Job Discussion Forums

[java1285]

I currently work for MK, and I don't have any complaints. BUT it depends on what type of experience you are looking for. MK places teachers in government schools in more rural areas of Thailand, so if you don't mind living in a small town that may or may not be out of the way, then they are pretty useful.

They pay 30,000 baht a month plus accommodation, which is a really sweet deal when you're in the middle of nowhere. I teach in a small town in Isaan, and I was able to go on 4 holidays in the month of December alone on that salary (Laos, Krabi, Ko Phangnan, and Udon Thani/Khon Kaen) because my living expenses were really low. I'm talking 100 baht a day- and that's a liberal allowance...I get almost all of my meals for about 20 baht a piece. Also, although you have to pay for your visas and all of that yourself, it may still be worth working for them if you don't have any experience and can't find a job with the perks that would be available for those who have been teaching for a while. The whole visa/work permit thing (if you're looking to get a work permit), can be a bit of a hassle, so I didn't mind having to pay to have someone else work it all out for me.

Most of the schools that work with MK don't have exceptional facilities, and most of the local people don't speak very much English. But, again, they are located in poorer regions with a low level of tourism and thus, low level English speaking ability.

So, basically, if you want this type of experience in these types of areas, then MK is a good resource. However, if you're looking to get a job in BKK or in larger city you could probably work out a better deal on your own- especially if you have experience.

Hope that this was helpful!

[Fike2308]

That's a pretty accurate description.

[MaiPenRai]

[ronald_reagan]

I have been in contact with MediaKids. I am an experienced teacher with a credential and experience in teaching content and ESL courses to all ages. Anyhow, it is tough to find a full time gig right now in the States. I have settled for subbing and tutoring on the side. I really do not make all that much. I was thinking Media Kids is a good option because I can do the 4 months, and return to the States when the school year begins in September. Maybe I will have better luck landing a full time gig. Anyhow, it seems safe enough, and the visa thing is a good deal. I have been offer 35000 THB a month with accommodation. They also pay for a portion of the visa, or that is what I have been told. I think 35000 THB is ok, especially since MediaKids puts you, in what seems, smaller towns. I am sure the cost of living is very cheap in comparison to BKK. Any opportunity to save?

All the feedback, negative and positive, has been helpful.

[MaiPenRai]

RR,

I think the key for you is the short contract. Sure you could take a job paying more money on a 1 year contract, but then you'd feel (or should feel) like a jerk when you leave your school and students in a lurch come September. If you stay longer, you would be able to get a salary in the 40-50K baht/month range. maybe even 50K+.

[ronald_reagan]

[SandyG20]

So how does one go about finding these 50,000 Baht jobs while still in the USA? or is it just word of mouth once you arrive in Thailand?

[MaiPenRai]

The golden question. lol. For these jobs you would need some experience teaching, probably a TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate and for sure a B.A or B.Sc. A lot of these jobs are teaching English programs wich means teaching english as well as math, science, computers, etc. So you need to know what you are doing. Those are usually 35-45K/month. For 45+ you will be looking at private/bilingual schools or thai run International schools. They have good packages but expect a lot as they are more like businesses than schools. You would more than likely have to do a demo lesson for these types of jobs which means being here. most teachers do 6 months-1 year at a language school or government school and then work their way up to the better paying jobs. If you have an Education degree or PGCE or equivalent, you may be able to walk into these higher paying jobs, but most likely still have to be here to get them. For 45+/month you will more than likley have to be in Bangkok or maybe Phuket or Pattaya area. Not for everyone IMO.

If you are lucky and have someone in Bangkok that you know, you might have an advantage.

Thats as much as I can say. lol

[ronald_reagan]

[verite]

I think it is important to detail for those that are considering MK the reality of what they said and what they did.

Mypenhrai seems to have that farang apolegizer mindset (much like the whole Thai Visa ex pat old sex tourists crowd). So to set some things down: 1) If you are a real teacher (meaning that you can teach in your home country and that country is first world) that has spent considerable money, energy and time to jump the hurdles through University and then pass the certification exams, well you should be treated like a professional from a first world country (just like a medical doctor is) 2) Trying to lower expecations how people will treat is a ploy to disquise lack of character from the people who promise you different treatment 3) Remember that all of these farangs are PAYING their own money (which is several thousands of US Dollars and close to that in Euros) to just arrive, stay, travel and get set up in a job

Now for MK they advertised that they had schools in Cities (they said BK), towns, and villages. I was one of the people that decided to give them a try to see what they could do. Well, be forewarned that they are not a centralized company and have rampant problems (not issues) with internal communications. You will be asked the same questions from 5 or 6 people varying from location from OZ to Siam.

