Job Discussion Forums

Alexander Wright

Hi everyone!

I would love any advice or tips any of you could provide on the best way to get a decent TEFL / school position in Thailand or Laos. I recently moved to Germany from Australia, after resigning from a nice high school position, teaching German and History. I have 14 years teaching experience with adults and teens, and have both the CELTA and a Grad Dip Ed in TESOL. I also have both UK and Australian citizenship, if that were to make any difference.

Anyway, I am having serious second thoughts about my move to Europe, with its crappy pay and insecure freelancing, etc. I'm now 41 and life's too short! I have fallen in love with SE Asia after two lengthy trips to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia recently and am seriously looking at moving there. I realise that it is a bit late for many international schools in Thailand, so what would be the best plan of attack for this time of year?

I am particularly interested in Chiang Mai and northern Thailand. Also, does anyone know much about the teaching situation in Laos? Any help is much appreciated.

Cheers, Alex.

tttompatz · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:25 am Post subject:

Look for a job in one of the EP or bilingual schools to get your feet in the door.
They are looking NOW for mid May starts.

It isn't a dream job but you should have a pay/benefit packet in the 50-60k baht range (OK for the local economy with room to live comfortably and save a bit).

Keep your head low and spend your time networking and looking for that chance to move into a decent international school. When you find it, you will be here, able to interview and ready to make the jump.

You are far LESS likely to find anything in the Chiang Mai area (too many tourists extending their stays (by working in the local language academies for next to nothing) and several TESOL training centers producing new grads every month - flooding the local supply) but there are many opportunities in northern and central/western Thailand as you move away from Chiang Mai.

.

Alexander Wright · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:44 am Post subject:

Thanks tttompatz. I appreciate the advice. Excuse my ignorance, but what do you mean by EP schools?

I have registered with the organisation Mediakids, which place teachers in a range of schools for younger learners and adults, not sure if you know much about them? They advertised on this website.

I had already assumed that Chiang Mai might be a popular place for teachers. I will look at other towns in the north and north east (Isan), would be very happy with Chiang Rai as well but imagine that is also popular with farangs.

Thanks again for any advice.
Cheers, Alex.

tttompatz · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:11 am Post subject:

Alexander Wright · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:23 pm Post subject:

MOD EDIT

They seem a bit slow at responding to my applications, but I guess that is just Thailand. Do you think that it is going to be a big disadvantage not already being in Thailand? I would be willing to just take a leap of faith and fly there at the start of April, if I knew there was a pretty certain chance of getting a job on the ground. What do you think?

Thanks again, Alex.

tttompatz · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:53 pm Post subject:

MOD EDIT
They seem a bit slow at responding to my applications, but I guess that is just Thailand. Do you think that it is going to be a big disadvantage not already being in Thailand? I would be willing to just take a leap of faith and fly there at the start of April, if I knew there was a pretty certain chance of getting a job on the ground. What do you think?

Thanks again, Alex.[/quote]

With your qualifications you have about a 100% chance of finding a job (with a salary of a minimum of 35k baht) if you are here in April. You can probably find something in the 45-60k baht range if you hunt hard and hold out for a decent position and don't take the 1st thing that comes along.

Do be aware that the Thai new year holiday is Apr 13-15 and most (real) schools will have NOBODY in them from the 9th to the 18th.

IF you decide to come on your own ahead of finding a job then you will want to get a 60 day double entry tourist visa. This will effectively give you up to 6 months before you have any worries about visa issues.

You WILL need 21 days left on your visa to change your status from tourist to a non-immi "B" visa (work visa) without the need of a border run to a Thai consulate in a neighboring country and then your school can start the paperwork for your work permit.

.

NigerianWhisper · Joined: 21 Mar 2009 Posts: 176

It's unlikely that you will get replies until you are actually in Thailand. Most schools want a face-to-face interview and quite possibly a demo lesson.

A degree is a usual requirement to enter a Grad Dip Ed program. What degree do you have?

Alexander Wright · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:05 pm Post subject:

I have a Grad Dip Ed in LOTE (German) and TESOL. My degree is a Bachelor of Arts, with a double major in French and Art History. I've been teaching both adults and teens since 1996, in both language schools and 10 years in secondary schools.
I suspected that it might be hard to get schools to respond to applications when not in the country, but thought I'd try anyway. You never know in this age of skype. Otherwise, I may have to just make the decision whether to take the plunge and just fly over in early April before Songkran and take my chances or continue working here in Germany and think about going to Thailand in September for the second semester. Do many schools hire in September?