Job Discussion Forums

[Scott G]

I post this also on the Taiwan board.
Ok, there are so many positives and negatives as to whether or not to teach in Taiwan or Thailand. I like them both from what I have read. I have never been out of the USA and 2005 is the year for me to make some changes. I have a degree in Kinesiology but not a teaching degree or certificate. My background in teaching is based on coaching and also on being a substitute teacher for all grade levels. I have heard about getting one's TEFL by either learn and you work programs or the fully intensive method of CELTA.
I have heard about the illegal method of buying the certificate on some road that starts with a K. in Thailand. I know, this is a Taiwan discussion board. This relates to Taiwan too, be patient. Very Happy
Now that brings up about this point. I have done the researching, and checking out the different threads on the big chain schools in Taiwan. I have read about Hess, Kojen, and Kid Castle. I have even gotten response back from some of these schools on what the requirements are for teaching in their facilities. But, many of you (experienced teachers) have said that just going there to Taiwan or Thailand and finding the job once there, is much better method. This sounds all fine and dandy but which country is easier to do that type of method?
I am very athletic and outdoorsy type person, where can I keep those values still in my schedule?
I don't want to be so busy that my physical body gets out of shape. That is what makes me who I am and it would show in my teaching.
It would be nice to hopefully find a cute thai or taiwanese girl to brighten my days, which country seems best for this? This is not a huge decision breaker, I was just curious.
So, let me just get to the point. I am planning on leaving the good ole USA in August 2005. I don't see this as just a short vacation. I need change, I need culture shock.
I want to start out with something that will carry over into something bigger. I am not just wanting to teach English in one year and then do something else. I actually like to teach. Making a career out of this would be a goal.
The question: Taiwan or Thailand or a combination of the two?
Thank you for your help. Sorry for my drawn out explanations and stuff. I like to express myself in words.

Scott

[Sheep-Goats]

My background in teaching is based on coaching and also on being a substitute teacher for all grade levels. I have heard about getting one's TEFL by either learn and you work programs or the fully intensive method of CELTA.

There are many ways to get it. The one you'll probably go for is the one-month long (some programs -- 6 weeks, the magic words are 120 hours) full time (8 to 6, five days a week) one, which is available for both generic TEFL certificates and namebrand TEFL certificates (eg: CELTA, Trinity). Because you've actually done some genuine teaching in America (substiute counts) you won't need a CETLA to get a job, but it will help you tremendously in actually doing you job -- especially for the first three months. And Thailand is tightening requirements now (though not very much) so it may be a good investment for the future.

Taiwan (and the rest of Asian) pretty much doesn't give a flying *beep* about a TEFL certificate -- it'll be for your enrichment only, but, in my opinion, at a price of up to about 1000USD it's worth it.


I have heard about the illegal method of buying the certificate on some road that starts with a K. in Thailand.

Khao San Road is the backpacking ghetto in Bangkok -- and also a very popular (and getting even more so these days) nighspot for Thai university students. Everyone, including the Thais, knows about the fake certificates. If the job actually wants a certificate, it's damn easy to check up on them. If the job doesn't, you having one won't help much anyway. Basically, what I'm saying is that a fake cerfiticate is only useful when it wouldn't be useful in the first place. Don't bother -- it's only for the absolutely desperate.

But, many of you (experienced teachers) have said that just going there to Taiwan or Thailand and finding the job once there, is much better method. This sounds all fine and dandy but which country is easier to do that type of method?

It's easier to get a job in Thailand than in Taiwan. Except for the really good schools (which it doesn't sound like you're shooting for) which are harder to get work in in Thailand than in Taiwan. Additionally, Thailand is cheaper to stay in from day to day, and the people are easier to get along with.


I am very athletic and outdoorsy type person, where can I keep those values still in my schedule?

Neither place, really. You have to understand, it's so goddamn hot here (and there) that no one wants to go outside and play basketball -- it's easy enough to sweat at home in front of your computer.

Exercize in the cities (Bangkok, Taipei) is limited almost entirely to gyms. Many people in Bangkok also go to Lumpinee park (like central pack in New York) to exercize, but nearby accomdodation is quite expensive and due to Bangkok's traffic you'll have to live near work and not fun anyway. So, you'd have to look for work in the area. Which is quite possible (Lumpinee is very near the business/fun district of Silom) but which will cut down on your choices.

Outside of Bangkok Thailand is actually quite clean. But still too hot to be running around a Dewey track at dawn.


It would be nice to hopefully find a cute thai or taiwanese girl to brighten my days, which country seems best for this? This is not a huge decision breaker, I was just curious.

Thailand is the best place to meet fantastically charming, beautiful, devoted and easy girls in the world (or all four). Nothing else compares.


I need culture shock.
I want to start out with something that will carry over into something bigger. I am not just wanting to teach English in one year and then do something else. I actually like to teach. Making a career out of this would be a goal.

That would be Taiwan. The Thais are so incredibly genial and Bangkok so multi-faceted that culture shock isn't an issue at all here. A career in EFL is a dead-end stop in Thailand unless you're supremely qualified or can get into International schools (which would mean having a teaching certification from the States).

To summarize: Your short term goals are here in Thailand, your long term goals are in Taiwan. You're like almost everyone else, then, in that reguard.

If you don't have a pension set up already (not likely at 30) or some kind of a monetary pad, or even worse, if you're heavily in debt, Thailand can be disaster for you. One general current for SE Asian EFL teachers is the Thailand - Taiwan - South Korea one. Thailand is the most fun with the worst money and career prospects, Taiwan is the middle ground, and S. Korea is very little fun with (for the industry) fantastic money. So, my question for you is: How badly do you need to save money?

Give yourself a score between 1 (not at all) and 10 (need to pay off debts or have kids to feed), then scroll to the bottom of my post for where you should go. Then ignore my adivce and go wherever it was you were going to go in the first place.








































10 South Korea
9 South Korea
8 South Korea
7 Taiwan
6 Taiwan
5 Taiwan
4 Taiwan
3 Thailand
2 Thailand
1 Thailand

[Scott G]

Ok, I do have debt but it is only one student loan.
I do not have credit card, mortgage, car payments, etc.
I am living pretty frugal now and maybe save like 200 US dollars each month.
So teaching english in Thailand is deadend way to do ESL?
Taiwan is better?
How do living conditions in Thailand compare to Taiwan?
You mentioned that the women in Thailand are very nice, what about Taiwanese girls?
Is it better to start an ESL Career in Taiwan than in Thailand?
I would like all teacher's views and opinions on this.

Thank you
Scott

[PKB]

If you can't rule one out from information gleaned from the net, why don't you visit both and get a 1st hand impression of each. Then sit down with your calculator and some salary and cost of living figures and throw all that into the equation.

[Sheep-Goats]

[Scott G]

so the english teachers that work in thailand have no debt whatsoever?

[Sheep-Goats]

[Jared]

Scott G. Wrote

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

I was talking about this last night with a friend who lived in Thailand and now teaches in Taiwan.

We agreed that Thailand is best a country to only take vacations in.

Quality of life, overall, is better in Taiwan, Japan or Korea for EFL'ers.

[sigmoid]

You're simply going to make more money in Taiwan than in Thailand, but most of the work is teaching kids.

Thailand may be more fun, but eventually you'll have to leave for another place where you can ean and save more money.