Job Discussion Forums

Jaime1 · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 66

to get a job in Thailand?

Personally?

Professionally?

To those who got a job in Thailand what do you believe helped you the most?

Did you have TESOL certification?

I have experience but I don't have a TESOL yet.

I have applying to jobs online but they say it is best to just show in Thailand and apply to jobs.

What advice for someone who is probably going to leave Korea do you have?

Well thanks.

Jaime1 · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 66

hello

Bangkok Hound · Joined: 28 Oct 2006 Posts: 66 Location: Bangkok

1. be a native speaker

2. have a bachelor's degree

These are the most important. Other things will help you stand out and maybe get you a better job though.

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

Hound is right.

The other things:

Dress well and "look caucasian". This is a "presentation culture". How you look and dress is more impt than academic rigour. If you r African-American or Filipino-American (even with PhD and 40 years' experience) they may give the job to a 22 y o blond kid instead of you. They like natives to be native-looking. The parents expect to see handsome smart white people. It is very shallow, I know...

My Uni, like many places, insists on CELTA or TESOL with the bachelor degree (they prefer a master's but take BAs). Yes, there are some places which still hire you without TEFL training, but for the sake of 4 weeks you should do it. Read the many threads about TEFL training. Some certs. are "mickey mouse". Go for reliable places or do it in the UK or USA.

The CELTA/TESOL actually teaches you basic skills for the job. Some people think "what the heck, I am Brit/yank, so of course I can teach English". Nothing could be further from the truth. You need to learn methodology, class management, basic grammar and a lot more. The course is tough but worthwhile.

Eddy

Jaime1 · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 66

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

These courses are generally "not as good" as a regular CELTA: the main reason is that you don't have live teaching practice which you must "pass".

Also, you lack the "magic dust" of being with live classmates and a live tutor.

Any good DOS will ask you about the type of CELTA or TEFL you did, and will know that the on-line is less valuable than regular.

IMHO you really need to do a full live CELTA or TESOL in a reputable school like IHouse or Frances King (London). Many TEFL courses in Asia are MMouse, and many online are MMouse--although you can do a reputable course in some places in Asia.

Eddy

Jaime1 · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 66

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

Mickey Mouse-- a brit slang expression for unreal-fake/less than good/cartoon quality/a bit laughable/slightly absurd/slightly Disneyland

Jaime1 · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 66

ha ha. well certification is certification.

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

As a DOS (Director of Studies-your boss) I would always take someone with a regular CELTA or TESOL; even better if it was done in one of the UK or US schools/academies. One or two of the Thai CELTAS are said to be good (IH for one).

On-line certs are generally agreed to be "less good" because they lack. You don't get the rigour of teaching practise every afternoon. Also, because you are alone, you don't get the 'sharing' and "contrast' and debate that you get when you are with 20 other people for a month. Ditto the intensity--a good course is tough and intense. Like boot camp. You get stuff drummed into you so you have to know it. On line, you can take a longer time and do when you feel. You can go to the movies when u r bored. In a real course, you can't.

I don't want to sound like an old fart (I have been in TEFL 18 years and teach at a world-ranked asian uni) so here are some consolations:

Some on-line courses have plenary weekends. The online students come together for two weekends (in Chicago or London e.g.), share stuff and have some TP-teaching practise-usually not enough.

Some employers, especially in certain Thai schools, will not care if you have Online or Disneyland certs. They want a young, white face and they want to pay you the minimum they can.

Here in BKK, you can buy a beautiful but fake certificate in the KhaoSan Road. You can get a PhD one of u want.

IME, the paper cert that you get will be a bit distinct. It will say that JOHN DOE has completed a 100 hour ONLINE Celta course. Some folks will not read that bit (some Thais don't read well), so good luck to you.

If u are white, pretty, young and can talk the talk, you may be lucky with any kinda cert. However, if you are aiming for a good job and wanna be credible, my advice still stands.

To the discerning, "certification is NOT always certification"

Eddy

Jaime1 · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 66

Thanks fort the advice PaulEddy. I am currently doing the ITTT 100 hour TESOL course. The lessons are manageable and I actually feel challenged.

http://www.tesolonline.com/

I would NEVER buy a fake certificate. That just doesn't sit well with me.

The reason I went with an online certificate is the price and convenience. I now have vacation and can study 2-3 units a day. I will hopefully finish by the end of the week.

Again thanks for the pointers.