Job Discussion Forums

[Sonnibarger]

I have been considering moving to TL with my wife... Are there many schools hiring Chinese teachers? I shouldnt have a problem finding a job teaching English... but the wife would like to find a school too...

[PattyFlipper]

There is quite a demand for Chinese language in Thailand and a number of schools employ Mainlanders to teach it. She could try the Rajahbat "Universities".

Of course, she will be paid considerably less and subjected to even worse conditions of employment than you. Thai employers make those in China seem like the epitome of honesty, benevolence, and organization in comparison. Good luck.

[bradley]

I agree. The Rajabhats are a good choice. I used to teach at one and when I was there they switched from having Japanese as the other foreign language to Chinese. The tourist industry for Chinese tourists is booming so there is a great demand for Chinese education.

[Sonnibarger]

thanks for the tips... gonna take a trip for a couple weeks soon... try looking at a few schools

[roguegrafix]

Chinese is a hot language at the moment. My rural uni has employed 2 teachers and are looking at expanding. Before you try the rajabhats, check the government (non-rajabhat) unis. Conditions can be slightly better.

[PattyFlipper]

Rajabhats are government universities, too. Thai government universities have been offering the same cr*ppy salaries - around Bht28,000 (which allegedly includes 8,000 accommodation allowance) regardless of qualifications or experience, for the last 20 years or so. It is not likely to increase this side of Armageddon either. After all, they're actually doing you an enormous favour by allowing you to work for them.

[Pauleddy]

These were originally teacher training colleges. they are all govmt-run. There are about 45 in Thailand.

Quite a few years ago, they were 'converted' to universities, although in terms of academic rigour (if that exists in Thailand) they are on a par with UK low-ranking 'new' universities. I am not from the USA, but I guess that they would be something like technical universities or community colleges--although there is maybe no direct equivalent.

Each city or major town has a Rajabhat. Sometimes, the city will have a "high-end university" and also, downtown, a Raj. Large cities in the boonies may have only a Raj, and then some "commercial colleges" which teach basics of commerce and even office admin stuff--these are lower down the pecking order.

Kids who are maybe not top-drawer would tend to go to the Raj. Status and position mean a lot here in Thailand, and if you are a well-heeled family, you may be able to get the kid into the top places (Chula, Mahidol etc.) even if he is not too bright. Money talks here. Outside of BKK, Chiang Mai has a top uni, and Khon Kaen is pretty OK, but only Chula in BKK gets into the world top 500 places, depending on the chart you read.

There are all kinds of stunts pulled to get kids into a top place. This includes getting reserved places in the grade schools and high schools (sometimes called Triam Udoms or Demonstration Schools) associated with the place. I know of parents who have taken office jobs in these schools to ensure a place later. There are rumours of money paid and bribes.

Conversely, some local country kids are bright, but because of aspirational or status stuff, they end up in the Raj. In Bangkok, there are also a number of Rajs. About 4 years ago, I attended an interview in a "better" one, but turned the job down due to a better offer.

Even top places like Chula pay about 28,000, but some of these top places-so to speak-pay very good overtime. I know teachers at one such place who earn 100,000b a month, some months.

There are some good Rajs but there are some lousy ones---in terms of academic standards and "brightness". Now, I know that sounds patronising, but it's tough teaching dim kids anywhere. But, the raj kids are humbler and nicer.

As a very general comment, standards are "lower" here than the USA or Europe. This is a result of a number of factors, incl. the emphasis on rote-learning and the lack of meritocracy (rich dumb kids are favoured etc). In the 90s, I taught at a non-premier London university...the standards here are "lower" at the premier places. If I may be allowed to make a crude comparison.

I teach at one of the "top" places now, and even there it can be hard work. The only up-side of the Rajs, if the kids are hard work, is that they are more grateful and sometimes motivated. Chula and Mahidol kids tend to be richer and more stuck up, with Armani shirts and Benzes. Horrible.

Private unis in Thailand pay more, as do International Schools (high schools). But, the Rajs and Gvment places, and even the top places, don't make you clock in, usually. Some private schools make you stay all day. In general, gvment high schools do too.

There is certainly a trend towards more teaching of Chinese now. However, it's not huge. English is still the big thing, and that won't change.
Those people who say that "Mandarin will be bigger in 30 yrs" are wrong. Because of internet, publishing, Hollywood, aviation, science and evrythg else, English is not about to suffer. Even the FRENCH have now surrendered and started to increase English classes in grade and high schools....something which they always hated to do.

Re the salary thing--yes, it's about 19,000 plus 9000 accom. It creeps up by about 200b a year---about 5 dollars a year. But, if you do work at a major uni, you do get the prestige thrown in. I get people bowing to me and stuff, but as an old socialist I don't like that!

P