Move with family

**mpower** · 6th July 2009 08:00

Hey guys,

I have been to thailand a few times for travel and have recently been thinking about making a move there for work. I have taught English in Japan and Australia (about 4 years total). I have a CELTA and Grad Dip Education. Was wondering if I would be able to find work that would enable me to survive with my wife and son (she won't be working)? Or would the salary not be enough to cover all of us?

Cheers for any help.

**Hollow** · 6th July 2009 14:54

If you can get a good job with an international school it's possible.

**paully** · 6th July 2009 15:38

^ I'd go a little further and say: it's only possible if you get an international school job.

**Fortesque Smythe Brown** · 6th July 2009 15:50

Paully is totally correct in my view. The likes of even a good E.P. will pay around 60K a month, mediocre Intl schools around the same.

You have got to be in the top end schools to make the salary you need if you have no income from elsewhere.

To be totally honest you are going to need at least 100K a month plus the following perquisites.

Housing allowance,health care programme and of course free if not reduced rate fees for your offspring to continue his education too,plus the yearly ticket home.

Positions like that are here but you would be well advised to find a position prior to your arrival unless you are able to survive for at least 6 months to be on the safe side.

A serious lifebelt float figure sum would or should be around 10K sterling, around 13K U.S. plus return tickets if all else fails.

**paully** · 6th July 2009 15:59

...they offer a better package to overseas hires

**Hollow** · 6th July 2009 16:00

It depends what lifestyle you are use to but 100K a month is what you should really be aiming for.

**aging one** · 6th July 2009 17:20

How old is the son? Does he speak, read, and write Thai? Can your wife home school him? If he is not a Thai national your school fees could be high. Many schools allow the kids of teachers free or reduced tuition. But this is for the Thai program only. If your wife is capable of doing the home schooling and you live super cheap you could do it. But I dont think you would enjoy it. Sadly Thailand may not be the place for you as far as working and living.

**mpower** · 7th July 2009 15:29

Cheers for the info guys

My son is just a baby so we don't have to worry about education (this is the reason my wife wouldn't be looking for any work). By international school I'm assuming you all mean a primary school / high school and not a language school like ECC?

The average language school wouldn't pay enough for us? I would prefer to to just teach ESL if I can get away with it.

Thanks again.

**paully** · 7th July 2009 16:06

Originally Posted by mpower

The average language school wouldn't pay enough for us?

In a word, no.

**pornstar** · 8th July 2009 08:17

Just to show the other side of the coin. There are many foreign teachers here earning 40k a month or lower and many of those have a wife and more than one kid. They claim to live well.

OP, do you have QTS? If you do then your chances of getting a better paid job (above 60k) increase dramatically.

**Fortesque Smythe Brown** · 8th July 2009 10:00

Pornstar.

Agreed with your comment,however you need to consider that the vast majority of teachers are married to a local lass, hence few if any language problems when dealing with officialdom,no visa worries no western style standard of living and the ability to fit into the local community.The ability to find a property that is not expensive the list is endless.

Paully has been advised as to the sort of employment to seek and would indeed be wise to take note of all that has been said in response to his request.

What may be an idyllic dream to the O.P. may well turn into a nightmare, paradise is not always what it may seem to be once you are there.

**paully** · 8th July 2009 14:57

Originally Posted by Fortesque Smythe Brown

Paully has been advised as to the sort of employment to seek

What may be an idyllic dream to Paully

Not me, mate, the OP!!

**mpower** · 8th July 2009 15:26

OP? QTS? Sorry don't understand. No, my wife is not Thai, and we both don't speak Thai so that probably doesn't help.

Cheers .....

**paully** · 8th July 2009 15:32

^ OP = Original Poster, ie you not me
QTS = Qualified Teacher Status, a teacher certification that qualified teachers are awarded in the UK and which is required to teach there in most schools (and therefore a paper verification that the holder is a qualified teacher)

**mpower** · 8th July 2009 15:46

Oh thanks! I have a Diploma of Education (post grad) and an undergraduate degree. So I am a qualifed teacher in Australia and as far as a know also the UK. Does this help?