Thread: Any chance for getting a teaching job for non native speaker in Thailand?

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by blackgang

Better to speak American English

True. It's dumbed down so it is easier for people to learn.

a great reaction AGAIN

Originally Posted by altar51

Dear forum members,
I am 23, originally polish, although have been living in London for last couple of years. I spent 3 months backpacking in Thailand and I absolutely love the place!

As I mentioned in the title, I would like to know what is a realistic chance for getting a teaching job in Thailand, if let’s say, I obtained bachelor's degree in English philology and TEFL course?

I don’t mind to work in smaller town and certainly I am aware that my earnings would never reach your level, but after all, if I wanted money, I would simply stay in Europe.

I'm sure that you can find work here. I have taught English here for almost 3 years. There are quite a few non-native English speaking teachers at the school that I that I teach at. They have to pass an English test but many are non-native English speakers.

Originally Posted by altar51

Dear forum members,
I am 23, originally polish, although have been living in London for last couple of years. I spent 3 months backpacking in Thailand and I absolutely love the place!

As I mentioned in the title, I would like to know what is a realistic chance for getting a teaching job in Thailand, if let’s say, I obtained bachelor's degree in English philology and TEFL course?

I don’t mind to work in smaller town and certainly I am aware that my earnings would never reach your level, but after all, if I wanted money, I would simply stay in Europe.

Go to the USA. Drive a cab in NYC. Learn to speak American English. That's what people want to hear. American accents get the best jobs. Australians, Kiwis and poms are virtually unemployable or just get the shit jobs. Elvis lives.

You won't learn to speak American English driving a cab in NYC. You might learn Puerto Rican Spanish, Ebonics, Brooklynese:Burgermilk (your order for a Hamburger and a Chocolate Shake. Best get a job driving a cab in Salt Lake City or Boise, Idaho. I talked to a few teachers in Chiang Mai and they do not like Irish or Aus English...a few of them prefer British English.

The money here isn't that good unless you work at an international school. If you want to earn good money, go to Japan or Korea and spend your holidays here. You could work in Korea for a year and save enough for a 1 year break in Thailand. I lived in both Korea and Japan - stayed in Japan 5 years and made a load of money.

What peter says is true, however you can earn a lot more if take privates, and you have a good reputation. There are plenty of teachers in Phuket and Bangkok earning 2000USD per month between language schools and private lessons. Language schools only paying 10USD per hr, Privates paying 15-20.

Yes you probably can get a job teaching English in Thailand. I doublt however the deciding point will be how well you speak English...from your original post it seems your English is more than adequate to me to be a teacher here. But what will probably get you an offer of a job is two main things. They are:
1. Your qualifications- if they are good enough and can be verified it will be a big plus in your favor. (NEVER fake your real qualifications. It's a sucker's bet that you can't win in the long run).
2. What can YOU do for the school that hires you? Many applicants seem to forget that they are being judged as much for what skills they can provide for the school (at a price/salary that the school can afford) as any other skill they bring to the table.
Don't forget #2...far to many applicants seem to only consider what the school can do for them...they don't consider the fact that the school is also judging them as to what they will bring of value to the school for the cost of hiring them.
Also get your head around this fact...LIVING (long term) in Thailand is NOT THE SAME AS VISITING for 3 or even 6 months. You WILL (most likely) get bored and disillusioned at some point when living in Thailand long-term. You probably already know that, but just think about it before you get yourself dug in so deeply that you can't get out of the hole.
(Been there, done that).

Originally Posted by EssEffBee

If somebody asked me, "What would you wish upon your worst enemy?" My reply would be;
1] to live in america.
2] to speak american (which is not English) with that dreadful american accent.
3] to drive a 'yank tank' forever.

Funny most of us American's would agree with these sentiments!

Back to the, ahem, topic....

Yes, a non-native speaker can teach English here. There's a Dutch fellow here in our town who makes a boatload of money teaching private English lessons to uni students. Of course, his accent is so thick, I can't even associate with him, because I can't understand him.

And then, I teach with two non-native English speakers in our English department--Filipinos. Both with definite accents, but no where near my Dutch friend's thick tongue.

Originally Posted by EssEffBee

For christ' s sake, don't speak that american

crap!!! (I purposely left the 'a' in 'american' uncapitalised).
America is the only fully developed country in the world;
1] that has not adopted the Metric system.
2] that insists upon 'simplifying' English, which confuses many.

If somebody asked me, "What would you wish upon your worst enemy?" My reply would be;
................................................................................. .....
1] to live in america.
2] to speak american (which is not English) with that dreadful american accent.
3] to drive a 'yank tank' forever.

Ess have I mentioned before the difference between a colon and a
semicolon ?

Fair skin and blue eyes?
easy

yes they should roll that policy out worldwide !!

Originally Posted by mtone9317

The English did not invent English, but they have sure done a good job in messing it up

thats a good one

hi guys ....... i have just joined this group and i have not yet read all of everything contained within it ....... I am a Kiwi ( New Zealand national ),currently residing in NZ but travel to Thailand to be with my girl on a regular basis ... i looking to to come there on a more permanent basis but would still like to supplement our current income.We already have a home etc set up so a small earning job is fine with me ..... teaching is what i am looking at as i already have done some translations of legal papers etc for different people there and have an interest also in helping others / teaching comes to mind as something i would like to have a go at ....... Finding something in BKK is what i would be looking at ......... how viable is this option and how long would i be able to stay there .............. maybe i can find the answers elsewhere on this site but for now this way here seems an easier option ....... thanks

er whats this crap about northern monkeys and us real english who invented the language.

I REPRESENT THAT!!!!!!! as knos evry thing aberrt inglish speyking just axeus inytime thawonts.