Job Discussion Forums

FUD71 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 7 Location: USA

Hi all. I am a NEWBIE and need some advise. I was recently offered a teaching position with World Wide Teachers International Inc (worldwideteachers.net) and I am looking for anyone who knows anything about this company. It sounds legit, but I am new at this and I'm in a desperate economic situation that may be causing me to "hope" that this is real and not a scam. Does anyone have any experience with them or know anything about them?
Thank you!

BeyondSteveo · Joined: 13 Dec 2009 Posts: 3

Hey there,

I too have been offered a job with them...in Bangkok and am a Newbie. I am calling all over the place because I want this job badly...maybe too badly.

I just got off the phone with the Dept. of State and they told me to call the bureau of educational and cultural affairs 202 632 6445 and the us embassy in bangkok 011-66-2-205-4049. Where are you looking to work with them and will you share your information with me as well. please let me know what you find and i will be happy to keep you updated.

deessell2 · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 132 Location: Under the sun

BeyondSteveo · Joined: 13 Dec 2009 Posts: 3

HEy deesell,

not the original poster, but this company has offered me a position also.
they will reimburse airfare upon arrival and at the start of work, and visa fees which cost a substantial amount at the end of the contract.
$989 (work permit, teachers permit, visa and thai culture class). I haven't been able to match up what this guy is saying with the actual price of these government documents. IS THERE A SITE THAT SHOULD HAVE THESE READILY AVAILABLE?

My research has found that these are true to thailand requirements, but (and I have not spoken to FUD71 to see if this is their problem too) they are asking to be transfered the money up front. also according to research a standard practice.

I am waiting until the embassy opens in bangkok to call them to hopefully validate the company.

The company's Web site is worldwideteacher.net.

THANKS TO ALL INVOLVED

roamingteacher · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 106

I wouldnt go near them. Any company worth their salt will not ask you to wait so long for reimbursement. There is no guarantee you'll ever see your money again. May be legit but plenty of schools out there where you'll not be putting your dosh at risk...

FUD71 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 7 Location: USA

Just because it sounds legit, doesn't mean that it is. Right? The best scams sound legit and that's how they catch so many people. I may be a little overcautious and I can be a little cynical at times as well. So the reason for my post is to see if anyone else has actually dealt with them before. Also, this would be my 1st overseas teaching experience and I am not 100% sure about how everything works. And yes, I have been reading through the forum and researching online, but you can't always believe everything you read.

All the details are listed on their website: http://worldwideteachers.net
Please have a look.

My desperate economic situation is this: I can't find a job in the US. Unemployment is close to 10%. I have no outstanding debt and I feel I could live comfortably (for me anyway) on the pay and due to the cost of living in Thailand. I'm not looking to get out of debt or save money. I am more interested in a cultural exchange and a bit of an adventure.

I was told by Jeremy Rice from WWTI, that I could go and get these documents on my own or I could send them the $989US to have them do the work for me. It was to include the Visa, Work Permit and the Cultural Class (from what I've read on Dave's this seams to be required now). I was told that I would be reimbursed for this and up to $2000US for my plain fare, within the 1st week of me being in Thailand. (I know the website says at the end of term, but I was told on the phone 1st week.) They are sending me a contract and I have not received it yet.

So....I've done some research and all in all, I want to believe that this could be a good thing. Now I'm looking for anyone that has already worked with them or has any other information about them.

Oh, another question. They said I would need to be there for Feb 1st. I read that the school year is May to Oct and then Nov to March. The Feb date sounds strange to me.

Thanks for being patient with the New Guy! Very Happy

FUD71 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 7 Location: USA

perfectweapon · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:37 pm Post subject:

I have never heard of this company, and there have been a few scams going on in Thailand this past year. I checked out their website, and I could not find an address for them, but they do have a telephone number. If someone is calling the US embassy in Thailand give them the telephone number, and have them get an address etc, then someone can go round later and see if they do operate out of there. Don't jump into something like this as you could be stranded.

MaiPenRai · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 390 Location: BKK

DO NOT...I REPEAT, DO NOT send any recruiters money to get you a job. If they ask for money in advance, RUN AWAY.

Very few schools will pay for airfare in Thailand, except International schools (which this isn't). This is NOT common procedure and definitely not $2000 range. Possibly in the 30,000 baht or $1000 range and as bonus for completing a contract.

A Non-Immigrant B Visa should be easily arranged in your home country before coming if they are legit. You will probably need about $100, coies of degrees, valid passport, possibly a police clearance letter, and a letter of invitation from the schools or company stating job start and finish, salary, ect. Some embassies and consulates will also ask for company registration info and copy of contract. It is also very asy to get a Non-Imm B Visa in Laos after you get here. Many schools and companies get their teachers to go to Laos, Signapore, Malaysia, etc to do this. Good schools pay, but most do not. DO not send oney overseas for a school/company to arrange a Visa for you.

I've been in Thailand for 5+ years and don't think Ive ever heard of this company. It might be a small TEFL school in Pattaya which has a name like this (IF IT IS, STAY AWAY).

