The regulations say, “In order to open an ordinary checking or savings account, Bank of Bangkok requires that I get a notarized letter from the US Embassy in Bangkok, stating that I’m a US citizen and that I reside in Thailand at a certain address. The Embassy requires an appointment and a $50.00 document fee, not including the cost of transportation to and from Bangkok, or a hotel and meals. And there’s no guarantee the bank will even accept it.”  R. Butler.

Thailand Retirement Concierge clients, of course, do not have this problem, since we act as your guarantor.

This video shows just how infuriating it can be:

New money-laundering regulations require you to establish and prove permanent residence before you can open a Thai bank account. You can imagine the Catch-22 situation this creates: how can you pay the deposit on your new place if you don’t even have a bank account?, More at paydayloansmonster.

We’ve struggled with this since the regulations came into effect and now, with the help of our angelic bank manager, have created a completely legal process that allows Concierge clients to open their permanent account as soon as they arrive.

We go to the bank together and you’ll have your ATM card and bank book when you leave. Best of all, apart from signing a few more forms, it requires no effort on your part: we’ll be waiting with the completed forms as soon as you step off the plane. Here are some simple steps that will make opening your Thai bank account a breeze:

• Except for businesses, checking accounts are not generally used in Thailand. Thailand Bank Accounts are structured a little differently, like everything in Thailand so, when you ask to open an account the bank will open a savings account without even asking you. The administration of bank accounts and the security procedures are slightly different, too, so here’s a brief primer:

  

• When you go to the bank, take your passport, your permanent Thai address and Thai cellphone number
• Joint accounts are very difficult, so get the account in one name and then get two ATM cards. Trust me, this is the better option.
• You will have to pay for your new (chipped) ATM card. Cost is up to 1,000 baht, depending on the bank.
• Ask for online banking while you’re opening the account. The bank officer will usually not suggest this (don’t ask me why) which means you’ll have to go back again later if you don’t do it on the spot.
• Ask the bank officer to show you how to navigate your Thai online account. They’re set up differently from those at home but work quickly and well once you’ve mastered the interface
• The bank will give you a savings account passbook. Don’t make the mistake I made and throw it away or lose it. Passbooks are extremely important in Thailand and are used for all major withdrawals. So keep it in a safe place.
• Update your passbook regularly. It’s your legal proof of transactions and balances. There are Passbook Update Terminals alongside most ATM transaction machines at all bank branches. When you correctly insert your passbook they will read your account number from the barcode on its cover. Ask your bank officer to show you how to use it before you leave the bank. Then use it at least once a month, and after every significant deposit.
• When you get home, start setting up online bill payment accounts immediately, so you don’t forget how to use the interface. You can pay all your regular bills online. The easiest are your Internet and cable providers, and your cell phone provider. If you haven’t opened those accounts yet, remember to ask for their online billpay account name when you’re setting up the account. Otherwise, you may need to call their customer support line to get that information and enter it into your bill pay account. You’ll only need to do this once.
• I use (and strongly recommend) Bangkok Bank. This is a link to their online banking which, once you learn the interface, is a fast and convenient way to pay all your bills. As with all things to do with banking in Thailand, the trick is choosing a bank manager. My guy works miracles for me and for clients…
• If receiving payments from a US Government Agency: Download the “Direct Deposit Sign-up Form (SF1199A)” from http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online. Complete the form to sign up for Direct Deposit with your relevant US government agency and include information which are your name and physical address in Thailand; your bank account number and the name and address of your Bangkok Bank Branch in Thailand; 9-digit routing number 026008691 of Bangkok Bank New York  Branch. Complete a “Direct Deposit Service Application” form, which you can pick up at any Bangkok Bank branch (except micro branches). You can also choose to fill out an SMS Remittance Alert Service Request Form to receive an SMS notification on your mobile phone when funds have been successfully transferred into your Bangkok Bank account.
  Submit all forms to Bangkok Bank with the following supporting documents:
  Identification Card/Government Official ID Card/Passport together with a customer identification document such as your Social Security Card, Annuitant ID Card etc.
  A document from the relevant agency giving evidence of your right to receive the payments.
  After verifying your documents, Bangkok Bank will submit your application to the government agency, asking them to approve your request to receive the funds via Direct Deposit.
  After the request is approved by the US Government Agency, your payments will be electronically deposited directly into your Bangkok Bank account.
• International Fund Transfers for Americans: Bangkok Bank ACH (Automated Clearing House) transfers from the US via their NY branch will end April 1, 2019 and online US ACH domestic transfers will no longer function after that. Bangkok Bank says this will not affect existing Social Security or other federal government direct deposits. The Bank says that, after April, Americans should use an online banking facility called IAT (International ACH Transfers), though no one seems to know of any U.S. banks that currently provide consumers online access to IAT or any U.S. banks/CUs that have announced plans to support it for consumers. Stay tuned and we will let you know as soon as we know more on this. In the meantime, for transfers of $3K or less, Transferwise puts more baht into your Thai bank account when  both exchange rate and fees are deducted.  For larger amounts use an International Wire/SWIFT. Charles Schwab gives you free transfers of $1000 per day and has modest fees, $25, for wire transfers.
• The Bangkok Bank account must be one that is not accessible by ATM so you have the hassle of going into a Bangkok Bank branch each month (any branch is OK, not just your home branch) and presenting your passport in order to withdraw the funds and move them to another account with ATM/internet access.  But, if you’re suddenly incapacitated, Bangkok Bank will visit your hospital bed and get your thumbprint to release the funds to pay hospital bills. If you’re more conscious, but still can’t make it to the hospital, they’ll give you whatever you request to pay rent, give your GF her allowance, etc. (They won’t do this if you can’t give consent, just pay the hospital bill without consent.) If you have your SS direct deposited to a U.S. account it can be a joint account, with internet access and often it’s very easy to move the money into Bangkok Bank using online ACH transfer. But, if you become incapacitated, no U.S. bank will release your funds unless a court-appointed guardian initiates the request and there is no easy way to set up a guardian for an incapacitated foreigner in Thailand.  So, if you’re using the method of manually transferring money from the U.S. to Thailand, make sure you have the process documented so that someone could do it for you should you become incapacitated.
• If you are living in Thailand, the point of contact for more information or to ask questions about SSA benefits is the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) at the US Embassy in Manila, Philippines. You can contact the SSA through the following channels: Tel: (63 2) 301 2000 ext. 9 Website: http://ph.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen -services/social-security/.  E-mail: FBU.manila@ssa.gov
• If receiving payments from a private organization. Request the “Authorization Agreement for Automatic Deposits (ACH Credits)” form or “Related Direct Deposit” form from the organization or the agency that will be making the payment to you. Complete the form to request the Direct Deposit service.
  Open a savings account at any Bangkok Bank branch in Thailand. If you already have an account with Bangkok Bank, you can use your existing bank account for this service.
  Request your home branch to issue a bank reference letter to certify your bank account details such as account type, account number, date of account opening and current balance to be provided to your agency.
  Include your name and physical address in Thailand;,your bank account number and the name and address of your Bangkok Bank Branch in Thailand;  and the 9-digit routing number 026008691 of Bangkok Bank New York  Branch in your Direct Deposit Signup Form.
  Indicate the Routing Number 026008691 of Bangkok Bank’s branch in New York and your account number with Bangkok Bank in Thailand on your “Authorization Agreement for Automatic Deposits (ACH Credits)” form or “Related Direct Deposit” form.
  Submit the form with the required information such as your Identity Card or Social Security Card, or evidence of your right to receive the payments from the company, together with Bangkok Bank’s Reference Letter. Mail the signed form to the US company asking it to approve the request and initiate direct deposits into your account.
  After the request to receive direct deposits is approved, your payments will be electronically deposited directly into your Bangkok Bank account.You can read it here.

