By Blue Rose on Sunday, 2 of August , 2009 at 4:46 pm
I had read this book that my husband bought in Bangkok, Thailand 3 days before we get back home.
This book is about the experiences of foreign teachers in Thailand. How they teach, interact, their life stories in Thailand, how they perform their teaching. It’s quite entertaining for some of the stories are funny and some are inspiring.
Establishing a teaching career to different parts of the world is interesting yet quite difficult, especially when you’re just starting to know the children you’re going to teach. In my experience as an English teacher of Korean children, it’s quite difficult if your students are beginners and doesn’t know how to speak even just a one word English, but you have to be patient, you are their guide and stepping stone in learning easy and fun English.
In some of the story written, as the title say experienced preferred…but not required, even if your not a graduate of any English courses but you have taken the TEFL you can teach with the starting of 30,000 baht. Lots of Western and American are there for this kind of job, and they doing quite well.
Some are just teaching to have an earnings while they are staying there, for them to have a work and pleasure, what I mean is they are receiving a salary of 40,000 baht/monthly, that’s quite a lot of money in Thailand and you can live happily and leisurely with that amount, and take note, for single male teachers having that kind of salary, they can have as many girls as they want every night. It’s true. Even if they don’t do their job very well they are still being paid, in one of the story, the lady is not really doing her job, just giving the students some paper works and she will go out to have a smoke then go back in the class to check, her reason for the new teachers that notice her is that the administrator doesn’t care, coz its not there to check if you are doing your job or not. Imagine the students paying big sum of money just to learn English…pity for them. This kind of teachers doesn’t belong in the honorable teachers list.
Some teachers are very keen on their work, they love their job, they devote some of their spare time to have a tutorial class to students that are willing and striving to learn the language. They are the best teachers that are giving importance to the students even if they belong to the high level of people in Thailand.
You see, teachers are really different, in the Philippines you have to devote your time, energy, mind and power to teach the students what they have to learn. You have to care for each of your students learning coz you are their teacher and second parent. You have to guide them, in every road that they want to take, you have to be there in every ups and downs of their studies, you have to praise them in every accomplishments they made; you have to support them when they fail.
These are the noble teachers doing noble deeds and we salute them, if not because of them we are not in our position.
By My Blue Heart on Wednesday, 29 of July , 2009 at 12:04 am
By Philip Tubeza
MANILA, Philippines—The exodus of Filipino teachers to other countries is expected to continue in the coming years, according to a labor group.
The Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK) said on Wednesday two places were the likely magnets for Filipino teachers—the United States, which would need two million teachers in the coming decade, and Arab countries, which would need at least 450,000 teachers.
The group said teacher shortages, growing populations, and expanding educational systems in many other countries coupled with the dismal work conditions and salaries at home could push local teachers to go abroad.
“Demand for teachers across the United States continues to remain high even if the North American country’s economy is in a deep recession,” said Annie Enriquez-Geron, PSLINK general secretary.
“There are estimates that the United States will need to employ an additional two million teachers in the coming decade to maintain its current educational standards and closer to three million if it strives to improve them in order to stay globally competitive,” she added.
Geron said more than 10,000 foreign teachers are recruited by the United States every year to fill its demand.
“There is also very high demand for new science and math teachers in the US with estimates by the Business-Higher Education Forum in Washington putting the figure at 200,000 at the least,” she added.
In the last 10 years, around 4,000 Filipino teachers—mostly math, science, English, and special education teachers—left the country. This figure included only new hires for teaching jobs and did not include those who left the country for work other than teaching, the paper said.
The top destinations were the United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, the paper added.
According to a UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco) study, Geron said, the Arab states will face “the greatest teacher shortage in the drive to provide every child with a primary education by 2015 as the region will need to raise the current stock by 26 percent and create another 450,000 teaching posts in less than a decade.”
“As more developed countries face a graying workforce, they are increasingly resorting to the recruitment of skilled teachers from less developed countries. This phenomenon had already been foreseen by (European) countries since the ’90s, warning that aging teaching forces may eventually lead to shortages,” Geron said.
“For instance, more than 60 percent of all primary teachers are over 40 years of age in Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands; and more than 40 percent are over 50 years old in Germany and Sweden,” she said.
