Job Discussion Forums

[saj88]

Hi
I have been looking into the many options of teaching in Thailand, and was just wondering if anyone has heard anything about 'Gap Year Thailand'? They set up voluntary teaching positions in several locations around Thailand, so just wanted to see if anyone had heard anything about them as I'm aware of the many 'scam' companies!
Thanks

[tttompatz]

[MaiPenRai]

Absolutely NO need to pay anybody to get a job in Thailand teaching EFL. These are NOT scams as many will say, they are simply taking advantage of the fact that people like yourself dont know any better. They know that you think that a company in the UK, US, Can, etc. is much more reliable than one in Thailand. Here is what they offer based on their website:

A pre-departure week-end in UK, including:

Hotel accommodation (free of charge)
-not necessary

Meals in a Thai restaurant (free of charge)
-wait till you get to Thailand and eat the real thing

An introduction to Thai culture; and a few words of Thai (with a Thai student who is currently studying in UK)
-Thai language will make no sense until you get here. Learning a few words before you leave will be pointless. Why learn THai culture in a UK hotel when you can just come to Thailand.

A CD on Thai language for you to keep
-CD not required when you will soon be surrounded by THai speakers and if you work in a school there will be plenty of students and teachers willing to help you with the language (much more useful than a CD)

A Thai language phrase book for you to keep
-phrase books are useless. Never met someone who used one that was successful in speaking the language.

A Thai SIM card for your mobile phone
-costs about $3 or 2 pounds once in Thailand. You can buy them absolutely everywhere.

A letter to the Thai Consulate to organize your visa
-no need. anyone can get a THai tourist visa (multiple entry if you want)before coming which will give them plenty of time to find work. OR you can go through a couple of Thai placement agencies that will get you a similar letter.

An introduction to teaching English (by a specialist and experienced teacher of English as a Foreign Language)
-if you are not going to take a full one month TEFL course than a day or 2 with some "specialist" is not going to be that beneficial. If you really want to know the ropes before starting than take a real TEFL course. CELTA being the most recognized worldwide. A less expensive route would be to buy or google Harmer's "How to Teach English" or Scrivener's "Learning Teaching".

A good opportunity for you to meet other volunteers who will be in Thailand at the same time as you, and who will probably also be on the same orientation programme on your arrival in Thailand
-If you go with one of the few Thai based companies that DONT CHARGE you for the job, then you will likely meet plenty of teachers in the same situation once you arrive. The bigger placement agencies usually have up to 100 new teachers every semester.



An orientation week on arrival in Thailand, including:

Hotel accommodation (free of charge)
-the THai based agencies that DONT CHARGE, also offer free accomm during their training courses.

All meals (free of charge)
- Average THai meal costs about 1 pound.

Visits to schools � to see Thai schools "in general" and English as a Foreign Language classes
-do it yourself or just wait till you get to your school. If you have already made the decision to teach in Thailand than seeing a couple schools before you start will not be that useful. Seeing a couple of EFL classes would be useful if they are taught effectively. Perhaps Youtube could help with that.

�Survive and enjoy Thai� language sessions
-once again, basic Thai is easy to learn on your own and if you are IN Thailand you will learn much more by being out in the world than learning in some hotel conference room.

Further briefing on Thailand and Thai culture
- already in Thailand, go and experience the culture yourself. A quick google search will bring up any really important things that you should avoid (like the monarchy).

Further development of your skills in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (taught by staff of one of the Thai universities)
-Thai Universities are a joke for the most part. I know people (Thai and foreign) who teach in Thai Unis and people (Thai and foreign) who have studied in Thai Unis. Some of the International Programs aside (those that bring in real Uni profs from US,UK,Can,etc.), most Thai Unis are not well respected outside of Thailand or SE Asia. Not trying to demean, its simply the truth.

Tourist visits, for example to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keo
-Christ. who would want to take a group tour of these places. Just go by yourself, much more enjoyable and easy to find and navigate.

On-going support and help-line contact from out Programme Manger in Thailand, Dr Chawalert, and other members of our team (see the "Our Team" page).
-MEH!

On-going support and help-line contact on teaching, if and when needed, from staff of the Education Faculty of the local Rajabhat University (the teacher training university).
-Once again, Rajabhats are basically Community Colleges or Tech schools. They are worse than Thai Unis. Any training from them will probably leave you worse than now.

Free accommodation - usually with a family homestay; in some schools or universities a teachers' house may be available. Usually, breakfast and dinner with the homestay family and lunch at school.
-most of the other Thai based agencies that DONT CHARGE also provide accommodations. "A teachers house" often means a very basic THai style house ON THE campus of the school. YOU DO NOT WANT THIS. You will have ZERO privacy. Homestays sound neat now but you have no idea what you may get. It could be a great family but it could also be a horrible family. You will have very little privacy either way. If you are outgoing and friendly, you will be invited to numerous family outings and dinners just by being a teacher in a school. You will get much the same experience as you would in a homestay WITH the privacy.


