Topic: Should teachers avoid Thailand?

[Geekboy]

I got a buddy back home. He wants to come to Thailand to teach. I want to tell him to avoid teaching in Thailand at all costs, but I want other opinions on it. Should he come to Thailand or not?

[Mods-Rockers]

Well in the present climate, unless he is fully papered up and can get the relevent police checks I would not advise anyone to come!

[bomha]

I would also advise him not to come, especially if he's all papered up with degree, TEFL cert, maybe a home country certification.  There is a very likely chance that for two to four years here, he will get screwed over like a cheap whore.  And if he wants to screw cheap whores, there are cheaper places.  I am serious.  Maybe I would advise my worst enemy to come teach here.

[Mods-Rockers]

Good point Bomha

[samvimes]

Sorry but right now I would not advise anyone to come. The rules are changing too often, they are inconsistent.

We are not transients; we deserve some respect some security.

[NukeThemSlowly]

If not already here, avoid.

[Jookster]

I'm suprised, at the responses.

What do people mean by being screwed over? In what ways exactly?

[Krungsri]

Following from M-R's advice: If he's properly qualified and has police clearance there should be no real problem. 

It would help if he's prepared to accept that living and working in Thailand is not like it is back home and that here the rules are made by the Thais (it's their country).  If he doesn't like it he can finish his contract and go somewhere else (or, like many others, go somewhere else and then come back). 

[Veritas]

   I refer to Reply #4 above. It strikes me as right on advice.

   What's valid today or next week concerning farang might next month bring a prison sentence. Meanwhile, schools get a slap on the wrist.

   Thais always have been, inter alia erratic, impulsive, capiricious, whimsical and last minute. It is their country. And they're sure making a hellova mess of it. I'd never known Thais could do something as quickly as they've done that and more.

   

[Mods-Rockers]

   I refer to Reply #4 above. It strikes me as right on advice.

   What's valid today or next week concerning farang might next month bring a prison sentence. Meanwhile, schools get a slap on the wrist.

Namto… umm Veriatas, exactly what do you base your statement above on? Surely it has always been an offence punishable under the law to fraudulently use false documentation to obtain any position within this country! It always been invalid, its just that they have decided to do something about it now!
If the Thais were changing the law to attack foreigners then you may have a point but that’s hardly the case now is it?

   

Thais always have been, inter alia erratic, impulsive, capiricious, whimsical and last minute. It is their country. And they're sure making a hellova mess of it. I'd never known Thais could do something as quickly as they've done that and more.   

W.S. R&J A2, S2.

[bomha]

I'm suprised, at the responses.

What do people mean by being screwed over? In what ways exactly?

How shall I list the ways?  They may lie in the most blatant way, straight to your face in front of witnesses.  They may reneg on their promises as if they never promised.  They may ignore the legal contract.  Almost surely, you will begin your employment without proper paperwork, and violate national law, subject to fines, imprisonment, and deportation (it happened already).  They may change the working conditions unilaterally, without consideration.  They will often fail to pay you on time, or at all.  They may slap you in public (it was reported), disrespect you behind your back and to your face, and they will almost certainly change failing grades to 'pass' or higher.  They will use the most abominable teaching errors, and then accuse you of the most petty error (or a non-existent error).  They usually will not give you such basic resources as whiteboard markers or chalk, allow you internet access faster than 2 kilobytes per second, police the copy machine as if it were a nuclear dump.....and they will almost surely fail to communicate.  Their command of English may not exceeed that of your Yorkshire terrier.

Now you got me started.  They will......I guess you get the idea.

[Krungsri]

I'm suprised, at the responses.

What do people mean by being screwed over? In what ways exactly?

How shall I list the ways?  They may lie in the most blatant way, straight to your face in front of witnesses.  They may reneg on their promises as if they never promised.  They may ignore the legal contract.  Almost surely, you will begin your employment without proper paperwork, and violate national law, subject to fines, imprisonment, and deportation (it happened already).  They may change the working conditions unilaterally, without consideration.  They will often fail to pay you on time, or at all.  They may slap you in public (it was reported), disrespect you behind your back and to your face, and they will almost certainly change failing grades to 'pass' or higher.  They will use the most abominable teaching errors, and then accuse you of the most petty error (or a non-existent error).  They usually will not give you such basic resources as whiteboard markers or chalk, allow you internet access faster than 2 kilobytes per second, police the copy machine as if it were a nuclear dump.....and they will almost surely fail to communicate.  Their command of English may not exceeed that of your Yorkshire terrier.

Now you got me started.  They will......I guess you get the idea.

Sounds like a real hoot, doesn't it!  How come we're still here?

[ajarnnormal]

I think it best to stay away at this point in time. As for being screwed over, just look through some of the threads on this site. All the things that got me hear in the first place seem to be less attractive. I remember the 'Land of smiles". now it seems the land of sniggers. We jump through one hoop after another and then the goalposts are moved yet again. It is going to take a long time before this country sorts out it's problems. If I was thinking of moving from my home country to teach I would think twice or more about Thailand. It is not just the JK thing that has made it so difficult. I keep hearing this as the reason. No it isn't, it goes far deeper than that. The events in the last twelve months have not done a thing to help. It is no different than what it was in September here. There is no light yet at the end of the tunnel, just somebody with a torch. If there isn't a big change in just about every issue regarding teaching here stay away there are far better options elsewhere. Having said all that I am staying but heading for the sticks for a bit of fresh air,

[blackmail]

My answer is NO.  Should teachers avoid teaching in Thailand:  YES!  So keep teaching in your home countries, earning 3 to 7 times more money, then come on over and don't even consider working.  I read so much negativity about the Thais on this website, but I find the Thai world outside of the education sector to be completely different.  The weather is great, the food is great (and cheap), the Thai ladies are quite nice, and my business dealings have been extremely pleasant.

Teaching here seems to be a "Catch 22" type of siuation.  You now have to have some pretty specific credentials, but anyone with the required credentials would not be real satisfied working here.  There is a large group that primarily wants to stay in Thailand.  They realize the only way for them to do this, is to teach.  They take 25K per month (often less) and last about three months.  But, there is always another batch of naive TEFL certificate holders ready to take their place.  Some folks seem to think they are going to be paid four times more than a Thai teacher, or policeman and be given an easy job----Dream on!

The school system I was working for in America had two openings.  One for an SOL (Speaker of other Language) Instructor; 31.50 us per hour.  The other was for SOL Program Coordinator; 35.50 us per hour. 

[ajarnnormal]

Yes Blackmail you are right. There is another group that I have the biggest repect for and that is the ones who came here when it was a better place to live. They then found themselves a nice lady and decided to start a family thinking that all was going to be the same for ever. They have to ride out the storm and stick with it, Fair play to them and I hope that things pan out and back to the good old days or better. I am somewhere in the middle of those groups. I like this country and I have a lady but no kids or marriage. I would leave if the chips were really down but it has not got to that stage yet. So I am riding the storm with the family guys. I would not come here from scratch it is not worth the hassle.