Geron said another factor contributing to teacher shortages in more developed countries was the declining interest of their nationals in entering the teaching profession.
According to a survey conducted by the temporary staffing agency Manpower Inc., teaching is the second hardest job to fill in the US. Many of their nationals, the study said, would rather pursue other more financially rewarding careers than become a teacher. Low salary and unattractive working conditions were often cited as reasons not to enter the teaching profession, Geron said. (But for a teacher from a developing nation, salaries would still be significantly more than what they earn at home.)
“Unfortunately, instead of addressing employment conditions of the teaching sector, governments of more developed countries are finding it more convenient and economical to recruit migrant workers, many of whom are offered lower pay and contractual jobs that deprived them of their due benefits,” she added.
Geron said the dependence on migrant skilled teachers in developed countries was leading to aggressive recruitment strategies by their governments, recruitment agencies, and the private schools themselves.
“There have even been governments which have created special agencies just to recruit teachers from other countries. Private teacher recruitment agencies in the United Kingdom have mushroomed to more than 100 while there are more or less 70 in the United States,” she added.
By Mr.Pancake on Monday, 8 of June , 2009 at 4:26 am
With falling, if not fully negative, birth rates and faced with the United States’ own drive to obtain skilled workers and professionals, the European Union (EU) has established its “Blue Card” residence visa for the foreign workers it needs to remain competitive in a globalized post-industrial world.
This is seen by Filipinos as a boon for Filipino workers, of whom about 90,000 of the 900,000 in the EU are undocumented, although many of these illegal overstayers are skilled workers and professionals.
The Blue Card visa gives the qualified foreign workers legal work residence in all EU member-countries, and also permits them to transfer from one EU country to another without further documentation.
“The period of validity of the EU Blue Card will be between one and four years, with the possibility of renewal. A Blue Card may also be issued or renewed for smaller periods in order to cover the work contract, plus three months,” said the Council of EU in a press statement.
The Brussels-based Council of the European Union adopted the resolution establishing the Blue Card residence permit on May 25 this year, but it may need up to two years to become effective because each member-country will still have to merge it with its own laws.
Europe’s population growth has been on steady decline in the last two decades, resulting in the scarcity of highly qualified labor, so that in Germany retirees are being called back to work. A European Commision (EC) paper predicts the region will lose half of its work force in the next 50 years if the reduced birth rates continues.
Ambassador Alistair Macdonald, head of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines, said the EU Blue Card system will “have to be translated into national laws” by the EU member states within two years before it can be implemented.
But he said EU members such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark are not included in the countries that need to adopt the Blue Card system.
In a statement, the Council of the European Union said the Blue Card system establishes more attractive work conditions for foreign workers to take up highly qualified employment in the EU member states, seeing that it gives them a series of socioeconomic rights and favorable conditions for family reunification and movement across EU states.
Macdonald said the presence of Filipino workers has contributed a lot to the region’s economic development and “Europe is very thankful to the Filipino workers.”
By My Blue Heart on Friday, 27 of March , 2009 at 5:03 am
What must be your next step after your graduation? Are you planning to stay and find a job just around your hometown? Or you want to fly and seek job overseas.
Well, if you have decided to extend your wings in a new environment, make sure that you do a research whether your education will be valued in other country.
If you studied in a distant learning program which is not affiliated with a large, mainstream institution there is a lesser chance that your profession will be given recognition in another place. But if you studied in a reputable college or university in North America, you are fortunate enough to be recognized and given job opportunities.
There’s also a disadvantage if you have completed an education where the set of rules vary from country to country, such as law, you have to take equivalency tests or re-certification before you qualify for a job.
Experts’ advice that before sending out your résumés, you must seek a professional association in your community to assist you in assuring that your profession will be respected in other countries and what will be the necessary documents that you should have in hand before applying.
The local professional groups will help you and give you connection with new people that might be of great help with your overseas job search.
It is also advised that you start doing it while you are still studying. You can ask your international office and career office for some details about work-abroad programs that are available for you. Having a program that is related with your education is a big help for your career training.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a job that is not in any way related in your field but you are sure that you are flexible enough to do it well. Then it is a must that you have a legal job waiting for you in the host country before heading abroad.
One of the more exiting jobs is to work in a Zoo in Australia.
