Korean Job Discussion Forums

The Dude from Canada · Joined: 19 Feb 2007

In Thailand I happened to meet some real English teachers. These guys and girls (mostly guys) teach only a few hours a day, live well, and get paid a fortune in Thai currency. When I talked with them, they were all too familiar with the foreign teachers coming from Korea. Basically, with their backpacks, sunglasses, sandals, and ticket back to korea all in hand. They said that these foreigners from schools in korea, and japan as well, are an annoying lot because they make themselves look like travellers, but complain because they can't get the same level of treatment and amenities they get in korea and japan.
Are foreigners in Korea really unable to cope with life anywhere outside of Korea?

plutodog18 · Joined: 01 Feb 2007

Well now I am curious.

Is housing provided as part of the job in Thailand? If so, are they comfortable with modern conveniences (appliances, a/c, furniture, etc?)

Is airfare and year end bonus included? How about medical insurance and pension?

Finally it is believed (depending on salary and budgeting) you can save $12,000 to $20,000/year in Korea. Is it similar in Thailand?

I am not being smart, I am really trying to find out.

Thanks.

Hapkido-In · Joined: 24 Jun 2006

I went to Thailand recently. Had no problems at all. I actually had a great time. Dunno what those 'real' teachers you were talking to were on about.

peppermint · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:00 pm Post subject:

I met lots of English teachers last year when I was in Thailand- lots of volunteers with the Burmese refugees, and others teaching in public schools there. From what they said it didn't sound nearly so cushy. Mind you, this was well off the tourist track and in a very poor region of the country

hubba bubba · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

tiger fancini · Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Location: Testicles for Eyes

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

techno_the_cat · Joined: 30 Aug 2006

The Dude from Canada,

I worked in Thailand. I never met any expat teachers there that expressed an opinion like that. Work a few hours a day for a fortune?????? I worked harder in Thailand then I did in Korea by a long way. Man, I know thai weed is nice, but seriously mate, you need to get off it.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Yes, Thai teachers, both native and foreign, have such a stellar reputation, don't they? And the ex-pat community in general in Thailand must be the most respectable in all of Asia, no doubt. They certainly wouldn't want those of us who have set up shop in Korea coming down to soil their glowing reputation.

butlerian · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Location: Korea

Working in a standard school in Thailand is just like working in a public school in Korea in many ways, although at least in Thailand they don't try to take away your vacation time. Average pay is between 30-40,000 baht, including free (basic) accommodation, which is plenty for living and some travelling, but obviously you can't expect to save as much as you would do in Korea. There are also many more temptations to spend money in Thailand that there aren't in Korea.

Colorado · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:31 pm Post subject:

I had it pretty good teaching in northeast Thailand, free 4-room apartment for the wife and I at a boarding school, free lunch and laundry as well. Salary was 25,000 baht, about US600, a month, enough to live well month to month, but hard to save anything beyond that.
The school is always looking to hire native speakers if anyone's interested.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

rawiri · Joined: 01 Jun 2003 Location: Lovely day for a fire drill.

The dude from canada is so off the mark it isn't funny. Thailand is the dumping ground of Asia in terms of expats, heaps of REALLY shady characters on the run from something willing to fork out 300 dollars for a fake TESOL certificate and work for peanuts ( well peanuts being booze and 500 bht. shorttime hookers). You don't need a degree to teach in thailand, they take anyone with a TESOL, hence the amount of dodgy types. I'd love to teach there, korea can't compare on so many levels to thailand, but as things are the moneys all in korea.

brento1138 · Joined: 17 Nov 2004

I don't know about Thailand, but I couldn't believe what I heard about Cambodia. Apparently there are some English teachers there raking in $2000 US per month. And I use that term "raking in" since it is in fact Cambodia, and you can live VERY well on that kind of money there. Are they "real" teachers? I believe they're no different from us! I've met others in Cambodia who were just "volunteer" teachers who don't get paid. But the paid ones there do exist, must be a small bunch though...