Thailand Bank Accounts for Australians

• Look for a credit card (Mastercard) that doesn’t charge fees for overseas transactions or a percentage of the transaction and visit loans green for monthly deals
• Make sure you pay its balance off every month so you don’t pay interest.
• Only use it in reputable locations.
• You’ll find the exchange rates between Oz & THB comparable to those offered by the major banks in Thailand
• And better than the exchange rates of the banks offered in Oz.
• Incidentally, if your Australian ATM card has a Maestro or Cirrus logo it will work with Thai ATMs.
• But Visa cash advances  attract a 3% surcharge
• For larger amounts T/T (telegraphic transfer bank to bank) is quicker but costs  $35–$100.
• For larger amounts interbank is slower (overnight) but most economical at $20 per transfer, regardless of amount.
• If you instruct your bank to send Aussie dollars (rather than Thai Baht) you’ll get a better exchange rate.
• If you’re sending more than $10,000 you can negotiate a better exchange rate with your local branch manager – if you tell him 24 hours in advance.
• If you withdraw money from an ATM in Thailand, draw at least 25,000 Baht. Your fee ($7-10) remains the same.

The post Thailand Bank Accounts appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

One of Chiang Mai’s Best Coffee Shops is Sweet Gardens, located here. These are the GPS coordinates 18.82920° 99.00616°. It’s on the second ring road towards the north side of town. Easy to miss because you’re hurtling along the freeway and can easily miss it.

