Thread: TEFL bound...

Hi everybody.

I'm going to have my TEFL at the end of February. Unfortunately, I only have 2 years worth of college.

I want to teach in BKK, but only part-time. I don't mind crazy hours as long as I have Fri evenings and Saturdays off. I can even work Sundays if necessary.

I've seen advertisements before on the internet for government schools explicitly stating a degree was not required.

I am a bit worried about working without a degree. I would hate to be black-listed from Thailand. My options are limited, however, as my cash supply isn't endless.

Thanks in advance for helpful, realistic advice from fellow teachers on this forum!

I don't know whether to congratulate you, commiserate with you, or, accuse you of being a troll.......

The Ajarn and ThaiVisa forums suck. I refuse to post there.

I could head over to stickmans site, instead.

Nah.

So I posted here.


I don't see a lot of farangs getting 'busted' for teaching illegally. Seems a teacher has to screw up pretty bad, piss off the wrong people, or just be in the unlucky 0.001% that ends up being scrutinized.

If lots of teachers are getting in trouble for this, I haven't heard much of it in the news. But that doesn't mean it's not happening.

When I do my visa runs, most of the people are Phillippino teachers. I don't know if they have a degree or not. I would think not, however, as they are doing visa runs every month and wouldn't have to if they had work permits.

I don't think Gamerdude is a troll.

He talks a lot of sense.

The Ajarn and ThaiVisa forums suck

I would like to see a link to this though

I've seen advertisements before on the internet for government schools explicitly stating a degree was not required

You got one, Gamerdude?

I saw the posting a few month's back, before I signed for the TEFL course.

But I just did a search again, and found this:

"With or without a bachelor degree, to teach with Chulalongkorn University

JP Education service - 13th Dec 2007

Work permit granted even if you do not hold a Bachelor degree. Only Europeans and Native English speakers from nz,us,usa,aus,can can apply, Not being over 45 years old.

School/Company Type: private

Province: Bangkok

Pay Rate: At least 30,000 Baht/month"



And from the ad itself:

"Full Time With or without a bachelor degree, to teach with Chulalongkorn University

If you are seeking this position you do need to follow ALL whereabouts listed below, if you just press the resume button on this web page your application will not be answered.

If you get hired you will get a work permit done.

The position:
1. all government schools in Nontaburi,Bangkok
2. Most non-air con class rooms
3. 22-24 teaching hours a week
4. You will get hired by Chulalongkorn university
5. Salaries 40.000 if you are native English speaker with a bachelor degree, if not 35-40.000.
6. You have to be in for a face to face interview.
7. All public holidays with in the working months are paid fore.
8. 5 % tax will be deducted
9. 10 % of your salary will be paid out in the end of your contract, if you will stay on the contract (Until september 2008)
10. During the holidays, March and April you will get a holiday payment of 10.000 THB/month

You:
1. If not holding a bachelor degree, you need to hold other qualifications, such as a high school diploma+TEFL, TEFL+ Teaching experience or other qualifications. You do need to show your qualifications in originals.
2. You have to be able to be in for interview. Do only apply when you are in Thailand.
3. If you are accepted you will be in for an immidiate start.
4. European or Native English speakers from nz, us,uk,usa,aus ONLY
5. You have to be under 46 years of age to apply.

How to apply:
1. Forward a CV/resume, please notify that all statments inside your CV, especially regarding your educational back ground has to be forward in original. Saying; if you state you have a high school diploma, then you need to show it.
2. You need to fill out the office form
3. You need to bring as well 2 photos, copy of passport and copies of all qredentials that you would like to submit.
5. Send us an emai application, do state in the subject line"



Link:
Ajarn.com :: Job:- With or without a bachelor degree, to teach with Chulalongkorn University

The school indicates private, but I pretty sure the ad before was government. I could be wrong though.

So, do I have to worry about trouble if I teach without a degree?

You'll be fine.

Let us know how you get on.

All public holidays with in the working months are paid fore

^^ That sounds like the Nonthaburi project. Reports from there have not been so good, a lot of teachers have left. Maybe someone else here knows more about that.

So it's kosher?

I only know second-hand, but yeah seems to be all above board. It's not teaching for Chula Uni, rather it's a program run by them to put teachers into government schools in Non.

reams of info on ajarn about the shitty nonthaburi project. good luck.

Originally Posted by gamerdude

School/Company Type: private

Province: Bangkok

Pay Rate: At least 30,000 Baht/month"

Really, you don't want to think about living in Bangkok on ThB 30,000 per month, especially if you plan on enjoying life on those Friday and Saturday nights.

Originally Posted by gamerdude

I am a bit worried about working without a degree.

Don't be.

The problems occur when you use a fake degree.

