The salaries of English teachers in Thailand are ridiculously low. Most of the schools are offering 300-400 an hour for English teaching. However, the expectations of schools are very high:
1. Degree
2. TEFL or CELTA
3. Native speaker
The average class room:
25 students paying at least 200 Baht an hour: 5000 Baht
The minimum rate for English teachers should be at least 600 or better 800 Baht for one hour of English teaching. If schools are demanding high class teachers, they should come up with the cash. Your get what you pay for…
Thailand needs truckloads of teachers, but nobody wants to come. Here are the reasons:
1. Salaries are ridiculously low
2. Expectations to high (Degree, TEFL)
3. Requirement of native speakers
4. No health insurance
5. No redundancy payment
6. Too much red tape (Work permit, teachers license)
7. No pension funds
8. Unpaid, unrelated teaching work in schools (assemblies, administrative, meetings)
Let’s start…
Is that really a 'too high' expectation?Originally Posted by fruitcake
What would you suggest?
not leaving school till you were 17.
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I disagree.
we get around 50 applicants for every job we offer.
ChiangMai is probably the reverse of Bangkok.
Very much an employers market.
Last edited by Humbert; 9th January 2007 at 15:16. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
I think it's a joke fruitcake.
I worked in Thailand but wouldn't do it again. Unless of course it was a holiday or I was living there on pension and wanted some supplemental income and a but extra to do.
And I think for what they pay, and the hassles the Thais deserve highschool graduates-at best.
Western degrees take quite the while to get, and can be very expensive; especially if considering the lost wages you endure whilst studying.
I personally think if Thailand didn;t have cheap pussy, and warm weather, they wouldnt have so many teachers. I think many (most) simply teach there to extend their stay.
And yes, I did.
IA
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My honest opinion is that the only reason any teacher would stay in Thailand is because they are either chained down by a longterm relationship or they enjoy the p*ssy so much here that it's become an addictive opiate. I won't tell you which category I fall into but it's the truth and i've observed it in most male teachers i've come across. There's little monetary or career reasons to teach in Thailand. Actually there's little reason to come to Thailand at all except for short holiday jaunts. Forget about investing here too they are already enacting multiple policies to ensure foreigners get the shaft for that too. Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and hell even maybe some parts of China all offer much much more in terms of longterm career choices for english teachers or anyone with needed skills.
The attitude of Thais is that we should be honored to be here and work for whatever wages they dictate. I understand some non native speakers from poor countries will be willing to go below the minimum acceptable salaries and work conditions. Most native speakers won't unless they fall into the previously mentioned reasons so it looks like the future will be dictated by whoever's desperate and horny enough to stay on the boat. I have to say if they wanted "qualified" staff they sure knew how to filter it down to the most desperate elements. Amazing Thailand indeed.
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Which makes sense. There's a lot of retirees and 'exchange student' types around that area. I'd be surprised if your applicants aren't mostly from those two categories. If those aren't the ones applying god know's why they have such a hard on for Chiang Mai. It's a nice city and all but it's not a place where you can stake a future from scratch.
Last edited by wintermute; 9th January 2007 at 16:16. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Which teachers anywhere make a nice little nest egg and save a load of cash. I don't see any rich teachers back home. you have to do 37 years of service to get a full pension in England. Few last that long given the demands of the job. Surely most teachers can live on their wages here. Of course you're never going to save a load of money if the wages are 500 pounds a month but this is still often 3 times a Thai teachers salary. You have to have high standards. Expecting a degree is the bare minumum particularly as they seem a whole lot easier to get now in the West than 20 years ago. I think many people come here as a career change and the pace of life is so relaxing. Money I agree is not a reason for teaching here but the Mai pen rai attitidude can certainly keep you chilled and relaxed.
Absolutely not from those 2 catagories.
peel wrote:
Korea.Which teachers anywhere make a nice little nest egg and save a load of cash. I don't see any rich teachers back home.
You can save $1000USD a month her playing entirely by the rules.
I also know guys who are socking away up to $40,000 USD a year, playing by their own rules.
*but all teaching*
There are ways to make money teaching. But I think you need to think more like a businessman than a typical teacher.
IA
peelieorion says "You have to have high standards. Expecting a degree is the bare minumum particularly as they seem a whole lot easier to get now in the West than 20 years ago."
Sorry sir or madam, but I worked my ass off to get my degree and that was less than 20 years ago. Cheers.