Owned by a wealthy lady who uses it to entertain friends, it is located in her grounds, which has a huge lake stocked with enormous carp and over which she built a big beige, as you can see in the accompanying video:

Fahtara Coffee Shop & Spa

Here’s another great place to hang out in the middle of town: Fahtara Spa and Coffee. It’s owned by a wealthy Bangkok businessman (largely as a vanity project from what I can see), managed by a German, and staffed by charming people who prepare great light meals and some very original drinks – non-alchololic, though they serve alcohol also, of course. Here’s the map. And here’s the GPS: 18.86492° 98.96925° and here’s the video

http://https://youtu.be/VWvWlIDngbk%20

Natwat Home Cafe

Best coffee in Chiang Mai. Hands down. Opens at 7 am!! Cold brewed, organic Ethiopian – or any variety and brew style you can think of. The map.

Mamia Coffee Shop & Restaurant

On the banks of the Ping River in Chiang Mai. Long renowned for serving Thailand’s best coffees, Mamia Coffee hosts regular coffee-tasting events at which coffee international connoisseurs gather to meet prominent coffee-growers and taste their latest harvests. Thailand has 19,000 coffee growing plantations, a reputation for high-quality arabica varietals, and an increasingly discriminating population of coffee-drinkers. Drinking coffee by the river is a wonderful experience. Drinking the world’s best coffees in Chiang Mai’s loveliest riverside garden is a kind of heaven. And if you’re a food lover, you’ll love the desserts, made by the owner herself. GPS: 8.7816969, 99.0060884. Map here..

The post Chiang Mai’s Best Coffee Shops appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

Most countries have a standard requirement for authorizing teachers, both in the public and private sphere. Typically they require you to take a post-graduate diploma in teaching, which includes internship. It really varies from one country to the next; some are called certificates, others licenses. In the United Kingdom you are expected to first pass the Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), then spend a year or two as a trainee teacher before you are fully qualified with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

In Ireland, Australia and New Zealand they each have a similar standard referred to in each as the Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). In the United States it is administered on a state level, with most local education departments expecting prospective teachers to sit exams which are presently administered by the Education Testing Service (ETS) or Pearson’s Education. Courses exist to guide you through this.

In Thailand the TCT maintains a worldwide database of authorized institutions to award degrees and diplomas. A teaching certificate from one of these will satisfy the teacher license application. The database is published online but it is not up-to-date so it’s necessary to enquire directly with the TCT (Khurusapa).  In recent years a number of local universities or colleges have begun offering diplomas or education degrees. Unfortunately, several have been withdrawn after it was discovered that Isarn University was apparently selling certificates.

PGCE is the international version of the UK, offered by distance learning at several British universities and is the most likely choice for those wishing to do things properly, and not restrained by budget. However, its relationship to the full PGCE is quite vague and those universities offering it are clear that it’s specifically for teaching abroad and offer no guarantee that credits can be converted to the official PGCE.

Presently, there are four approved programs that I’m aware of that can be studied by correspondence, with exams sat in Thailand; this is not a definitive list but based on widely confirmed online forum feedback.

Nottingham University TEFL

They offer a popular PGCEi program in many centers around the world including Bangkok (with an orientation in Oct 2014); application deadline however has past (20 August). You need a second class degree minimum to apply. 60 credits towards an MA Education at the same university are awarded. Hitherto this seems to have been the only route in Thailand to study towards a recognized diploma where exams can be taking locally, and their recent intake included two dozen or more.

Full price: £3,170 (165,000thb) may not include local exam fees.

Website  contact: Helen.l.smith@nottingham.ac.uk

Keele University TEFL

Their PGCEi is far more thorough and expensive with variable fees according to your prior teaching experience. It’s now run from their Southeast Asian center in Malaysia with enrolment for the forthcoming year now closed (course started 11th August). You will need a good second class degree to apply. For future courses you will need to make three trips to KL for lecture sessions. This is more suitable for those serious about a career in international schools.

Full Price: £4,500/208,000thb for teachers 2 year experience in teaching, otherwise £6,000), may not include local exam fees.

Website   contact: mshaw@keele.co.uk

Philippine Women’s University TEFL

This is not a PGCEi (which is a diploma specific to the United Kingdom), but a Certificate in Teaching Practice, licensed by CHED, which oversees all tertiary level education in the Philippines. It is the standard qualification for becoming a teacher in that country and I understand many Filipinos now work abroad in international schools with a similar certificate on top of Masters degrees in other subjects. It’s been offered in Thailand for a year now with UniTEFL in Chiang Mai appointed as the enrolment and examination representatives. However, it appears to only be available for Filipinos at this stage.  Credits count towards their MA education. You need to have completed a degree to apply. Enrolment for August Trimester has passed, next enrolment is January.

Full Price: $3,790/121,000thb, all inclusive, payable in three trimesters.

Website   contact: pwu-enrolment@unitefl.com

New Era University TEFL

A similar course offered by PWU, known as the Certificate in Professional Teaching, which is open to all nationalities, and has just been launched, so has no track record. Also located in the Philippines, this university is well established and has a large distance learning program apparently. The course grants credits to their MA in education online. It’s significantly cheaper than the others and once proven to be of good standing is likely to be popular with Thailand teachers on a budget. It’s also administered in Thailand by UniTEFL, with exams sat in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. You need to have completed a degree to apply. Enrolment deadline for forthcoming semester is October 17th.

