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GoHogz
Joined: 11 Dec 2010
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:54 am Post subject: interested in teaching in Thailand |
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| Hey everyone, first of all I am new to the board. I am currently working in Bangkok with a voluntary organization doing some teaching. I graduated from my university in 2009 with a bachelor's in primary education and came over here last October. As I have worked here, I have really fell in love with this place and the people. I have a big interest in possibly teaching here in the future. I wanted to get some thoughts from you guys.. I have this degree, lots of experience with kids, experience teaching some in Thailand on top of being in the culture. What sort of job could I land? I would be looking for a decent salary considering I would be sending some money back home towards my student loans. The main thing is I want to teach primary age. I am open to different kinds of schools. Any ideas you guys have about what kind of jobs I could land or any specific schools. Oh and if it helps, I am a 24 year old male from the states. Thanks! |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:45 am Post subject: Re: interested in teaching in Thailand |
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| GoHogz wrote: |
| Hey everyone, first of all I am new to the board. I am currently working in Bangkok with a voluntary organization doing some teaching. I graduated from my university in 2009 with a bachelor's in primary education and came over here last October. As I have worked here, I have really fell in love with this place and the people. I have a big interest in possibly teaching here in the future. I wanted to get some thoughts from you guys.. I have this degree, lots of experience with kids, experience teaching some in Thailand on top of being in the culture. What sort of job could I land? I would be looking for a decent salary considering I would be sending some money back home towards my student loans. The main thing is I want to teach primary age. I am open to different kinds of schools. Any ideas you guys have about what kind of jobs I could land or any specific schools. Oh and if it helps, I am a 24 year old male from the states. Thanks! |
B.Ed (but no home country licensing) = go to work in a government school or private school (not a language academy).
If you are outside the big mango (don't drink a lot and don't chase the ladies too much) you should be able to live comfortably on the 35-40k that you will get as a wage and still manage to send 25-40% of it home to pay down your student loans.
Get your 2 years of classroom time under your belt and look for better placements in private bilingual schools or midrange international schools.
The other option would be to look at some place like Korea that doesn't require the classroom time (your B.Ed will do) to land a well paid job in the US$1800-2000/mo.
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GoHogz
Joined: 11 Dec 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Well I have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education w/ teacher's licensing. I have a teacher's license certificate given to me from my state when I graduated although I havn't used it yet, does this change anything from what you previous stated? I have been here a year now and have been teaching University students in tutoring and some classroom settings as well as working at an English center a couple nights every week volunteering to teach English of all ages. I will be doing this for another 10 months or so before I might go for landing a teaching job in a school, so I'll have some teaching under my belt but it may not matter since it hasn't been teaching 3rd graders for 2 years. Sorry I wasn't more specific. Would teaching in an international school be an option? Thanks for the info, it helps! |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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| GoHogz wrote: |
| Well I have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education w/ teacher's licensing. I have a teacher's license certificate given to me from my state when I graduated although I havn't used it yet, does this change anything from what you previous stated? I have been here a year now and have been teaching University students in tutoring and some classroom settings as well as working at an English center a couple nights every week volunteering to teach English of all ages. I will be doing this for another 10 months or so before I might go for landing a teaching job in a school, so I'll have some teaching under my belt but it may not matter since it hasn't been teaching 3rd graders for 2 years. Sorry I wasn't more specific. Would teaching in an international school be an option? Thanks for the info, it helps! |
Home country licensing as a teacher + 2 years of verifiable classroom experience is the usual minimum for most international or bilingual schools. Do you have it?
IF yes then look for mid to high end bilingual and/or international schools.
IF no then you need to get your two years in the classroom under your belt. Private schools (m-f/days; not language academies) or a government school will work.
Your time as a "tutor" and the informal work won't count.
Unless your time as a university teacher was considered full time and you had the work-permit to go with it - it won't count.
Your teaching time in a language academy won't usually be considered either.
Your volunteer time MAY be considered (depending on the nature of the work).