By My Blue Heart on Sunday, 22 of March , 2009 at 6:00 am
Do you want to work in Thailand?
In the last few years Thailand has been importing foreign teachers. This is an attempt by the country to augment the need for proficient English speaking teachers in their schools. If you are a teacher, then you may have the chance of moving to Thailand.
Some foreign teachers in Thailand earn upwards of 1500 US dollars monthly, but some are earning less. The salary rate is higher in private institutions compared to government and public schools. Teachers can also work in hotels in Thailand. Most of the top hotels in the country house English language trainers for their staff. This type of job is often easier than teaching in school and the pay is good too.
Having a training certificate in TESL or Teaching English as a Second Language may not be necessary. But it will certainly give the applicant an edge over the competition. Some schools even give applicants a bonus if they have had TESL training before application.
Why English?
With students whose English skills are less than desirable. And with the world being more globally connected – English skills are becoming all the more imperative. That is why other Asian countries now are looking for teachers who can conduct classes in perfect English.
Other Subjects
Other than the pressing need for English teachers in Thailand, the country is also in need of teachers proficient in other subjects. They are hiring English speaking teachers no matter what their base subjects are. This is all part of the plan to allow their younger generation to learn English proficiently.
Finding a Job
Teachers who wish to teach in Thailand can find a job among the many recruitment agencies in the country. They can also try their luck at one of the job hunting sites all over the internet. However, teachers should always be wary of the threat of illegal recruitment. Before investing anything they should always see to it that the processes are legal. They can verify with the Thai Ministry of Education to see if the school they are applying to is legitimate.
By My Blue Heart on Saturday, 21 of March , 2009 at 10:31 am
Work and Live Abroad is reporting that Asian countries such as Japan, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and Korea are providing big budget and extra time to learn English. “It’s never too late” may be the principle of these non English speaking countries to learn the universal language used around the world.
Big compensation fees and benefits are granted to the teachers. Some people in Asia and even from the pacific enroll in online teaching. Philippines and other English-speaking countries, open online teaching programs for those who want to learn the language at home. However, Japan, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and Korea prefer face to face teaching that’s why they are opening their doors for foreign immigrant teachers.
Chinese parents are now enrolling their children to special English classes. Local governments in China are looking for highly motivated instructors to teach the language.
Benefits and perks are offered to all applicants. Free air fare is included along with a promise of high salary. Big cities in China like Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou offers more for English professionals. China does not have plenty of restrictions; qualified applicants must be a graduate in a good university, must provide legal documents and must have an teaching experience.
Earn 8 million rupiah or $900 per month in Indonesia. Indonesia’s economy maintains its good position despite of world crisis. The government is stricter in terms of immigration because of the number of illegal immigrants working in the country. However, Indonesian government is willing to place more money for the addition of English classes on local schools. The offers in teachers here are bigger compared to other Asian countries.
Japan government is serious to train their people English language. Japan Exchange and Training Program are giving out contracts to 6,000 language assistants. The applicant must be under 40 years old and has a degree in Education from a good university. Lucky participants may receive 1 year renewable contract that would allow them to teach in either private or public schools. The salary given is ¥3,600.000 or $29,000 a month aside from the return airfare for those who completed their contract.
Like Japan, Korea is giving out good compensation packages for foreign English teachers. Although the salary is less higher than in Japan, they offer plenty of benefits to qualified applicants. Private recruiters’ offer $1,450-$1,600 with free accommodation, return airfare, medical insurance, bonuses and paid holidays. Interested applicants should be 3-4 year college degree holder and has TEFL certificate.
Ministry Education of Korea runs English in Korean Program that send 1,600 native English speakers in schools. The salary is 1.7-2 million won with return airfare, medical insurance, free accommodation and bonus.
On the other hand, Taiwan and Thailand are also in need of English teachers. In Taiwan, they are paying NT$550 per hour. A medical certificate from Taiwan is also required along with your college transcript of records and diploma.
Major cities in Thailand, especially Bangkok, already established vast number of English schools but they still need plenty of English teachers to teach in other provinces and cities.
Asia are not the only continent that needs English Teachers, even in America where English is the national language is in need of language teachers. The benefits and high wages are overwhelming, plus the opportunity to teach and show your skills and competence abroad.
