Teaching job advice please

[Guest]

I am planning to move to LOS Jan/Feb 2009.and find a job teaching. Some info about me; English- male-55, B.Sc Psychology/Philosophy.
Presently living in S.Korea and have been for 8 years.
Teaching experience-9 years.
1 year Taiwan kindergarten+7-14 children
1 year Korea ..........................................
2 years Korean Air Force Adults
5 years DSME COllege Adults
I do not have a TEFL, most decent jobs on www. Ajarn are asking for a TEFL. Do I really need one? Only the Oxford and Cambridge certificates are recognised worldwide. Many of the ones offered in LOS for example
justtefl and text & talk are only accepted by their own schools or that is my understanding! No offence to anyone who has one of these; my info could be wrong.
Some advice or opinions on the following questions would be very welcome.

1. Is it worth my time and money to study for a Master's in Education?
Where in LOS could I do this and what are the fees? Would this qualification get me a job at one of the high paying International schools 60-80,000 baht a month?

2 Would I be able to get a job paying a minimum of 40,000 baht a month with the qualification and experience I have now?

3. Is my age against me! It is in S.Korea?

4. What are the prospects of getting a job in Khon Kaen? My LB lives 10k outside the City. However she has agreed to live with me wherever I can find employment.

Thank you all for your time.

[stogie bear]

1 - no
2 - yes
3 - no
4 - bad

1 - If you study for B Ed or a masters, then do it for yourself. Certificates for degrees and further education studied for in Thailand are almost worthless. But if you already have them from your home country then they can help get those higher paying teaching job, for sure.

Your experience and qualifications are already ample to get you swiftly moved along the ladder of success in Thailand.

2 - You most certainly can. In fact I'd hit fir 50K although schools are very mischievous with their contracts and you'd better talk to teachers already working there to find out what they contracts mean in reality.

Some pay a salary but only for the months you work... others expect you to cough up for all the fees involved with becoming legalized. It's very tricky and difficult to get a straight contract and just as hard to find a straight school to work for... but they are out there.

3 - Age is certainly NO barrier here but appearance is. Thailand is 99% style over substance and if you are a non smoking, non drinking, non sweating, non black, non short, non fat...

If you look the part you've got the job!

4 - Forget working in Khon Kaen. The best paid jobs even for the best teachers are fucking rubbish and within a month you'll be bored shitless and wanting to murder your poor partner!

Finally...

Even though you'll hear loads of anecdotal bullshit from other teachers and so called education professionals take what people tell you with a pinch of salt and work things out using your own instincts and common sense...

You'll be just fine...

[Guest]

Thank you very much that's excellent news apart from the bit about Khon Kaen. Is Bangkok my best chance of touching the 50k mark. I'm not greedy but I do want myself and LB to have a nice apartment.

[stogie bear]

(thays @ Jul. 27 2008,09:31) Is Bangkok my best chance of touching the 50k mark...

It's your only chance!

[Guest]

Bangkok it is then.
I'll get in touch when I arrive.
Just finished reading the six pages of the Scotsman's post from August last year.
I would like your advice/ help via your mate at talk & text on the non imm B visa multi entry.(If that is correct)
What type of ticket do I need to get from Korea to LOS?
Does it really have to be a return and over a 1 month or a 3 month period. I have a feeling it will have to be a return ticket but you never know!
Thank you once again for your time and sharing your knowledge.

[dummy_plug]

Non-sweaty? Ouch, i'll never have a career in teaching then!

[janabiyah]

Hey Thays,

Best of luck with the move.

The main requirement for a teacher is to have a good quality printer and a PC.

Then you can give them whatever documentation they require.

Save years of unnecessary study and cost.

[Guest]

The decision to move to Thailand has been made after careful thought and considering all the benefits and pitfalls. Some initial ideas such as teaching and living in Kohn Kaen have had to be changed and Bangkok seems to be the place for lucrative work and opportunities.
My contract actually finishes on Feb 28th 09. However the winter semester ends December 22/23, when I am free and I'm paid until the end of my contract.
I have spent hours this last week reading about jobs (mainly Ajarn) and rented apartments with Mr. roomfinder. According to Phil at Ajarn the job market is rather slow during the months of Jan/Feb as Thai schools finish March and start again in May. Therefore plan A to work p/t or f/t on a 60 day /option 90 day tourist visa is starting to leak water. Especially when I read on Ajarn that if you are caught teaching illegally; prison and getting deported are your due rewards. I can't really take this chance as it would certainly ruin my relationship with LB.
Of course I could spin my wheels in Korea for Jan /Feb but I'd rather not. Starting the job hunt in March with the possibility of getting a good job in May, would still leave me two months without legal work. So what are my options?
I have paid for my ticket and arriving in Kohn Kaen August 12th -flying back to Korea on the 26th.
I didn't plan on coming to Bangkok as looking for a job and apartment is too early. However I feel as if I need some advice/opinions on the best time to come for the permanent move/ jobs /aparts etc.
I have enough money to last for 5/6 months without work and living in Kohn Kaen but then I'd be skint.
More than prepared to take a gamble on life and happiness with my new partner. Just want a fair crack at the main chance.
So if Stoogie Bear or anyone else has any thoughts or ideas. I am all ears. Budgeting for a few days in Bangkok now, would like to meet a few people behind the posts or anyone else for info sharing and making new friends.
Thank you all for your time and hope to see some of you in August. Thays

[Guest]

Further research since my last post has revealed a possible option that would solve my dilema of being in LOS and not being able to work legally. By registering with the 'Text & Talk Academy' (which I was apprehensive about previously) and studying for their Tefl course; they can provide a non imm B visa (maybe?)
Failing to get the non imm visa is not a problem as I can easily get a tourist visa for 60 days, which can be extended for a further 30 days. As the course is 42 days this allows me time befor the course to find an apartment in Bangkok. After the course I would also have enough spare time on the visa to find a job without the stress of the visa running out.
When the 90 days are up a run to Cambodia will secure another visa.
Yes!I do have to pay 690 English pounds for the course. T&T seem to have a good reputation.
This option allows me to be Bangkok and available to attend interviews and eventually choose my job rather than be forced into taking something due to visa pressure.

[stogie bear]

I know the guys at Text & Talk and they will help you out.

In the bad old days I worked for them!

[Socrates999]

Thays- I might have a job for you. PM me.

[Guest]

Text&Talk are not able to provide a non immigrant B visa as I live in Korea. H e suggested I apply for a tourist visa, which is fairly easy to achieve without their help.
For an extra $200 I can get a CELTA studying with International House; a far more prestigious qualification. I don't want to waste time and money on a tefl however many jobs advertised on Ajarn are asking for it.

[baroncarlton]

(stogie bear @ Jul. 27 2008,09:19) 3 - Age is certainly NO barrier here but appearance is. Thailand is 99% style over substance and if you are a , non drinking, non sweating, non short, non fat...

You'll be just fine...  

Maybe this is why im still unemployed. Must sign up for that Gym membership. I'll get some Cuban Heels to ofset the shortness.

[jaymee]

Mmmm I missed this somehow. I don't look white, so I'm wondering if there would be bias against my english skills for teaching haha.

[Guest]

Jaymee

You laugh but non-white will lose you most jobs.  Also living with a LB will cause most good contracts not to be renewed.  You will not be told why but everyone will know. (happened to a friend of mine).  (In a private moment of candor the director of a school told me they didn't want the children to speak like a black person or be influenced to be a LB).  It is prestigious to have foreign teachers who are native speaking whites who look good - short hair no tattoos etc. That is what the parents want. Go figure!