| Q |
Kevin, welcome, you've
been in Thailand since 1995 but in Asia since 1993. Where did you spend the
first couple of years and were you teaching during that time? |
| A |
I was seriously fed up with life in England so I sold
up, house, contents, the lot. I put the money in an offshore bank account
and set off to travel around Asia. I took a TEFL course before I left home
but I just travelled around for a couple of years. I was too busy having a
good time to work. |
| Q |
What made you
eventually decide on Thailand? |
| A |
Pure chance. I was sitting on the beach in Koh Samui
one morning, I was down to my last 500 quid and an airline ticket. Basically
two choices should I stay or should I go now. Obviously I chose to stay |
| Q |
You've taught at the same government
high school in Bangkok for five years and you've just signed on for more.
Firstly, I presume you're on the government salary package bumped up with a
bit of overtime? |
| A |
I'm actually paid by the PTA of the school. All the
students pay into the foreign teacher program and we negotiate a contract
from there. I make 35K a month and do a bit of moonlighting to make the
party money. |
| Q |
Five years. Wow! Not many teachers last
at these places for that long. I know it's rather a broad question but
what's the secret of being a successful teacher in a government institution? |
| A |
Where to start??? Break down the student teacher
barrier, become the kids' friend. Find out what they enjoy and use that in
your lessons. Learn their nicknames, they love it if you greet them with Hi
Som, rather than Good morning student especially if they are not in school.
Be the teacher you wish you had when you were a kid. Laugh and joke with all
the kids as you walk around the school. Lay down a few simple classroom
rules in your first class and apply them
fairly. Use the carrot not the stick. Forget the fact that you have 50 kids
in the room. Split them into 4 teams, let them elect team leaders and after
your presentation make sure your team leaders understand the activity and
use them as peer teachers then monitor each of the teams in turn, they love
the responsibility.Never tell a kid she's wrong just ask her to try again.
Always praise good work. Never humiliate a student as a punishment sit them
down and talk the problem through. Always dressed smartly kids hate scruffy
teachers. Pretty easy really. |
| Q |
Any horror stories about Thai
administration? Most teachers in government schools usually have a tale or
two. |
| A |
The biggest problem I have is that no one tells you
anything..... then you are criticized for not doing whatever it was that you
weren't told to do. |
| Q |
On the flipside, how does the school
take care of you and make you feel special? |
| A |
The feedback from the kids is what makes everything
worthwhile. I just came back from camp in Khao Yai. My M3 class that I have
taught six periods a week for three years had their farewell ceremony and I
had to bless them and tie the white string to their wrists . They were all
in tears as they said thank you and goodbye. No amount of money could buy
that feeling. |
| Q |
Do you prefer to be addressed as 'ajarn'
or 'khru' - or couldn't you care less? |
| A |
My name's Kevin and that's what they call me. |
| Q |
OK Kev...er...Kevin. You work at an
all-girls school. You must miss teaching the young Thai lads - what with
them being so motivated to study and all that? |
| A |
Yep. |
| Q |
Now what's all this about the hot-seats
being negative. Perhaps teachers who love teaching just don't feel the need
to bitch and moan on websites and discussion forums? |
| A |
I didn't quite mean that. I meant that most posters
have a downer on government schools. I just wanted to present the other side
of the coin. |
| Q |
I presume you scan the
ajarn jobs page now and again though. Purely for research purposes of
course? |
| A |
I like to make sure what the going rate is and of
course to check my job's not on there. |
| Q |
Aye, Aye. You hail
from Manchester. Great city. Do you still get to go home much? |
| A |
Haven't been to England since 1996 |
| Q |
How long do you see
yourself doing the government school gig. Any grand plans for the future? |
| A |
I'm always having great plans but all my mates say that
they'll carry me of this school in a box. They're probably right. |
| Q |
You're obviously a
city boy like me to want to stay in Bangkok so long? |
| A |
Although I come from Manchester, I spent most of my
life in a small village of about 3,000 people. |
| Q |
Complete the sentence.
If I weren't a teacher, I would probably........? |
| A |
Haven't got a clue. I used to be a
production manager in a food factory so probably something in
that field. |
| Q |
I'm always intrigued
by the meals they dish up in school canteens. What did you feast on today?
|
| A |
Duck noodle soup. |
| |
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