Phil's Front Page Comment 3rd May 2008
I've spent some time
re-organizing the 'your questions answered section (click
here) if you'd like to
take a look. I'd be very grateful if you can think of a question
I've forgotten or if you can improve on the answers. Please let me
know.
more!
Ajarn World
The Bangkok Mouth
ponders the end for the Mom and Pop convenience store as Tesco Lotus
makes its bid for world domination. If only Tesco Lotus appreciated
the more discerning customer. The type who wears a smoking jacket
and scours the freezer section for 'heat sealed baby partridge'
Free me from my eight years of Bangkok hell
OK it
wasn't quite that bad but Danny Walton racked up a remarkable eight
years as an academic director of a Bangkok language school. That's
eight years of teachers asking him where the best place to do a visa
run is and eight years of teachers telling him that they couldn't
turn up for classes on Saturday morning because as they were walking
home on Friday evening (as sober as a judge) an enormous spaceship
just appeared out of nowhere. He's got to be worth talking to.
The new look 'Ask
us a Question' section
Is there part-time
work available? What's the best way to get started? Where can I work
once I have the work permit book? Which visa is the best one to get?
Should I fix up a job before I arrive? Is it possible to approach
schools directly? What should female teachers wear in the classroom?
Do couples make good teaching colleagues? And lots, lots more.
A double dose of Matt Smith
Matt Smith
has written two columns for ajarn this month (what a guy!) Well
actually one's an article and one's more of a letter. In his
monthly column, Matt
tackles the Thai fixation with white skin. And it was really this
month's article from Steve Schertzer that had Matt reaching for the
quill and ink once more. Read his extra May column
here.
The
Ajarn Monthly Writers
Phil Roeland escaped to Singapore and Malaysia
to avoid the Songkran holiday. Not only has he written up a terrific
account of the trip but he's also provided us with another gorgeous
photo montage. William
Blake comes face to face with traffic carnage in his monthly
column, while Steve Schertzer
presents debate on what exactly EFL teachers should be teaching in
the classroom. Matthew
Gardener contemplates life as a salaryman.
Tazza is back with an
interesting account of his first two days as a member of the foreign
tourist police. For
the full index of ajarn writer contributions,
click here.
Four times the salary of a local Thai?
Yes we know
companies selling 'Thailand
teacher' packages need to get bums on seats, but "you'll be earning
four times the salary of a local Thai"? Leave me out! Who is this 'local Thai'?
and how far will the money go?
Dave's Journey
We catch up with Dave
from Chicago as he finishes his TEFL training course and starts pounding the
pavement in search of a job. With an interview at a private language school
and an interview at a government high school under his belt, is he in danger
of falling victim to the dreaded 'popularity contest' at one place and the
time-honored lack of communication at the other?
Yeeeeeees! I've found a TEFL teacher's paradise
We meet up with Garry
Brown, who taught in Thailand for three years and has now found
a place where he belongs.......China. A one-bedroom apartment, a
generous benefits package, students who actually want to learn and
Wednesdays off. What more could a man want!?