DON'T GREEN ME I WANT TO STAY in 1969.-‘Own only what you can carry with you; know language, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.' - Alexander Solzhenitsyn-"It's called the American dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it." -George Carlin
Yes, education is more accessible financially. It is also easier to obtain a place. Study options are also more flexible. But I disagree in terms of effort required to complete a degree.
Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.
I can't believe this thread is here again. WHy don't you post in "Lots of jobs for crappy pay" by cookie monster. I think it had like 1,000 replies. Why are we talking about the same shit again. This is a 3rd world country. Thais are trying to get the most for the least money. It will always be the same. It won't change in your lifetime. Thais shoud take care of their own first. Try living on 4,000 baht/month. Let's stop talking aobut the same crap. If you want more money, goodbye. Go back home or to Japan. I hear Korea pays a lot.
That's right, and by moving the goalposts and not lowering tuition they'll simply pocket more profit.
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One could visit Thailand whenever they like on that!
Last edited by Hootad Binky; 10th January 2007 at 10:43. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Sorry but you really are talking out of your arse on this one. Thailand is a developing country not an undeveloped one (which is what a 3rd world country is); if Cambodia, Vietnam, and even Laos can pay more than Thailand for teachers, let's hear your explanation.Why are we talking about the same shit again. This is a 3rd world country. Thais are trying to get the most for the least money. It will always be the same. It won't change in your lifetime. Thais shoud take care of their own first. Try living on 4,000 baht/month. Let's stop talking aobut the same crap. If you want more money, goodbye. Go back home or to Japan. I hear Korea pays a lot.
Not many Thais live on 4000 a month when the average salary is about 8,000 baht FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY. Most professional Thais earn at least 25,000 after a couple of years experience and there are some that earn substantially more than that.
The bottom line is profit, not some altruistic motive of keeping fees low for those who can't afford expensive tuition. PROFIT PROFIT PROFIT. Welcome to Thai capitalist consumerism 101.
Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris? Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.
if thats what you think your price should be then dont work for any less than this. I wont work for less than 800 an hour. If all the farang accepted this then the salary cap would have to rise. Some people are happy to work for peanuts but then so are monkeys.
Thailand will never be a good career move but as i'm inherently lazy it suits me just fine. fuck the rat race
1. The 36,000/month plus night jobs (500/hour) affords me a better standard of living than $30,000/year did in the States.
2. The degree thing is questionable, but requiring a TESOL should be the minimum standard anywhere.
3. Non-native speakers get jobs quite often after demonstrating their command of the English language. I've worked with a few who actually shouldn't be teaching English.
4. I have BUPA health insurance paid for by my school. I'm sure many others do too.
5. Are you for real? What else do you want? Free lotioned handjobs and a round of golf on Fridays?
6. If you're capable of being a good teacher, you should be capable of handling some red tape. Don't most other countries have this also? The policies my not change as often, and without notice, in other countries, but that's indicative of the rest of the culture. If you can't handle it, don't work here.
7. See number 5. Perhaps you'll find a school that will have your own office with a window and a hottie secretary.
8. If you think those things aren't related to being a teacher, please, go find a profession that doesn't include educating children.
Best jobs are available "word of mouth" or via specialised recruitment. The lowest jobs only are advertised online on places like ajarn.com as they cant get anyone for these! I found one job for 85k a month recently up for grabs (it was Science teaching at uni). Imagine that on ajarn.com - 1 million replies probYou have to be in Thailand for a while to get the best jobs (and be qual)
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same same in UK. you need 5,000 pounds a month in London/SE (before taxes of 40% + 11% = 51% top rate) to equal say 4,000 Baht a month here in Thailand (20% top rate on some IF YOU DECLARE IT ALL!) comparing lifestyle/going out/condo etc etc IMHO
4k a month easy in Thailand with little overtime. 5-8k a month Baht are normal ranges for real teachers (PGCE qual UK teacher will earn more)
Many teachers in Thailand wouldn't be teachers back in UK as not qual. Many would earn 2-3k a month in an office job or driving a taxi etc etc. UK teachers with ambition can earn a lot more these days. After taxes/rent (forget buying on that low salary in southern UK). So working here INCREASES standard of living with LESS HASSLE!
Overall allowing for 8 weeks hol to travel and being home at 5pm (as a couple not bothering with overtime at a language school) life is good in Thailand. Would be super if I had a PGCE as well though............
Last edited by Nemo.; 10th January 2007 at 13:11. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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