Job Discussion Forums

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

I see the riff raff as they say. Half-arsched teachers coming and going, leaving a stinking mark of transience, evanescence, frivolity, and just plain aimlessness. Just wanting to travel and pull a runner the moment it gets tough. Creating a bad reputation for the rest of the teachers who try to do the best they can.

Given this and more, I see why countries would require more and more from foreign teachers. A tefl or other cert, live classroom hours, a BA minimum, etc. all go to weed out atleast some of the fly-by-nighters.

But to me, IMHO, requiring a Thai culture course or whatever the frick its called just is a turn-off and pushes over the limit of what I wouldn't mind doing to get a job there. Does anyone else agree?

MaiPenRai · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 390 Location: BKK

The Thai culture course is a cash cow, plain and simple. Unquestioned nationalism + one of the worst educational syetems in Asia = crap like the Thai culture course.

The real farce is people who are actually taking the TCT courses to become "certified" teachers in Thailand. What a crock this is. Why anyone would want to become "certified" to teach a country like Thailand is beyond me.

I agree that it is good that Thailand has started to have higher expectations of foreign teachers, at least on paper. Unfortunately like many things here, it has been poorly organized and implemented as well as plagued with corruption and confusion.

Anyone thinking of teaching here long term should consider getting a PGCE or certification from their home country to bypass a lot of this crap. THose here for 2 years or less can usually just postpone the TCT course.

Personally, I have yet to take the Thai culture course and have not had a problem getting my work permit or visa extension...yet

Pauleddy · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 295 Location: The Big Mango

MPR 100% right. total cash cow and a complete farce.

Uni teachers/academics don't seem to need it. I work p-t at uni and it is not req.

A high school teacher pal went on one. It was a 4-day w/e, Fri to Mon. Daft--demonstrations of Thai dance and other such ###.

Somebody somewhere came up with the idea of making a buck. I heard of one w-e which cost 12,000b mandatory!

Another nail in the coffin.

Eddy

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

good to see others agree. really, you can postpone your tcfarce 2 years?

PattyFlipper · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 572

laconic · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:23 am Post subject:

Contrary to the impression one might get from reading what is written above, there are teaching positions in Thailand for qualified (QTS) teachers at the overseas accredited international schools that pay very well and provide excellent benefits including 4 months or more vacation time. Teaching in Thailand can be a very good experience if you are a professionally qualified teacher employed at an internationally certified institution.

The Thai culture course was hosted at my school and provided free of charge to all teachers at the school including some who have been here for many years.

Many of us enjoyed it and some of us actually left the course knowing more about Thailand and Thais than we had anticipated would be the case.

The course is certainly nothing to fear and something to be enjoyed and both totally dependent upon the mindset of the teacher beginning the course.

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

well that sounds alot better.