Job Discussion Forums

brake23 · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 4 Location: Ottawa, Canada

Hi folks,

I am a young journalist who is considering teaching English in Asia. My number one choice of places to do this is Thailand. I'm intrigued by the culture and people and would love to spend time there. Despite the fact that I have excellent English speaking and grammar skills many countries prefer to have that piece of paper universities issue...ah yes, degrees. ;P I, on the other hand, have a college diploma and an award for my writing. Do I stand a chance of being hired by a Thai school? Any input or personal experiences with this matter would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your time!

Justin

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

You'll get work without a degree and it's also possible to get a work permit without one (easier said than done though).

Potters · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 10

Of course you have a chance; i worked at a school where some teachers didn't have degrees, but then again they got paid cash, and those 'kind-of' important people, the Ministry of Education and/ Ministry of Labour, probably didn't know they existed!

However, be aware of a few things: no.1 getting a work permit may be difficult, because you don't have a degree. Consequently you'll be limited to the places you can work, namely, the lower end of the market (a word of warning about those places; there you'll find more sketchy people and establishments than in any Dickins' novel).

Good luck.

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

^ I don't know about that mate. I know a fair few people that don't hold degrees working for better companies than those with. 'Cos of the WP to classroom rule some schools can't get you a WP even with a degree (BC for example doesn't always legit up it's part time teachers etc.).

richie122 · Joined: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 101 Location: Seattle, Wa, USA

Hey potters,
Could you elaborate lower end of the market. Do you have personal experience or is that what you've heard? thanks

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

re: teaching without a degree

Here's a fairly detailed article on the topic

written by Bangkok Phil over at Ajarn.com:

http://ajarn.com/Banter/degreedilemma.htm

brake23 · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 4 Location: Ottawa, Canada

thanks for the info. guys. with the recent crackdown on north americans teaching illegally in south korea, i'm reluctant to work without a work permit. would it be wise, or possibly easier, to obtain a work permit once in thailand?

Welshguy · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 143

Well Bangkok Phil should know he apparently dosen't have one either!

Thailand is in my book one of the easier places to get work in Asia without a degree It may limit you in some respects insofar as it will be more difficult to get a w/p without one (but not as it turns out impossible.)
You may need to look to the lower end of the market for a start but as kenkannif says there are people working in other sectors without that bit of paper. I met one Brit couple on a visa run working for a well know chain in Bangkok, they were both in their fifties, had no experience,very thick regional accents and as he said 'only ever passed me driving licence in me whole life'. Get a 25-30000 gig for a start and do a few privates to top up with and see where you go from there.

A good attitude to the students and a professional approach to the work can help a little stretch a long way. MOD EDIT
Happy trails.

W
(LL.B Hons in case you were wondering)

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Thailand IMO is a place where if you've got the get up and go etc. and can market yourself well etc. you can earn good money with or without a degree.

I know people without earning in excess of 60,000 Baht, I know people with earning far less.

Steve Jones · Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 157 Location: Shanghai

I have just finished working in China for 2 years.
How much is 60,000 baht and what is the conversion rate into british pounds?
How much is your own apt ?
Etc Etc

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

60K is around 870 odd Quid.

I've got a house not an apartment. Apartments can go for as little as 2-3K a month upwards (depends whereabouts and what you want).

richie122 · Joined: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 101 Location: Seattle, Wa, USA

I've been looking into jobs in Thailand on the net, and it seems that every offer is just for a person holding a B.A. and a TEFL. I am a 22 year old from the U.S. have one year of university experience, one and a half years EFL teaching, and a TEFL cert. Should I just show up a month before the school year starts and turn up door to door, resume in hand? Or will schools give me a chance if I send my resume? thanks for your time

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Best to be here, they'll be crying out for teachers come May (before actually).

tirelesstravelerasia · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Dalian, China

The government officials processing your paperwork won't be able to speak or read English -- so any official looking certificate might just indeed suffice. I knew a guy working there with only a British tech-school diploma, and an American working legally with a 2-year associates degree. In fact, the only time I've heard of the Ministry of Ed kicking back any kind of degree is when it's not in English -- one Dutch pal of mine had to request an English one from his alma mater, and a retired Canadian I know had received his degree from a Catholic school in the 60's - written in Latin - and they denied his permit. If it looks like a 4-year degree, it might be good enough to get a work permit.

However, I'm of the opinion that if you want to teach ESL, you should really have an ESL qualification. You're right, a 4-year degree won't necessarily make you a better teacher, but you might consider if your experience as a journalist is preparation enough for the classroom as well.