Job Discussion Forums

Jaime1 · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 66

In terms of living and teaching.

Can you teach privates legally?

Is there a lot of discrimination there?

What paperwork should you work on before going? (Important)

Is there a list of schools online where you can interview or do you just show up in Thailand and find schools to pass out your resume?

What city do you live or suggest to live and why do you like it/dislike it?

What should you be ready for culturally speaking?

kidefl · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 40

Pauleddy · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 295 Location: The Big Mango

He needs to google.

MOD EDIT

STICKMAN bangkok (google him) has a great summary about teaching here, your options etc.

There is a lot to learn, and NOBODY realises everything before they arrive here. It's NEVER how you think it's gonna be. Before I came here (4 years ago) I bored my Thai-knowing friends with 101 questions--but it wasn't like I imagined when i arrived here!

A lot of people turn up here because they watched Leo di Caprio films and think that it's a sex paradise where you can teach English for 30 minutes a day to pretty girls (or boys) while sipping cocktails in a hammock by the sea.

Those ones make us titter a lot. This is a hot, grimy place with huge problems, huge corruption (HUGE, more than Al Capone even), bad managers, lousy wages and a lot of poor people. Just to start.

You have a complex and expensive visa system (you can't stay long unless you are old and rich or have a proper job--unless you make dodgy runs to re-enter the place). Most of us only earn about 800-1000usd a month, so give up trying to save money for your dream condo in LA. The fact that many people are poor means that the sex industry here is huge part of the place. In other words, the girl (boy) of you dreams will suddenly surprise you with the vet bill for her mother's sick buffalo (pleeeese help darliiing) IF you are not asked for money before that.

Google, google, google

PE

skann · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 25

for a list of schools hiring, you can use ajarn.com.

It's true that the wages are pretty low, but the cost of living is also nice and low. Nevertheless, you probably won't save significant amounts of money.

For paperwork, be sure to bring:
-original university degrees
-university transcript
-letter of verification from university stating that you did indeed graduate from it
-criminal background check from your police department
-best to get a 60 day tourist visa from your Thai embassy before coming

One minor thing to watch out for that I got taken advantage of. When getting an apartment, the rent isn't the only thing to negotiate, but electricity too. They told me rent was 6500 baht, not including electricity. Naturally, I assumed that my electricity bill would come directly from the power company - not so. Instead, my landlord charged me 8 baht per unit. I later found out that he only pays about 5.5 baht per unit to the power company, so he was actually making profit on my electric bill!

Pauleddy · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 295 Location: The Big Mango

Yes, they can also charge more for water, which is metered.

Drinking water is somethg else. You can have it delivered.

Many apartment blocks have maids who will do your washing and ironing (or clean for you). This is also negotiable, and check prices before you leap.

I didn't need a police letter, but it does no harm to get one if it's free/easy. You must bring proof/transcripts from yr degree. MUST.

Yes, get the max visa from your local embassy B4! If you arrive unprepared, the airports give you a 30 day tourist v. and then you have to go to penang or somewhere to get a new one.

P

kidefl · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 40

Pauleddy · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 295 Location: The Big Mango

I wish that I could agree with the last point!

I work at a leading uni here in BKK. When I was appointed, I managed to change from a 60 day visa to a Non-Imm work visa (1 year). This was done on the 3rd floor of the Immigration Bureau in Soi Suan Plu, and involved a few telephone calls to my manager (plus some paper-moving).

My colleagues were impressed. They had all been made to fly outside of Thailand in order to "convert". Following my appointment (about three years ago), at least six other new staff had to "fly out". An American girl had to fly to Laos about three weeks ago when she secured a job with us.
Same thing.

I was quite proud of myself at the time, as there were a few old-timers on the main Thai board who were stunned...the thread ran for a while.

Most people believe that you have to leave Thailand to get a work visa (non-Imm B), and many still fly to Penang or KL for a day or two.

This seems to be an anomaly. No-one has ever explained it adequately.

paul

laconic · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject:

In the past, the ability to convert the visa in country was often due more than anything else to the number of remaining days available on the tourist, visa exemption stamp, etc., to permit time for the conversion. Usually, if I recall correctly, this was 21 days.

Lately, though, other things are happening and some teachers transferring to international schools are being required to do visa runs:

http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/paperwork/33533-changing-schools-do-i-need-to-exit-the-country.html

CoolThailand · Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 18

Carll101 · Joined: 17 Oct 2008 Posts: 45

I've work in a public High school in Bkk as well as for ECC.

Best things :

Most students are nice
No pressure to perform when you are a teacher : just keep on smiling...
Night life in Bangkok
Thai food (if you like it)

Worst things :

Salary
Pollution
Heat
If you really want to teach, you will feel like you are useless and that you are waisting your time
Corruption in management is everywhere
Racism against foreigners
not much entertainement outside the usual "sex tourist" scene
Working for ECC Razz

(just my opinion anyway)

RebelGirl26 · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Portland, OR

RebelGirl26 · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Portland, OR

As for the best & worst things, so far:

The best:
the beaches
the weather (I like it hot!)

the worst:
cockroaches/rats/other assorted wildlife
other farangs Wink

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

beckersteph · Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 12 Location: KC, MO USA

I am working in Phuket Town and love it. I live on a beach. I make only $1,000 a month, but it's very cheap to live here. Beach house $225, motorbike with sidecar $125 a month. I take weekend trips to the other beaches and islands. The students are pretty good. I have to come down on the ones who try to skip class but the others are very respectful.

I got my Non-Immigrant B in the states before I came over. The school is paying for my work visa. They're a little unorganized, but I don't sweat the small stuff.

Love it here.