Thread: Advice on Teaching

Hi all .

This is my first post .

This has probably been done on other threads but if somebody would be good enough to advise me on the following .

My background is that I'm a practising Solicitor in Ireland , with a UK Degree in Law , would be interested in teaching in Thailand , but have no experience . I also do not speak any Thai.

Firstly , I have noticed a number of different TEFL courses on this message board and note there is a "CELTA Course" run in Dublin .
Would it be advisable to do the course in Dublin or to attend a similar /alternative couse in Thailand. I also note a " TESOL Course " in Thailand which includes a number of hours learning basic Thai.

Secondly , what are the job opportunities and prospects , and what sort of income could I reasonably expect ?

Finally , and I'll probably start a new thread on this one , I've noticed that some of the members on this message board have a legal background . If one of them or anybody else for that matter could advise if there are any job opening's for someone with my background .

Thanks

For sure there are some promising opportunities for someone with your background.

I don't know if there's any opportunities for TEFL in a legal context.

After that, you're looking at entry level TEFL gigs. 30Kish salary. I think there's always openings for these kinds of jobs for obvious reasons. If you're thinking about dabbling as a TEFLer for a couple of years, these jobs might suffice. Long term it doesn't make any sense unless you've got other incomes.

IME the better jobs are pretty tight now. Folks are staying put. In tough times, if you have a good job, you want to keep it.

Not being a grammar nazi here, and maybe one of the English language bods can set me straight, but, just in the spirit of curiosity, should that not be "Advice on teaching" rather than "Advise on Teaching"? (as well as the usage in the body of the post).

Slow day here mainly.

Originally Posted by Bexar County Stud

After that, you're looking at entry level TEFL gigs. 30Kish salary.

I think someone better point out when you say 30K, you mean thai baht, monthly.

Just in case he thought you was taking Euros or Irish Pounds...

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Just in case he thought you was taking Euros or Irish Pounds...

Ireland are on the Euro too KW.

Thanks for all the helpful replies . Much appreciated .

Originally Posted by Mr Quickly

Thanks for all the helpful replies . Much appreciated .

have you tried doing a search for info?

you're not the very first person to ever think about moving to thailand and start teaching....

I've checked other sites mentioned on this forum , but I suppose they're all going to sell themselves as best they can .

Again , thanks to all who replied .

Originally Posted by Mr Quickly

I've checked other sites mentioned on this forum , but I suppose they're all going to sell themselves as best they can . Again , thanks to all who replied .

OK usual course of action is to sell your house, run up all your credit cards, buy a one way ticket.

TEFL course in thailand one week about 200 bucks

turn up for an interview at some crappy school.

probably start teaching that afternoon,

get drunk every nite. try to avoid buying a slapper a house too soon.

another success story.

OK, I know nowt about teaching, but with a degree in law and plenty of experience, wouldn't OP be a little better off than your average TEFLer? Possibly international schools or uni? No?

Uni perhaps,

International schools do not hire someone just because they are a lawyer or doctor. Those jobs do not have much to do with education.

Would jobs at a university pay any better ?

I knew a bloke who worked at International School at the end of Suk Soi 15 who was on 100k a month plus other benefits, was some years back. He never even had a degree. Often said that it depends if they like you or not at interview.

Originally Posted by crazy dog

I knew a bloke who worked at International School at the end of Suk Soi 15 who was on 100k a month plus other benefits, was some years back.

That would be NIST.

Originally Posted by crazy dog

He never even had a degree. Often said that it depends if they like you or not at interview.

Unusual, I though all their teachers were properly qualified, but it happens at times that they need you and your right there.

Some of the top British schools which offer A-level law courses might be interested. Often times with this type of course the schools will overlook the teaching certification. However, I have seen this only happen twice in the last several years.

Originally Posted by Mr Quickly

Would jobs at a university pay any better ?

No, they pay less than secondary schools - International schools are the way forward here if you wanna make fairly decent cash. But I say this as a professional teacher - the [at][at][at][at] in uni is tremendous.

Originally Posted by somtamslap

But I say this as a professional teacher - the [at][at][at][at] in uni is tremendous.

excellent, confirm the stereotype.

With a law degree + working experience from home I should think that many other (better) avenues are possibly open, it should not be to difficult for you to get to grips with a few areas of Thai law, many expats seems to be in constant need of solicitor assistance here in LOS so Law offices catering for expats might be a good place to look.

It's not to hot in the real estate business right now but that could be an area to look at, marriage, divorce hot all the time, set up of small businesses aso.

I would think that quite a few company's would look favourably at someone with your background.

Anyway welcome to the board

Very helpful guys . You've given me some ideas of the areas to look at . I'm going to be in Thailand in July or August and will make enquiries as per your suggestions , maybe I'll be able to organise a meeting of some sort .
Thanks again .

I'm a retired American lawyer with an American law degree, and I had absolutely no problem whatsoever finding a teaching job in Thailand in fact the job found me. Went to one of the TEFL schools in Pattaya, the one off Soi 53 on the dark side, After I graduated they placed me in a government school about 40 km away. This is my 3rd year teaching at that same school. The down side is money; that's not why I do it, I have enough already to live here well, but I needed and wanted something to do, was climbing the walls with boredon. The pay is only 22,000 baht a month, which is twice what the Thai teachers make and I made as much in 2 days at home as I make in a month here, but this is the most fun job I've ever had. Also, when you work 5 days a week here you spend much less money than when you are not working and bored. Thai children are very polite, respectful and charming, and many of them are quite motivated students...(we call most of them the girls). Some things are the same in all schools. I've been lucky enough to find a school very free of the kind of internal politics that can ruin a teaching experience. They treat me very well and I've really enjoyed it, but the pay is definitely not the motivation.
I never hated anything in my life as much as practicing law, (could not wash the sleeze off myself at the end of the day) so this lifestyle suits me quite well. Good luck to you, hope this helps.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Not being a grammar nazi here, and maybe one of the English language bods can set me straight, but, just in the spirit of curiosity, should that not be "Advice on teaching" rather than "Advise on Teaching"? (as well as the usage in the body of the post).

Slow day here mainly.

It's an imperative. He wants to be advised. He doesn't have advice.

And, yes, you're trying to be a grammar Nazi. Better luck next time.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

excellent, confirm the stereotype.

Just bowing down to your blinkered view of anyone that doesn't lead your obviously, exceptionally, successful career... Yer focking boring, mate.

Originally Posted by BobR

I. The pay is only 22,000 baht a month, which is twice what the Thai teachers make

True but I never heard of anyone making such a small amount, I know people without degrees or TEFL making more than 30.000 and with over 50,000. I know you don't do it for the money but even so does seem a little bit on the low side.

Originally Posted by BugginOut

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Not being a grammar nazi here, and maybe one of the English language bods can set me straight, but, just in the spirit of curiosity, should that not be "Advice on teaching" rather than "Advise on Teaching"? (as well as the usage in the body of the post).

Slow day here mainly.

It's an imperative. He wants to be advised. He doesn't have advice.

And, yes, you're trying to be a grammar Nazi. Better luck next time.

Disagree. The post was soliciting information, not giving it.

As to the grammar nazi bit, well, its always nice to see if all those "English teachers" and wannabe "English teachers" can cut the mustard. In this case clearly not.