How can Filipino teachers find better jobs with more benefits in Thailand?

[Madam H]

LOL, that was waaay funny, madam H! I mean about BB1's "Philippine".

I get that almost everyday when I ride public transport:
They: "Where you come from"?
Me: "I'm from the Philippines".
They: "Oh! You Philippine! You look like Thai peopon. Same same".
Me: "uh, yeah".

Anyway, ang taray nung isang speech instructor namin who demanded that we avoid using "non-words" like "uhmmm", or "ahhhh", or the famous policitian phrase "deee, ahhhh. whatchu kol dat. deee, ano!" Tumahimik nalang daw tayo.

  . I second that. Isa sigurong paraan para ma avoid yan, irecord natin sarili natin habang nakikipag usap. Ummm, ahhh...   Minsan lang. Most of the phones we have nowadays come with ready to record options. That's another tip for you, dear Philippine! LOL

[Madam H]

But that is really true, Philippine can be a replacement to Filipino. It's becoming more like an evolution of reference to the people of and anything about the Philippines.

To share a bit in this thread, I would like to give the following pointers as per experience:

1- Make your cv/resume appealable.  Of the many documents or emails that will pass an administrator's desk, those that outshine the rest in terms of coherence, correctness and meatiness will usually have the "it factor".
2- Glorify the interview moment.  Thank the Lord for being chosen and ask His guidance. Think of the interview as your final moment to present yourself.  Let them see more than what they have seen in your cv and that includes being presentable.  If the interviewer is a NES, don't dress stiff.  If they will be Thais, they usually like formal attire.
3- Practice your English before the interview and let the interview flow naturally.  Think of the many possible questions that will arise and make notes on how to attack them with grace. I have experienced being interviewed for almost 2 hours by NESs.  Yes, it was draining but I was prepared, so I was considered for the slot.

[Madam H]

But that is really true, Philippine can be a replacement to Filipino. It's becoming more like an evolution of reference to the people of and anything about the Philippines.

To share a bit in this thread, I would like to give the following pointers as per experience:

1- Make your cv/resume appealable.  Of the many documents or emails that will pass an administrator's desk, those that outshine the rest in terms of coherence, correctness and meatiness will usually have the "it factor".
2- Glorify the interview moment.  Thank the Lord for being chosen and ask His guidance. Think of the interview as your final moment to present yourself.  Let them see more than what they have seen in your cv and that includes being presentable.  If the interviewer is a NES, don't dress stiff.  If they will be Thais, they usually like formal attire.
3- Practice your English before the interview and let the interview flow naturally.  Think of the many possible questions that will arise and make notes on how to attack them with grace. I have experienced being interviewed for almost 2 hours by NESs.  Yes, it was draining but I was prepared, so I was considered for the slot.

It is indeed true - our being referred to as "Philippine"...

I feel so comfortable with it, that most times, I have to correct whoever it is I am talking to (poliltely, of course), that we, as a people, are called "Filipinos"...not always easy here in Thailand. 

[xaris_girl]

I had a personal experience about this matter. As I have said, after 2 contracts (12 months), i was not given a re-contract for the reason that the school has a new policy, to hire native speakers only. There were no problem with my performnace our coordinator said. furthere more, she wrote in my employment certificate that I am a deligent and dedicated employee (sabi po nila sa sulat nila sa akin). My partner ( a Thai teacher  evyen cried when I told her about the matter. She said she will talk to the office about my situation but to make the long story short, I was not granted my 3rd contract. I don't remember being repremanded or given warnings about something, I was not lazy. And with regards to additional educational things, I am proud to say that I am a licensed teacher sirs() and maams () and gained 36 units going to the degree Masters of Arts in Education. My sentiment is this.. I thought I have a good job, a good school, I worked with all my heart as a teacher but rewarded this not to mention the humilation I heard from fellow Filipinos and gave different speculations regarding what happened to me. And the saddest part... I don't where to run for help. Is there any body there who will help me, you, us for this matter? Am I taking things TOO seriously? or I was just pathetic?
I don't know... I just don't know... What more can I say? Here, most of them  don't care about your qualification( am not taking generally, personal experience po ). In one of the interviews I had a month ago,  the HR director (as he cal himself that way) said, "If you only hold an American passport men, your qualification is really good!". That made me think really hard, as in really hard. I was an idealistic person, I said in my heart somewhere out there is a school who will hire me because I am a qualified teacher... eeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! NO SIR, NO MAAM...