Full price: $3,360/108,000thb ($300 less for Filipinos), all inclusive. This will be slightly more if paying by semester.

Website   contactneu-enrolment@unitefl.com

All four programs are offered by universities listed in the OCSC database of recognized institutions according to the TCT for approved qualifications. I have met people who have graduated from each of these programs except the New Era one, claiming to have gained their teaching license once qualified. A representative at UniTEFL assured me that someone from CHED had met with the TCT to validate the two Philippines programs they are involved with, and a photograph on their website seems to support this. As a side note, The Philippines was ranked 42nd in the world for tertiary level education standards in the recent Times Supplement on Higher Learning. Thailand was 82nd and Malaysia 17th.

The PGCEi is specifically designed for teachers wanting to work at the highest level in countries where private schools seem to have one foot in each of two education departments. However, the various international schools, of which there are dozens and dozens in Thailand alone, have quite variable standards for recruiting teachers.

A top notch British Institution such as Shrewsbury almost certainly prefers British teachers with the QVT and an impressive CV of experience. Missionary Christian schools in Chiang Mai, such as Grace International, only accept teachers sponsored by churches in the US. Then there are private schools owned by a Thai family running GCSE O/A levels who will hire anyone suitable. And there are many of these, presenting good opportunities for experienced TEFL teachers who have attained a PGCEi or similar. Since their classroom is multi-cultural, they tend to hire a mix of nationalities to teach, so that a credible teaching diploma involving a rigorous one-year course of study is considered on a case-by-case basis.

In discussion with one headmistress from a new international school in Chiang Mai, off the record she said that a recognized teaching diploma from various countries would be considered alongside other strengths on their CV, but that all teachers hired should have the teaching certificate.

The EP is where the greatest opportunities lie for the standard TEFL teacher wanting to advance up the career ladder. This is a good reason why you should get certified as professional teacher. The rise of the English Program (EP) is phenomenal in Thailand, where more and more demand is emerging from the growing Middle Class.

These are private (and some public) Thai schools under the MoE supervision that are teaching the curriculum in English, using foreigners. You will be a homeroom teacher teaching various subjects, not just English, therefore its imperative you are correctly trained and certified as a proper teacher. The salaries are, on the whole, 30 per cent more and many TEFL teachers are now applying for these positions.

If you have been an ESL teacher in Thailand for several years, and will need to invest time and money in getting a diploma in teaching to maintain your license, this is the way to go – stepping up to EP and eventually International School jobs.

In case you’re interested in teaching English in Thailand, here’s some food for thought: a VERY experienced teacher discussing TEFL courses:

Read More About Professional TEFL Teaching Outside Thailand

• Nicola Thomas, UK | MediaKidsAcademy | TEFL Teaching … – MediaKidsAcademy | TEFL Teaching in Thailand. Brightening your Future | TEFL Teaching in Thailand. Toggle navigation. Home · MediaKids · About us · Our vision · Why MediaKids? Programs and Teaching activities.
• Jaysen Neneng, Philippines | MediaKidsAcademy | TEFL … – MediaKidsAcademy | TEFL Teaching in Thailand. Brightening your Future | TEFL Teaching in Thailand. Toggle navigation. Home · MediaKids · About us · Our vision · Why MediaKids? Programs and Teaching activities.
• Jacqueline Weixel, USA | MediaKidsAcademy | TEFL … – MediaKidsAcademy | TEFL Teaching in Thailand. Brightening your Future | TEFL Teaching in Thailand. Toggle navigation. Home · MediaKids · About us · Our vision · Why MediaKids? Programs and Teaching activities.
• We are looking for Native English Speakers … – MediaKidsAcademy | TEFL Teaching in Thailand. Brightening your Future | TEFL Teaching in Thailand. Toggle navigation. Home · MediaKids · About us · Our vision · Why MediaKids? Programs and Teaching activities.
• Squidoo : Welcome to Squidoo – Squidoo. The popular (free) site for creating single webpages on your interests and recommendations. Even earn money for charity or yourself.

The post Professional TEFL Teaching in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

For anyone wanting to teach English in Thailand, here are seven useful tips about Teaching English in Thailand. There have been some significant changes in how the Education Department is certifying English teachers. A client asked my advice on the changes, I forwarded her email to the headmistress of an international school in Bangkok and asked her advice on how to get started teaching English in Thailand. With the permission of both of them, here’s her reply:

Dear Beth,

I heard you were looking to teach in Thailand, however, the restrictions have tightened in the Thailand TEFL industry. Teaching English in Thailand just isn’t what it used to be a decade ago. While the demand for teachers has increased, the Teachers’ Council of Thailand has tightened up stipulations to license foreign teachers, and there are many rumors of further restrictions on who exactly can officially work as a foreign teacher here.

