Job Discussion Forums

[breacan]

Hello,

I am new here and have read several posts, but for some reason the FAQ is not visible and the search function does not work? I've tried it on two different computers and different browsers.

Anyhow, I am considering teaching English in Thailand. I will try not to ask a question that has been asked previously but I apologize if I do - I have not been able to see everything due to the search function issue I am having.

I am an American living in the UK. I currently teach classes in continuing education for a university here. I have also taught in continuing ed. at other colleges. I love teaching and it was the reason I went to university in the first place. I really would like to stress that teaching is my passion and it is the most important reason I am considering teaching English. I am also a writer, but I find that I am working in jobs (aside from my part-time teaching) that give me no time for writing at the moment.

I also find that I am unable to get long-term work here in the UK above minimum wage. I used to live in Hawai'i and gave up my love of the place and the tropics to pursue my studies in the UK. So I am looking to move somewhere that I would have the ability to teach, earn some money, pay off my student loans, and have a decent standard of living in a tropical environment.

Climate is top priority for me, with money coming in second. I also wanted to know if it is possible to rent a house on the beach, and areas where that might be possible, if anyone could suggest a place to start as far as teaching jobs go? I would also like to acquire a dog, or a few, at some point, and eventually a sailboat sometime in the future. I lived in Hawai'i for a very long time so I am well aware of the daily realities of living in the tropics - I know it is not all one long beach vacation, but at least the beach is there.

I have a bachelor's from the US and a Master's from the UK. I have not chosen a TEFL or CELTA program as of yet but that is my next step. I realize that there are other places better suited for paying off student loans but they tend to have a climate that disagrees with me. So my general question is - are these things possible in Thailand? Or should I be looking somewhere else? In addition, will I have a difficult time heading straight to Thailand (or another country) from the UK as far as visa issues are concerned?

Thanks in advance for any help, and I apologize again if any of these questions have been asked previously.

[tttompatz]

The nicer the location (near the beach) the fewer the chances for employment and the lower the wages; there are lots of people willing to work for next to nothing to extend their stay on the beach. This holds true in most (all?) countries and not just Thailand.

If you have loans to pay off it won't happen here and doubly so on the beach.

If you want to work in BKK, struggle for your first year while you make connections to move up into a better paying position then ya, it is do-able but the beach is 2-5 hours away.

.

[breacan]

Hello ttompatz,

Thanks for your reply. I suppose it is the logical response; I think I am just itching to be somewhere warm after all the cold and grey in the United Kingdom.

Can I ask if there are other places with a good climate where I might be able to earn enough to pay off my loans? Even if the sea is a few hours away? And if my heart is set on Thailand - is there any possibility of making it work outside of Bangkok?

Also - I am primarily interested in teaching at a university, or teaching adults, although from what I have seen those jobs pay less. However, I am only starting to look into the possibilities of ESL so any guidance or advice is much appreciated.

Thanks again for your help.

[tttompatz]

If you have loans to pay off the best bang for your buck is still Korea (register on the Korean forums).


The other option for good cash and warm weather is the middle east.
It does come with its own can of worms however.

.

[PattyFlipper]

If teaching is your passion, then Thailand may not be the place to be. The Thai education system is lacklustre, at best, and working conditions can be fairly atrocious, with little in the way of job satisfaction. Professional educators, with no other commitment to Thailand (such as a local spouse and/or kids) often do not remain there very long. There are exceptions of course, but in the main they are simply that, exceptions.

Additionally, do not automatically assume you will have more free time in Thailand in which to pursue your writing projects. Thai employers are notoriously demanding, and will find a myriad of ways to encroach upon your personal time, including compulsory and poorly-remunerated overtime or unpaid extra-curricular activities at weekends. Six or even seven day weeks are by no means unheard of, and the universities can be some of the worst offenders in this regard.

As to not making much above 'minimum wage', have you seen the salaries which most Thai universities offer to their expatriate staff? These salaries have remained static for the last 20 years or so and Thailand is now far from being the bargain it once was, particularly if you wish to retain too many aspects of your Western 'comfort bubble'.

[breacan]

Hi PattyFlipper,

Yes, I did have a look at the pay offered at university level in Thailand. I would also be willing to work at a secondary school; I am just not interested in working with young children. Working for minimum wage when you need to pay council tax and everything is very expensive here in the UK - well, you tend to start looking for other options where a better quality of life might be possible. However, I do love teaching, so I may want to look elsewhere.

ttompatz: I was under the impression that I would need more experience before trying the Middle East?


I have also read of the poor working conditions in Thailand; I suppose I simply want to live near the sea, where it is warm, and I could live well in the local economy. Thailand seemed like a good option for that.

It seems as though my best bet would be to spend a few years elsewhere getting rid of debt, and then move somewhere with a lifestyle more preferable? In addition, I teach and perform dance, and would like to continue doing that wherever I land, if anyone can give me any advice regarding that?

Thanks so much for your kindness. I really appreciate the replies. I realize my questions are all over the place but I haven't been able to find all the answers I am looking for - such as my question about dogs, for example. Where would offer a good environment for a dog/dogs? I did find one post saying not to go to Vietnam in that regard, but no other recommendations. However, I frequently see people advocating Thailand for some reason or another, so I started to consider living there - but it sounds as if it may not be feasible for me at this stage.

Could you suggest another tropical location that might offer these things, including vacation time/time for writing? Or does such a place not exist?
Is it a situation in which you can have the climate you want, but nothing else, or everything/most of the things you want except the climate?

[KayuJati]

[breacan]

Hi KayuJati,

Thanks, will PM you as soon as I can.

[deadzenpoet]

Miami-Ft Lauderdale? Why don't you move back to Hawaii? It seems you were happy there.

[Ariadne]

You might want to consider southern China. University jobs usually require 12-18 hours of classtime per week. The rest of the time is pretty much your own, although there will of course be prep work and marking to do. The pay isn't high like in the K country, but most FTs at universities live comfortably and are able to save a little cash. How much you can save has been debated repeatedly... results will vary with the individual. Most unis offer accommodations as part of the package. This is where you might encounter some trouble in regards to the dogs you want to get. You could always live off campus, but not all schools offer a housing allowance. Don't forget that when it's time to go home, for good or just a holiday, you will need to deal with the dogs. There are probably some kennels somewhere but I haven't seen them. It costs an enormous amount to fly animals across the ocean. I know because I've done it.

Sorry about all the China info on the Thailand forum, but the OP did ask about other possibilities.

.

[breacan]

deadzenpoet: I was happy there, but it is expensive and no longer offers any opportunity for me.

Ariadne: Thank you for the information. I will look into southern China. As regards the dogs, I am not even going to think about acquiring any until I know for certain that I can take them with me, or I'm in a place I'd like to be for a very long time.

[NigerianWhisper]

And what will you do with the dogs when you are working all day?

[breacan]

The same thing everyone who has a dog does with their dog while they are working during the day.

I have moved my question from the Thailand forum. Thanks to those of you who have helped me, I have a lot to decide now!

[Oriented]

What about Cheju (Korea) or Okinawa (Japan)? No idea what prospects are (you'd have to ask posters on those forums) but in terms of climate and national wage scales, they probably qualify.

And of course, Singapore, but I gather that's not the easiest market to get into.

[plumpy nut]