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  1. #1
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    Obtaining a B visa in Thailand with postgraduate certificate and associate's degree?

    Hello everyone,

    I'm a 24 year old student from Belgium.
    I have been toying with the idea of teaching English as a foreign language overseas in Asia for quite a few years now. The countries that have crossed my mind were Thailand, Japan and China. All three of them require at least a bachelor's degree in order to be granted a B visa to work on as an English teacher.

    I don't hold a formal bachelor's degree. I do however hold an associate's degree in paralegal studies and I do hold a postgraduate certificate in strategic management and leadership.
    A bachelor's degree sits on level 6 of the European Qualification Framework. My associate's degree sits on level 5 of the European Qualification Framework. My postgraduate certificate sits on level 7 of the European Qualification Framework.
    Following this logic I do hold credentials that are even higher than the ones that are being demanded (minimum a bachelor's degree).

    Do I stand any chance to be granted a B visa with my qualifications?

    I'm fluent in English, French and Dutch. I also speak a bit of German.

    Kind regards,
    Vincent.

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  3. #3
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    May I ask what's so funny?

  4. #4
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    Did I say or do something wrong?

  5. #5
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    Einstein
    All three of them require at least a bachelor's degree in order to be granted a B visa to work on as an English teacher.
    Einstein
    I don't hold a formal bachelor's degree
    What was your question again?

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    The postgraduate certificate is on level 7. So I thought that it would be a valid ground to apply for a visa. It says at least a bachelor's degree. I have at least a bachelor's degree. The post graduate certificate. Why is my question provoking such heavy reactions?

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    Quote Originally Posted by taxexile View Post
    Einstein


    Einstein


    What was your question again?
    Also, please do not forget that there are a lot of teachers out there that are using forged documents to teach English as a second language to Thai kids.
    Yes, I may only have an associate's degree and a postgraduate certificate, while you perhaps hold a PhD. Yes, you may look down on my credentials. However, please do not forget that my credentials are real and self-earned. I didn't buy them in a print shop somewhere.
    So I would appreciate it if you could use a little less cynism towards me, for explaining my situation.
    Kind regards,
    Vincent.

  8. #8
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    Thai officials aren't going to be looking at whether your degree meets a certain level in Europe.

    They'll simply be looking for the word "Bachelor's" and not too many schools are going to jump through the hoops to hire a non native speaker where the school has to explain the teacher's credentials to the Thailland Teacher's Council.

    Sorry, but that's the way it be.
    "I was a good student. I comprehend very well, OK, better than I think almost anybody," - President Trump comparing his legal knowledge to a Federal judge.

  9. #9
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    When this is over bars will be lowered everywhere and in most metrics. Give it a try, Thailand will need teachers, has always needed teachers, and in time its top brass might wake up to the obvious.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by jabir View Post
    When this is over bars will be lowered everywhere and in most metrics. Give it a try, Thailand will need teachers, has always needed teachers, and in time its top brass might wake up to the obvious.
    I don't think Thai government will lower its expectations just because of the Corona crisis. This is just a temporary discomfort, not an eternal punishment that will change the world forever.
    So I think after reading all the comments on here that I will just need to let go of my idea of teaching English in Thailand. I will try to look at a country that does evaluate documents on a case by case basis. That way my postgraduate diploma will be done more honor than if I were just to beg for a bottom of the barrel job position just because I don't hold that one document that they want to see. If all they are going to scan for is the words '' bachelor '' and nothing else is taken into account then I should just let go of the idea of Teaching English in Thailand.

  11. #11
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    An Australian friend with an MBA was turned down by the Teachers' Council because he didn't have a Bachelor's degree.
    Frankly, I wouldn't bother spending time here waiting for them to tell you "No."
    Although, as Jabir says, no one really knows what things will look like once Covid is past. And if you are willing to work in some of the more remote towns it is possible for a school to get a work permit for a 'consultant' or some other workaround job title. Or some people just wing it on a tourist visa and no work permit. Which is not the answer to your question and is not my recommendation.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shutree View Post
    An Australian friend with an MBA was turned down by the Teachers' Council because he didn't have a Bachelor's degree.
    Frankly, I wouldn't bother spending time here waiting for them to tell you "No."
    Although, as Jabir says, no one really knows what things will look like once Covid is past. And if you are willing to work in some of the more remote towns it is possible for a school to get a work permit for a 'consultant' or some other workaround job title. Or some people just wing it on a tourist visa and no work permit. Which is not the answer to your question and is not my recommendation.
    Yes, that's what I figured after reading all the comments. There is no point in putting all my energy into looking to teach in Thailand to be treated like disposable crap once I'm over there. Might as well look at a more open-minded country in that case.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by TeacherBelgium View Post
    Why is my question provoking such heavy reactions?
    Have you spent anytime reading the board?

    As to your question I agree with Topper. Admins will look to take the easy way.

    If you are dead set on teaching then i would suggest China/Japan would offer more potential for earning and career/professional development.
    If you are intent on living in Thailand then that is another story

  14. #14
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    If you want to work in a school, contact the Teachers' Council of Thailand and ask them if you would qualify for a temporary teaching licence with your qualifications. If they say yes, someone might be willing to hire you. If they say no, you'll have to think of other options.

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  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by TeacherBelgium View Post
    I'm a 24 year old student from Belgium.
    I notice you are still a student. Do you want to teach in SE Asia only briefly while you are still a student or more long term once you have finished your studies in Europe?

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Neverna View Post
    I notice you are still a student. Do you want to teach in SE Asia only briefly while you are still a student or more long term once you have finished your studies in Europe?
    Hi,
    I definitely keep the option open to teach long-term in Asia.
    I wouldn't mind truly relocating if the conditions are good.

