Thread: living and teaching in BKK

​Hi,I am also new here and am looking forward to hearing from everyone.My husband+me are seriously considering moving to Thailand,since my daughter already lives there.
Now we live in Germany and you can imagine how difficult life is here.
How hard is it to find a job at the age of 52 yrs. old? In the past I've worked as a teacher in BKK and would like to do that again, due to the fact, I AM a real teacher with real qualifications,but going thru the ads,everyone seems to be looking for the younger ones.
Here in German I am a professional singer/musician/songwriter and earn my living this way along with being a selfempl. English/Music/Vocal teacher and would also like to continue with music in Thailand,maybe find a band as well. What are my chances on things there? I really would be thankful for some advice and answers.Greetz from Germany...C.C.

I played in Thailand all the years I was there. I heard you can get legal permission by getting an extra occupation entered onto your work permit. I never did that and was never bothered by any authority. As far as teaching you might get a class or two at your school, but to be hired as a music teacher seems it would be somewhat rare. Thais have some strange instruments, it'd take years to master them. I consider myself a good guitar player but only an average singer. There I was complimented on singing 10:1 over playing. Thais like to hear those songs sung without the accent they're accustomed to hearing. Good luck.

Hi Johnny...thank you for answering that fast...how hard is it to find work there at my age? I have a few options and some interviews lined up, but I also heard, that it is really difficult at my age...so before breaking up our tents here, I wanted to find out if that's really the case or if I should just go ahead with it...things are tough in Germany and I think, even at it's tightest, things can't be rougher there then here, but I'd rather struggle, where I'm happy, then in this country of ours...

Well, there's more to it than age. You can usually work till you're 60. Universities are more accepting of older teachers. But if you search around the forum in the Staffroom you'll find a lot of threads on age and employment. It's a common theme.

thank you very much, I will do that

Originally Posted by jonny danger

Thais have some strange instruments, it'd take years to master them.

.........Sorry jonny....Which ones are you referring to?....

Originally Posted by singing4aliving

I AM a real teacher with real qualifications

Although I fully accept and understand the emphasis on the qualifications, I'm not sure what you mean by a 'real teacher'

If someone fulfills the qualifications criteria then previous experience as a teacher isn't essential. Try to think less about what you have on paper and more about what you can do in practice.

You say nothing about what you achieved as a teacher in Bangkok or what type of teacher you are, but coming back to your point.

Your age will not be a plus, so by elimination it could go against you. It appears you are not a native speaker, that could go against you. Being a female is probably a plus, but that usually applies to younger kids.

But it's still my belief that the demand for teachers is high, so jobs will be available.

Music, I have no idea. I did hear of someone getting in trouble, but I wasn't really interested in the details.

Originally Posted by Mr Mister

Although I fully accept and understand the emphasis on the qualifications, I'm not sure what you mean by a 'real teacher'

If someone fulfills the qualifications criteria then previous experience as a teacher isn't essential. Try to think less about what you have on paper and more about what you can do in practice.

yes does come off as a bit 'chip on shoulderish', but back ot, being non native will hurt more than age. oh and its not oompahpah its dock dock dock

Hi...thank you all for your honest and great response. I don't know, why people always think, that germans are different or only listen to omphapha music...lol...this is the typical stereotype thinking, that actually only the germans have, which is one of the reasons I want to leave. (I am born German but raised in the USA). I was just worried not being able to find a job at my age, because it is extremely hard in Germany and I also miss Thailand. I've lived there before a few years back. The reason I said real teacher with real qualifications was that I've met alot of teachers, that were fakes and were just there to support their "you know what" and did not really care about teaching and I guess I worked for the wrong company (they have a really bad reputation, so I was told now). Having degrees on paper is great, but I also know, that its not the none plus ultra. We'll see what happens...I get a little nervous now, because the big move is only 2 month away and things have probably changed in Thailand just like in the rest of the world. Well thank you again and if you like, please stay in touch...I'd be happy to exchange experiences and maybe get a little advice once in a while from you...take care and wishing you a GREAT day with greetings from cold Germany...Claudia

---Update---

lol...wasn't meant like that...sorry...just met quite a few wannabe's, while I was there...and no I don't listen to oompahpah...I am a Rock-musician myself...this is not the way it is here at all, maybe just for the real old folks or the few left from the after war generation...the rest of us here is pretty open and not what the reputation still seems to be like worldwide, which is actually pretty sad !!!

Best Wishes and Viel Glück, Claudia

The oompahpah bit was a joke, but you didn't get the dock dock dock joke which is, in most luk toung music (thai country music) which is played in just about every "pub" across thailand, there is a continous cowbell on the beat and just as annoying as oomp.....

btw kraftwerk is one of my favourites ever.