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adtravels
Joined: 15 Apr 2005
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:36 am Post subject: Questions about my new teaching job at st andrews school |
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Hello All
I am new to the forum. My name is adam pape and I have landed a job at st andrews international school in sukumvit soi 71.
I have many questions I would like answering or feedback on.
The first is regarding my girl friend she is also going to make the move but is a graphic designer she is adaptable and the school have said they would apply for her an o visa as my dependant do you think she will get this visa as we are not married?
Second the proposed salary is 80000 baht net per month which includes 20000 as a housing allowance how does this rate?
Thirdly does any body have experience of the school or any of its staff or any opinions on where it ranks on a league table of international schools? 
Thanks for reading my post and i look forward to any comments |
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Kent F. Kruhoeffer
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2129
Location: 中国
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| Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 4:33 am Post subject: some input |
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Hello Adam:
St. Andrews is a member of ISAT (International Schools Association of Thailand) and they have a good reputation, as far as I know. Let me rephrase that: Over many many years of surfing the various forums here at Dave's, I haven't heard or read any complaints or horror stories about them.
Here's a link to ISAT: http://www.isat.or.th/member_schools.asp
And a link to St. Andrews: http://www.st-andrews.ac.th/
Your 80K Baht salary is the stuff most TEFLers in Thailand dream of. 
For 20K per month, you can either rent a serviced luxury flat, or spend half on your flat and save the rest, which is what I'd do if I were in your shoes. fyi - You can rent a very nice place for 10K - and there are lots of apartments in all price ranges in that area!
I live on Sukhumvit 71 --- so we'll be neighbors. 
Sukhumvit 71 is a nice part of Bangkok, a bit south of the busy & touristy areas of Asok and Nana but still very much part of downtown Bangkok. You'll be near the Phra Khanong BTS Skytrain Station, by the way. Within short distance of your school, you'll find a very well stocked JUSCO supermarket. One stop south of Phra Khanong BTS Station (at On Nut Station) you'll also find a TESCO Lotus, the Thai version of Wallmart; a good place to buy cheap stuff for your new flat!
http://www.bts.co.th/en/index.asp (BTS Skytrain)
http://www.bangkokbob.net/sky_train.htm (station info)
Have fun! 
PS: With regard to the O Visa; I'll let somebody with more visa expertise answer that one. |
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adtravels
Joined: 15 Apr 2005
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 8:17 am Post subject: thanks for info |
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| Thanks for the links and advice very helpful |
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ddarko34
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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just curioust as to how u got the job. i have a BA only with some informal teaching exp. wanna teach in Thailand for a while (year to 2 yrs tops).
w |
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Rice Paddy Daddy
Joined: 11 Jul 2004
Posts: 425
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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I'm guessing a B.A. won't cut it for a job like this - neither would an M.A. or even a Ph.D.
You'd need a PGCE or B.Ed for this gig - and be a citizen of the U.K.?
Nice salaries.
What kind of vacation time? |
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ddarko34
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| You'd need a PGCE or B.Ed for this gig |
PGCE?? what's that? |
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Placebo
Joined: 19 Nov 2004
Posts: 80
Location: Bangkok
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| Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| ddarko34 wrote: |
PGCE?? what's that? |
You expect to find a job in an international school, and yet you don't know what PGCE means?
Post Graduate Certificate in Education
If you're American, then you would be talking about a "teaching credential", which is the equivalent.
Uk citizenship is not required to work at an international school. It depends what curriculum the school is following. There are many international schools that employ all kinds of nationalities. Whereas being a native English speaker is a requirement at Thai government schools and language schools, international schools tend to look at your qualifications and experience first before they look at your nationality. Teachers at international schools are not language teachers, they are subject teachers. |
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Ajarn Miguk
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 227
Location: TDY As Assigned
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| Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:44 pm Post subject: Really? |
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| Placebo wrote: |
| ddarko34 wrote: |
PGCE?? what's that? |
You expect to find a job in an international school, and yet you don't know what PGCE means?
Post Graduate Certificate in Education
If you're American, then you would be talking about a "teaching credential", which is the equivalent.
Uk citizenship is not required to work at an international school. It depends what curriculum the school is following. There are many international schools that employ all kinds of nationalities. Whereas being a native English speaker is a requirement at Thai government schools and language schools, international schools tend to look at your qualifications and experience first before they look at your nationality. Teachers at international schools are not language teachers, they are subject teachers. |
Really?
Then how do you explain the following just posted by St. Stepehens?
http://www.teflasia.com/ajarn/jobs/00006617.html |
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Rice Paddy Daddy
Joined: 11 Jul 2004
Posts: 425
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 6:46 am Post subject: |
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The above link is an advertisement for 'in-class support' on a short-term basis, possibly longer.
Not the same kind of job or conditions. |
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Ajarn Miguk
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 227
Location: TDY As Assigned
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| Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 8:07 am Post subject: Really? |
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| Rice Paddy Daddy wrote: |
The above link is an advertisement for 'in-class support' on a short-term basis, possibly longer.
Not the same kind of job or conditions. |
Are you saying ESL teachers receive lower pay, benefits and status at such a school as compared to the other teachers there who have real "subjects" to teach?
I'm attempting to reconcile the earlier poster's assertion they don't exist at such schools and now yours that apparently they do but they are "not in the same kind of job or conditions."
Let's start with this question: Are they classified as a teacher, janitorial or cafeteria help? What? |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 8:28 am Post subject: Re: Really? |
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| Ajarn Miguk wrote: |
| Rice Paddy Daddy wrote: |
The above link is an advertisement for 'in-class support' on a short-term basis, possibly longer.
