Thread: What employment options are there for academics?

My wife is a nurse and probably won't work--I doubt there is demand for nurses who don't speak Thai in Thailand.

Disheartening to hear about the university system, but perhaps not too surprising, considering the state of Thailand's socio-economic development. I'm not adverse to doing some TEFL teaching for the visa/social outlet, but I'm not too pleased at the thought of a 40 hour work week.

Apply for jobs and see what they say. I used to go into work at ten and leave at half three.

---Update---

I've know a lot of university teachers who seem to have a lot of time on their hands.

Has your wife considered doing a CELTA course and teaching?

Was that a university job? 10-3:30 isn't too bad.

My wife isn't a NES so I don't think she'd get hired. She's Korean so maybe she could teach Korean, although the market for that is probably microscopic.

There are Korean teaching gigs, I have no idea how competitive the market is though.

That job was teaching primary school. I'm sure once you start applying you'll find something to suit you.

Originally Posted by Thinkingofachange

Let me explain: I have a Ph.D. in English literature and a tenure-track position that allows me to take extended unpaid sabbaticals if I want. I've also published several articles and a monograph in my field, so I do have a track record of solid research that may interest some universities.

I am also a bit concerned about wages and working conditions. I'm happy to work for a fraction of my normal salary for a year, but I'm not willing to do this for what I'd consider an enormous teaching load. At my current school I teach 6 hours per week, because I'm expected to spend most of my time conducting research; are such course loads possible in universities?

are the schools interested in hiring visiting faculty for a year or so?

With your background and wishes, unless you already have a contact who might be able to arrange a visiting year at a Thai university for you (unlikely from the way you've posted), I would target Thai universities who offer international programmes taught in English. There may be some space for you to teach a module or two as part of a BA or MA in English or Communications. If accepted, you'd be teaching full days but only for 4-5 weeks at a time. The money isn't bad, but don't expect super-high standards. Alternatively, you could try for a government university English lecturer post, which would offer you the low teaching hours you're after, but for less pay (although extra hours may be available). Student ability in English can be quite low, except for English majors. The chance of you being able to carry out paid research would be nil.

Go via a recruiter.

paully, a module for 4-5 weeks sounds quite interesting, but a government university lecturer post might give me the free time I crave. Can you tell me how the Thai university school year is set up--when do the semesters begin and end, and how long are classes taught for?

Contact them directly. They work in mysterious ways. Thamaasat is good.

I think they have to pay extra to tempt people out to Salaya.

The man doesn't want to make a career of it, he wants a visa and pocket money. A community. Thamaasat was cool when I was there, eons ago and I was doing it for pocket money.

Originally Posted by Thinkingofachange

If part-time work at an international school is a better route

Most intl schools recruit via fairs, require a home country teaching credential and have 2-year contracts. It may be difficult, to say the least, to get past the guard at the front gate with your proposition.

Many unis require a lot of office hours beyond the 12-16 contact hours per week.

What is your wife going to do while you are teaching?

Give Laurie or Merv a call at Ramkengheng university I know they had a part time program where Thai lecturers and teachers were taught

Thanks everyone for your help. My wife may just hang out or take a class to meet people. If she can find a position teaching Korean, she might do that.

re_fuse: Thanks--I Googled the university and it seems quite solid. There seem to be a few universities in Thailand trying to give students an international education. I've bookmarked them and will probably submit letters of interest sometime in the long term.