What do I need to know about teaching English in Thailand with a non-teaching background?

@Ruth ******

This Is Thailand. You'll be surprised to see how fluid the situation can be. I had many a coversation at coffee shops with expats. One of the teachers was 70. If I remember, you are female and from Canada. That nearly overqualifies you.

@Jorge ***

just a bit south of Canada, but I lived in Seattle. Is that close enough :-)?

@Ruth ******

both teachers and schools would like for the applicant to meet the highest qualifications, doctoral degree in English and Post Graduate Cert in Ed., PGCE. Both are very difficult to find in one person, and such person would be teaching at Oxford earning Google $, not in LOS for peanuts. The bachelor's degree is a government requirement for the work permit. Schools will accept a 6 week TEFL training certificate in place of the PGCE. The school may even help waive the local teaching permit by asking for waivers from the Ed ministry or whatever. The above represents a facade. Now, ideal requirements aside (and at the expense of ruffling a few feathers by exposing this), the schools really are looking for young beautiful non-colored females, skinny and without tatoos, who can put up an entertaining act in front of the kids, and keep them entertained till lunch time. The most important part is for the teaching to be fun and lively, as the kids (and school staff) must be happy happy. Remember the happy happy mantra while in LOS. Also the word "edutainment".

From the teachers who were fuming at the coffee shop after being dismissed, I gather the following: they were serious, they lectured, were grammar heavy, mean, authoritarian, said "no" to management, even if only once, and would you believe, the kids complained the teacher did not smile. They also did not introduce games, singing of songs, etc. In other words, they bored the kids to tears. Some teachers complained of lack of respect, expectation of attendace to weekend activities with no pay, and total disregard to follow up on immigration visa renewals, 90 address reporting, housing issues, etc.

Please note that teaching English outside an English speaking country bears very little resemblance to the usual English class we had in high school and college in the US, CAN, UK, etc. This is one of the reasons for the TEFL course. Obviously experience in other fields, commercial or academic is of little use. They want and value outside appearances, not academic knowledge. If you look and act the part, you qualify. And yes, if you are not of color, you may be asked to stand at the school main gate in the morning to show they have foreign teachers. No joke.

@Jorge ***

I’m going to pm you

@Ruth ******

ok