ESL jobs

annamartha · #1 (**permalink**) 5th July 2007, 09:48 PM

There are absolutely no jobs in Thailand posted on Dave's ESL Cafe, yet I know people teach there. What's the deal?

synthia · #2 (**permalink**) 6th July 2007, 03:51 PM

There is a lot of work in Thailand, although most schools don't sponsor for visas and there is a lot of uncertainty about the whole visa situation, crackdowns on fake diplomas used by some who do have visas, and ever-changing rules. They don't do much if any recruiting from overseas. The pay is enough to live on, if you don't go out a lot. There are occasional news articles complaining that Thailand doesn't get the same quality of teachers that other countries do, but they make visas hard to get, pay poorly, and don't recruit.

annamartha · #3 (**permalink**) 7th July 2007, 02:24 PM

I thought everybody advertised on Daves. So it really isn't common in some of the poorer countries? Is it too expensive for them or can they get enough teachers that they don't have to worry.

What's the problem with Thai visas?

synthia · #4 (**permalink**) 11th July 2007, 06:01 PM

They can't afford it, they have had problems with people not showing up, they know that they don't pay enough to attract people anyway.

The visa rules changed in October of last years. A huge percentage of Thai ESL teachers don't have work permits. Every month they would go to the nearest border, cross, and come back in with a new 30 day stamp in their passport. there are people who did this for seven years or more. Now you are allowed only 90 days using the entry stamp in a 180 day period, then you have to leave for a country with a Thai consulate and get a tourist visa.

It has all been really unclear, inconsistently enforced, and rather fluid. And if they don't want to, even with a visa, they don't have to let you in. So some people are just getting fed up, and leaving. And some who might have stayed under the old method don't want to bother now.

annamartha · #5 (**permalink**) 12th July 2007, 03:44 PM

I reallly wanted to have something lined up before I went, but I guess that isn't going to be possible. You said the schools pay poorly. How poor is poorly?

synthia · #6 (**permalink**) 13th July 2007, 05:35 PM

Some ESL schools pay as little as 20,000 baht ($655 per month). 30,000 ($983)is probably more typical. Many require that you be there all day, even if you don't have classes.

Emerald · #7 (**permalink**) 22nd July 2007, 11:35 PM

Hi Annamartha,

My name's Ian(another expat newbie).I will be in the same boat as you when I arrive on the 3rd of August.If you get any pearls of wisdom sent your way,I would appreciate it if you could let us know.

synthia · #8 (**permalink**) 23rd July 2007, 05:28 PM

Useful sites:

Ajarn.com - living and teaching in Bangkok

Guide for Transition to Teaching English Overseas - EFL, ESL

And no, I have no association with them. At least one of them has an article called 'How to get an ESL job in ten days' or something like that. It's very good.

annamartha · #9 (**permalink**) 26th July 2007, 05:53 PM

I haven't been here for a while. Thanks for the links, Synthia. I've been looking into flights and all the other arrangements I need to make. I actually haven't decided what country I'm most interested in, so I've set aside some money to travel first, and at least get an idea of what each place is like. Good idea or not?

easylife · #10 (**permalink**) 31st July 2007, 05:31 PM

I was thinking about going back to Japan, where I worked before, but now I think I'll try someplace else. I'm way too old to get a job anywhere that it's easy for them to get esl teachers, so I was thinking about SouthEast Asia. Has anybody taught in both Japan and SEA, and what were the differences?