Notes from the Bangkok International School Job Fair

**Lost** · 10th February 2012 12:44

You will learn far more about teaching during your NQT year than your 3 term PGCE.

Personally..I would do it. It potentially opens a lot more doors for you in the future.

**paully** · 10th February 2012 14:14

^ Seconded.

Originally Posted by aridion

Would aiming for a second tier school with decent credentials e.g Ascot, Regents, Garden be a decent option? I have heard that they take on NQTs. As I am not that interested in getting into the 'top' schools' I feel that maybe, just maybe, I would not need to do my NQT plus a few years experience.

Would these schools be less likely to take you after the NQT year? I doubt it. Don't be so desperate to leave the jolly old UK that you potentially hinder your employment prospects. As Lost says, you start learning about real classroom teaching after your PGCE - and you keep learning about it.

**Jonny English** · 12th February 2012 18:31

cheers oxfordstu for your comment

Quite grim reading though, that you have to jump through a lot of hoops to get into a top international school in Bangkok. You seem very focused and determined, I applaud you and will be keeping an eye on your situation (if you don't mind), as I am following behind in a similar vein to yourself.

Can you please give me a little more info on IB schools though as this isn't so clear to me?

I see UK school are bring in 'E-Bac' (English Baccalaureate) (google e-bac if you're unaware, but I am sure you are). What exactly is this, will this make UK schools IB or equivalent? I'm guessing not, that would be too easy. If it did then that would be great as I could kill two birds with one stone, getting IB experience and general experience teaching in my home country.

hmmm,I guess I am just feeling a little frustrated today, as I have returned home to England to get on a PGCE Primary course and am willing to teach here for two years to get my experience up, so I can then hopefully get into a good international school in BKK, only to hear about all this IB crap which they require. Once you think you are over one wall up pops another.

Any half decent international primary school in BKK (I have set BKK as my goal) would be good enough for me (insistently does any one know the names of some please?) Its not so much about the money (however I have set the personal goal of 100,000 baht per month salary), more the job security an international school can offer... and also the challenge and to have a career to fall back on, other than being just the ESL, preforming, monkey teacher (which, not always, but sometimes I felt like, during my three years ESL teaching in BKK)

...hmmm, please excuse my rant...any positive feed back would be welcome. Any of this silly negative BS, commenting on grammar or sentence structure or what ever daft sh*te will be ignored, (we are all in this together and to help each other out) I am not one of your Thai students, so if you are one of these arrogant ajarn trolls don't bother, I will be ignoring you.

**aridion** · 12th February 2012 18:50

JE. I am one year ahead of you in my plans for a PGCE in primary. I started in September last year. About mid way through it now. It is a good idea. I am sure that lots of others have taken the route that you are planning on taking.

I am also planning to return to Thailand to teach at an international school in the near future. Keep us posted.

**Jonny English** · 12th February 2012 18:57

Thank you Aridion, please keep me posted too.

It's cool do see other people in the same boat. I hope we can help each other out, with advice and what have you, in the near future.

Good luck.

**aridion** · 12th February 2012 19:15

Sure thing JE. Where you planning to do the PGCE?

**oxfordstu** · 12th February 2012 20:54

Originally Posted by Jonny English

Quite grim reading though, that you have to jump through a lot of hoops to get into a top international school in Bangkok. You seem very focused and determined, I applaud you and will be keeping an eye on your situation (if you don't mind), as I am following behind in a similar vein to yourself.

Can you please give me a little more info on IB schools though as this isn't so clear to me?

I see UK school are bring in 'E-Bac' (English Baccalaureate) (google e-bac if you're unaware, but I am sure you are). What exactly is this, will this make UK schools IB or equivalent? I'm guessing not, that would be too easy. If it did then that would be great as I could kill two birds with one stone, getting IB experience and general experience teaching in my home country.

hmmm,I guess I am just feeling a little frustrated today, as I have returned home to England to get on a PGCE Primary course and am willing to teach here for two years to get my experience up, so I can then hopefully get into a good international school in BKK, only to hear about all this IB crap which they require. Once you think you are over one wall up pops another.