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GoHogz
Joined: 11 Dec 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:59 am Post subject: |
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| ok thanks for this information. I guess my main concern is landing a decent primary position job that will allow me to pay students loans back home as well. So you think I'm qualified for the 40-60k range since I don't technically have that primary school teaching experience yet? I think this would allow me to live fairly comfortably while paying off loans right? I'll consider other places, but I'm pretty set on Thailand.. I know I'll be teaching in the wrong place if I'm looking to make a lot of money, I just want to be able to live here somewhat comfortably, maybe light traveling and eating out every once in awhile (not pork on a stick). I am not into the crazy night life so that won't be swallowing my wallet. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:40 am Post subject: |
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| GoHogz wrote: |
| ok thanks for this information. I guess my main concern is landing a decent primary position job that will allow me to pay students loans back home as well. So you think I'm qualified for the 40-60k range since I don't technically have that primary school teaching experience yet? I think this would allow me to live fairly comfortably while paying off loans right? I'll consider other places, but I'm pretty set on Thailand.. I know I'll be teaching in the wrong place if I'm looking to make a lot of money, I just want to be able to live here somewhat comfortably, maybe light traveling and eating out every once in awhile (not pork on a stick). I am not into the crazy night life so that won't be swallowing my wallet. |
I don't know what your expected expenditures are but I live with my family (wife and daughter) about 90km outside of BKK.
We have a nice, 3 bedroom/2 bathroom house (with mod cons) and our housing expenses run about 5000-6000 baht per month (rent, utilities, cable and internet). We spend b7000 per term for our daughter in a private school.
We spend (as a family) about 10k on food and another 5k on dining out and entertainment. (at 500 baht you can get a lot of large, super supreme pizzas for 5k).
Even on a government wage of 30-35k you can bank about 30% of your salary if you don't spend every night in the bottle. Not sure how much your loan payments are but outside of BKK you should be able to pay down US$300-400 per month without too much stress.
If you are in BKK it gets a bit tougher since your housing costs will eat up about 30-40% of your budget before food and entertainment.
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GoHogz
Joined: 11 Dec 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:04 am Post subject: |
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| ok this helps, but wouldn't my bachelor's in education + teaching certificate/license I got upon graduation (passing praxis 1 and 2 + student teaching my last semester, but have not used it to teach in the states yet) land me a job paying better than 35,000- 40,000? If not, then it sounds like I would still survive on that, but if you or anyone else figure a different salary I would be able to get, I'd love to hear thoughts. Wouldn't 50-60,000 be possible? Thanks again, I appreciate the advice! |
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GoHogz
Joined: 11 Dec 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:07 am Post subject: |
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| I guess I say this because aren't people getting jobs here paying 30-40,000 on just certificates or degrees not related to education? |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:14 am Post subject: |
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| GoHogz wrote: |
| I guess I say this because aren't people getting jobs here paying 30-40,000 on just certificates or degrees not related to education? |
If you can find one, fill your boots.
Truth be told, without verifiable classroom experience (2 or more years of it) you are no better than any other Joe with a degree and TESOL jumping on a plane and landing in the LOS.
The paper doesn't make the teacher - the classroom time does.
Bottom line:
You may find a university position with shorter teaching hours (but the gross monthly pay won't bet any better until you get your MA/PhD.).
You may find a job with a private school that MAY pay more for an unproven newbie but it is unlikely until you have proven yourself in the classroom.
Get that 2 years in the classroom under your belt and lots of (better paying) doors will open up for you. Ya gotta pay the dues to get into the club. There is no shortcut to experience.
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Bangkok Hound
Joined: 28 Oct 2006
Posts: 66
Location: Bangkok
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 11:03 am Post subject: |
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| GoHogz, you should have no problem finding a job paying over 40,000 a month. You have an education degree and a U.S. teacher's license. That's gold. You lack experience, but I think all but the top international schools would hire you. There are many private, bilingual schools and lower tier int'l schools that would hire you in a second. |
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GoHogz
Joined: 11 Dec 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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thanks Hound! If anyone else has advice, bring it! I'm finding this very helpful  |
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Steinmann
Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Posts: 255
Location: In the frozen north
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| Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 7:09 am Post subject: |
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| Bangkok Hound wrote: |
| You have an education degree and a U.S. teacher's license. That's gold. |
I'm liking this. |
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MaiPenRai
Joined: 17 Jan 2006
Posts: 390
Location: BKK
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 8:39 am Post subject: |
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Without minimum 2 years experience, dont expect to get on at the Top Tier Int schools. The top schools in Thailand receive 1000's of applications for jobs every year. You have to know someone or be in the right place at the right time. Your B.Ed + licence will get you into many of the mid-tier private and int schools where you should be able to make 40,000-60,000 to start. Some of these places will prefer exp but will hire the right person if the interview goes well and the job is a good fit.
Best of luck. |
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