Job Discussion Forums

[kev7161]

I'm going to read through several postings as I have the time. Currently I live and teach in China. I earn the USD equivalent of right around $1800 a month plus free apartment and utilities. So I guess I'm well over $2000 as a monthly "income". Not too bad and the job I have is not too bad as well. However, after visiting Thailand several times and making new friends there, my heart's no longer in China (was it ever?) and so I'm exploring Thailand. However, most job offers are WAY below what I'm earning now. A small pay decrease would be acceptable, but not what I'm seeing online. I do have a teaching degree and a (now expired) teaching certificate. Five years in the EFL market but no TEFL or anything else. My ideal living area would be Pattaya but I'm flexible (except I would dread living in big, crowded, polluted Bangkok). Can anyone give me the skinny on what I might hope for should I choose a move down south?

[Pauleddy]

I earn 27,000b (about 900usd) at a gvment uni. Without my private income, I couldn't live on that, no way.

There are a lot of pluses and minuses for each 'type' of job. Private schools, especially Int'l schools, pay 60,000b up to (even) 100,000b (3500usd) a mth...but you have to be there at 7.30am every day.

Check www.ajarn.com probably the best site for TEFL here.

Stickman Bangkok's site (google it) gives an excellent piece on TEFL jobs here.

The general buzz on Thailand is that you earn LESS than, say, Korea..but Thailand is a 'great' place for 'attractions'.

Pattaya may not suit everyone. Personally, I hate it. Too sleazy in every way.

In the south, you may find a lot of gvment school jobs advertised, but the pay is lower, about 27-35,000. A lot of newbies like the idea of the south because they saw Di Caprio in "The Beach', and they think that they can teach on the beach and get laid all day (for instance). Most of the southern resorts (Phuket, Samui, Krabi etc) are expensive tourist traps these days, though.

Thailand is full of contradictions. I much prefer Malaysia, but I am hitched to a Thai.

It is very hard to find a happy medium re work and play. BKK is gritty but it has the attractions. If you live and work in the boonies, you may have an austere life--larger towns may have 1 Pizzaland and 1 Tops Supermarket (to buy wines), and perhaps 1 cinema. Some people go crazy.

G Luck

P Eddy

[Thwartley]

To each his own but why the hell you would want to live in that cesspool Pattaya is beyond me. Also, probably one of the worst places for teaching in Thailand in terms of school choices and rates of pay.

As for ajarn.com as a place for info, I would second that, at least regarding practical things such as visas, descriptions of various locations and the general foreign teaching atmosphere in those places. However, regarding individual schools there is essentially nothing there.

The forum at: http://teflschoolreviews.com

may give you some insight into different schools with the proviso that it is obviously very biased info. However, I have found it to be quite accurate when compared against my own experiences and reliable accounts from friends.

[kev7161]

Obviously the seedy and/or tourist-y areas are not the greatest in Pattaya, but they do have nice shopping centers, modern cineplexes, bookstores, and other nice amenities. I'm familiar with this small city and have friends there but, as I mentioned, I AM flexible. Thailand is not THAT big of a country that I couldn't work in one place and visit friends in another from time to time. Thanks for the feedback. Keep it coming please!

[Pauleddy]

Sure you can travel, but long-distance buses and trains are quite iffy here.

The trains which go to the south take many hours. Even the bus to Chiang Mai takes many hours from BKK, maybe 8 or 10. Nobody takes the train from BKK to Pattaya cos it takes 4-5 hours. The bus takes about 2-2.5.

Flying internal is best, not too expensive but enough if you earn 30k only.

Re the website above, this is the one which replaced TEFLWATCH.com which folded about 5 months ago and was very busy. Unfortunately, there seem to be less postings to the above...although if u do a search on there, I believe that the new 'owners' kept a DBase of the info on the older, better site.

The poster is correct when he says that AJARN.com doesn't have poop on individual schools. That is editorial policy on Ajarn. Phil (the founder/owner) has never allowed naming-shaming. The great thing about AJARN is that there are sections on everything (even Health Insurance, Hobbies, Shopping etc.) and you can ASK people on there for help or suggestions.

Try to look at Stickman's long article on different types of job. It's good.

There are quite a few downsides to Thailand. It is, indeed, the Land of Smiles...but as a farang (westerner), you will always be 'different'. Also, most people presume that you sh## money. You will pay for everything. The admin of schools and unis is the pits. You will be used/maltreated/lied to...to some extent. Thais are like big children, in general.

The worst thing is the general superficiality. 80-90 years ago, Thais ran around in loincloths, apart from the nobles. When Versace, McDonalds and Pop Music got here, poor but happy people felt that they had to be superstars. Thai culture is a 'presentation' culture now. Who you pretend to be and what you wear is more important than humility and being 'nice'. Sad really. Of course, BKK is more inclined to be like this, but country kids are now affected too.

