makavelithedon

Like virtually everything we read about 'education' this complete bunk - but very few ever see it. The most important skill these days is to filter out useless information - without this skill we'd quickly go crazy. Yet the System persists in its futile attempts to fill kids heads with stuff that they rightly see as useless and irrelevant. It is impossible to teach people anything they don't want to learn - yet we must give institutions worldwide full marks for trying. It's hard to make stuff relevant to life (outside school) because there isn't much beyond homework, TV and video games. If kids actually want to know something they can seek it out on the internet. They don't need to have it stuffed into their heads by teachers - this will only cause irreversible brain damage. Thus the peasants of yesteryear would see today's children as zombies. God help them.

I, like many others now face the prospect of having to leave Thailand  in search of new pastures. For me pesonally, I have been teaching for eight years, with a work permit and I am a single parent. I lack any formal qualifications so I am unable to sit the exams set by the TCT. Now it"s well know that no teacher waiver equals no extension of stay which equals no work permit.Does anyone think any of the following options are feasible.Have the school deal directly with immigration and therefore bypassing the TCT rules. Receiving an extention of stay based on having a child and then applying for a work permit. Going back to the beginning and starting an IGCSE course.Proberly not sufficent but it does show that I"m trying to improve myself which I believe all what all these new changes are for

aidenai, on 2012-01-12 10:25:09, said:

I personally know a number of teachers who haven't been informed about the changes in requirements, and there have been many, and neither has the school. Many work in schools in small towns and villages and have been teaching for years with no problem getting their WP renewed and visa extension up until very recently. There have been some who have had their WP and Visa extended without a problem and others who haven't been as lucky. The schools had no notification by anyone at the Ministry of Education or TCT about the Thai Culture Course or TL and the teachers didn't either.

After hearing this I asked recently at the school where I work and my Director said they haven't had any formal notifications either, we only know due to our own research. It is a complete shambles! One day someone without a degree, Culture Course Certificate or TL will get a WP and visa extension and the next day someone who has completed the Culture Course and has a degree but no TL will be refused, and that is at the same office! Teaching experience is very rarely taken into consideration and that is much more important than whether someone spent a few years getting drunk at university 20-30 years ago while doing a degree in Aromatherapy or Equine Management.

Kilgore Trout, on 2012-01-12 09:29:40, said:

When he started teaching here he probably met the requirements and they have since changed. He could also mean he's not a 'qualified' teacher as in he's not qualified in his home country. Most of the foreign teachers in government & private schools aren't qualified teachers in their home country as those that are work in international schools for double the salary.

There are many excellent teachers with years of teaching experience who are having to leave Thailand (many with families) because of the recent changes in requirements which is ridiculous as the government want Thai students to improve their English skills before 2015. How can they expect this to happen when they are making it more and more difficult for teachers to stay here?!

I'm doing a BSc (open) with the OU while living over here. Here's how it works
you need an address in the Uk from which the materials, books CDs, and DVDs, can be sent over here. The courses are government subsidized but you must be  an EU resident.
The degrees are modular, built up of either,10, 15, 20, 30 or 60 point courses. 1 point equates to about 10 hours study time
you need 300 points, 360 for honours. Full time study, and the maximum you can do, is 120 points a year. This year I've done courses totaling 90 points. Even only working a few hours, there were times when I never saw the light of day.
The courses have a continual assessment component and either a final examination, which you must return back to the UK to take, or final assignment.
Taking an open BA or BSc does have advantages over a designated degree in that you can avoid the residential courses. (they are actually considering scrapping many, if not all of these) you also have a greater choice of the courses you study, for example; next month I begin a 60 point course on energy for a sustainable future, followed by technology for a sustainable future. I have already studied for a certificate in health sciences and certificate in natural sciences.
Another advantage is that should I wish to study for another degree I can count some of the courses (more than half) I have already done towards it. I am actually considering one of the tree hugging degrees (environmental) after this one.

I have been teaching in Thailand for 5 years and i am now looking to better myself with an Education Degree. I preferably want to study 100% online so I can continue with my full-time job. I' ve been searching for a university that does this, but so far have yet to find one. Has anyone done this? If so, any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

cajunpete, on 2012-01-07 00:39:27, said:

I'll take a shot here, I've spent a lot of time in Phuket and have worked in Bangkok.

First of all, I'll assume you will be working with QSI, BIS, or PIA.  These schools are all located away from the expensive shithole tourist traps like Patong, and this alone will save you money.  PIA is in a particularly nice location in the north of the island.

That salary will allow you to live well in Phuket and travel all you want in the region, especially if you stick to the budget airlines.  Good news is that Phuket airport has emerged as a main travel hub for all of SE Asia and beyond.  Don't expect to save a huge amount but it is possible if you cut back on travel.  With a family you will absolutely need a car on Phuket though, which will probably be your biggest expense.  Don't even think about living in Phuket without your own transport.  Your other big expense will be Thai tax.  I'm not up on the current figures but plan on 15% minimum on that type of salary - more, if they include the value of your housing as taxable income (as many international schools do).  The utilities allowance is a plus, but if you even approach $1000/mo in utilities in Thailand then you are really being ripped off.  Food is incredibly cheap in Thailand, try shopping at the local phuket markets or SuperCheap, a huge discount type store in Phuket town.

BTW, try some of the well known international school forums for better feedback, you won't get as much input here.

-EDIT- I misread the part about utilities and now see that you have to pay them.  This can eat into your budget if you blast the aircon all day.