    Thing is that it works pretty demotivating when people treat me as if I were a college drop out with no credentials to show for. Yes, I might lack the bachelor's degree but I so hold that associate degree. Here in Belgium an associate's degree is a short bachelor's degree. You see everything that the bachelor's degrees see, just in a shorter trajectory. Associate's degrees here are 2/3th in length compared to the bachelor's degrees. In the US associate's degrees are 1/2th in length compared to the bachelor's degrees.
    My postgraduate study had as an entry requirement that I should possess a bachelor's degree. They still let me in.
    Now I have a certificate that is ranked higher than the demanded bachelor's degree and the Thai government will just skip it as if I were completely unqualified?
    It works very demotivating to read these things to be fair. Especially since I will be traveling with genuine reasons to develop more teaching experience. I'm not going there to drink and party and have sex every night. I'm going there to work.
    Sadly, I'm still told that I'm unqualified.
    Because I don't hold that one single paper that the Thai government will scan for the words '' Bachelor's Degree ''.
    Ah well, goodbye expat dreams.
    Will stay where I am or consider teaching in a western country where they do look at credentials on a case-by-case basis.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by TeacherBelgium View Post
    Yes, that's what I figured after reading all the comments. There is no point in putting all my energy into looking to teach in Thailand to be treated like disposable crap once I'm over there. Might as well look at a more open-minded country in that case.
    If you have a Belgian passport, that won't be accepted by many countries as a non-native speaker. Here's a relevant article, but fundamentally it says you're looking at: India, Cambodia, Argentina, Romania and China as possibilities.

    Native English Speaking Countries as Defined by TEFL | Premier TEFL

    Some schools may employ non-native speakers such as filks from the Philippines, sadly these salaries are on a lower scale although the work is equal or more than a native speaker...

    There may be better options teaching French?
    Cycling should be banned!!!

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by TeacherBelgium View Post
    May I ask what's so funny?
    Thailand has an oversupply of cheap English teachers, they don't need another one

    do your research FFS,

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dragonfly View Post
    Thailand has an oversupply of cheap English teachers, they don't need another one

    do your research FFS,

    You mean cheap as in ''incompetent and unqualified''?
    In which case that would be a prejudice.
    What makes the first, the best American the best teacher? Teaching is being able to bring your skills over onto other people more than anything else.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by TeacherBelgium View Post
    You mean cheap as in ''incompetent and unqualified''?
    In which case that would be a prejudice.
    yes, unqualified, and in Thailand it's not a prejudice, it's an asset.

    It's a country dominated by incompetence and mediocrity, on every level of society, so why would you want to associate professionally with any of them?

    desperate people will come to Thailand to work as English teachers, leave that job to the English natives, they need it to escape their miserable UK island

    Come to Thailand as a tourist, much better, or setup your own export business, that could work. Anything else is going to be very painful.

    Plenty of examples in this forum of English teacher idiots who are stuck now in Thailand because too poor to move out,

  21. #21
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    ^^ I would not bother arguing with Dragonfly. He is Belgian, and we all know what they are like.....

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dragonfly View Post
    yes, unqualified, and in Thailand it's not a prejudice, it's an asset.

    It's a country dominated by incompetence and mediocrity, on every level of society, so why would you want to associate professionally with any of them?

    desperate people will come to Thailand to work as English teachers, leave that job to the English natives, they need it to escape their miserable UK island

    Come to Thailand as a tourist, much better, or setup your own export business, that could work. Anything else is going to be very painful.

    Plenty of examples in this forum of English teacher idiots who are stuck now in Thailand because too poor to move out,
    Are you Belgian too?
    Or is that person who made that comment mocking my nationality?

    Why do you have such a pessimistic view of people who teach English in Asia? It's quite noble. Teaching is not something one purely does for the money. It's also because you enjoy applying your knowledge and skills and seeing others apply it on their turn.
    It's not because I wasn't raised in English that my English is worthless by definition. Belgium invests quite a lot in the language skills of its youngsters. We get taught English here in primary school. Grammar included. It's also safe to say that my English is quite okay since my entire postgraduate study was given in English. They didn't offer those courses in Flemish/Dutch.
    Are you taking the piss or were you genuine about the pessimistic view you have on a career as an English teacher in Asia?

  23. #23
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    Do not listen to a word Dragonfly has to say on any subject. He is not here to impart knowledge or help people. He is here to wind people up and get involved in shit-fights.

  24. #24
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    As I said, the poster known as dragonfly is a Belgian.

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by TeacherBelgium View Post
    Are you Belgian too?
    Or is that person who made that comment mocking my nationality?
    the usual retards here seem like to insult certain members using the Belgian nationality, don't pay attention, they are idiots

    Quote Originally Posted by TeacherBelgium View Post
    Why do you have such a pessimistic view of people who teach English in Asia? It's quite noble. Teaching is not something one purely does for the money. It's also because you enjoy applying your knowledge and skills and seeing others apply it on their turn.
    It's not because I wasn't raised in English that my English is worthless by definition. Belgium invests quite a lot in the language skills of its youngsters. We get taught English here in primary school. Grammar included. It's also safe to say that my English is quite okay since my entire postgraduate study was given in English. They didn't offer those courses in Flemish/Dutch.
    Are you taking the piss or were you genuine about the pessimistic view you have on a career as an English teacher in Asia?
    not taking the piss, just warning you. Teaching is indeed a beautiful vocation, but here in Thailand, it's a business, and it doesn't help that all the losers of the world choose that only profession here to pay for their lifestyle here. The Thais have enough of them, and rightly so.

    Don't have to listen to me or the other usual twats here living on a pittance with less than 100K THB a month, you can learn the hard way if that amuse you

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