Thread: Requirements for teaching in Thailand

Originally Posted by sunsetter

so what excactly are the requirements to teach in thailand then? just curious, as maybe id like to think about it for the future

1. Must be an alcoholic

2. The ability to handle drugs as a way of relaxing.

3. Being able to have regular sex so as to not stare at the female students' in an un-professional manner(which isn't necessarily a bad thing as at least it makes them feel valued).

4. Good knowledge of the visa and work permit loopholes.

5. Reasonable knowledge of Thai means you can translate in class (makes the job somewhat easier)

6. Have at least a couple of non-teacher friends so you don't have to listen to the boring stick up arse teachers talking about work in the bar.

7. A tolerant outlook - remember you'll have to be dealing with Thai village folk in the classroom - (ie:hillbilly fuckwits)

8. Be able to bullshit how great Thailand is without slagging the place off.(not easy after a few months)


that's just for starters - the list is endless.

A desire to do the job is a must. Ability can be gained through learning (in most cases). If you don't have the desire to learn, the desire to teach, the desire to improve yourself, the desire to help others, a good work ethic or if work gets in the way of your social life.... don't waste your time or others.

Fob off fake goods on ebay or export health foods instead.

Originally Posted by obsidian

anyone can work in thailand.

if you have a ba and a tefl you will be better paid.

Pay is a relative term. I would be working now if not for the laughable compensation packages available in Isaan. For the moment, I'll forego the miserable 15 or 20K to save the hassle of a regular job. From what I can assess, teachers in Thailand are better paid for teaching 5-year-olds than university level.

Any age up to uni level. Gov high schools around your part pay around 33K on average for about 16 classes a week.

Methinks so too.

Last week I met two degreed/tefl teachers not far from here that are on 23K a month. Both have been at the school for two years. For some reason, both seem satisfied with their work, school, administration.

rajabahats/rajamangala's are the bottom of the uni food chain at 28k/month.

Originally Posted by Texpat

For some reason, both seem satisfied with their work, school, administration.

this is the tough part. very tough, imo.

These guys are teaching prats.
Either you haven't seen the bottom of the barrel or my info is bad.

education in thailand is a racket.

applicant beware/applicant beware/applicant beware.

what level/age/grade were they teaching?

surely the Tefl game in general is a racket.

I'm now teaching in Phnom Penh - what a fucking joke! ha ha

Dunno -- 9-13 year olds?
They had very high praise for a few of the Thai teachers also. Very proud of their students too. Showed me some of the work. Good stuff -- for young Thai kids.
It was odd listening to them break every tefl teacher stereotype I've read about. Good guys working for very low wages (or so I'm told).

always liked pp.

but a few more words to your experience, colourful-era.

would love to see a bit of compare and contrast with the thai tefl variation.

more power to them if they are happy.

i'm not looking to piss on any parades.

just feel a need to be real is all.

Texpat is living around central Isaan right?

I spent a year there, all the high schools offered me that much - for those hours - cushy, cushy gigs. If you have a nice air-con office, fully wireless.

That's working in an EP (English Program)

It's normally advertised as 30K plus 2-3K housing allowance.

isaan's a big place.

no doubt the english programs pay better.

but many schools are "mini ep's" or worse.

Big is another relative term.
Isaan is 30,000 square km larger than England.

Comparing central Isaan (Korat) with the jungle I'm from is like comparing Los Angeles and Lincoln, Neb.

Ain't many/any 35K jobs here. Where's Gallowspole?

What town are you in? If that isn't a personal question. I was about 100 klicks from a big city.

Originally Posted by obsidian

always liked pp. but a few more words to your experience, colourful-era. would love to see a bit of compare and contrast with the thai tefl variation.

thanks for showing an interest


Compared with Bangkok the schools (ie: the private language schools) in Phnom Penh are much more basic and the general students' level of English lower.

Overall, there's a lot less work around here so you have to put a lot more effort into the job search - looking for work on the internet or even by telephone is fairly fruitless - pounding the streets and handing out cv/s is the best method - fortunately PP is quite small.


On a positive note the 'work permit' situation is great - you don't need one - just a few extra dollars to buy a 'business visa' - (which can be extended indefinitely in-county) - no need for a degree either.

Also I find the students here much less insular than their Thai counterparts and there's none of this nonsense about the monarchy and the temples that you get all the time in TL - a refreshing change really.

anyway, if anyone has any questions about Tefl-ing in Phnom Penh I'll be happy to answer them.

cheers.

^ thanks for the post.

obsidian/mo t.

no probs.

I know what you're saying about being bored in Thailand - I was bored rigid by the place and just had to leave - PP is far more fun and interesting in all sorts of ways.

fuck living in Thailand

I do remember seeing some jobs a while back (though it must have been two years ago) in Isaan that were going for about 30-35K a month. One place in Udon Thani sounded quite nice, with a swimming pool and some other extras. Granted, I'd been working in hellholes with no fans, let alone no air-cons, so the thought of even an air-conditioned office was enough to excite me. What didn't excite me about the Udon school was I believe they wanted a two-year commitment. I could be wrong about that. Saw another good ad for a school in Mukdahan sometime in the last two years as well. I think they mentioned something in their ad about a "VIP bus to Pattaya." Good Lord, a funny thing to put in an ad. I wonder who they thought they'd get with that one? The idea of being able to jump across to Laos was enticing though. I'd love to live in Isaan but it's just too damn far from the waves. The food's great, however, the people are nice, and you probably don't bump into as many nobs as you do down on the islands or in Bangkok.

However... just because an ad looks good, it doesn't mean the school is good. That should not come as a shock to anyone who's worked in a school anywhere in Thailand, but is important to consider for those contemplating a career in the exciting and rewarding TEFL world.

I saw a thread on ajarn.com a few weeks' back taking the piss out of the latest advertisment for my old school... good stuff. Talked all about the lazy students, bad weather, etc. In that case, I'd say honesty is indeed the best policy. Place should be carpet-bombed.

what school was it?