I have noticed that there’s a great deal of uncertainty in Thailand in the post-coup environment as careless law-enforcement has become top priority for the Junta government. Visa restrictions are being tightened up, ED Visas are coming under scrutiny and teachers without licenses or waivers don’t believe they will have a job for much longer. However, getting qualified with a proper teaching diploma looks like the obvious way to ensure a long-term English teacher position in Thailand.

Recently there have been new stipulations put into place. Due to some issues with the previous government, some important changes were to be expected. The Ministry of Education may still go ahead later in 2014. In this Bangkok Post article (Sept 2013), the then education minister Chaturon Chaisaeng made it clear that they expect those with intention to teach full time in Thailand need to get properly qualified. He also conceded that some leniency would be needed due to the need to retain ESL teachers.

I read in a more recent article (the Nation – January 2014), that it was announced that approval had been made to propagate stricter minimum requirements for teachers in Thailand. This suggests that everyone would now need a teaching diploma or education degree as a minimum. Full details were revealed on the MoE’s website as minutes of the meeting. From the rumors I’ve heard, they will expect an education degree or masters which is far-fetched and simply unrealistic.

In short, they are intending to move towards licensing only those with a minimum one-year post graduate teaching diploma (in the absence of a degree in education). Obviously you’d need to have a general degree to achieve the diploma but, it is unlikely that such a move can be practically implemented immediately. I believe that without a grace period of at least a year, many schools would lose their ESL teachers. And we both know this would cause a crisis in the industry.

Presently, teachers are given a two-year grace, typically to ‘gain experience’ but mostly to accommodate the many foreigners working as TEFL tutors. Another two years is granted on case-by-case basis if you’ve got a good track record. Most likely they will reduce this to only a single two-year temporary license waiver. This would give ample time for teachers, like you, to get the diploma.

You may be wondering by now; “Why they are doing this?” From what I have heard, one reason is ‘office politics’. All Thai teachers are expected to be properly qualified and should have a completed degree and sat diploma exams with internships. Ex-minister Chaturon recently said that there’s an oversupply of Thai teachers, with more than 60,000 graduating each year, allowing only 20,000 openings. The main reason for this being their jobs are being potentially taken by foreigners.

The most a teacher can expect to earn in a standard school is usually 15,000 baht or about $469. However, if a young, inexperienced, foreigner with a degree irrelevant to teaching and with no training shows up, they are expecting to get no less than 30,000 baht ($938.00). This makes it difficult since the schools do need foreign teachers. And to me, it’s a logical solution to demand that everyone gets a certificate in teaching. This will get rid of some of the displeasure felt among local teachers. If you’re serious about making a career out of teaching in Thailand you should consider spending a year studying part-time towards this post-grad qualification.

From the TCT site, the qualifications are summarized as follows: to get a permanent teacher’s license you must

• be over 21 years of age
• have completed any degree
• have completed one year of teaching experience
• have a certificate/diploma in teaching from a recognized institution as an alternative to an education degree
• have completed an ethics and culture course.

However, since this is all new, to accommodate a huge demand for TEFL teachers and trainee teachers, a temporary license is issued if you fulfill the first two requirements. Luckily, this lasts for two years. As I previously mentioned, it typically can be extended for two more years, if you have a consistent record at a particular school.

Being Thailand, there is usually inconsistent information given out, arbitrary implementation of the restrictions, and anecdotal evidence of people being granted leniency. This makes it difficult for anyone to give an absolute guideline. But the message is clear; the Ministry would like all teachers to meet a minimum professional standard according to tertiary level institutions.

To be fully licensed as a teacher in Thailand you clearly need either a degree in education or post-grad teaching diploma. This is the challenge faced by any TEFL teacher who has been in Thailand for four years already. Many are now looking for options to satisfy this. There is, however, an alternative offered: the Professional Knowledge test.

This is a set of five tests which are periodically offered by the TCT, with suggested study material. It is a substitute for a diploma and can, theoretically, be completed in a matter of months. But in truth those who have taken it mostly find it frustrating, incoherent at times, and difficult to pass on the first attempt. Some pass a couple of the tests to satisfy authorities towards an extension. It is not really that useful outside of Thailand however. For the effort involved, it is probably wiser to study for a diploma from one of the institutions abroad offering a distance learning program. If you do pass the PK test you have the right to feel proud – it’s quite a bother. However, it is cheaper than studying for a diploma.

If you’re curious about TEFL, I could explain the standard 120-hour certificate commonly offered in Thailand. It carries no weight. However, recruiters do like to see that you’ve taken the trouble to learn TEFL teaching methods and will usually favor those with a recognized TEFL certificate. This is important especially if you are an inexperienced teacher. At the very least you should enter the profession with this training. The shorter online courses are not recommended since they lack the teaching practicum component.

