Job Discussion Forums

ashlee · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 9 Location: Canada

Hi,
I will be graduating in April and moving to Bangkok in September to teach english. I am just wondering what the different pay scales would be if I did the TEFL course or not? Is it really worth it to do it. Obviously you may get more job offers and such but is it worth it?

thanks Smile

tedkarma · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:14 am Post subject:

Your pay scale is likely to be no different with or without a TEFL qualification.

However . . . you ARE more likely to land a better job that might pay more. And, you are more likely to be offered teaching jobs on the side that might be a bit more lucrative.

There is nothing wrong with actually KNOWING what you are doing, no? And actually delivering what you are taking money from students to deliver is a good idea too, isn't it?

Get trained. You'll be far happier in your job if you know what to do. Getting trained just says that you are serious and want to do a good job.

I think you know this already - and that is why you asked . . .

ashlee · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 9 Location: Canada

All your points are valid. I am just trying to figure out a time line as I heard the semester starts in October so I wanted to be over there before that to find a job before classes start. I am trying to see if I can fit taking the course after my job ends and before I leave.

Thanks for your reply I appreciate it!!!!!

tedkarma · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 6:17 am Post subject:

Take your course here. You make contacts and find out which places are good places to work and which places to avoid.

ashlee · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 9 Location: Canada

Funny you should mention that... I was just looking into doing that!!!!

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

What should a EFL teacher fresh out of CELTA (or a similar course) expect to earn?

I just saw a job ad on TEFL.com offering 34,000 baht to newly cert-ed teachers. Is this a good offer and enough to live on in Bangkok?

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject:

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

34 to 38K per month is about average for Bangkok schools, but 34 is on the lower end of average, ted's right. Over the internet, job offers will not be as good as when you're here. Sometimes the better positions aren't advertised at all, but are passed to friends through word of mouth. Having said that, 34K is not too bad for a first job, imho. If you can survive a year at 34K, you'll know what you're doing and what's expected of you, and hopefully be in a better position to hold out for a higher salary in the 2nd year; either that or move to a school offering more. Another advantage of being here is that positions sometimes open up suddenly; the manager or director needs to find somebody right away. If you're here, you have the advantage. Getting back to the question; on 34K (imo) you can live well enough, provided you're not supporting a boyfriend or girlfriend or going out to bars 5 nights a week. I've made it through a month on 34K many times. I get paid by the hour, so my salary goes up and down. In a busy month I net 57K - during slower months I have as little as 32 to tide me over. It's doable on 34K; not as much fun as 57 but doable.

alexcase · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 215 Location: Seoul

If you can fit it in and afford it, maybe the best reason for doing the CELTA is that it makes your own life easier by showing you what you can/ should do when you actually get in the classroom. I taught mainly kids when I got to Thailand in my second year of teaching, but having done the CELTA was still invaluable and made me feel like an expert already with teachers with more experience but no training coming to me for lesson ideas.