MK proclaimed to be looking for people far in advance (at least 3 months early when I contacted them). They stated that they would provide all of the documents so that people could get the Visa for legal teaching outside of Thailand. That never happened as they later sent out E Mails just telling everyone to just come to Thailand and they would organize a trip to Laos to handle the visa changes. As they told everyone just get a Tourist Visa and come on over to BK.

They also said that they were waiting on their past teachers to tell them if they wanted to renew. I am certain that they had a cut off date for teachers to give their intent to renew (that would be basic to any school system in the known world) and if they didn't give intent then their slot could be filled. They played this gambit up until a week or so ago.

Unlike one of the people who stated that he did not really have real teaching credentials, I have a boat load along with the experience. They stated that I would be placed pretty much where I wanted. Well that was a lie--they kept sending me requests to go to the middle of nowhere. When I first talked to them I told them I would not go to Isan and I would not go to a village. I am not a Peace Corp kid, I am an adult professional offerring you my services for a low wage.

I had lived in Thailand for 4 years and I know parts of it well and requested those areas. Funny how all of those places seemed to dry up and the offer continued to be in another middle of nowhere places. Didn't they advertise City, Towns and Rural? Oh yeah, they did but the truth seems to be different. I would like to hear from someone working for them in BK (where and how long?)

They also told me that they were full of teachers over a month and a half ago yet they were busy advertising on several TFL sites that they were open for teachers. Which one was the lie then?

I told them that I could not get the Visa unless they sent the job offer. They said in one of their mass letters to just come to BK. Sorry, I don't spend several thousands of dollars on some one just talking.

There is far more to the salient events, I think, however, that this is enough to suffice decoding the reality. This wouldn't pass in Germany, USA or Canada (just to name a few countries) and it isn't the way to do business at all. It seems that the attempts to get those that act and feel teaching is a martyr profession (or sideline thing to do for a little while) help to continue this sort of behavior.

Few other middlemen (in whatever field) will waste over 3 months of your time on a non offer that is totally in contrast to what they stated at first. I might also mention that the E Mail addresses that they gave me of their former teachers (of course all are screened to be advantageous to MK) were not helpful as only 2 replied. Both were not going to continue with MK, just so you know.

I hope this helps them to correct themselves and it let's them see the need to tighten up their company.

[ronald_reagan]

To comment on your part about teachers, in general. It is just a fact of life, teachers are undervalued and we do not get the credit that we deserve. Think about it, those of us who are real certified teachers, have a BA and a certificate, credential or license which is a post baccalaureate degree. This can take anywhere from a year or two to complete at an accredited university. Then there are those of us with advanced degrees like a MA, not to mention whatever else you have done in the way of training to earn other certifications and various demands each state in the Union put on us from time to time. However, being a teacher is really not looked upon as a profession as prestigious as one in law, medicine or business. If it weren't for teachers, though, their would not be any cops, lawyers, doctors, economists, and just decent, productive citizens. Like I said, we are undervalued and underpaid (at least when we start out, gotta get that tenure and advanced degree, the money is there). Just have to know this before you get into it for a career.

Now, MK. I took the position they offered and it seems fair and easy enough. It took about a month's worth of serious correspondence to find me a school. Here is my package: 35,000THB/month, no more than 24 contact hours a week, any over that 250THB/hr. MK will reimburse me half the cost of the visa when I complete my 4 months. MK will foot the total cost of the work permit. I am provided with housing, rent free. I have been placed in Pak Chong which is in the province of Khorat. 50% medical.

As for the B visa, I am getting it done while in the States via Houston ($65). I just got my live scan done ($42) and the DOJ should send me my criminal record within a week or so. Then, I will mail that along with my documents to Houston and MK will fax them the letter. I have been told by MK that this process, once mailed out, take about 6 days.

I am to arrive in BKK April 30, and commence with a training on the 1-3, I believe. I am set up in a hotel in BKK, expenses paid. I was told, however, that since I am a credential teacher in the States, the training probably will not be necessary. I will go anyway.