I am thankful that we can express our thoughts and hearts through this media, but don't you all think it's time to take a stand? Maybe it's time for us to do something. We are teachers and it our responsibility to teach them their responsibilities... do I sound pathetic again?

[yllorco]

I can understand xaris_girl's feeling.  It took me almost a year to recover from this feeling caused by a job loss.  Without no known reason, my blood pressure went up every time I came to school; much more that in my present school where I work for, an African colleague was fired sometime last October, without valid reason.  That made me think again.  Everybody was shocked.  As if my friend's case were mine. Thoughts came to me that I couldn't trust any Thai employer anymore.  My self-esteem was shaken.  

Good that SP people were there for me, especially Madam H, Master J, and the core group who have been so kind.  I really owe them a lot for the support.  
That seemed to me the psychological nadir of my life.  Mabuhay ang SP.

I had to help myself.   I pondered and prayed a lot.  I came to my senses: Except my God, there seems nobody else who could define my future, but me.

I came to my senses I had to help myself demonstrate trust so that other people, especially my boss would trust me.  I couldn't afford to lose my current boss' kind treatment to all of us.  She seems different: patient and giving each one the benefit of the doubt.  Before the end of the year, everybody was wondering whether one would be fired.  Thank God, all of us have kept our job.

Speaking about benefits?  Very few schools offer ample benefits, and very few Filipinos are blessed to have them.  Madam H. can speak for them.  Some schools run by SDAs have really glamorous benefits, such as education, health, housing, etc. you name them, much more than that of Xaris_girl's previous school.  However, that's limited to SDAs only.  But even if you were a SDA with impressive educational background, you had to prove to the employer that you are well-recommended because of your spirituality, leadership and social quotient.

I don't think you sound pathetic.  Looking at it from different perspectives, there seems something to be done, especially legally. Just my wild thoughts, which I don't think SP has to get involved in this, considering its social function and a reputation to keep.
1.  come up with a considerable number of people of the same cases and of the same mind who have nothing much to lose
2.  considering all the risks, organize, plan and move discreetly
3.  appeal to the embassy (now seems promising with new consul, I hope), International Labor Organization, or any legal institution with

This is easier said than done, but it may be done.  "Try a thousand times to produce an incandescent lamp".  Who knows the real genius will come out.

[ms.a]

i feel bad to know this, but u r just one of the many who got same situation. recently i have opened my mind that one day i got no job here because of the trend. try to consult the teachers' council, maybe they got a word.

[TARSIER]

Working abroad (especially in Thailand) has never been an assurance to the Filipinos and other nationals. Based on the many stories I've heard from fellow Filipinos, having a promising workplace and a promising performance could not even assure that we could stay in such organization as long as we want because like death, we don't know when our boss would strike and call it off. According to a research, even Americans have faced uncertainties in their job that, survey says, most of those who applied for a new job through phones and e-mails were still employed in a promising company.

I understand your feelings and I am sure that if the same thing had happened or will happen to me, I would feel the same. And what makes it more frustrating is the fact that there is no agency where we could run for help if we feel like we were maltreated.

An advice to my fellow PINOYS, take it easy. Losing a job does not always mean losing something because better opportunities would always come along the way. As long as we have the right perspective and as long as we know that we did nothing wrong, we could still stand through and live life. The best thing to do is enjoy our present job and make the best out of it because you would not know when you would lose it.

"Live life completely so that when death comes to you like a thief in the night, there will be nothing left for him to steal." -- Anonymous

[erick]

NOBODY is spared with the harsh realities on employment concerns in Thailand.  Recently, I was very disappointed to the HR of one of the top government institutes (Graduate School) in Thailand.  The unexpected turn of event triggered me to "lecture" the HR on equal employment opportunities and emphasized the need to campaign on QUALIFICATIONS over COLOR.

But we all need to move on.  Not all schools have the same employment prejudices.  We just need to keep on searching and do something to address this concern.  Talking about our future, it is HIGH TIME to be our own boss!  Yllorco mentioned about this and he is right.  Save and invest! That's the order of the century! We'll never know what would happen tomorrow and it's best to be prepared of what future has to give.

BE PROUD FILIPINO TEACHERS because we are proven to be WORLD-CLASS workforce!