For your future Thai friends and their families

They need you.
-yes and thats why they get government money to HIRE and PAY native English speaking teachers

Thailand is 9th out of 10 countries in South East Asia for English language ability � so there�s a particular need for help there.
-true

The schools in which we work need volunteers like you to help.
-once again, the government gives schools money to HIRE and PAY foreign teachers

For you

It�s a fantastic place.
-thanks for that useful bit of info.

Thailand is not known as the �Land of Smiles� for nothing. The people are as friendly as you can meet anywhere.
-once you are here for a year or more, you will learn a whole lot more about that "Thai smile".

Teaching in this situation (with children who are eager to learn and value education; and without the discipline problems which are found in some UK schools) is a very rewarding experience.
-WOW! WOW! WOW! I have to call BULLSH*T on this one. Thai students are no more motivated to learn English than UK students are to learn Arabic. In fact ask any teacher here for more than a few months and they will tell you that the majority of THai students lack any kind of motivation (due to many socio-economic issues). THAILAND DOES NOT VALUE EDUCATION for the poor. They spend a lot of money on it, but THAILAND DOES NOT VALUE EDUCATION for the poor. (and by Thailand, I mean the majority of their government). You will have plenty of discipline issues in Thai schools and YES it probably will be rewarding in the end. YOU JUST DONT NEED TO PAY FOR THAT EXPERIENCE.


You�ll be known by all around � and known as someone who is there to help the children (and therefore their families) as a volunteer (not someone there simply to earn money). You�ll be surprised how many people want to thank you � by word, by very modest gifts, or simply by a smile.
-you will be known all around whenever you walk into a rural THai town. Dont need to pay for this. In fact most people will respect you more as a teacher if you are getting paid. As a volunteer they will think you are a nice guy/gal but you wont get the same respect as you would as a paid teacher. YOu will get the gifts regardless of being a volunteer or not. If you are a friendly outgoing person who takes a genuine interest in the students, the town, the culture and the language than you will be liked by most in whatever town/school you work at.

You�ll get an understanding of another culture and get to know Thai people in a way which is simply not possible for ordinary tourists.
-no different than if you were working and getting PAID and NOT Paying for this experience.


Costs

The cost of the programme is �980 (considerably less than many providers of gap year programmes)
-HOLY CRAP! Thats ridiculous. With that money you would be much better off taking a TEFL course that offers a placement for you. OR better yet, use that money for your visa, flight and travel costs for the first week or 2.

The price doesn't increase if you stay for longer (the longer you stay, the more help you are to the school, so we reflect that by keeping the price fixed and continuing to provide accommodation free of charge for the duration of your stay)
-once again, the schools get government money to hire foreign teachers, so the longer you stay, the more money someone is pocketing.

What's included?

Pre-departure week-end in UK (including accommodation, tuition and meals)
-once again, this is not necessary nor will it be that useful in the long run.

Orientation programme on arrival in Thailand (including accommodation, meals, visits, etc)
-same service provided by many of the larger Thai based placement agencies FOR FREE.

A Thai SIM Card
-$3 or 2 pounds and easily available once in THailand.

Travel from Bangkok to your school or university
-probably worth about 7-15 pounds.

Support and help-line from the local Rajabhat University
-same service offered FREE by most of the larger placement agencies

Support from our Programme Manager, Dr Chawalert and other members of our team
-MEH!

FREE accommodation in Thailand (many providers of gap year programmes charge extra for accommodation)
-Sure and many placement agencies dont CHARGE you for the "experience" in the first place.


By "volunteering" as a EFL teacher in Thailand, you are basically making things more difficult for the foreign teachers who are already here or want to come here and trying to earn a living. Some of these people have Thai wives and families. This "volunteering" keeps salaries and benefits low for foreign teachers which should not be the case and most Thai schools get more than enough government money to HIRE AND PAY foreign teachers. In fact recent news states that this amount will be increasing in the near future.

I'm not doubting the sincerity of any of the people involved with this program but the fact remains that they are charging people for something that most people get paid to do. Once again, this sets the wrong message and tone for language education in general.

What is required is properly trained teachers paid proper salaries to work in Thai schools with adequate resources with smaller class sizes and a higher frequency of classes. These teachers can be foreign or Thai as long as the settings and circumstances listed above are changed. There are many other problems plaguing the Thai education system that I dont need to get into know.

You will get many of the same experiences by working with a Thai based placement agency, where many of the placement schools are also in smaller, more rural communities. Once you are here, you will be able to find volunteer opportunities that will not charge you money or at least charge a hell of a lot less than 1000 pounds.

2 of the larger placement agencies in Thailand that can offer you a similar experience while getting paid much deserved salary are Mediakids and AYC.

[therock]

[tttompatz]

[therock]

But where do you find these positions? All the positions I see advertised offer 35k for 40 hours a week, maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places.

[tttompatz]

[MaiPenRai]

[tttompatz]

[MaiPenRai]