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chaz47
Joined: 22 Apr 2005
Posts: 157
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 Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:30 am Post subject: Transitioning from Korea... |
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In the spring of 2008 (March), I'll be finishing my most recent contract at a public school in Korea. I have a BFA and will have 2.5 years of TEFL experience on completion of the contract.
I am considering doing a CELTA in Bangkok and was wondering what options I might have in Thailand with my experience and that CELTA?
Also, I'm an aspiring electronic musician and graphic designer. Will I get a chance to moonlight and make some cash and possibly build my portfolio while there... without getting deported ( I love Korea... really I do ).  |
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takgeyon
Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 51
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| Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't waste your time geting a CELTA if you just want to work in Thailand. CELTAs aren't worth anymore than a TESOL/TEFL and are only purported by schools offering them as being so so that they can get 1500.00 US out of you. Now in other countries (excluding South Korea) they are recognized but you are wasting your time and money if you think that a CELTA is going to give you some "1 up" on the competition here. There are actually guys sans a degree waking around Bangkok trying to get a job with a CELTA certificate alone (to little avail). The only things that Thai's currently recognize and reward are actual teaching degree's and state certifications from Western nations. Unlike Korea, you won't get deported for doing work on the side in Thailand. I know that you will probably give me the ol' " But I am set on getting it" line and if that's where your heart is then I guess that experience will be the best teacher but instruct you it will, trust me. It's only that I with experience, myself could surely find much better ways to spend 1500.00 US in the LOS. Cheers! |
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Bangkok Hound
Joined: 28 Oct 2006
Posts: 66
Location: Bangkok
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| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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| What kind of job do you want? Government schools don't even know what a TEFL is. |
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tedkarma
Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster
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| Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:34 am Post subject: |
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A CELTA or good TEFL certification will open a few more doors - but aren't really required. And there is quite a teacher shortage here - so not needed to find a job - but nothing wrong with furthering your skills either.
There are a few "better" type jobs where you will have a "leg up" on the competition IMO/IME.
No problem teaching on the side - many people do it. As with Korea, it is a referral type situation where once you have a few students and they are happy, you will tend to have a steady stream of potential students coming your way. There are also, particularly in Bangkok, quite a few schools that will hire you part-time in the evening to teach just a class or two. It's really not like Korea where you have to worry about the federales breaking down the doors . . . |
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chaz47
Joined: 22 Apr 2005
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:43 am Post subject: Re: Transitioning from Korea... |
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| chaz47 wrote: |
Also, I'm an aspiring electronic musician and graphic designer. Will I get a chance to moonlight and make some cash and possibly build my portfolio while there... without getting deported ( I love Korea... really I do ). |
How about this bit? |
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tedkarma
Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster
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| Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: Transitioning from Korea... |
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| chaz47 wrote: |
| chaz47 wrote: |
Also, I'm an aspiring electronic musician and graphic designer. Will I get a chance to moonlight and make some cash and possibly build my portfolio while there... without getting deported ( I love Korea... really I do ). |
How about this bit? |
There are loads of Thai graphic designers - very skilled - very poorly paid for very long hours. You will have a LOT of competition for pennies on the hour. You may not be able to get a work permit in this area of work. But, you may be able to freelance to Western companies.
Musicians - lots of good musicians who work cheap. You'll, again, be competing with loads of local people and Filipinos. Work permits - difficult to obtain. |
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chaz47
Joined: 22 Apr 2005
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 6:52 am Post subject: |
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It seems like $1200 is considered a good average wage. Is this for a newbie? With my degree and 2.5 years of experience is this what I'd expect to make as well? With a TEFL certificate could I negotiate for more?
Ideally I'd like to live on Phuket and teach adults or older students.
Secondly I'd live in Bangkok near the SkyTrain with the same student preference.
Being able to teach privates would make me uber gung-ho to learn the language. Has it helped any of you stay motivated in this regard?
A little off topic, I've heard that many people have problems with burglars? |
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tedkarma
Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster
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| Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:20 am Post subject: |
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| chaz47 wrote: |
| Ideally I'd like to live on Phuket and teach adults or older students. |
Quite a limited market for adults on Phuket. If so - more likely to end up at the very few hotel jobs. When you get here, contact me, I'll do what I can to help - or at least give you a few good ideas on the job hunt. Hotel jobs are often part time and come with no work permit (thus allowing much more time to develop a private practice on the side).
If you are serious about the transition know that Thai students are far more fun than Korean students BUT also expect far more from you. They are quite used to teachers who have some training and expect a well organized lesson and a fair amount of RELEVANT games related to the content of the lesson.
| Quote: |
| A little off topic, I've heard that many people have problems with burglars? |
Much more of a problem in Bangkok - and more of problem if you live in a house versus an apartment.
Not much of a problem on Phuket - but again - if you live in a house in certain areas it is a much bigger problem than in other areas. Not a problem where I live - but there was a small problem a few years ago - seems to have passed.
If you live in a decent apartment building with reasonable security is it pretty much not a problem at all (BKK OR Phuket). |
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chaz47
Joined: 22 Apr 2005
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| tedkarma wrote: |
| If so - more likely to end up at the very few hotel jobs. When you get here, contact me, I'll do what I can to help - or at least give you a few good ideas on the job hunt. Hotel jobs are often part time and come with no work permit (thus allowing much more time to develop a private practice on the side). |
How do you mean "hotel jobs"? Teaching staff? |
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tedkarma
Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster
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| Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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| chaz47 wrote: |
| How do you mean "hotel jobs"? Teaching staff? |
Yes.
BTW, I didn't mean to suggest that ALL hotel jobs are part time. There are a FEW quite decent hotel jobs and if you arrive in March/early April - it is a good time to look for them (they don't tend to fill teaching positions during high season). |
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Norith
Joined: 27 Sep 2007
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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Ted, do you know of any websites for Phuket schools or recruitment? Phuket Gazette seems to be more targeted towards Thai nationals.
Do you think its still possible to get a job on the island for this term? i'm a recent b.a. grad with no tefl exp. or cert....thanks |
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tedkarma
Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Norith wrote: |
Ted, do you know of any websites for Phuket schools or recruitment? Phuket Gazette seems to be more targeted towards Thai nationals.
Do you think its still possible to get a job on the island for this term? i'm a recent b.a. grad with no tefl exp. or cert....thanks |
Almost always possible esp with a degree - no experience will really limit you Be prepared to do a demo lesson of at least 15-30 minutes. This may not go well if you don't have an experience or training.
You will need to personally contact schools (show up in person) with resume in hand. Shirt, slacks and ties are preferred and even long-sleeve shirts are preferred over short-sleeve.
Phuket is a small market - not much call for a website just for TEFL here.
If you search the web (Google) - you find jobs here such as:
http://www.greattefljobs.com/full-time-efl-teacher-20076.html
Look on the Phuket Gazette website for their "Gazette Guide" - it is like a huge "yellow pages" - look for schools, language schools, universities and colleges categories . . . that will have address and phone numbers.
Phuket Gazette is written in English - targeted to foreigners. Thai-targeted publications will be in Thai. But - yes - the classifieds there will reflect that there is not a huge market for foreigners here. Big enough though.
Your best bet would be to get a TEFL certificate so you can do a decent demo lesson along the lines that the hiring authorities are looking for. You might want to take a look at http://www.tefl.teflinternational.com for their courses on Phuket. |
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