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What will I earn?
Salaries for foreign teachers are extremely generous by Asian standards when compared to the salaries for local teachers. Your salary will depend on your qualifications and experience as well as the nature of your position. Salaries are normally negotiated on appointment. Salaries can increase over time depending on the work that you do. For your further information, the basic teaching salary in Thailand is 30000.00 baht per month, which is ample for living a comfortable life.
How long will I work for?
Work is contracted for at least one year. Longer periods can be negotiated, and are indeed preferred by most schools. It is essential to remember that schools sometimes have long holiday periods during which teachers will not be able to teach. During these periods extra work is usually available as summer schools are held during holidays. Do keep in mind that your training will be at least four weeks and this should also be accounted for over and above the one year contract.
Am I covered with medical insurance?
Yes you will be covered with medical insurance.The value of the medical insurance depend on the nature of the school and contract that you are working under. Some good advice to those who are concerned about being covered medically, is to take out travel insurance which covers you in the case of accidents and illness for the first few months of your stay. Speak to a travel agent about this. The medical facilities in all these countries are mostly excellent and very affordable
What do I wear?
It is important to dress well and neatly. You will be in a high profile position and should look neat and professional at all times. In Thailand. Both men and women will need to wear clothing that covers their knees and shoulders. This is essential for working at schools, visiting the temples etc. Most Eastern cultures are those of respect, so the dress code is important.
Religion
You do not have to worry that you will be forced to conform to the religions of the East. Most countries cater for both the Budhist and Christian religions, and there is bound to be a selection of churches that you can choose from to continue your worship. As a teacher however you have to be tolerant of the religion and the religious practices of the country that you are working in. In your working environment you will not be in the position where you can enforce your own religion on others.
Safety
Asian people are very friendly, and normally welcomes foreigners into their lives and their countries. The crime rate as a gerenal, is extremely low and policing is extellent. Most cases of crime are petty and related to sexual situations and petty thievery. Serious crimes like hijacking and murder are almost unheard of and any crimes relating to foreigners are taken very seriously by the athorities. As a foreigner in a strange country you will however have to be responsible and should guard your posessions and your life responsibly.
The teaching experience
In most cases previous teaching experience is NOT a requirement. The general population and also the teachers in all schools are as a rule very accepting helpful, and although you might feel somewhat scared initially, you will find your feet in no time, and you are bound to have the time of your life.
Teaching in the East is an awesome and life-changing experience. If you feel the need to grow, wish to make changes in your life and wish to help others, then this is the place to do it. Students are well behaved, respectful and eager to learn. Children are brought up in cultures that teaches respect. Students also create an atmosphere of positivity and happiness, which makes it a pleasure to work with them. Children in the East view learning differently from the West. Here it is a way of life, and most children find themselves in a learning environment, 7 days a week. Education is their passion and teaching the children is a rewarding experience for most. The one thing that you can be sure of is that you will lose some of those very restricting inhibitions, and you will become more confident about "letting go" and "having fun"
As a previous teacher put it "many of us have forgotten how to be innocent, playful and have fun. It has shown me that I can connect with people across a cultural, language and age barrier – what a great experience. I can highly recommend it". You'll never look back.
Requirements: What do I need to have in order to be accepted
It stands to reason that we cannot accept just anyone. We are working with the lives of impressionable and precious children, and therefore must be responsible in appointing the new teachers. In order to be considered, over and above a fluency in English, you will have to be able to produce the following:
You will also have to have a willingness to learn and develop, and to experience new and exiting things..
Will I be isolated and lonely
For most teachers, it takes about a month or two to become used to the life in a strange country. Depending on the country or area that you work in, the chances of you being totally isolated is also very small. There normally is a lot of other "ex- pats" in the same position as yourself, and making friends are very easy. For example, in one small area of Bangkok, there are easily more than 20 South Africans who are friends. - There is ample opportunity to get together for a taste of home.