I've been teaching English since July, both at a language school and at a high school. You can work part -time if you like at a language school but 1) you won't get a work visa, 2) you'll make shit money if you don't cultivate some private tutoring on the side and 3) get used to being begged and pleaded with to increase your hours all the time.

A gov't school might suit you better, though it's not part-time. That is if you call teaching 18 - 22 hours a week full time, with numerous holidays and school events factored in you're really not teaching that much. Problems arise when school's out for term breaks, then you've got long stretches (months) where you have to go back to the language schools again.

As someone mentioned, 30,000 is crap pay and you'll be living a fairly Spartan existence. Look around for something that pays at least 40K, you'll need it especially in BKK. It may be difficult because the recruiters will justify paying you less than other teachers because you're not holding a degree but there's room for negotiation if you're wise to them.

I have to emphasize that having a few privates on the side is the best way to make that extra beer money so I would definitely advise you to cultivate some as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please PM.

Originally Posted by gamerdude

I want to teach in BKK, but only part-time. I don't mind crazy hours as long as I have Fri evenings and Saturdays off. I can even work Sundays if necessary.

I can not see you getting a work permit as a part timer.
You would not be the only teacher working without a work permit though

There are 'full-time" jobs around which allow for lots of free time but be careful there are also full time jobs which demand finger print in and finger print out, or similar, where you will be required to be on campus 8.30 -4.30 or whatever.

Make sure that you do your due diligence

I don't want to work full-time, as I have a small internet-based business here in BKK. It's not making much money right now. I'm hoping in the future that will change. It won't if I spend all my time working!

I can live on 30k, but I wouldn't want to! I make extra money each month, but it's not steady or guaranteed.

The Chula ad was one I showed for reference. I remember the job I saw posted before was in downtown BKK somewhere. Near MBK I think.

I didn't plan on getting a work permit. How does one get a work permit without a degree? I thought you had to submit a degree with the MoE in order to get one.

Originally Posted by Thormaturge

Really, you don't want to think about living in Bangkok on ThB 30,000 per month,

Originally Posted by gamerdude

9. 10 % of your salary will be paid out in the end of your contract, if you will stay on the contract (Until september 2008) 10. During the holidays, March and April you will get a holiday payment of 10.000 THB/month

Of course it's not really 30,000 per month cause the cvnts steal 10% and give it to you as a completion "bonus" - which is illegal of course...
and then for 2 months they only slip you 10k/mth cause it's holidays...

now HTF are you supposed to live on 10k per month when you're not working...everyone knows that you spend more when you're not at work...

^^ No plans to obtain a work permit.
Therefore you will be working illegally.
You state that you are " a bit worried about working without a degree"
I would be more worried about working without a work permit. Your call.
You would not be alone working without a work permit and yes you would have to be caught before the problems would start but it is a risk and it does happen.
It just requires one person you have a run in with to make a telephone call.

So can I obtain a work permit without a degree?

Is is safer to have the permit?

^ Ask the MOE or the Labour department about latest regulations for teachers. Easy to find their details.
IMO they are not the same as for ordinary mortals
In order to work legally in Thailand a work permit is required. So yes i think it would be "safer"

Which TEFL course are you taking?

Originally Posted by obsidian

reams of info on ajarn about the shitty nonthaburi project. good luck.

Here is your problem:

1. If you are getting 30-35k per month, they take off B750 each month for social security;

2. You do not get medical aid but get something similar to the 30Baht medical scheme.

3. They dump you in a remote school that might end up costing you 3-4,000 Baht a month in transportation. I knew I guy that had moved on now. He was spending upwards of 5k a month as his allocated school had no public transport facilities, so he had to jump a metered taxi each day.

4. Stats speak for itself. The last guy I met who was on the Chula Project said they started with 50 Westerners, they had now been down to 13. Ram the same, less than 10 Westerners. Everyone had left.

5. You will pay for your own Visa and extensions and you will also pay for your own work permit.

6. They don't pay you every month, March + April you get 10,000 Baht per the month and October ZERO.

7. They also hold back 2-3,000 baht each month to ensure you don't run away. That money you get back only when you have completed your 1 year contract.

Have fun!

I'm not sure if this is the way it is, so I'll write it the way it seems so far:

As a TEFL'er with 2 years of college, the Chula program says I can work without a degree and get a work permit. Even though a degree is required to work in Thailand.

Perhaps this is a special exception for schools in desperate need for English teachers.

This would also stand to reason that there are methods Bangkok schools could use to hire non-degree holding teachers and legally get them a work permit.

I would like to have the permit, and not have to lie to the MoE.

I would rather bide my time in BKK and hold out for a job that can do this.


As far as the TEFL course goes, it's down in Phuket.

part-timers dont get work permits and the nonthaburi program is poo. do your homework.

gamerdude -- get on ajarn and read for a couple of hours. your desire for part-time work and lack of a degree severely limits your options.