I know you will do the right thing and do what is best for you, but I wanted to make sure this information was properly given to you. Please feel free to write back if you have any questions about this. Good luck with your endeavors and I look forward to helping you along the way!

Your Friend,

Edwina

Beth replied to this, asking about professional TEFL training in Thailand. Edwina’s response can be found here.

And here’s what a Thai teacher’s day looks like:

Here’s more reading if you want to teach English in Thailand

• What Skills Will You Need to Be Able to Teach English in Thailand … – As a former English teacher in Thailand, before I even contemplated moving here to teach English, I researched the country’s education system thoroughly so I had an idea of which skills I would need to have to be able to not …
• Teach English in Thailand | JimmyESL – An article about teaching english in Thailand. Finding a job in Thailand, the best time find a job and the cost of living in Thailand. Remarks By
• President Obama to the Australian Parliament … – In Thailand, where we’re partnering for disaster relief. In the Philippines, where … History teaches us the greatest force the world has ever known for creating wealth and opportunity is free markets. So we seek economies that …
• Why I Gave Up Flipped Instruction – … stone to a fully realized inquiry/PBL classroom. And the flip’s gradual disappearance from our learning space hasn’t been a conscious decision: it’s simply a casualty of our progression from a teacher-centred classroom to a student-centred one. …. She has taught high school English, science and technology, and currently works as a National Faculty member and PBL consultant for the Buck Institute for Education (BIE). Her passion is social justice and helping her …
• Teachers@ED: Newton Piper, Customer Service Specialist … – When Newton Piper started out as a teacher in Thailand, he decided he would demonstrate students how plants absorb water by transforming himself into a human root system. So he went out and bought his own supplies—all … Kent spin” to get into a different teaching mindset. The experience required learning to employ a variety of instructional techniques and taught him a lot about how a child’s English ability can act as a fundamental barrier to his or her learning.

Now you know how to pick a course?

The post Teach English In Thailand 12 Tips appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

I’ve taught English as a second language in Japan, Fiji, and Thailand and have a Doctorate in Education from University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Would you like to know how to choose a course that will certify you to teach English in Thai public schools and also make recruiters want to hire you?

You’ll be investing $1,500 and a month of intensive study in a course – so the certificate must serve your career. And there are loads of TEFL courses to choose from… some of them excellent and some…not so much. Why?

First, anyone can run a course using TEFL and TESOL. Nobody monitors or controls such courses and there’s no official qualification to become a teacher of English as a second language. But school headmasters, department heads, and private recruiters aren’t fools. They know which certificates are worthwhile and which schools produce the teachers that students enjoy and learn from. The quality of your certificate makes a big difference to your job prospects so do your homework before you choose. Now, here are 12 questions to ask before choosing a TEFL course:

