Hi all. I'm off with the wife and kids to LOS, specifically Bangkok, for two years in August. The missus has a job with one of the international schools, and she's being paid enough to support the whole family on her earnings alone while I become a stay-at-home dad for a year or so. I'm a production journalist here in the UK and wonder if there's work for a farang sub-editor or proof-reader on these papers, WP permitting. I'm going to be in LOS on a non-imm O visa so I understand I can get a WP through that. Do the likes of the Nation, Bangkok Post or expat magazines hire farang staff?
Both newspapers hire foreign staff, here's there web-sites you should be able to find contact details somewhere
Bangkok Post Main Entrance Page (http://www.bangkokpost.com/)
Bangkok's Independent Newspaper (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/)
Quote Originally Posted by strangefish32
View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/non-teaching-jobs-in-thailand/30500-editorial-proofreading-work-in-land-of-smiles.html#post938762)
I'm a production journalist here in the UK and wonder if there's work for a farang sub-editor or proof-reader on these papers, WP permitting. I'm be in LOS on a non-imm O visa so I understand I can get a WP through that. Do the likes of the Nation, Bangkok Post or expat magazines hire farang staff?
You want to be a proof-reader? [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/rollinglaugh.gif][image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/rollinglaugh.gif]
Sorry, couldn't resist! [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/smile.gif]
[image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/grin.gif]
Ah, but didn't you know, subs and proofreaders never sub their own stuff. (I think I was typing too fast and skipped over the "going to" there.)
Or you hit 'm' once and not 'l' twice ...
I have tried (not very hard) to get into subbing and proof-reading. However, I don't have a background in journalism, although I did produce and edit a charity journal for a quite a few years. And spelling and grammar errors leap out of the page at me.
There's a crying need for decent proof-reading here, but no-one seems to bother. I suspect you may have some problems getting work, although as you have a background in the area, you may be OK. If you do, think of me, and try to shove some my way, eh?
There's a new paper started up recently called the Daily Xpress you might try for, but it's not bad - the Thai journalists seem OK and there's very few errors.
I also read only today of something called the Sukhumvit Eye which is about to start, or maybe just has. Might pay you to look into that.
Cheers Fixit, I'll have a look when I get over there. It's good to know that there might be opportunities in Bangkok. To be honest, we're not desperate to put me out to work straight away but if there's an opportunity when the little ones have started nursery and school I'll be looking into it. I'm damned sure I won't do owt to jeopardise my dependents visa.
As for no-one bothering about proofing in LOS, believe me, things are going exactly the same way in the Land of Frowns... hence the family upping sticks.
Yeah, well, I have a bit of a thing about proper spelling, grammar and so on, and I despair, I really do, when I read some of the things written nowadays. And hear the way many people speak back in the UK, too.
There used to be someone on the Daily Telegraph who wrote a column quite some years ago about the reduction in quality of English and written English, in particular. I read it a few times, but can't remember his name of the columnist. Do you know it?
There's also a few appalling English language publications here like the Pattaya Post and Pattaya News, and something equally awful on Samui who might have work, but you'd have to reduce your standards considerably ...
Oh, and don't fall for the Land of Smiles tag either. You'll soon learn it's a marketing doo-dah. Land of Frowns sounds about right for the UK, though. Right miserable bunch when I went back for 6 months: I'd forgotten how ingrained that aspect is.
Quote Originally Posted by Mister Fixit
View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/non-teaching-jobs-in-thailand/30500-editorial-proofreading-work-in-land-of-smiles.html#post943382)
Yeah, well, I have a bit of a thing about proper spelling, grammar and so on, and I despair, I really do, when I read some of the things written nowadays. And hear the way many people speak back in the UK, too.
Quite a few people who teach English can't spell for shit. You see it alot on this forum. Some of these same people will criticize others for poor spelling.
The newspapers would be good for this, but even thought they have native speakers proofreading, they still publish articles with poor spelling and grammar. Would you be able to do your proofreading for American publications from Thailand? Could they e-mail the materials to you? It could be an advantage being on opposite time zones.
You should check out the Thailand network on facebook Nat, you'd wet yourself laughing at the number of Thais that pick up on the spelling mistakes of so-called native speakers here.
Yikes.
Quote Originally Posted by natalie8
View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/non-teaching-jobs-in-thailand/30500-editorial-proofreading-work-in-land-of-smiles.html#post943752)
Quite a few people who teach English can't spell for shit.
Sure. And do you think that is a good thing, or a bad thing?
Seems odd to me that people who teach a language won't be able to teach their students the correct spelling of the very language they teach. Not that it matters in Thailand, of course! [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/smile.gif]
You should ask Ken May about this. He was a teacher for awhile and now does some editing for the Bangkok Post, among other things. He's on this forum under his real name. Great guy. [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/wink.gif] Try PM'ing him.
The wife worked for the Bkk Metro, the Post, and a media monitoring place. All had falangs running around doing proofing etc. You might also keep an ear out for copywriting work, not exactly in your field but given the dire standard of copy here you might come across something. Also before you leave the UK put out some feelers for stringer work.
Quote Originally Posted by Mister Fixit
View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/non-teaching-jobs-in-thailand/30500-editorial-proofreading-work-in-land-of-smiles.html#post945295)
Sure. And do you think that is a good thing, or a bad thing?
