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[Silky]

Hi Ladies in Thailand (how i envy you all!)

Just wanted to say a quick hello and introduce myself...
Im 25, female (obv), and currently living and working in the UK.
AFter years of being in love with Thailand ive decided to do something about it and put the wheels into motion to move out there.

Unfortunately for me i dont have a degree and so not really qualified to become a teacher out there.. sssooo... part time degree it is for me!
Hopefully be out with you lovely ladies by the time im 30 - well thats the plan.

Hope to meet some friends here in the meantime and enjoy listening to your stories

Silky x

[regine]

Hello Hello.

Whereabouts are you from in the UK?

Is teaching in Thailand your long-term goal? (30 - retirement?)

[submaniac]

Hi Silky, Welcome!  I think you can still do it without a degree. It is more difficult, yes, but I have known others that have done it.  Good luck to you.

[sbk]

Very difficult to do it legally, I understand, best ask in teaching forum but be aware its a can of worms!

[Silky]

Thanks for the replies ladies

Hi Regine, im in surrey at the moment (freezing my butt off!)
I guess teaching would be my long-term goal... ive always had an interest in it but its not something ive pursued in this country as i fell into my current job and just got too comfy/lazy. The prospect of being able to teach in thailand is really what sells it to me, as ive been thinking about ways to make a move out there for a while now.

[Krupnik]

Hi Silky

Welcome to the forum! I felt the same way as you after my first trip out here. Luckily I did already have my degree and I moved out here permanently about four years ago now, just a few years older than you are now. I'm also from the UK, not far from you on the Kent - London border. I look forward to seeing you out here!

Definitely a good idea to get your degree first. Although you can work without a degree, you won't get a decent job with decent money and you won't get the same respect as a qualified teacher. With a degree you will have so much more opportunities.

You should also get a TEFL or preferably a CELTA, assuming that you aren't getting a degree in Education. But you can do that here! What part of Thailand are you planning to move to?

Goodluck! Feel free to ask me any questions about living or teaching here if you have any and I will do my best to answer them.

Edited by Krupnik, 2012-02-14 12:45:34.

[Silky]

Thanks for your reply Krupnik!

Ah yes, youre not far from me at all! Your so lucky you managed to do it so quickly. Do you come back to the UK much?
Im kind of kicking myself for not going to uni now! Buuuut no regrets i guess, it just wasnt for me at the time and im not afraid of a challenge now
I just need to decide on what degree to go for... Something in Education would be preferable i guess. That or English Language?

As its so far down the line ive not really given too much consideration to where id like to be based when i come out to teach, but i have Bangkok in mind as a starting place and i guess just see where the wind takes me!

Where abouts are you?
How do you find teaching in Thailand?

x

[Krupnik]

You're welcome! I go back to the UK every summer. Do you get out to Thailand very often for trips? Do you have friends out here? Can you speak any Thai or anything? Bangkok is a good place to start for job opportunities and higher salary if you can bare it, I find Chiang Mai a calmer alternative. Do you know Chiang Mai?

So you haven't started your degree yet... It is worth doing something that you are actually interested in, rather than doing a degree that will just enable you to teach because if you have a degree in any subject, you can teach here in a Thai School or Language School. To work in an International School you would need a degree in the field that you are teaching and/or a degree in education.

Since a degree in any field is enough, you should take a course that would also be something to fall back on to in case teaching doesn't turn out to be your cup of tea. It's not for everyone after all. Do you have any teaching experience yet?

Good luck with everything. I find teaching in Thailand to be a very comfortable life compared with life in the UK. Hope you make it in your quest to come and teach here. What is your current job in England?

x

[little_muppet]

Welcome. I think chiang mai is better to start.  

[regine]

Silky, on 2012-02-14 00:04:31, said:

Thanks for the replies ladies

Hi Regine, im in surrey at the moment (freezing my butt off!)
I guess teaching would be my long-term goal... ive always had an interest in it but its not something ive pursued in this country as i fell into my current job and just got too comfy/lazy. The prospect of being able to teach in thailand is really what sells it to me, as ive been thinking about ways to make a move out there for a while now.

There's a Thai student association at the University of Surrey. You should get in contact with them. Thai students in the UK usually want to improve their English language skills so the Thai societies will sometimes set up "dates" so that Thai students can learn English and English students can learn Thai.  You might want to get in involved with them to learn the language, culture, etc. before heading over.

You could just throw yourself into things 4 years from now, but why wait? You have 4 years to prepare, I would certainly try and get accustomed to the Thai way of life before moving. And who knows, maybe after everything is said and done you'll decide Thailand's not for you and you'd be much happier teaching English in Japan or Korea. I know a few people that dreamed of teaching in Thailand, but just couldn't do it. Decided to teach in Korea and take frequent vacations to Thailand instead.

[Krupnik]

Good advice there. Definitely take some holidays over here first and make friends, get used to the culture. As for those who favoured Korea or Japan it's probably about money. You can make pretty decent money in Korea for example but in Thailand you won't really make enough money to save or anything. But it's enough to live comfortably, like I said.
Dee
x

[sparebox2]

http://www.thaivisa....rnment-schools/
Education Minister Proposes Hiring Backpackers To Teach English In Government Schools!

It is still is the proposing state though.

[Krupnik]

sparebox2, on 2012-02-20 12:12:17, said:

http://www.thaivisa....rnment-schools/
Education Minister Proposes Hiring Backpackers To Teach English In Government Schools!

It is still is the proposing state though.

