Hello! Q's from a Certified Teacher - Ajarn Forum

mini · 20th August 2008, 20:52

Hello everyone. I'm new to this particular forum (I had mostly done my research about teaching in Korea). I am a certified (and employed) teacher in Toronto, Canada but have had an itch to move and teach overseas. I have my B.A. and B.Ed.

I have just recently returned to Canada after visiting Thailand and I came away very impressed and smitten. I know it was a vacation and all, but I still really enjoyed my time.

I have taught at an English summer camp run by a university in Korea for the past 2 summers so I do have a bit of experience teaching in another country/culture. I also have taken an AQ (additional qualifications) course in ESL through my board of education. Enough about me really...I'm here to get the low-down on what someone in my position should be looking for (salary, private institutes, accomdations, university work, paperwork done by employer? etc...) Any info would be muchly appreciated.

I wouldn't be moving until next year (August or Sept 2009) due to my teaching committments here in Toronto so I have a lot of time to do my research.

Thanks a lot!

p.s. I was told by a native Thai friend I met that 'Wall Street Institute' has a good rep. True?

jonny danger · 20th August 2008, 21:07

Quote:

p.s. I was told by a native Thai friend I met that 'Wall Street Institute' has a good rep. True?

There it is! I knew it was coming.

aging one · 20th August 2008, 21:07

Forget about esl and get on the international school gravy train. Teach what you are now and make double or triple the salary of an of esl teacher.

mini · 20th August 2008, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny danger

There it is! I knew it was coming.

Oh no! I've already broken some unwritten rule. I'll just slink away now, never to be heard from again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aging one

Forget about esl and get on the international school gravy train. Teach what you are now and make double or triple the salary of an of esl teacher.

Thanks for the advice. Any particular international schools I should be looking at? Also, I'm assuming these can be at any grade level?

What type of salary should a certified/experience teacher expect? Also, I know in Korea it is common practice to have a job arranged in advance and the company to pay for your flight and accomodations. Is that the same in Thailand? Is it best to show-up without a job and hunt when I get there? Would that not make my visa process much more difficult?

So many Q's.

jimbo · 20th August 2008, 21:43

Thanks for the advice. Any particular international schools I should be looking at?

See "Top Ten School" thread on this forum to get a running start.

Also, I'm assuming these can be at any grade level?

Pretty much, yeh.

What type of salary should a certified/experience teacher expect?

I believe 80,000 baht to 120,000 baht per mo. is reasonable, but I could be a little low.

Also, I know in Korea it is common practice to have a job arranged in advance and the company to pay for your flight and accomodations. Is that the same in Thailand?

It could be the same (with a good international school) and in your best interests. But with almost all other schools (excluding a few universites) you'd be better off coming first to see what you have in store...before signing on.

Is it best to show-up without a job and hunt when I get there?

With most teaching jobs in Thailand, yes. Some international schools and a few universities prefer to hire directly from the West (and have a "moving allowance")

Would that not make my visa process much more difficult?

It could,...but it's not really that difficult to make a "run" to Malay....(depends on the school)

-------------
none of what I said is really "in stone" as I've never worked for an International school. International college, yes, but not a school

jonny danger · 20th August 2008, 22:19

Quote:

Hello everyone. I'm new to this particular forum (I had mostly done my research about teaching in Korea). I am a certified (and employed) teacher in Toronto, Canada but have had an itch to move and teach overseas. I have my B.A. and B.Ed.

So is this posting research on teaching in Thailand? Sorry, just had to ask.

Quote:

Also, I know in Korea it is common practice to have a job arranged in advance and the company to pay for your flight and accomodations. Is that the same in Thailand?

Yes very common.

Good luck to you.

ScienceGuy · 20th August 2008, 22:24

Well I would certainly think you could make at least $500/month here in Thailand with those qualifications.Wall Street institution of Lawyers pays almost DOUBLE that!! Wow!

mini · 20th August 2008, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny danger

So is this posting research on teaching in Thailand? Sorry, just had to ask.

Yes very common.

Good luck to you.

Clearly I am researching teaching in Thailand. Sorry that I have appeared to offend you in some way. Thank you for your very helpful insights and contributions to this thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

Well I would certainly think you could make at least $500/month here in Thailand with those qualifications.Wall Street institution of Lawyers pays almost DOUBLE that!! Wow!

I mentioned Wall Street because a Thai person I met had told me to check their website. If there's hate for the place then that is fine with me. I'm indifferent...just asked an opinion about a place I had heard. Sorry to ruffle so many feathers. Maybe you could sticky a thread stating that newbies should under no circumstances mention that name.

jimbo · 20th August 2008, 22:41

Wall Street has mixed reviews here mini. Thicken up a bit, your questions will get answered by others (with experience) inside of a week.

Science and jonny,

Would you please reread this:

NOTICE TO REGULARS!
Please treat ALL threads in this Newbie forum as GENUINE, however improbable, contrived, stereotypical, or strange the subject matter or user is or seems to be. It is NEVER okay to refer to or dismiss users as a "Troll" here.
Even if you are suspicious of the users intentions please contribute by answering the questions or addressing the issues raised. Feel free to criticise the premise of the thread, but please assume the case to be REAL.
The forum will be much better off with a database full of useful hypotheticals, than a database of insults and accusations of trolling.
Thank you for contributing to the Newbie Zone.

thanks guys.

mini · 20th August 2008, 22:46

I appreciate all the helpful answers.

Like I had said, I had just started doing research and have the next year to do more. I will discover the 'ins and outs' of it all soon enough.

Thanks.

jimbo · 20th August 2008, 22:46

----------
-----
--
Here ya go mini (for some school names) http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/the-sta...-thailand.html

jonny danger · 20th August 2008, 23:31

I wished him luck. Please read this: We don't name or shame schools.

Mini, Since you haven't researched ThaiVisa or Dave's, or any others I could find with this query, why not research over there too?

ellroy · 21st August 2008, 00:15

Have a look a TESconnect - for teachers, by teachers, check Overseas forum, jobs pages. There must be some sort of Canadian equivalent.

Overseas Schools Information Database - About OSID

Council of International Schools (CIS)

International Schools Review

Teaching Jobs and Teaching Vacancies Around The World

jonny danger · 21st August 2008, 00:43

TEFL School Reviews - Independent Information on TEFL Life, Opportunities and Schools

They name and shame schools. Get your WallStreet reviews there.

jimbo · 21st August 2008, 08:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny danger

I wished him luck. Please read this: We don't name or shame schools.

Sorry jonny, my misunderstanding. I believe tho that we can name schools. Just not name AND shame them. Could be wrong....