1. What accreditation do they have? Every TEFL course comes up with some sort of ‘accredited by..’, many (like this one) are short on substance or credibility. Others associate themselves with a college but in the TEFL world that’s usually meaningless (tertiary institutes run 3-year degree programs, not 1-month courses). Follow the trail: does the accreditation agency give details of their professionals and how they monitor and accredit them? Are they widely known internationally, or only locally?
2. Are the trainers qualified and experienced? The  trainer or director of studies should have a DELTA/DTEFLA or Masters in TESOL, linguistics, or education. The other thing to look for is how much experience your potential course instructor has had. It’s a competitive field because it’s well paid so, if a trainer who’s been giving a TEFL course for more than 2 years is probably well regarded both by their graduates and their employer.
3. Does the curriculum have an academic basis? Who  wrote the curriculum? Are details on the website? Were there properly qualified academics behind the curriculum? Do they keep their website up to date?
4. Is it on-line or on-site? Online courses  are even less useful than online driving instruction. To become a teacher with presentation skills capable of functioning well in a strange cultural environment you need real, face-to-face instruction, working with your peer group and you need real classroom experience. Besides, recruiters generally don’t recognise online courses; they want to see a full 120 hour classroom course.
5. How long does it run & how much does it cost?  Anything less than 100 hours training with 6 in-classroom teaching practicums is insufficient. If it’s any cheaper than $1,000 it’s taking shortcuts and stuffing you into big classes.
6. Do I get classroom experience with real Thai children? This is the critical element and some TEFL courses don’t give you experience working with Thai children because maintaining relationships with schools and scheduling trainee teacher visits is tricky and time consuming. One of the schools I reviewed employs a woman full-time just to organize classroom visits. Some courses bring a handful of pupils into your classroom or, worse still, do “peer teaching” (trainee teachers pretend to teach each other). If you are a rookie teacher going for a trial teaching interview – at which you’ll be expected to teach a real class – experience facing a classroom full of rambunctious Thai kids – speaking a language you don’t yet understand – makes all the difference.
7. Do I need to pass a test? Many TEFL  courses I visited pass everyone who pays; they’ll certify you to teach even though you didn’t attend all the modules or prove you’ve learned anything. If there is no test to pass, avoid that course. Recruiters are well aware of those outfits. Incidentally, you’re here to learn to be a teacher – not a tourist. Frills like day trips to elephant sanctuaries sound nice but, realistically, there’s no spare time in the month. There’s too much to learn.
8. Are the facilities professional? You’ll spend 7 hours most days sitting in the training room, so it makes a big difference if the facilities are comfortable. Surprisingly many courses use modified storefronts complete with traffic noise and fumes. You need a quiet, spacious classroom for your activities (you’ll be doing a lot of stuff in front of your peers in the classroom, making teaching props, etc.) with breakout rooms, ample computers with fast, reliable connections, prep tables, comfy chairs, proper desks, and good lighting.
9. What are my job prospects? Many TEFLs offer to find your first job – which is useful. BUT beware of the ‘guaranteed job’ deals since they’re usually positions that no one else wants. A friend who took one of of those guaranteed jobs spent an entire year in a remote Thai village where no-one spoke a word of English.  On the other hand, some TEFLs are attached to recruitment agencies or have their own job databases which you are entitled to use in the future, and that’s a plus. Check this aspect carefully.
10. Testimonials: On-site testimonials are always glowing, so poke around the Internet for review sites and forum opinions that are more independent and realistic.
11. Is a certificate compulsory? The Thai  Ministry of Education wants to see a general degree but does NOT require a TEFL certificate in order to issue a temporary teaching licence. After 5 years of teaching they’ll upgrade you but – at that point – you will need a teaching diploma or they’ll ask you to sit their professional knowledge tests. The Ministry does not endorse TEFL courses or schools. Some years ago they approved a handful of early adopters, who continue to advertise ‘MoE approved’. In reality the ‘MoE’ label is obsolete.
12. Can I get A Visa?  Several schools offer 1-year ‘teaching visas’ which is deceptive, since there’s no such thing as a TEFL visa. The Bureau of Immigration doesn’t give out 1 year visas for 1 month courses. In reality those visas are attached to a Thai language course – which adds about $800 to the price and requires you show up twice a week for class. If they don’t provide that information, then they probably have some dodgy scheme to give you a job that you don’t want to take because, sooner or later, the Immigration Inspector will visit and it’s goodbye to the Land of Smiles.

Teach English in Thailand: 12 Tips to help you make the decision. Now, make your choice of TEFL schools.

Which TEFL course in Thailand check all 12 boxes?

The list changes frequently as some schools change instructors, or give up providing classroom experience because it’s too expensive to maintain. So contact me directly and I’ll send you the latest update on any course that makes the grade. 

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Baht & Sold: Daniel, the expat owner of BahtSold.com designed it as a resource for individuals and businesses. Whether you are searching for the perfect home, a business to buy, a set of wheels or a stroller for the newest addition to your family – from Phuket to Chiang Mai – B&S usually has good listings.

Bangkok Post Classifieds for Chiang Mai: A traditional classifieds section from the leading English language newspaper in Thailand. Very strong Bangkok section.

CCCC Classifieds: Chiang Mai Christian Community, many of whose members are Christian missionaries in Thailand, is an excellent resource that goes far beyond its classifieds.

Chiang Mai Classified Ads: Light on listings but worth checking.

Chiang Mai Classifieds: Their website is unstable (I suspect a home server) but, when it’s working it has some unique listings.

Farang Mart: Another handy site, strong on scooters and motorcycles.

Chiang Mai Locator: A handy real estate advertising site.

Chiang Mai Mail: a re-badged Pattaya Mail site with Pattaya listings.

Chiang Mai Post: Rather weak classifieds but it’s listed here to encourage the publishers.

Craigslist Thailand: The original and still champion. I’ve had many good experiences buying and selling here.

Thai Visa Classified. An excellent resource with wide coverage and strong readership.

Make your promotion pop: Classified advertisements that use illustrations, outskirts and photographs for the most part pull in more eyes than average content just promotions. Simply check the paper – consistently there are postings that emerge from the others. Probably the most valuable elements we offer to do this are the ‘Included Ad’ and Web Graphic alternatives for your Online promotion and including a photograph (where pertinent) in Print. Additionally, keep in mind to utilize a feature that gets the peruser’s consideration.

Recognize what is imperative to individuals skimming in your characterized classification, and ensure you touch on those focuses; and utilize complete sentences – they’re less demanding to peruse than a progression of expressions and irregular words. Placed yourself in the client’s place. On the off chance that you were perusing the ordered advertisements, what might get your consideration? What words or expressions would make an advertisement emerge from the rest for you?

