JOB SEARCH SOURCES IN THAILAND

Bulletin Boards
Newspapers
Private School Teachers' Association of Thailand
Word of Mouth
The Yellow Pages
Sending Organizations
   English Language School International
   Global Routes
   Ministry of Education Teacher Colleges
   Thai-American International
   WorldTeach

Once you arrive in Thailand, you'll quickly learn that the best way to get to know your way around is to make friends with other teachers. This is a great way to find a nice place to live or hang out in your free time. It's also the best way to find up-to-the -minute information on who's hiring. The longer you live in the country, the easier it will be for you to find jobs and private students.

It takes quite a bit of persistence to find the good language schools in Thailand, but more are opening every year. Some of them are registered with the government and some are not. Some start with good intentions and then fizzle out due to lack of students and good teachers. In many cases a good school will have problems due to its location. Most of these schools cannot afford to pay high wages due to the fact that students attending these schools cannot afford to pay high fees. Conversely, teachers cannot afford to teach at too many part-time jobs due to the difficulty of getting around on low wages.

If you've ever eaten at a Thai restaurant, you've probably noticed that everyone looks good. Thais take personal appearance very seriously. The most important part of your job search could well be the moment you step in the door. Unless you're prepared for rejection, get a haircut, dress conservatively, and be sure your nails are clean. Also, carry a few extra passport pictures wherever you go; you'll be asked to attach one to each of your applications.

Some schools, such as AUA, ECC, Berlitz, and the English International Schools, have branches all over the country. These schools have English-speaking directors who will help with finding accommodations and other issues of concern to new teachers. In general, some schools will accept applications in the mail, others will file them, and others will dump them, as they prefer to see all prospective teachers before hiring them. This is not an easy country in which to live, and they want to make sure they are hiring people who have been able to get themselves to Thailand reasonably well and who won't quit after a few months because they can't settle down.

The list of schools at the end of this chapter is a good place to start with your job search, though it's far from comprehensive. Bear in mind that the English-teaching industry can change rapidly; schools close down and new ones open frequently.

In addition to contacting schools listed in this program, try these sources:

Bulletin Boards

Language schools and Thai individuals needing English teachers or tutors often advertise on bulletin boards at budget hotels and hostels, universities, bars, dance clubs, the American Chamber of Commerce, and other places frequented by foreigners.

The British Council on Siam Square is also a good place to check, as they keep a list of international schools, universities, and language institutes that frequently hire English teachers.

Newspapers

Many people find teaching jobs simply by looking in the classified ads of the English-language newspapers, especially the Bangkok Post and The Nation, where many schools advertise openings. This is the best way to find a job if you don't already have a contact in Thailand. Many of the schools we contacted indicated that when they need teachers they advertise in the paper.

Private School Teachers' Association of Thailand (PSTAT)

PSTAT helps match up qualified teachers with Thai private schools. To get a job through this organization, previous coursework in EFL (English as a Foreign Language) and ESL (English as a Second Language) is very helpful; however, many people with college degrees are hired without much experience or specialized training.

Word of Mouth

Other teachers are probably the best source of job leads. Many English teachers stay for only a few months, after which they quit and move on. Often the recommendation of a departing teacher is enough to get a good job. Also, many people have private students, who they teach on a one-on-one basis. When they leave, many teachers pass their private students on to friends.

The Yellow Pages

Like most Asian cities, Bangkok publishes an English-language yellow pages. Most of the sixty or so larger English schools are listed, along with columns of schools of unknown caliber. Photocopy the appropriate pages, then call to ask if they're hiring.

Sending Organizations

Although the vast majority of English teachers in Thailand find jobs after their arrival, there are a few organizations that recruit and hire teachers before they get to Thailand. So if you're leery of flying across the Pacific before you have a job in hand, you might try contacting the following organizations:

English Language School International (ELS)

ELS regularly hires Americans to teach at one of their several branch schools in Thailand. ELS will assist with your work visa, housing, and in most cases with travel arrangements.

Requirements

• One-year commitment
• Four-year or bachelor's degree
• Completion of a 130 hour TESL program
• Native fluency in English
• Preference is given to individuals with at least one year of ESL teaching experience.

For more information or to apply to ELSI, contact them at:

ELS Language Centers
Attn: Director of Field Operations
5761 Buckingham Parkway
Culver City, CA 90230
(800) 468-8978

Global Routes

Global Routes offers ten-week, voluntary internships to students who want to teach English and other subjects in village schools in Thailand. There are no specific requirements other than being a college student. The fee for participation is about US$3,200, not including air fare. For more information, contact:

Global Routes
5554 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 655-0321

Ministry of Education Teacher Colleges

The Ministry of Education has thirty-six teacher colleges, which are called the Rajabhat Institute. There are six Rajabhat Institutes in Bangkok and thirty in various provincial capitals. You will be exposed to more "regular" Thai people at these colleges than at the English businesses or higher universities. Your students probably will not be familiar with teaching methods in use in North America (since rote learning is common in Thailand), so your innovations will be of interest to them. There are two types of "foreign" teachers at Rajabhat Institutes: (1) teachers on contract, who earn US$760 per month, with a US$200–$300 housing allowance; and (2) "volunteer teachers," who only earn US$240 per month, but are taken care of in many ways. For example, volunteers have free housing and the Institute does the paperwork for the correct visas. WorldTeach sends its teachers to these schools, but their volunteers pay thousands to get in.

You can apply to teach at any of these teacher colleges by sending a letter describing yourself and your interests, a copy of your transcripts, and your resume to the main office in Bangkok, which is listed below. Email and fax submissions are more welcome than regular mail. Qualifications for teaching at these schools may be more lenient than some of the universities listed in the schools section: you must be a native speaker and have a B.A. in English or related subject. ESL certification and experience are pluses, but aren't required.

Office of Rajabhat Institute Council
Attn. Dr. Derek Pornsrima, Planning Division, Ministry of Education
Rajadamnoen-Nok Road
Bangkok 10300, Thailand
(02) 282-0241
Fax: (02) 281-7269
Email: rajabhat@emisc.moe.go.th

Thai-American International (TAI)

Thai American International, founded in 1994 by English teachers in Thailand, finds ten-month teaching positions in public elementary, secondary, and vocational schools in Bangkok and various provinces. Requirements are a B.A., a positive attitude, good health, and a $600 placement fee. The monthly salary is about US$400, and housing is provided. Contact Kimberli Brown at the following address for more information:

TAI
4505 University Way NE
P.O. Box 436
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 328-9708
Fax: (206) 545-7207

WorldTeach

WorldTeach is a nonprofit organization that recruits volunteers to teach English in several countries, including Thailand. Volunteers can expect to pay approximately US$4,000 for airfare, orientation, and insurance, and will receive free housing and a stipend while teaching.

Requirements

• One-year commitment
• Four-year degree
• Completion of a one-semester course in TEFL or completion of twenty-five hours of EFL teaching

To apply or for more information, contact:

WorldTeach
Harvard Institute for International Development
One Eliot Street
Cambridge, MA 02138-5705
(617) 495-5527 or (800) 4-TEACH-0 (USA only)

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