a bad arrangement. Eventhough I have some experience, I still have to be careful to read between the lines and look for red flags when I visit these schools.

So for now, I am still in the job market....

Good Luck.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

How's this for bad?

Stock market loses Bt500 billion in value: SEC

http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/12/19/headlines/headlines_30021976.php

Thai stocks crash as investors panic over central bank rules
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/061219/afp/061219074550top.html

Thai stocks plunge as central bank curbs foreign inflows
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/19/business/AS_FIN_MKT_Thailand_Markets.php

STOCK CRISIS
It's Black Tuesday
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/12/19/headlines/headlines_30021984.php

BLACK TUESDAY ANALYSIS
Pridiyathorn's big gamble

MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, a deputy prime minister and the finance minister, and the banking authorities have made a big mistake by introducing wholesale capital controls instead of selective controls on the money market to stem the baht speculation.

The result of this is the collapse of the Thai stock market. More than Bt800 billion in wealth was wiped from the stock market on Black Tuesday alone amid panic selling unseen in the Thai history.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/12/19/headlines/headlines_30021986.php

Thai Stocks Tank on New Investment Rules
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/061219/ap/d8m3sh1o3.html

BOT to maintain baht measure, but to try to reduce effects
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30021979

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

go to thailand for a holiday, forget working there. it's not worth it. teaching in laos pays better and is cheaper to live, so the advantage is doubled. thailand, esp. bangkok is a horrible place to live unless your accom. and school is on the skytrain line. it can take hours just to go 5kms in a car/taxi, but youll never know from day to day so youll have to leave super early for work each day - soooo annoying!!!

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:42 am Post subject:

I'll take some middle ground here.

It is probably best to NOT work in Thailand if you don't have some financial resources behind you. The wages are too poor to allow for any real savings - and you do see people here who get themselves in a financial trap.

Certainly don't plan to work here for long - unless you already have your eventual retirement finances sorted out. And don't count on a pension from another country. The US$, for example, has lost about 15% against the Thai Baht just this year. Put that together for a few years, and what you had thought was going to be a secure old age - is gone.

Thailand is probably one of the best places to live, but one of the worst places to work - at least in this part of the world.
Few countries ask more of its teachers in terms of long hours, poor working conditions, and visa hassle - and pay less.

All that said, here I am . . .

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

I know it's old news already, but Bombings are BAD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Bangkok_bombings

http://www.2bangkok.com/06/bangkok-bomb.shtml

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:51 am Post subject:

These things are just "matter of fact" these days. One could also cite London and Madrid - Bali of course. Moscow, New York, etc. Yada, Yada . . . yawn . . .

If the bombings persisted in the Big Mango - well, different story. But, I suspect they won't.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

More bad news from Thailand:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/09/headlines/headlines_30023630.php

Bank move 'is causing damage to companies'

The draconian 30-per-cent withholding measure has already caused damage to listed companies as they face higher costs of funding and a lack of liquidity to expand, which is expected to lead to an economic slowdown.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/09/business/business_30023598.php

FOREIGN BUSINESS ACT
'We could withdraw our investments'

Foreign chambers say amendments to Act need greater consideration

The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) yesterday warned the government to suspend changes to the Foreign Business Act for six months to hear comments from them - or they would consider withdrawing investments in the Kingdom.

"We cannot estimate how much capital for certain will go from Thailand if the government insists on amending this Act. However, it will not only cause a loss in certain capital, but other forms of benefits that Thailand will definitely lose," said Peter J Van Haren, chairman of the JFCCT.

Matt_22 · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 193

Everything already mentioned I'd agree with, but for me, the weather in Thailand was also a double-edged sword. In my experience, only a couple months out of the year can you truly be comfortable without air-conditioning. Paradise is great, but constantly sweating all over yourself gets old pretty fast. Also, motorbikes are about the only mode of transportation you can afford on a teacher's salary. Hence, driving somewhere during a thunderstorm can be irritating, and I'm sure you've heard of the "wet season."

The good far outweighs the bad though. All in all it's an incredibly enchanting place to live. The people are incredible.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

cafecafe · Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 20

Excellent post, bud. I couldn't agree with it more!
With the hassles of getting a work permit nowadays, the very very and VERY low pay rates, lazy adult students who want to be entertained around the clock, terrible traffic, unapreciative employers, the shocking work conditions at most schools; Thailand is perhaps best avoided. As Tedkarma observed, Thailand has way way and WAY too many foreign teachers with serious cash flow problems. Not to mention the bombings in the South of the country and in Bangkok a couple of months ago. Save money elsewhere and vacation here is what's best imo.

jammish · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1704

I said on another thread, but nobody answered, that I am quite surprised that the money is so bad in Thailand. I mean China is generally pricier than Thailand, and 5000 RMB (just over 20,000 baht) can go a long way (provided you don't spend it all in the local expat bar!) and even allow for a bit of savings.

perhaps it's just that teachers in china tend to have quite dull lives, sitting at home watching DVDs, while in thailand people are out doing stuff and partying...