Boring career shift advice thread.

**Jardine** · 08-09-2009, 09:50 AM

Sorry about this but I could do with some advice on picking a CELTA or Tefl course.

My situation is that I already have a PGCE in Physics/ General Science with about 3 years teaching experience to go with it. The last of those years has been in Thailand, teaching at a small private school part time exclusively to Korean kids.

I'm settled in Chiang Mai and have been here for nearly six years. I don't really want to move but if it comes to it I will. Shall we say things in my life are changing and money which previously wasn't much of a worry has now started to be a bit of an issue.

So what do you think, can I get away with doing a cheap on-line TEFL course part time while keeping my current Korean gig or am I better off biting the bullet and doing a more expensive CELTA and ditching my current position?

**kingwilly** · 08-09-2009, 09:52 AM

Why would you do a TEFL or CELTA when you have a PGCE ?

**Jardine** · 08-09-2009, 10:16 AM

I'm a Science teacher so my English is not always of the highest quality. I know what a noun and a verb are but after that my grammar is pretty vague. Plus I want to stay in Chiang Mai so getting a teaching science only job in the short term could be a bit tricky. Really just thinking about ticking as many boxes as I can.

Thanks for the reply though KW.

**kingwilly** · 08-09-2009, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by Jardine

Plus I want to stay in Chiang Mai so getting a teaching science only job in the short term

Prem Centre.
American Pacific International School
Chiang Mai International School
Lanna International School

I assume there is more....

**mooncake** · 08-09-2009, 11:38 AM

Well JD.....If I were you this is what I would do

Keep the current job bcoz it pays the bills, tell your gig to get her own job for awhile, and then spend part of your nestegg opening your own business.

Think long and hard what other skills you might have and love doing it everyday, beside teaching.
I can tell you the reward will be big in the long run and not to mention your happiness.

**Orroz** · 08-09-2009, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Jardine

I know what a noun and a verb are but after that my grammar is pretty vague.

They don't really focus on grammar on TEFL courses. It's more about technique.Surely your PGCE would have prepared you for that already? Buy a grammar book and save yourself a fortune!

**Muadib** · 08-09-2009, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by mooncake

Well JD.....If I were you this is what I would do

Keep the current job bcoz it pays the bills, tell your gig to get her own job for awhile, and then spend part of your nestegg opening your own business.

Think long and hard what other skills you might have and love doing it everyday, beside teaching.
I can tell you the reward will be big in the long run and not to mention your happiness.

What happened to your cutesy Thai superlatives mooncakes??? After all, aren't you a Thai lady living in the west who does autocad for $100 per hour... Your Anglit writing skills sure improved overnight...

**kingwilly** · 08-09-2009, 12:45 PM

funny that...

Originally Posted by Muadib

Your Anglit writing skills sure improved overnight...

**mooncake** · 08-09-2009, 01:29 PM

Yay I do have my serious side too ……for “real people” with “real problems”.

Oii, you doii….. I don’t do autocad for 100 bucks/hr!
I “invent/design” things for people at the rate of 100 bucks/hr by using the AutoCad as a tool to complete the technical drawing parts, in order for submission to the building department as part of the permitting process…..ja

Anyway hehe….u2 r admiring moi….chai mai ja?_

**Muadib** · 08-09-2009, 01:55 PM

Ah, back in character...

**genghis61** · 08-09-2009, 05:07 PM

I saw an advert for this course at Chiang Mai University Language Insitute:
Chiang Mai University 120-hr, On-Campus TEFL Program
lots of information on their web pages, may help you decide?

**Marmite the Dog** · 08-09-2009, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by mooncake

Keep the current job bcoz it pays the bills, tell your gig to get her own job for awhile, and then spend part of your nestegg opening your own business.

Maybe she already works? And I don't think Jardine's missus would appreciate being called a 'gig'.

Originally Posted by mooncake

Think long and hard what other skills you might have and love doing it everyday, beside teaching. I can tell you the reward will be big in the long run and not to mention your happiness.

It's not that easy changing career if you're a foreigner here. Nearly every occupation is protected to ensure the largely useless population keeps hold of their jobs and that it doesn't go to a foreigner who would undoubtedly be a hell of a lot better at it.

**Marmite the Dog** · 08-09-2009, 05:41 PM

Oh, what about doing one of the 6 week TEFL courses that are run in CM?

**Jardine** · 08-09-2009, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Orroz

They don't really focus on grammar on TEFL courses. It's more about technique.Surely your PGCE would have prepared you for that already? Buy a grammar book and save yourself a fortune!

Thanks to everyone who has replied. Looks like a few nights in with a grammar book might be the way ahead. Cheaper than 10,000 baht for the CMU on line course.

As people point out classroom management is not what I'm looking for as I have already done a lot of that on the PGCE course.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Maybe she already works? And I don't think Jardine's missus would appreciate being called a 'gig'.

I'm sure Mrs Jardine wouldn't mind be called my Gig. However she earns more than me at the moment.

Originally Posted by KW

Prem Centre.
American Pacific International School
Chiang Mai International School
Lanna International School

I assume there is more....

CV is already in at most of these but no one is hiring right now. I don't really want to wait until the next recruitment phase I'm looking for something good now or something a bit better to tide me over till then.

**Spitfire** · 08-09-2009, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

It's not that easy changing career if you're a foreigner here. Nearly every occupation is protected to ensure the largely useless population keeps hold of their jobs and that it doesn't go to a foreigner who would undoubtedly be a hell of a lot better at it.

Absofuckinglutely! Most sensible thing I've read today on here! The official list what is "off limits" to farangs is very long. To the OP, don't worry, just get the grammar book and brush up a bit, you'll be fine. You'd be amazed at the jokers that have teaching jobs here, if it looks like an orange then it is an orange, substance means sweet FA. Some places just test to see if the person has a heart beat.

**jim1176** · 09-09-2009, 06:20 AM

Originally Posted by Jardine

My situation is that I already have a PGCE in Physics/ General Science with about 3 years teaching experience to go with it.

You are already qualified to teach English. Teaching English will be even more boring than teaching science.

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