Job Discussion Forums

[enduser]

Hello, I am planning on heading to thailand for the start of september.
I do not have a university degree.
I do not have experience in teaching.

I plan on getting my 60 hr TESL cert, from Oxford seminars.
I plan on upgrading it with +40hrs, specializing in grammar.
So I'll have 100hr+ TESL cert.
I plan on volunteering at an ESL School here in vancouver to
gain some experience if necesary.

After browsing through some of the posts I am aware that without a
degree finding a job is alot harder. Which leaves me wondering how
hard is it to get a job without one ? Has anyone gotten a job recently
with just a TESL certificate ? And should I be doing something like
volunteering at an ESL school in Vancouver before I depart for Thailand ?

Thank you.
-Andy

[tttompatz]

Truth be told:

With no degree and only 100 hours from a substandard EFL program you have 0 chance of finding legal work in Thailand (with "B" visa and work permit); the short term employment as a volunteer in Vancouver won't count for anything but may give you some idea of what to do if you do end up in a classroom somewhere.

ADD to that the fact that the first term ends in Sept (so everyone is on their mid-term break for October) and you have little chance of finding even illegal work (no work permit or visa) unless you are prepared to spend a month or 3 on the ground at your expense looking for whatever you can find.

Sorry.

ALL that said, if you get a recognized cert (120 hours + 6 hours of observed practicum with real students (similar to what is provided on a CELTA, Trinity or SIT TESOL course then you can probably find work in places like Cambodia, Laos and Indonesia.

Spring (April/May) is usually a better time to look than the fall/winter.
(new term begins the 3rd week of May).

.

[enduser]

Hi Tom,

I've been able to recognize that you are quite knowledgable in these areas.
Responding to mostly every question asked in reguards to teaching english in Thailand, specificaly Bangkok.

You did mention responding to my post that there is a 0 percent chance.
Like I said I am aware that it may be harder. After having read all of your posts, I am wondering. Are you a recruiter ? How long have you been working in this area in Bangkok ? Or really what I'm getting at is, if you can determine that this is 0%. What did you base that off of, just a very brief description really. I was posting in hopes to find some one, say who was in the same boat as me because lets admit it. There is alot of us who don't have degrees and it would quite suprise me if it's actually 100% impossible to find legal work in Bangkok without. Thank you for your input. I look forward to trying to figure out which approach will be the best. Cheers and thank you for your time.

[tttompatz]

[enduser]

Once again thank you Tom for your time and responses.
This information you have provided me with is priceless for
where I am at in my planning.

The Oxford seminar 100+ hour certificate was not set in stone.
From the research I had done I picked Oxford as the best.
From what you've explained I think a program like CELTA,
or an extended TESOL certificate would be better for me.

Under the table cash jobs of any industry are always too unpredictable.
I like your spell check comment, hence it was something I was
worried of while posting on here. Like I said, not having a degree
nor experience teaching can be a bit discouraging trying to get into
sectors like this. It all stems from the roots so even within a forum,
if one were trying to push towards professionalism, everything counts.
Don't get me wrong I absolutely loved your opinion because it was an
honest one, and yet again thank you for a kind warning. Negative
criticism is a constant struggle.

From what I've gathered from talking with you I am now able to
go back to the drawing board and re-work something�s. Please
keep up the diligent help on these forums.

-Andy