At the end of the day foreign English speaking teachers are needed in big numbers. They will never get the required amount if they inforce degree plus tefl. They will always invent new annoyances and shake downs.
Hope it works out for all you chalkies in los.
The only way to get me back would be relocation expenses and 80,000b a month. And we all know that isn't gonna happen.
Cheers
Lew
Warning for techer renewing visas
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timthebrit
- udonmap.com
- Posts: 68
- Joined: May 13, 2007, 1:57 am
- Location: Wiltshire
I have followed this with interest. I am in Udon every year for the first couple of weeks in January. I have always taught English for a few days at the local secondary school (just to relieve daytime boredon when staying in my wife's village). There had always been a couple of 'falangs' working there, but this year there were none. When I asked the (Thai) head of the English dept he told me that there has been a real tightening of the rules. Apparently, any teachers from overseas MUST have a batchelor's degree and a TEFL cert. The falangs couldn't provide these and were out on their ears. It had been my intention to teach English in Udon in a couple of years time following early retirement. I have no problem with the degree or TEFL requirement (I'm a uni lecturer), but given what seems to be transpiring now I seriously doubt whether I shall bother. Seems like an awful lot of hassle to earn next to nothing even when all the hurdles have been jumped. The Thai Government really need to ask themselves some serious questions. I shall probably simply come home for a few months and earn a lot more money in a couple of months than I could earn teaching in Thailand in a full year. Seriously, why will people with a choice bother with all this crap?? It never fails to amaze me how difficult the Thai authorities make it for well-meaning falangs to give them the help they so desperately need. I just can't help comparing it to things over here in England. I married my missus 6 years ago, got the 'further leave to remain' visa, renewed that once and then (almost 2 years ago) my missus got full British Citizenship! Good luck to all of you who hang in there!! 
It does seem a bit Quixotic for those of us who continue to fight the good fight. I think little things help. Like, for example, I think for foreigners of pallor, we should probably stop using the word "farang" or "falang" as it perpetuates a certain stereotype about us. That is a different topic though.
In fact, I think that the programme on Thai culture could be very useful to many foreign teachers. If people come to live in my country, I expect them to assimilate to my country's culture not force their culture upon my country. This is especially important in a teaching environment where foreign teachers have a greater influence over young Thai minds. I see no problem with Thai authorities making sure that foreigners have a minimum understanding of Thai culture as a pre-requisite to obtaining the proper documentation for teaching in Thailand. The problem with the Thais is that they want experienced, qualified teachers for bargain basement prices.
I think it reflects a larger problem as well. Though I often begrudge the Thais and their system for being exclusionary towards foreigners of pallor, I think that we could improve acceptance among Thais by making a greater effort to learn and practice Thai culture, including language.
In fact, I think that the programme on Thai culture could be very useful to many foreign teachers. If people come to live in my country, I expect them to assimilate to my country's culture not force their culture upon my country. This is especially important in a teaching environment where foreign teachers have a greater influence over young Thai minds. I see no problem with Thai authorities making sure that foreigners have a minimum understanding of Thai culture as a pre-requisite to obtaining the proper documentation for teaching in Thailand. The problem with the Thais is that they want experienced, qualified teachers for bargain basement prices.
I think it reflects a larger problem as well. Though I often begrudge the Thais and their system for being exclusionary towards foreigners of pallor, I think that we could improve acceptance among Thais by making a greater effort to learn and practice Thai culture, including language.
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timthebrit
- udonmap.com
- Posts: 68
- Joined: May 13, 2007, 1:57 am
- Location: Wiltshire
'Foreigners of pallor' eh?? Love it!! Definition of 'pallor' in the Concise Oxford English Dictionary: 'n. an unhealthy pale appearance'. Perhaps a side-effect of all these new prerequisites for holding a licence to teach in Thailand eh????Yossarian wrote:It does seem a bit Quixotic for those of us who continue to fight the good fight. I think little things help. Like, for example, I think for foreigners of pallor, we should probably stop using the word "farang" or "falang" as it perpetuates a certain stereotype about us. That is a different topic though.
In fact, I think that the programme on Thai culture could be very useful to many foreign teachers. If people come to live in my country, I expect them to assimilate to my country's culture not force their culture upon my country. This is especially important in a teaching environment where foreign teachers have a greater influence over young Thai minds. I see no problem with Thai authorities making sure that foreigners have a minimum understanding of Thai culture as a pre-requisite to obtaining the proper documentation for teaching in Thailand. The problem with the Thais is that they want experienced, qualified teachers for bargain basement prices.
I think it reflects a larger problem as well. Though I often begrudge the Thais and their system for being exclusionary towards foreigners of pallor, I think that we could improve acceptance among Thais by making a greater effort to learn and practice Thai culture, including language.