It will not be useful for anyone who wants to make a proper career of it in Thailand. Schools will not have much respect for backpackers - holiday makers - who are here for the party! They will not be taken seriously and the pay will most likely reflect it....

[Silky]

Thanks so much for all the replies - some really helpful advice there (esp regine!), i really appreciate it!

Krupnik -

I hope to take holidays every year, but unfortunately money limits me to some extent
I have been out every year for the past 4 years and each time i hate coming home even more. Ive not been to Chang Mai tho, so maybe this will be my next on the list

I dont have any teaching experience unfortunately but its something i think id be enthusiastic about.
At the moment i do the book keeping for a commodity brokers - and it quite frankly bores me to death. Been here 6 years now and definitely in need of a change. However, its secure and pays well, so i will stick it out in order to get a degree and think of the bigger picture.

I wouldnt really say i have any 'friends' over there but there have been a few friendly faces ive met etc.

I know everywhere has its problems and daily grinds but youre all so lucky to be out there amongst the life and colour. The UK isnt much fun at the mo!

x

[Krupnik]

Aww I can imagine that it isn't, Silky. I hope that you make it over here and that you find the time to come up here to Chiang Mai during one of your visits. How long do you usually spend here? How long have you spent over here in one holiday?

Please remember though that living here is quite different from a holiday, I certainly don't mean to put you off but I should warn you. Like anywhere, you will discover of all the not so good things which might not be apparent at first. Then there is teaching - remember it is not for everyone. You may find that it doesn't suit you, despite your enthusiasm. All I am saying is be careful not to 'lay all your eggs in one basket' as it were, make sure that you have other things to fall back on to.

I would recommend that you try to make more Thai friends and immerse yourself as much as you can in Thai culture during the time before you move here. Go to Thai restaurants and stuff for a start, maybe you can strike up friendships with staff who want to improve their English. I would also recommend trying to learn some Thai but I don't see how you'd fit that in around a job AND a degree!

I felt like you, had an OK job that paid well but it was just part of the rat-race and I just kept thinking 'there HAS to be more to life than this' and dreamed of Thailand. However, now that I am here there are other times - I have to admit - when sometimes I miss having a stress-free job that left my mind as soon as I walked out the office. Teaching is totally different. It is challenging, stressful and sometimes can feel thankless. Nevertheless, I would never give up this life for what I had and did in UK.

Anyway, do not totally rely on moving here as it may not turn out to be for you, just make sure you have a back up plan as well. Hope to see you out here, let us know how it is all going!!

Very best of luck!

x

[submaniac]

Silky, on 2012-02-21 23:13:50, said:

I wouldnt really say i have any 'friends' over there but there have been a few friendly faces ive met etc.

Well, I say just keep posting on TV and on the ladies forum, and you will have some good friends by the time you are ready to come out.   It really helps to have a support network.

[Silky]

Thanks Submaniac, id really like to make some new friends. Everyone here has been so helpful so far
  
Krupnik -
Oh no i totally get what youre saying, and id like to think im not foolish enough to put all my eggs in one basket. I wouldnt cut off all ties at home and leave myself without options, i know  you always need to try and cover your back. And im not naive enough to just assume it'll all work out rainbows and happiness, without a care in the world... lets face it – life’s life, wherever you are!
Like you said though... im here, in the UK, feeling like, well, im wasting my life and thinking ''there must be more than this?!''.
This country depresses me, it really does! In a few aspects i can tell you!

Sadly ive looked further into this (part-time) degree and it seems i got it wrong

It would take me 6 years to get the degree and not 4 as i previously thought. This has really upset me as now im not quite sure what to do!

Its not the hard work that puts me off at all, but I’m 25 now and having to think about things realistically. I have to look at what i want from life...
What i want IS to achieve this goal for myself, and to follow my dream and my heart to Thailand in a sensible/safe way which will allow me to support myself and not worry about being thrown out of the country at a seconds notice (working illegally).

But... what i also want from life and what ive always seen as important is to have a family. I’ve always seen myself with 3 maybe 4 kids (i kno you can never plan these things - i may end  up with none!) But if i were to start this degree and THEN do a CELTA and only really THEN begin on my adventure i would be at least 32 before i even started to set up somewhere new.

I’m worried that if i follow my heart with this i might not get the time to meet someone and have a family until im too old!? I know 32 isnt old but in terms of not even having started teaching then... I’m not adverse to Thai men btw, theyre so cute – (that’s neither here nor there) but it still takes time to find someone you love/trust.

It’s not that I’m not committed to this idea, but it is SUCH a big commitment in terms for time and money that now im worrying that whatever i choose i’ll be closing off the other 'door'

Sorry for the rant! x

[Silky]

wow! that really was long - sorry to bore you guys!

[sbk]

Not at all, good to see you thinking things through

[Boo]

Have you thought about saving for a couple of years then doing a degree in Thailand, universities like khon kaen offer degrees in teaching english as a second language in English also it will also help you make local friends & learn the language whilst immersed in it daily.

http://studyinthailand.org/index.html this link is quite helpful in showing what courses are on offer.

[Silky]

Thank you so much for that link Boo - thats amazing! I need to take some time out and really read through all the options there. Got some serious thinking to do xx

[Krupnik]

Feel free to rant Silky no problem we're here to listen. Totally understand your situation it's a difficult one! It is an idea to get your degree here but I would imagine it would cost alot more than in England. I don't really know though. Anyway, hope you manage to work something out, six years is a long time isn't it. Good luck and let us know how you get on!

x