[Tnzxovoz]

Hi all...

I'm considering a life change and want to settle outside the UK on retirement from a military career (only 41!) I have good teaching skills (employed on professional instructor duties and am also an advanced diving instructor) and am looking at getting formally qualified to teach over the next 2 years with a view to heading for pastures new.

I have a Thai girlfriend (so am learning Thai.... slowly but surely!!), have recently visited the country and was generally impressed with what I saw. I wonder if anyone has any advice about what one could or should expect when embarking on a career in teaching in Thailand. I know the money's not great but I will have a reasonable pension to supplement my earnings, and after all, it's quality of life I'm looking for!

Are there any real pitfalls to look out for? Any advice on qualifications needed to secure a better position would also be a help. Most websites offering advice are just trying to get you to sign up for their courses above every other one on offer. What would be really useful to have? Can anyone help me out?

[Zvmwissq]

Take a look at these blogs as it has some useful information on what to expect:

http://www.thai-blogs.com

More is promised soon.

[Tnzxovoz]

Sawatdee... Khorbkhun mark Khrap...

The articles proved to be a most interesting read! I look forward to any more information or comments you or anyone else may wish to provide. I want to know what I'm letting myself in for... Ha Ha!

Kind regards....

Seamus48

[Inenuedbabnor]

The past few years has seen a tremendous boom in the amount of so-called teacher training courses on offer. Quantity therefore means lack of actual quality and i can tell you that a lot of the courses now available are not up to standard.

Ive seen loads-a teachers over the past few years, who even though having passed one of these courses, were pretty crappo, to say the least, in class. Its been my pleasure too, to have fired a couple from their job.

Please also bear in mind that most of the courses (especially the cheaper ones) offer a qualification that is worth nowt outside of say south-east asia. Some courses advertise to the likes of 'Guaranteed by the Min of Education'! Oooooh sounds splendid, but....show that off to an employer in Taiwan and he'll laugh you out the backdoor.

The best courses offered are the internationally recognized ones. Then some of the institutes actually fool some teachers into the authenticity of their certificates with the likes of 'University of Middlesex' etc... Do a google search on any of these so-called places and you'll realize that some universities have nothing whatsoever to do with these so-called teacher training institutes. ie. its a money-making scam!

Absolutely, the best certificates on offer here are the 'Celta' ones. Not only are the ones issued here 'international' but on graduation and a year or so of experience you can go on to study for a 'Delta' and even on to a B-Ed.

Next, are the authentic TEFL ones and not a TEFL wanna-be course.

If you just want a certificate just for show when applying for a job, then you may as well just do the cheapest and shortest one there is available, as most Thai schools havent the foggiest to which is 'better'.

[Tnzxovoz]

Many thanks, I had already detrmined that there are quite a number of scams running out there which promise the earth but deliver nothing of real value. I had also found that the CELTA seemed to be way to go and there is a college near me that delivers it under a Cambridge-backed scheme. I've also got my RAF Education Centre staff researching the topic so I shall see what they turn up.

Once I have got the certificate, what do you recommend as the next step to finding a job in Thailand? Is there a particularly useful website or publication?

Regards.....

[Inenuedbabnor]

Certainly, take the opportunity to complete your Celta in England, the price of the course is more or less the same as in Thailand... and it looks better. Prospective employers are always more suspicious to the quality of candidates who graduated in Thailand.

Many agencies/pvt schools in Thailand actually prefer their teacher to have a Celta than say a uni degree. This is because, that having passed your Celta guarantees more or less that you are actually able to teach. Many agencies/pvt schools don't admit this in their 'job posting', but thats the truth. Just call up any of the big language centers in Bangkok and most are delighted at Celta cert. holders.

This is only for Celta cert holders, the above doesnt usually count for the other cert holders.

Govt schools need a degree, they arent bothered about any teaching certs such as TEFL or Celta.

Once you decided to apply for a job just go to www.ajarn.com stacks of jobs on offer there.

As an actual employer i would like to advise that you apply for a job when you are actually in Thailand. Ive had some teachers before, e-mail me from say England asking about a job available. Waste of time ive replied, contact me again when you arrive the country.

[Tnzxovoz]

Thankyou, your comments have been very useful. I will do as you advise, and yes I agree that actual proof of ability to teach means more than any random piece of paper!

[nanyaHgoc]

What are the chances of getting a teaching job if one has a Diploma in Education but not a degree? I've the impression that a degree, any degree, is the minimum qualification. I really doubt if having just any degree makes one a good teacher.

What about those who have the skill but are not native speakers? Is it possible to compete for a teaching assignment with who are native speakers but have no actual teaching experience?