Thread: TESOL or CELTA cert needed with a MAEd in TESOL/TEFL?

I have a MA in Education in ESL/EFL (in addition to a BS in Biology and a JD). Will I need to get a Celta or TESOL certification from one of the "providers" in Thailand to teach there. I know the regulations there are sublime, to put it mildly, and haven't found an answer to this question yet.

Tanks Fred. I wasn't sure since a ESL/EFL degree is different from an English degree and I know Thai regs can be a little "odd" about things like that.

Already workingon all the papers, scans, etc.

CELTA/TEFL etc is not important for the Thai government. There is not and never has been a requirement for TL, WP, etc.

In a (very) few schools you will not be considered without a tefl (and probably it must be a CELTA), but that is very rare, and limited pretty much to certain language schools, I think.

I am bringing all the originals. I hope they will just look at the pile and go "OK" and move on to the next step.

Well, I can be optimistic anyway. Tis is the first time I will be working in Thailand, but I've been to the LOS a couple of times for vacation and to see my wife's family and encountered that situation before. Luckily, my wife is Thai and works for the R T Min of Public Health and has a few contacts that should help out. Well, hopefully will help out. Like you said, it all depends on the attitude of the immi oficer.

Just tailor your resume a little. For uni jobs, showcase that it is a masters in efl education. For primary and secondary schools make it education and emphasize your science degree.

I would make sure that you get your teacher's license before coming over and if at all possible get 2-3 years home country teaching experience in a public or private school.

You will be able to get jobs that pay in the 60-80 range if you do that especially teaching science. If you go the TEFL route, you will make 30-40k.

Good luck

^ F S, Thanks for the advice. I wish I had the option to do a couple more years teaching ESL here first. Unfortunately, that is not possible since my wife is finishing up her PhD and will have to return to Thai late this AUgust. Hense the move and the inability to put a couple more years experience under my belt before leaving for the LOS.

I have 18 months teaching experience, reanging from community based programs to university based programs, including a couple of university E.L.I. classes as intructor of record and as co-instructor. Hopefully, that combined with my conference presentations (local, regional, and international) will be good enough to catch the "right" someone's eye.

I am also considering science, as well as emergency services. I have 20+ years in the fire/EMS/Rescue field (from plugman to co-ems director for a fire district) as well. I am planning on keeping my options open and what opportunities present themself. Kind of a mai pen rai approach, but still want as much advance knowledge as possible.

Fred, not in K-12. My MA program was focused on teaching adult ed in an international setting, but we had several pedagogy and practical apps classes alongside the K-12 folks.

Originally Posted by MiaLauder

I think you should think twice before doing this

ALready did, two or three times over. Bottom line is my wife has to go back to Thailand and resume her position in the Ministry of Public Health when her stint in the states is complete. I like it there in the LOS and I don't relish the idea of being on the other side of the planet from her and only getting to jet over there for a few weeks every 6 to 12 months to get to see her as my practice here allows.

---Update---

Originally Posted by MiaLauder

I think you should think twice before doing this

I started planning this change oveer 4 years ago before we got married knowing that she would have to return to Thailand. So there has been a lot of planning and thinking done. I don't go into anything blindly, especially something as life altering as this.