Any half decent international primary school in BKK (I have set BKK as my goal) would be good enough for me (insistently does any one know the names of some please?) Its not so much about the money (however I have set the personal goal of 100,000 baht per month salary), more the job security an international school can offer... and also the challenge and to have a career to fall back on, other than being just the ESL, preforming, monkey teacher (which, not always, but sometimes I felt like, during my three years ESL teaching in BKK)

2 years is the minimum. Top internationals schools like more, and they like you to have IB experience. You need to be a good teacher as well with good references and proven IB test scores from past students (NIST actually puts this on their adverts). But once you have that then you have to go through the grueling interview process and they have to decide that you're a good fit for their school. IB schools basically train their students to get ready for universities around the world. The curriculum is very heavy and the "IB-speak" is a pain to get through and understand. I can't really sum up what IB is in one post - I've taken 2 IB courses and have taught 6 months in an IB school....and I am just now starting to get a grasp on it.

I would not have BKK as your goal. If you do that, then you will be disappointed. These admins at international schools in Bangkok get hundreds of applicants each week. You have to have the right quals/xp and be very lucky. More often than not, you have to know the right person. I've given up on Bangkok, at least for now. I might try Hong Kong or Singapore next (anything other than mainland China would be an improvement to my current situation). Or I might return to the US after this with my non-teaching Thai wife, live and teach there (at an IB school) for 20+ years and then spend our last working years at ISB or NIST before we retire.

Be flexible.

**Jonny English** · 13th February 2012 00:18

Aridion ~ I have an interview coming up in March at Carlisle University in Cumbria my home county. It has a good reputation. I have already been accepted on to a SCITT Professional Graduated Certificate of Education course in my home town, but as it's not recognised internationally, I think I will have to give it a miss.

Where are you doing yours Aridion? How are you finding it?

Oxfordstu ~ Thanks for the quick reply, I'm kinda getting clear on the whole IB situation, I like how you put it: 'IB schools basically train their students to get ready for universities around the world'.

Yeah you are right, being flexible is key here and if I follow my head then its what I will be. However I still have some years to go (as I am only just trying to get on a PGCE course at present) and more than likely, in the near future, I will be foolish and follow my heart and give BKK a shot. Maybe starting off at a mid tier international primary school (if I can) and then to work ones way up... could be an option? I really don't know, I still have a lot to learn.

Just out of curiosity oxfordstu, does you non-teaching Thai wife live with you in China?

It will be interesting to see how it all pans out for you two guys, I wish you all the luck in the world, sounds like we might need it (if the aim is for top international schools in coveted locations), that and a lot of hard work.

**KrungtepAjarn** · 18th June 2012 06:57

Hi everyone.

I am also on the International school bandwagon. I am currently an undergraduate BEd primary R-7 student. However I am lucky that here in South Australia there are a lot of IB schools where I can get experience.

Interestingly the IB world website shows only about 5 schools in BKK who offer IB at primary level and only about 17 schools in total. Slim pickings really.
http://www.ibo.org/school/search/ind...d_schools=Find

Looks like my dream is an ambitious one too.

I am married to a non teacher Thai national and we really want to live in BKK so we can be near our family, but what sort of prospects are there with such tough competition. I am at least 5 years away from even being a look in at any of these 5 schools. Strangely the Australian International School isn't even listed as an IB school.

PS sorry for dragging out such an old thread but it was a really great thread and would like to hear more new experiences with job fairs.

**paully** · 18th June 2012 20:34

Originally Posted by KrungtepAjarn

but what sort of prospects are there

Aim for it, Krung, there are no guarantees of the best jobs, but if you don't try you don't get.

**aridion** · 19th June 2012 02:53

I was thinking about going international directly after my PGCE, however I have had the good fortune to land a job at a school in the UK to do my NQT year. As it is a 1 year maternity cover contract, it suits me to a tee.

So, I guess I will be staying put for the foreseeable future, at least.