[blubinginone]

.....My sentiment is this.. I thought I have a good job, a good school, I worked with all my heart as a teacher but rewarded this not to mention the humilation I heard from fellow Filipinos and gave different speculations regarding what happened to me. And the saddest part... I don't where to run for help. Is there any body there who will help me, you, us for this matter? Am I taking things TOO seriously? or I was just pathetic? I don't know... I just don't know... What more can I say? Here, most of them  don't care about your qualification( am not taking generally, personal experience po ). In one of the interviews I had a month ago,  the HR director (as he cal himself that way) said, "If you only hold an American passport men, your qualification is really good!". That made me think really hard, as in really hard. I was an idealistic person, I said in my heart somewhere out there is a school who will hire me because I am a qualified teacher... eeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! NO SIR, NO MAAM...

I am thankful that we can express our thoughts and hearts through this media, but don't you all think it's time to take a stand? Maybe it's time for us to do something. We are teachers and it our responsibility to teach them their responsibilities... do I sound pathetic again?

I don’t know what to say here…But I do sympathize with xaris_girl. Hey, girl! YOU ARE DEFINITELY NOT PATHETIC. We admire you! Work out the positive things in you. From now on, look forward!

Based on my experience, we just really have to be watchful and on our toes. Don’t forget these salient points:

1- Be always productive, always show them something new, delightful and substantial;
2- Be always impressive;
3- If you accept you lack something in your English (for teachers), improve!;
4- If you accept you lack the appeal, watch out what you wear and how you look, then dress up and groom more!;
4- Be truthful and sociable;
5- Square up your defenses at work, look for “their” weaknesses and work about them with prayers;

Xaris_girl, there will always be light because God is always watching! If you think you were smooth, be complacent. Work and dream with great belief. Your trials will be over soon. Good teachers always shine and those best shines the more.

From now on, cheer up, xaris_girl! This is just the beginning!

[blubinginone]

So, remember what we are saying here, xaris_girl!

Start your march and look forward!

[buddhist punk]

Hey, Xaris_girl:

sorry to hear your story. getting the pink slip is really unfair no matter how you slice it.

let's face it, "they" don't like Pinoy teachers here. I'm talking about both farang teachers and katutubo administrators. "They" have come to resent our presence because we represent jobs that should have been theirs in the first place. "They" feel cheated somehow and are now really digging in to "correct" the situation. Sad to say even the farangs have joined their chorus of "get out, now" for whatever reason.

that being said, please remember that this is not the only country in the world. you say you have excellent skills, credentials and track record, use it to your advantage. you didn't mention what your subject area is, but here are some ways you can get out of the rut you're in:

1. Get mad = that's right, get mad, don't feel bad about yourself because you are not the problem
2. Get it right = have all your supporting documents, and I mean ALL, notarized, stamped, approved, noted; go to the DFA to get all your documents certified (make 2 or more copies) that are recognized in the Middle East. They will know what you mean when you request it.
3. Get your head and priorities straight = reserve your energy; don't waste your breath on putting yourself down; have goals
5. Be patient = "good things come to those who wait"
6. Get financial support = from family, friends, enemies, frenemies, everyone.
7. Advertise like mad = tell anyone, everyone that you are in the market for a job until their blood trickles from their ears
8. Be willing to invest in a recruiter = register online or in real life with teacher recruiters.
9. Get good information = one word on job hunting POEA; this saves you grief and energy in the long run
10. Have faith = in yourself, in your deity, in others

yan po ang 10 Commandments of Getting Back Up on the Saddle.

Hope that helps.

[blubinginone]

I also suggest, xaris_girl, that you start lookin' at the different websites for teaching jobs...

Chin up and raise those eyebrows high...Surely, there is a big day coming for so qualified teacher like you....

Now, you will find SP a real one of a kind experience especially at this time of your life. Our minds vary in great extents here. We surely like you to see all the sides of the coin. There are passionate, superficial and rhapsodic points of view that you have seen so far.

Enjoy them, they surely form part of your "rising above".

[Madam H]

 Just to add to all the great suggestions SP people have already given on this :

When i first got here in Thailand, i would rave like mad everytime i see an ad in newspapers that say, "Native speakers only". I thought it so offensive. Over the years however, you wisen up and like BP says, conserve your energy for the real fight. It won't do you no good to rant and rave about how unfair the system is. If the truth be known, this is how Thailand operates, and actually, most of other countries in Asia, like Taiwan, China and Japan, where teaching jobs are available. They want native speakers. Why? Well, girls and boys, the parents expect their children to be near-native when they speak, and sad to say, we Filipinos may not always be able to give them that.