In Thailand, you will need your original degree, at least $1500-2000 for first 2 months living and start up expenses, about $100-200 for visa and documents expenses, some nice dress clothes (can get in Thailand), a smile and an easy going, calm and outgoing personality.

The THai culture course is not something you need to worry about. Most teachers havn't done it yet. Although many schools and companies say it is required before you work, this is not true in most cases. It can be done for as little as 4000 baht (about $100-150) in Bangkok. I've been here 5 years and haven't taken the course yet and am working legally.

THis worldwide sounds like either a recruiting company that is ripping you off OR a TEFL school that is offering a job placement after the course (which is just another middleman for a recruiter). Either way, I would stay far away

MOD EDIT

IMO, DO NOT SEND ANYONE ANY MONEY TO GET A JOB OVERSEAS. THey get paid by schools to find you. If you want a legit TEFL course, do some more research for courses that have been around for a while. YOu will have to send a deposit for a legit TEFL course.

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

This is either a scam, or a placement agency (an outfit which charges too much for placing gullibles in a school).

On the Careers page of the site, there are several bad spelling mistakes. One warning sign for the Nigerian scams and other scams is just this. The scammers can't spell. English teachers should be able to spell. Spot the errors on Page 2.

The stuff about International Schools is a red herring. International Schools here are the best payers, but they do their own recruiting. The best ones pay 3000 usd plus per month, but there are a handful only. They want qualified High School teachers with PGCE or QTS and experience--NOT people with just TEFL certs.

989 dollars is a lot. The work visa here, a Non-Imm O or B, costs 100usd and your school, once you get a job, will help or send you to get it. The work permit is arranged by the school, and may even be free. The cultural course is a crock of cr-- and is a scam which someone invented to make money (yes, it's now required)--but it should cost about 100-200usd WHICH A GOOD EMPLOYER WILL PAY.

Most jobs in regular Thai gvmt high schools are "not ideal"-- maybe no air-con, few modern books, unruly kids and strict office hours plus bossy or stupid Thai managers.

Very few places will PAY YR TICKET HOME. It costs a lot. Only when you are an established teacher and the school wants to keep you, SOME will pay a trip. Not many.

Nobody makes a fortune here. Nobody comes here to resolve finances. Your salary as a newbie will be about 30,000baht (550 GBP) and YOU WILL spend all of this and then some. Thailand is known for "pleasure". Everyone spends money here. Check with experts on Korea or Japan sites if u want money.

I could go on....

I post on here a lot. I get messages from people too. Some people even ask me the best way to find a job which involves teaching pretty girls on the beach. All Hollywood stuff. Thailand is hot, humid, gritty and polluted in large cities...and politically unstable. Salaries are bad. Government queues are awful. Educational administration is woeful. Corruption is bad at many levels. Many Thai kids are lazy, and you are expected to entertain them like a game-show host. There are no clean and "nice" beaches until you travel at least 3-4 hours out of Bangkok (and even then some). The economic situation and exchange rates made prices jump up. A canned beer that was 50 cents went up to 75cents within 18 months. Thailand is not paradise. Wake up! There are many scams or semi-scams here.

There are some placement agencies which charge 1000 dollars to place you in a cr-p job. Or there are scams. This could be either.

eddy

perfectweapon · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 1:34 am Post subject:

FUD71

It is very true what MaiPenRai and Pauleddy are saying and the website that MaiPen Rai stated is probably the best site in Thailand. It too has its problems with scams, but for the most it is direct hire.

perfectweapon · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 1:39 am Post subject:

MaiPenRai

The Thai culture course is a must if you are teaching lower than a University, and you have to pay for it. One of my friends went to get his visa, and guess what he did not get it, because he did not have the certificated to say that he attended the Thai culture course.

If you have not got one then don�t say anything about it, but I also think there was something about if you had been teaching for so many years before the course came into effect they you did not have to get one.

NigerianWhisper · Joined: 21 Mar 2009 Posts: 176

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

PerfW is right.

Some people were able to delay taking the TCC or may have been exempted. It's nebulous. I work at Uni level, so I have never been asked to take it. NW is probably correct. It could vary by region. Fuzzy rules, and it depends on desperation for staff.

I would love to know the origins of the TCC. I swear that it is a scam which has been "invented" by somebody in the Thai Educational System, or else by a foreigner who saw a scam possibility.

A pal of mine was made to attend. It cost 10,000b (300usd?) but his school paid. It consisted of a 3-day weekend--so he lost the weekend--but the worst thing was the 90% utter waste of time. There was a demonstration of Thai dancing and other twaddle, such as singing Thai songs. I recall another posting about a TCC which was so badly organised that the teachers were sent to the wrong place, and then had to wait two hours in the heat once the "revised" location was found and named!

TIT--This Is Thailand.

eddy

FUD71 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 7 Location: USA

I have decided NOT to deal with this "company" due to all of your advise.

Thank you all so much for your input and quick responses!