Seems odd to me that people who teach a language won't be able to teach their students the correct spelling of the very language they teach. Not that it matters in Thailand, of course! [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/smile.gif]
this road been down sooooo many times we have - every time I point out the blatant difference between a typo and someone who can't spell for shit I get accused of being pedantic or something
glad someone else agrees that spelling still happens to be part of the language - although I'd give Standard English 20 years tops in the UK the way things are going
OP
there is a bit about but it will come through contacts, make some when you get here is the best first step, this sort of thing doesent need to be advertised
Quote:
Originally Posted by natalie8
grassy, that makes only four of us posters who I know care about spelling. People teach English, can't spell, and they get defensive if anyone comments on that. Weird.
Yeah.
grassy, that makes only four of us posters who I know care about spelling. People teach English, can't spell, and they get defensive if anyone comments on that. Weird.
Quote:
Originally Posted by grasshopper
View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/not-teaching-in-thailand/30500-editorial-proofreading-work-in-los-post946001.html#post946001)
glad someone else agrees that spelling still happens to be part of the language - although I'd give Standard English 20 years tops in the UK the way things are going
20 years? You're looking at 10 tops. Despite my best efforts my wee man, who's four, is constantly dropping his Ts and asking for "wa'er" to drink. Everywhere you go you hear people talking about summink or sumfink, or how they "would of" done "summink".... It kills me. We're leaving the UK so he can grow up and learn how to speak properly. Sorry, speak proper innit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by strangefish32
View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/not-teaching-in-thailand/30500-editorial-proofreading-work-in-los-2.html#post948465)
20 years? You're looking at 10 tops. Despite my best efforts my wee man, who's four, is constantly dropping his Ts and asking for "wa'er" to drink. Everywhere you go you hear people talking about summink or sumfink, or how they "would of" done "summink".... It kills me. We're leaving the UK so he can grow up and learn how to speak properly. Sorry, speak proper innit.
Oh please people have been speaking like that since I was a kid and I'm well over 20
^^^^Much of my editing work comes from contacts at my old uni...and word of mouth has spread from there. It is mostly theses and dissertations that (I suspect) are too tedious for my former colleagues to bother with. It's not an overwhelming task, however, and affords a regular wine upgrade even in these trying economic times.
Quote:
Originally Posted by natalie8
View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/not-teaching-in-thailand/30500-editorial-proofreading-work-in-los-post943752.html#post943752)
Quite a few people who teach English can't spell for shit. You see it alot on this forum. Some of these same people will criticize others for poor spelling.
The newspapers would be good for this, but even thought they have native speakers proofreading, they still publish articles with poor spelling and grammar. Would you be able to do your proofreading for American publications from Thailand? Could they e-mail the materials to you? It could be an advantage being on opposite time zones.
alot = a lot?
thought = though?
Oh, I know, I know. In your case, they were merely typos.
Quote:
The newspapers would be good for this, but even thought they have native speakers proofreading...
Is this a grammatical sentence? Oh, I know, I know. In your case, you were writing too quickly.
You're really obsessed with me, aren't you? [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/wink.gif]
^Yes I am! [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/grin.gif]
....and did I see markle back on ajarn? Those car park fumes getting to ya ay?[image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/tounge.gif]
I miss you! [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/backpacker.gif]
Now, back to topic. [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/grin.gif]
Quote:
Originally Posted by natalie8
View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/not-teaching-in-thailand/30500-editorial-proofreading-work-in-los-post946302.html#post946302)
grassy, that makes only four of us posters who I know care about spelling. People teach English, can't spell, and they get defensive if anyone comments on that. Weird.
Can depend on if your teaching writing or spoken English to be honest.
Also posting on a discussion board is vastly different from teaching someone....I know quite a few people with dyslexia that teach here (even a medically blind chap) as long as they prep well, it's not a major problem.
To judge people's ability to teach the language or spelling via their posts on a discussion board is silly to say the least as you proved with your response to Mr. Brown [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/wink.gif]
Yoo kood be write.
And even if I wasn't....I'd still think I was!!!
Now I did mention this before...but no one replied...but the letter K wot the fuk good is it for huh??? Does nowt C can't do!!!
cencannif doesn't right does it?
How aboot Kantona?
And what happened to hour owe pee?
Quote:
Originally Posted by zehner
View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/not-teaching-in-thailand/30500-editorial-proofreading-work-in-los-2.html#post954060)
cencannif doesn't right does it?
Yeah it don't look right...but it certainly sounds the same no?
Kick..cic....wot da differencio huh?
Quote:
Originally Posted by kenkannif
View Post (http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/not-teaching-in-thailand/30500-editorial-proofreading-work-in-los-post954064.html#post954064)
it certainly sounds the same no?
not really...i'd pronounce it as the "c" sound in the alphabet
Phonetically the same no cu??? Or you mean you'd pronounce it like it's name....see???
ya lost me....i'd say "cen" as in "cent"
adopt a french accent to make it more real
Gotcha...more an S sound then....any native speakers wanna input (ooooh cheeky huh?).
z is right it is one of the few solid phonic rules 'c' followed by 'e, i or y' are always pronounced like an 's'. The only only ones who don't play by the rules are the Irish hence Celtic thing (seltic in Scotland Keltic in Ireland) better argument for getting rid of 'c'.
^ pronouncing it like an s mate has nowt to do with the need (or lack thereof) for the letter k....an s can be used instead of a c....cent/sent....same pronunciation [image: http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/images/smilies/wink.gif]