Job Discussion Forums

[Matt_22]

What are the prospects for a college grad (with a teaching certificate) for advancing in the teaching industry if starting out in Bangkok? Can a young teacher who performs well and succeeds find doors open for them in Thailand or abroad? Or is it best to work a few years to get some experience and then pursue a masters degree?

[isanity]

Advancement into what? The two obvious possibilities are language school administration and academia (actual research and substantive teaching, not uni language classes). Administration is certainly possible if you hang around in one school long enough, and wouldn't necessarily require any particular qualifications. AUA in Thailand has falang branch managers. It's not a very attractive job, though: you would just be passing on orders from head office.

Academia would be a more intellectually satisfying option, but would requre getting out of Thailand (ideally, never going to Thailand in the first place): I don't know of any Thai universities which want you to do real academic work. It is possible elsewhere, though: Scott Sommers, who has a very good blog, combines EFL research and language teaching at a uni in Taiwan. That would certainly require a Masters, and ideally a PhD.

If you're actually qualified to teach in your home country then you can get much more money in the international schools. Advancement there would be much the same as in schools back home, but so would the teaching- long hours and bratty kids.