PROFESSIONAL English teachers - requirements

[Burn]

After graduating with a proper teaching degree in English and Social Studies from the University of Munich, I would like to spend some time teaching in Thailand, probably on a semi-voluntary basis for board and lodging for half a year or so.
I would not mind earning money by teaching in the country, however, I do know that especially rural schools cannot spend an awful lot of money on professionally trained English teachers and would mainly be doing this for the benefit of the children.

As far as I know, I do need a TESOL(?) certificate to apply for a work permit - is that correct? Are there any other restrictions?

[Sean Moran]

If you have a Bachelor of Arts in Tiddley-Winks, you can walk into a well-paid job in
Dusit or one of the better areas of Bangkok with the full visa and work permit red
carpet treatment. Salaries in rural areas are generally significantly lower, although
the living costs (rent etc.) generally follow suit too. If you have the paperwork, a
long nose and an heartbeat, you'll have no trouble teaching English, even if you can
barely speak the language yourself.

This is relevant to my 2006 experience too, so things might have changed since then,
but if anything has changed, it would still be likely very easy for any flake with that
all important paperwork to walk into a well-paid job, possibly even air-conmditioning
and whiteboards too, if you make sure to ask about these things at the interview, for
the chalk can take some getting used to with blackboard/fan classrooms in the heat,
to avoid getting dubbed Mr Snowman when you get back to the teachers' room with
chakldust all down your trousers.

[Burn]

No BA, German state exam, equivalent to a double-master in English and Social Studies, I'd say.
There's no TESOL needed then? Weird. Thought getting a work permit was quite difficult?

[rayan]

The law is getting very strict now for teachers. They require the teacher to have a licence so you have to go to a culture thing that lasts for one day, and yes you have to pay for it not the school that is going to hire you. The schools likes to see TEFL or something like that. They require all of the orignal degrees not copies for they will check them out. It used to be very easy to get a job teaching, but now it is hard because of the restrictions. You also have to go to immigration if you get a job and change your visa, and depending on what you have talked about to the school you may have to pay for that. And yes the work permit you might have to pay for.

[Burn]

So ... even if I do have a degree in English teaching I do need a TEFL certificate?
How about that culture course? I have already attended and still am attending a Thai language course at uni and do probably know more about Thai culture already than a course could teach you in a day o_O.

[rayan]

Hi Burn,

I have two degrees, and a 120 hour TEFL, and one of my degrees is a BA in Education. When the university seen my TEFL it was better than my BA. I don't need a cultural course as it is a university that I work for, but most of the schools do require it. And when you go to immigration to get the new visa and you don't have that paper for the course you will not get a visa. You have to check with the school. TEFL or some other course is what they want check ajarn.com it will give you a lot of information.

[rayan]

Try THAIVISA.com there is a lot of information on this plus the guys who are on it know a lot about things like this good luck

[HybridEm]

TESOL certificate/ degree would be helpful. As rayan posted, his links would be pretty helpful as they are specific to this topic. Best of luck!

[stilljustbrowsing]

I have a protractor and a compass, got told I was over-qualified 'cause I had too many degrees!

[fast eddy]

I applied for a teaching job early last December and was rejected -not enough degrees (cold season).

good luck you should have no problems whatsoever. cheers