Job Discussion Forums

[micropiglet]

Having worked for some time in Phnom Penh, (at Norton University/Banana Centre) without specific teaching qualifications, and having experienced the stress and trauma of 'winging it' in front of a class of 40 upper intermediates in 35 degree heat without aircon, I decided to return home and take a CELTA. I passed at level B, and now would like to return to Thailand to teach. I have degree equivalent qualifications, but not a degree. Will I be able to get a work permit ?? Also, what are my chances in KL or South Korea without said degree ?? I am looking for longer term work, if possible in Phuket or Bangkok.
I lecture within my current work, but other than my teaching in Cambodia and my course, I don't have classroom experience. Thanks for any input !!

[tedkarma]

To work legally:

Korea requires a degree. No way around it.

Thailand, in theory, requires a degree - but sometimes, depending on the pull of your employer, things can be arranged. BUT, getting around the rules is becoming more and more difficult all the time. Don't count on getting around them.

Bangkok and Phuket, in my opinion, are vastly different job markets. Depending on the time of year, job availability varies greatly in both locations. However, my experience in BKK was that there is always work and always part-time jobs to be found. My experience on Phuket is that there are times when there is no work at all to be found - particularly during the tourism "high season."

Phuket has a couple other problems - there are, depending on what and who you count, from three to six TEFL cert programs on the island. Together they pump out more graduates than the market can handle. Fortunately most grads don't plan on staying on the island, but enough do to keep the market very tight and wages lower than in BKK - but with a higher cost of living. The other issue is that there is a constant stream of backpacker types who also compete in the job market - and who are willing to work for almost nothing.

So, if you are a relative newbie to Thailand, and your choice is between BKK and Phuket - you will find getting started and learning the profession much easier in BKK. Just my opinion.

[wtdot03]

Its gonna be hard now geeting a job.Teaching term started a few weeks ago.I work in Suratthani which is wher you get ferry to Kho Phangnan and Samui (about 2 hrs).There are jobs going here as i two people left last week.One is teaching 15 to 18 yr olds, i'm not sure but i guess coversational English like i do.Some people have a degree( i do B.A), some dont and some have accquired one ahem!!I did get a job offer a few eeks ago from somewhere called Anna's school in Phuket.Don't know anything about it.But ya generally work for peanuts in places like that.I'm on 30,500 bhat a month but thats really good and lucky for somewhere like here..Expect 20,000 to 28,000 i guess.depends on experience, degree etc.(and bullshit!!)

[Canadiannewbie]

Hey - What's it like in Suratthani. I was offered a job with "The Language". I'm told there isn't much in the town, which doesn't turn me away as I prefer smaller towns to large cities. Can you tell me a little about your experience there? Which school are you teaching at?

[bluffer]

[Sheep-Goats]

Read this thread: http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=26338&highlight=degree

Basically, you can get legal work and all the papers in Thailand, but you'll need influence and the right backing, which, as Ted said, is getting harder to find. I'd guess you'b be able to find legal work no problem in Bangkok, but your options will be limited. On Puket you'll have a tough run of things, but if you're a self-starting go getter (and all that crap that English teachers usually aren't) you can find work anywhere, even on Bali.

I heard Banana was a good school in Cambodia. How was teaching there? I visited for a month and loved the wild westness of the place, but don't know if I'd love it for any longer than that.

If by KL you mean Kuala Lumpur then I'd imagine a degree would be more important there than in Thailand, just because Malasians seem to appreciate them more -- but that opinion is based on a week long visit to Georgetown, so I wouldn't go by it.