PEd

[Thwartley]

^ I basically agree with what the above poster is saying though with some exceptions. I don't buy the claim that the arrival of western culture signaled the shift to a presentation culture. It just exaggerated what was there all along.

I caution anyone who is thinking of making a move here or especially those who have their sights set on some kind of long term plan.

It is quite hard not to be affected by the constant dishonesty, incompetence and arrogance here (the last attribute by those with petty bits of power and backed up by zero skill or smarts.) All dismissed as "cultural differences" by Thais and the foreigners who think they've got it all figured out.

I've lived in a number of places around the world and have never met such an "off" group of expats anywhere. There are so many foreign failures and buffoons here who get inflated egos because of the ease of hooking up with nice women.

A significant number of those same individuals get MOD EDIT and when there's nowhere to turn they face a crisis that can spell the end in many ways.

These are just observations. Some will assume that I am placing myself above others but I'm not.

Try to have a plan before you arrive in Thailand and stick to it. As much as that's the opposite of the lifestyle here, I believe you will be happier in the long run.

[JamesDavid4th]

so, i live on the east coast in the city of Rayong. really nice town, no tourism, very little sleaze, easy to get around on my motorbike, close to the island of Koh Samet, close to Pattaya, and about a 3 hour bus ride from BKK (i passionatly hate Bangkok, by the way)

i work at a lanuage school over here, and i pull about 35,000 baht every month, if not a bit more. i am contracted at a garaunteed 32,000 bht per month, but at the language schools there is always the possibility of picking up a few extra hours, which i do to bring in the cash.

i pay 7,000 baht per month for my rent and extras - which includes my fully furnished apartment (nice and brand new), my internet service, my bills, my once a week cleaning of my apartment, etc. mind you that money covers all that stuff, not just my rent. i like the extra perks so i dont mind paying the small amount for them.

i pay 300 baht per month for health insurance from my employer, and never over 1,000 per month for taxes (usually right around there)

so from my salary, i have no problems living off that money and spending a little, even saving a few bucks.

the people are lovely, the food is great, the job is good and flexible, i have no complaints over here in Rayong - and it would def be a good alternative to Pattaya if you wanted to be close to your friends and visit and what not (its about 45 minutes from Pattaya). as has been said before in this thread, no way i would live in Pattaya - sleaze, higher prices, safety, busy-ness - just not for me.

i used to teach in South Korea, and granted the money is better in korea, the quality of life here is much improved x 10.

[Pauleddy]

I like Rayong too, altho' it's a typical Thai town with a bus station, 2 7-11s and 30 Honda shops as a 'town centre'.

Yes, I exaggerate, altho' the gist is true.

The people are nice. I looked at the beach (it's long) when I was there 3 weeks ago, but I was not impressed (lots of Coke cans). I am looking at buying a summer house (nr a beach somewhere)--and had previous good comments about Rayong...

Certainly it will be quieter and a lot cheaper than BKK.

For me, it's hard to find a happy medium. I once got a job in the middle of a southern town, but almost died of boredom. Now I live in BKK, hot and gritty but with all the bars and shopping I can handle, and then some...

One good plus for Rayong is that Samet is a short hop. Nice island (we like Tub Tim best), great beaches, some of it a bit commercial now but still, a wonderful break.

I would prefer Rayong to Pattaya any day.

I replied to a post about Hua Hin today (on here). IMHO it is the 'nicest' resort (and I know most of them). Each to his own.

P Ed

[JamesDavid4th]

though it is not as busy as BKK, i would beg to differ that Rayong is such a "small" typical Thai town. they have again recently started showing english/western movies in the movie theatres, there are many more than just 2 7-11's, we do have a few Honda shops but the town center consists more importantly of some very good night markets, good restaurants, and some good bars/clubs for relaxing in the evening if thats what your into. there is also a Tesco and a Big C in Rayong for your shopping needs. as well as Tae Phong shopping center.

i also spend a lot of time fishing and doing things outdoors, so if your more of a bar fly it is true you may enjoy BKK

granted the beaches around the city aren't the best, Mae Lam Phung is no more than 15 minutes away, with more good beaches stretching down towards Ban Phe, as well as Mae Phim beyond there. lots of good coastline in that easterly direction. like i said before Pattaya is not far, as well as Chantaburi to the east. Koh Samet is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, which is always a nice getaway - who doesnt like some island time just beyond their front door? i might add it is much less commercialized than any other island ive ever been to in Thailand, aside from Koh Chang though, which is also here on the eastern seaboard, just a bit further down off the coast of Trat.

[kev7161]

Thanks for more replies guys. I'll do some investigating of Rayong. It sounds promising but we'll see.