Quote a cost, regardless of the possibility that it’s high or low. In case you’re high, clarify why it’s justified, despite all the trouble (for instance: exceptional, extravagance thing, hand-made, and so on.), and on the off chance that it’s low, make sure to specify that it is an awesome arrangement furthermore clarify why the cost is so low (for instance: moving, snappy deal, extraordinary buy).

Incorporate a  get in touch with: Incorporate numerous types of contact, for example, a home and PDA number or your email address. Likewise, in the event that you are just accessible to answer a call amid specific hours, ensure you express that in your advertisement (for instance: call after 9pm, leave a message, and so forth.)

Determine brand names: If you are offering name brand stock, make sure to name the brand (and model, if correlated) in the promotion – specific should as much as possible. Individuals need to know precisely what it is you’re offering before they call and information should you can give, as much as possible. Consider it in the event that you are a client in a shop, would you like to know the specifics of an item or only a general thought of what it is?

Give white space access print work for you: This is an imperative format component in characterized promoting in light of the fact that the normal arranged page is overwhelming with little sort. The more “void” space in your advertisement, the more it will actually be taken note. Boxing an advertisement (including a basic outskirt around it) naturally makes white space around it, which thus consequently draws the eye.

Ask the peruser to act now: By completion your promotion with a suggestion to take action, for example, “12 hour deal,” “this week just,” or “call now, won’t keep going long”,” you include additional impetus for the intrigued purchaser to call you first.

Agenda – Every ordered ought to incorporate in any event the accompanying:

• Sale date or days and hours

• Price

• Make and model

• Size and shape

• New, utilized or reconditioned

• Service or guarantee

• Name, telephone number

• Address or bearings to area

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BY A THAI LADY LIVING IN A TRADITIONAL THAI VILLAGE – Thai dowries are often criticized so here are a few words in their defense: I’ve often sympathized with foreign men when the word “dowry” is brought up. In the modern-day Thai culture, a dowry is still common practice in wedding ceremonies. Thai dowries typically consist of jewelry for the bride to wear on her wedding day and cash for the bride’s parents. The subject of money is awkward, even for the Thai couples. But a dowry is an even bigger matter (and mess) when the groom is a foreigner. Not a single foreigner I know is comfortable parting with their hard-earned cash (generally at least THB100,000) to marry their Thai girlfriends, most of whom are from the Bangkok middle-class and obviously have no intention of deceiving anyone for money.

Whenever the subject is raised at the dining table, somehow the Thai girl is automatically viewed as a Nana gold-digger. The responses we often get from blue-eyed boyfriends tend to sound something like:

“That’s stupid. I won’t pay to marry someone.”

“I don’t have that kind of money.”

“I thought you loved me for me. This breaks my heart.” (Said in a sarcastic tone.)

When Thai girls talk money, our foreign boyfriends seem to grow earmuffs. I’m starting to think that maybe it is the word “dowry” itself that scares men. One guy even told me that the dowry is an ancient tradition that should have died hundreds of years ago. At the risk of sounding treasonous, I think he may be right, but the fact remains that the dowry still exists and is rightfully important to most Thai families.

The practice of giving the bride’s family a large amount of money was best suited to a past when male commoners had to leave their families every other month for work. In those days, when a couple got married the guy had to pay up so the wife could take care of herself and the children when her husband was away.

Somehow hundreds of years later, the dowry lives on as an integral part of Thai matrimony. The idea seems especially weird when you consider that Thai women these days often earn as much as their partners. The question really should be why these girls still ask you to pay a dowry, and why they are so offended when you refuse to do so.

Let me enlighten you. As funny as it sounds, a dowry represents your respect. Most Thais are very attached to their families and, as a result, Thai marriage is a monumental union of two households. That old aphorism, “if you marry a Thai girl, you marry her family as well” is true.

The dowry is a gift from the groom’s family and a small part of khan mark, an exquisite arrangement of Thai symbols of luck including banana leaves, flowers and fruits presented in golden trays. The khan mark is presented at the wedding ceremony, which is sacred and a chance for the wedded couple to ask their families for blessings. This means you officially ask your girlfriend’s parents for permission to have her as a life partner. Thai parents find the ceremony very important and necessary. If not done properly, it would seem to them that you’re running away with their daughter without respect.

So if you look at the bigger picture, it’s the Thai wedding ceremony that your girlfriend wants, not just the dowry. By refusing to have a ceremony you’re demonstrating that you are not willing to make things official and right for her family.

Now you might think, “In that case, I will just give her THB500. That’s my kind of dowry.”

Thais describe dowry as kha nam nom (translated to ‘cost for breastfeeding’). It is an important display of appreciation for the mother-in law. Essentially, when you hand over a dowry you’re saying, “thanks for raising your daughter so well.” The value of a dowry depends on how much the parents think is appropriate for their daughter. So it is normal for a wealthy family to ask for a more expensive dowry.

[Originally published in Bangkok Coconuts. Reprinted with permission]

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