I don't know where the previous poster got the figures, thousands of dollars. Whether you are applying for a visa for Thailand or to work in a public school district in the States (like I currently do), you have to have the criminal background done and you have to pay for it. You must pay the fee for your fingerprints at the station, then you must pay the Dept. of Justice the processing fee which is $32. PD station can charge anywhere from $10 to $30 for the live scan (in CA). And, you have to get this done each time that you get a job in a different school district in CA. I work for various school districts and once I was hired by each, another background check, another $50 approximately.

So besides from what I payed to get a job here (background check), I only need to pay $65 for the visa, which I will get half back at the end of my contract (so I will have paid $32.50) and then a plane ticket. No where near thousands of dollars, maybe closer to 1 thousand but still well under.

This is what has been told to me, and I have begun the visa part. I have my plane ticket and am set to go, save the visa. I have a month to get that done.

I will keep y'all in the loop as things pan out.

[MaiPenRai]

I find it a little odd that you are likening me to an old sex tourist because I have a balanced and realistic outlook on life and ESL work in Thailand.

I never really understand people who "choose" to live and work in Thailand, or any other country for that matter, and then complain that it is not like other countries ("Germany, US, Can"). NewsFlash: You're right. It's not those other countries.

REMEMBER: You are choosing to come and work and live in Thailand. Do your homework. If you dont like it, you dont have to come. Thailand will be fine without you.

So they gave you email addresses of teachers who work with them and then you complain that they were advantageous to MediaKids. What company would give you the email address of a teacher that was going to bash them. Geez! Think about it. So the 2 teachers said good things about the company, but also said they were not going to contiunue with them. Seems like a good sign if anything to me. Obviously they parted ways amicably. As I have said in previous posts, many peoplle who use recruiters only work for 6 months or a year and then they have the experience and know-how to find higher paying jobs on their own.

Im pretty sure that MediaKids advertises a focus on rural jobs, so it shouldn't be a surprise that as a recruitment company they try to offer jobs in rural areas, now should it?

I would wonder why someone with a "boatload of credentials and experience" and 4 years experience living in Thailand would bother using a recruitment company. Everybody knows that recruiters provide a service to teachers that are new to teaching and/or <insert country here> and dont know what to do and/or how to do it.

Sounds like maybe they just didnt want to work with you. I mean, you say that they were advertising while telling you they were full. You say they wouldn't offer you a position in the city that you wanted. You say they didn't send you a job offer. Starting to add up.

You say that they told "everyone" to get a tourist visa and come on over to BKK. Did you talk to all of their applicants? Doubtful. My guess is we dont have the full story here.

Obvioulsy you are upset because you didn't get a job that you wanted. But, if you have the "boatloads of credentials and experience" that you say you have, I think you are the one who has been wasting time dealing with a recruiter. Why not "get a tourist visa and come on over to BKK" and find a job on your own?

Best of luck

[ronald_reagan]

I cannot say that I have a boatload of anything, but I do have good experience teaching with my certification in content, undergrad and MA with 5 years experience in the States and abroad.

I have lived and taught abroad on two occasions for a combined time of 3 years. It does not matter, everyone will not be pleased with living and working abroad in a foreign culture, some people just won't be pleased with anything! But others really like living in a foreign place. Yes, it does get frustrating when you are far from home, and trying to operate in a totally different system. This is normal. This is a time for a cool head and acceptance, and, yes, the realization that you are not in your home country.

Personally, I like living abroad. I had liked Thailand and SEA when I vacationed there and figured, why not try living and teaching there to see what that experience is like. THe recruiter gave me a few opportunities that made it all easier, even though I have a good resume and might be a ble to find a higher salary. I don't have to worry about the visa too much, they hooked me up with a school, I have a place to stay and, the best of all, I have a 4 month contract. I get over there (vacation for about 5 days) then get ready for the semester. 4 months is great. If I like Thailand, I will be 4 months wiser and able to find a better paying job somewhere (or maybe I will like mine and continue) or I will dislike it and move on (back home or maybe a neighboring country). I think that when going abroad you just have to go with it, see and accept things for what they are. For some, in my experience, this is difficult, others, well, I think it just takes good practice and sooner or later you come around.

[MaiPenRai]

Ronald Reagan,

My last post was not meant for you, but for Verite. You seem to have your head in the right place. Good luck with your new job and let us know how it works out.

[ronald_reagan]