Thread: Is there a compulsory retirement age for foreign teachers

I currently live and work in Jomtien, but there is a remote possibility that in the next few months I will be moving to the lovely teak house I have had built in Chonabot, near Khon Kaen.

I am not sure how I will adapt to rural living so I am thinking of taking a teaching course as I believe that I could get work in one of the local schools.

I am however 57 and my wife seems to think that there is a compulsory retirement age of 60 in which case it would be a waste of time doing the teaching course.

Does anybody know whether or not that is correct please?

Also, I get the impression that a TEFL qualification is scorned by many of the BM's.

Bearing in mind that I would have no aspirations of teaching in anything other than a small provincial school would a TEFL certificate be adequate?

If so, what if any previous qualifications do you need to take the course?

There is probably others better qualified to answer than I, however, for what its worth....

Originally Posted by racefan

I am however 57 and my wife seems to think that there is a compulsory retirement age of 60 in which case it would be a waste of time doing the teaching course. Does anybody know whether or not that is correct please?

I think it may well be correct about the retirement age, not sure how vigorously they enforce it in the villages...

Originally Posted by racefan

Also, I get the impression that a TEFL qualification is scorned by many of the BM's.

What is a BM?

Originally Posted by racefan

If so, what if any previous qualifications do you need to take the course?

Ability to speak English I think.

I have seen the retirement age formally waived for a falang in a uni with little more than a memo from the school to the MOE.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

What is a BM?

For a Mod you don't know much.
BM=Board Member.

Originally Posted by Sir Burr

you don't know much. BM=Board Member.

oh, I was thinking it was something related to TEFL or schools.

like business manager.....

anyway who says Board Members? I juz say peeps....

Originally Posted by racefan

Bearing in mind that I would have no aspirations of teaching in anything other than a small provincial school would a TEFL certificate be adequate?

It all depends on the school. Worth spending the day driving around and asking various schools in the area you wish to work/live. With no degree, no experience and only a tefl -- you are at the bottom of the food chain, for sure (though still employable).

I think if you have experience you can work into your 70's at private schools. I know one such person who is head of curriculum studies

Private schools could care less as it is market driven. public schools have a hard retirement date for thai's. this is why you see them hiring their retired friends back as part-time/hourly. i know of one older falang who got the retirement date waived as the school wanted him. other times i have heard people turned away from public school employment due to age.

^
Meeoooooow.......pffft..pffft.

Originally Posted by andrewdicksonsmith

Love it.Yet

Space missing.

Originally Posted by andrewdicksonsmith

bandwaggon

Spelt wrong, only one "g" in bandwagon.

Originally Posted by andrewdicksonsmith

years or it did whenI was young.It

This is a complete mess, is your space bar broken?

Originally Posted by andrewdicksonsmith

I know the character your on about

Error, it should be you're and not your.

Originally Posted by andrewdicksonsmith

remeber

Spelling again.

Originally Posted by andrewdicksonsmith

he's working.I knew

Space missing again, do you really have a degree?

Thanks to those who have given a response to the points I raised. I would appreciate knowing what previous qualifications you need for the TEFL course.

andrewdicksonsmith. I would certainly not presume to degrade professional teachers and would not regard myself as a wanabee at 57 years of age.

I would not need to teach to survive financially, but am interested in teaching mainly because if I do move to my Issan home I feel that I would need to do something constructive during the day rather than count the neighbours chickens and I thought,possibly wrongly, that it may be a way of putting something back into the community.

Originally Posted by racefan

would appreciate knowing what previous qualifications you need for the TEFL course.

I've fold you mate, there are none! well, maybe $

Originally Posted by racefan

I would appreciate knowing what previous qualifications you need for the TEFL course.

zip//

Originally Posted by racefan

I would not need to teach to survive financially, but am interested in teaching mainly because if I do move to my Issan home I feel that I would need to do something constructive during the day rather than count the neighbours chickens and I thought,possibly wrongly, that it may be a way of putting something back into the community.

No quals required for a tefl course. And good on you! I don't think sitting around all day not being productive in some manner would be good for anyone. But I will say this...it takes a lot more than you think to be a good teacher, be sure its something you want to do.

Surely you know a teacher or two..maybe they can give you a tour of a government school in the area. If you can't, let me know and I'll give a tour of the school I work at in BKK.

One point is that we tend to teach it the way we learned it. Since Rote learning went out in our countries a loooong time ago I'd guess whomever you are you could do it better than a large % of Thai teachers, just from the simple fact you attended a First World university .. and graduated.

IMO, as long as you are conscious of the fact you are new to the profession, keep up an open mind and never stop educating yourself in teaching theory and class management, strategies and the like, you'll be okay. Start at the bottom, don't shoot too high, realize you will make more errors than one with many years of teaching experience and/or formal education. Make your mistakes in an environment where parents pay very little for their child's education. A place where mediocrity is on the main menu. And believe you me, there are plenty to choose from.

Will always be waived if:
1 They like you
2 You have a skill they need
3 Go back to 1

Originally Posted by CSFFan

No quals required for a tefl course.

Only qualification I know of is if you're not a native speaker you have to have a certain IELTS (or equivalent) grade. For TESOL course that is.

Four years ago we had a student that was 82 years old.

A few month back I ran into him--he is still teaching at a Rajabhat.

Originally Posted by bruceveld

A few month back I ran into him--he is still teaching at a Rajabhat.

(Having worked at a raj)...don't you really mean still employed at a rajabahat...?

In a pinch, as we have in Thailand, no, it might not. Given a choice I'd bet there is a profile in the minds of administrators, and 82 ain't in it.

OP,
"Officially" there is no mandated retirement age for farangs. The mandatory retirement age for Thais is 60, but can be gotten around if that position "has no one younger who is qualified". Good luck and happy teaching!

You will be waived if you are too good for them or they have no option.

Originally Posted by good2bhappy

I think if you have experience you can work into your 70's at private schools. I know one such person who is head of curriculum studies

Does he have a zimmer frame?

Originally Posted by kingwilly

What is a BM?

Originally Posted by Sir Burr

BM=Board Member.

Shit,, I thought it meant Bad Motherfucker.

many of the schools I contact now are asking for my age.

so there obviously is an unwritten age limit the schools are looking at, and this no doubt because they schools are showing a preference.

so they may not want the retired drunks who come to LOS to drink themselves to death. or perhaps they want younger people because they are easier to manage, unaware yet of what a racket the english teaching biz is.

but they never admit there is an age limit.