But like what some of SP forumers said, this is not always the case in all schools. There are schools who are after a teacher's qualification, and as long as their English is clear and easy to understand, they hire them, irregardless of color.

And there are schools where many great Filipino teachers have worked in, and have made great impressions. And so they do not only entertain Filipino applicants, they actually advertise for Filipinos, and would choose a Filipino over a less qualified farang. But of course, these schools do not number by the hundreds.

One important thing that has happened over the last few years is the shift towards a sophisticated way of markting oneself so recruiters look for you, not the other way around, or like what BP said, hire somebody to represent you.

Master J can tell you many things about the wisdom behind a website that records and highlights your accomplishments and abilities as a teacher. It's not rocket science, and it doesn't take so much time nor money to maintain and update. I suggest you send MJ an email or PM him about it.

More thoughts next time... ponder on these for a while...

You are far from pathetic. Don't go on kicking yourself and asking the WHY question... it's counterproductive. Pick yourself up, brush those doubts aside, and plan.

And while you're planning, might be a good idea to dig up some related threads here in SP for useful suggestions to help you out. Things happen for a reason. Use this to get stronger, not weaker. Good luck!

[xaris_girl]

salamat po sa inyong ENCOURAGEMENT... MABUHAY KAYONG LAHAT! The things you have said helped me a lot. Once again, thank you very much.

[Ongbak]

salamat po sa inyong ENCOURAGEMENT... MABUHAY KAYONG LAHAT! The things you have said helped me a lot. Once again, thank you very much.

-OOT on
mas mabuti sabihin mo po na...MABUHAY TAYONG LAHAT! 

-OOT off

[M!sS_D]

continous study and self-development to enhance teaching skills and techniques so we retain that competetive edge.


be competetive cos it's a tough jungle out there.

fish me!


 

[blubinginone]

And I have realized this just lately...

It is very very important that you recognize the general social behaviour of Thais. It will really help you not to be screwed up. I am still trying to digest things regarding this and I will share them to you as soon as I am done...yes, digesting them...Got it!

It is good it has been opened up here lately because I am now accepting that it is really very very important.

[gekyll]

And I have realized this just lately...

It is very very important that you recognize the general social behaviour of Thais. It will really help you not to be screwed up. I am still trying to digest things regarding this and I will share them to you as soon as I am done...yes, digesting them...Got it!

It is good it has been opened up here lately because I am now accepting that it is really very very important.

very important indeed.. knowing how the Thai mind works .Forewarned - forearmed. To be prepared is half the victory.

[blubinginone]

It all boils down to one point. BE COMPETITIVE AND KNOWLEDGABLE in everything! Yes, and everything follows.

…because the moment you become one, you will see the support pouring in, even if you don’t ask for it. It is wonderful to see that such competitiveness and knowledge will turn and challenge hearts and minds into unmeasurable proportion. I am glad that even my brown skin has defeated the idea of white supremacy. I was chosen and cared for more than anyone can expect. Who am I?

- A Philippine who is creative in my field;
- A Philippine who cares for excellence;
- A Philippine who works with the heart and mind;
- A Philippine who guards my English and the twang;
- A Philippine who grooms to impress people around;
- A Philippine who uses “professional” public relation as a tool for success;

AND;

A Philippine who understands (just now though) and respects Thai mentality and culture.

It is actually amazing how I realized today that these were my strong points. I saw and felt how they elevated their respect and confidence on me. I believe that I had broadened my horizon and secured even more my position. I conform to the fact that nothing unprofessional will taint my fate unless I allow it. Whatever the future holds, I believe I have gathered enough answers to this question:

How can Filipino teachers find better jobs with more benefits in Thailand…AND STAY THAT WAY?

Good luck to all! Yes, if I did, why couldn’t you? So, go, Philippines of the world!

[miyetp]

hi...i'm looking for a teaching job in thailand.. pero nsa pinas pa ako. may ma recommend ba kayo na school or kung may alam kayong jobs opening?  SPed /preschool teacher ako.. tnx!!

kung may alam kayo pede pa email sa kakai58@yahoo.com

thnx!