Not the same kind of job or conditions. |
Are you saying ESL teachers receive lower pay, benefits and status at such a school as compared to the other teachers there who have real "subjects" to teach?
I'm attempting to reconcile the earlier poster's assertion they don't exist at such schools and now yours that apparently they do but they are "not in the same kind of job or conditions."
Let's start with this question: Are they classified as a teacher, janitorial or cafeteria help? What? |
Judging from that job posting, it looks like you're a support worker. You would not have the same responsibilities as a regualr teacher in that school. I am guessing here, but I bet you teach 2-3 students at a time to help improve their English so that they can take part more easily in the regular classroom. So really you're more of an assistant. But if you want to know for sure, why don't you email the school and ask. |
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Ajarn Miguk
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 227
Location: TDY As Assigned
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| Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:34 am Post subject: Questioning |
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Gordon wrote:
"Judging from that job posting, it looks like you're a support worker. You would not have the same responsibilities as a regualr teacher in that school. I am guessing here, but I bet you teach 2-3 students at a time to help improve their English so that they can take part more easily in the regular classroom. So really you're more of an assistant. But if you want to know for sure, why don't you email the school and ask."
What I am questioning is Placebo's assertion that ESL teachers (in his words, "language teachers") do not exist at international schools and later Rice Paddy Daddy's comment that someone in in an ESL teaching postion at an international school "would not be in the same kind of job or conditions" as the other teachers there.
The reason being that neither is necessarily true depending on the international school, its program, the postion advertised and the qualifications of the ESL teacher being hired. |
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Placebo
Joined: 19 Nov 2004
Posts: 80
Location: Bangkok
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:55 pm Post subject: Re: Questioning |
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| Ajarn Miguk wrote: |
What I am questioning is Placebo's assertion that ESL teachers (in his words, "language teachers") do not exist at international schools and later Rice Paddy Daddy's comment that someone in in an ESL teaching postion at an international school "would not be in the same kind of job or conditions" as the other teachers there.
The reason being that neither is necessarily true depending on the international school, its program, the postion advertised and the qualifications of the ESL teacher being hired. |
I may have been unclear in my post. ESL teachers do exist at international schools. However, in most cases they possess a B.ed or PGCE/teaching credential in addition to a TEFL certificate. What I was trying to say is that a BA in an unrelated field + TEFL certificate are not enough to find employment as a homeroom teacher at an international school. Even an MA TESOL is not sufficient enough without a degree in education. The Job ad you were referring to is not for a homeroom teacher position. Salary wise it's not even close to what subject teachers earn. I also doubt that you'd have the same benefits.
There are a various "international" schools that will hire homeroom teachers without a degree in education. These schools are not internationally accredited and offer only substandard salaries. True international schools are accredited by international accrediting organisations. Accrediting organisations include the European Council of International Schools (ECIS), the Council of International Schools (CIS), the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
If you really believe that a BA in an unrelated field and a 4 week TEFL certificate will get you the same kind of salary that qualified and experienced subject teachers at an accredited international school enjoy, you need a reality check...
Last edited by Placebo on Sun Apr 24, 2005 9:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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billie
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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Couple of questions about these teaching positions at int'l schools:
What is the typical salary range?
As an American you would need to be a certified teacher in the states? Meaning you would have a Bachelors degree in Education?
You would also need the TESOL degree?
What about experience? Can you get one with only a little bit of experience in America and none overseas?
Can these schools be found throughout Thailand or are they mainly found in Bangkok?
How does one go about locating and applying for one of these jobs? I am doing my training through LanguageCorps with TEFL int'l and they find me a job? Would they most likely have contacts with these types of schools?
Thanks
Billie |
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Ajarn Miguk
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 227
Location: TDY As Assigned
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 11:16 pm Post subject: Re: Questioning |
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| Placebo wrote: |
| Ajarn Miguk wrote: |
What I am questioning is Placebo's assertion that ESL teachers (in his words, "language teachers") do not exist at international schools and later Rice Paddy Daddy's comment that someone in in an ESL teaching postion at an international school "would not be in the same kind of job or conditions" as the other teachers there.
The reason being that neither is necessarily true depending on the international school, its program, the postion advertised and the qualifications of the ESL teacher being hired. |
I may have been unclear in my post. ESL teachers do exist at international schools. However, in most cases they possess a B.ed or PGCE/teaching credential in addition to a TEFL certificate. What I was trying to say is that a BA in an unrelated field + TEFL certificate are not enough to find employment as a homeroom teacher at an international school. Even an MA TESOL is not sufficient enough without a degree in education. The Job ad you were referring to is not for a homeroom teacher position. Salary wise it's not even close to what subject teachers earn. I also doubt that you'd have the same benefits.
There are a various "international" schools that will hire homeroom teachers without a degree in education. These schools are not internationally accredited and offer only substandard salaries. True international schools are accredited by international accrediting organisations. Accrediting organisations include the European Council of International Schools (ECIS), the Council of International Schools (CIS), the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
If you really believe that a BA in an unrelated field and a 4 week TEFL certificate will get you the same kind of salary that qualified and experienced subject teachers at an accredited international school enjoy, you need a reality check... |
Yes, you were unclear in your earlier posting. Thanks for the clarification.
While I agree that your last paragraph above is generally accurate, I have found so many exceptions to it over the years that I have learned your "reality" and someone else's may be very different. |
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