Mike Thompson
Mike Thompson is an Asian American from California. He admits that his Asian appearance put many employers off when he started looking for teaching work in Thailand, but slowly he's turned things around. It hasn't been easy though.
Mike, welcome to the ajarn hot seat. You're an American guy. How old are you?
I just turned 33 back in October.
Talk us through what you did back in San Diego in terms of work?
With a bachelor’s degree in science, I worked as a lab technician for several biotech companies. Then, before coming to Siam, I was a loan officer for a few months. At the time, the real estate market in San Diego was going through a down cycle so it wasn’t very lucrative. That’s when I decided to make a change.
So what made you decide to teach English in Thailand?
The decision was easy for me. I can speak, read, and write Thai quite well. Also, I have a network of relatives already here in Thailand. LOS is really a second home for me. I have also vacationed here several times before coming to work.
You started by contacting the private language schools, where in your own words "your Asian appearance was a big deterrent to employers" Did employers just tell you this outright or were the knockbacks more subtle?
I started out by applying to several language schools at Seacon Square and Seri Center. There were quite a few schools including ECC, English First, Wall Street, and AUA. I had an interview with ECC and was offered a 300 bath/ hour part-time position. Unfortunately, this was quite low so I had to turn it down. (Also, I was looking for a full-time opportunity.)
English First also showed some interest. I took an English proficiency test with them, but the Thai recruiter did specifically mentioned that parents much prefer the prototypical English speaker look to an Asian look and she was just going with the demand. What can you say?
A smaller institute also wanted me to teach some math and some science on a part-time basis but only for 250 baht/hour!
The employers were nice about things but with an MBA and years of working experience, I believe my Asian look played a part in the low offers.
No decent offers at all?
Well, I interviewed with a nice American fellow. He offered me 32,000 baht/month to teach in Bangkok.
But you didn't take it?
TEFL International called with their Chiang Mai TEFL TESOL certificate/ internship package. It was an offer I could not refuse!
It's a difficult question to ask and feels slightly improper but exactly how 'Asian' do you look? When people meet you for the first time, where do they assume you're from?
Let’s just say, if I were to walk down the street, no one would really mistake for anybody other than an Asian guy…lol…However, the Thais are really good at picking out foreigners. Without having said anything, I have been approached and solicited by many locals in Korean, Japanese, and English! Is it the dress?
I get quite a number of e-mails from teachers who are worried about their Asian appearance, despite being an English native speaker. So you feel this is a concern some teachers should have?
Yes, the Asian appearance can be a problem at first. However, native English speakers of Asian descent should not use this as a crutch. The demand in Thailand for good, qualified English speakers of ANY ethnicity is high. Stay positive. Be patient and apply to many, many places…a good place to start is the ajarn.com postings. Also, my value as a teacher went up significantly once I completed my 120 hour TEFL International course with hands-on teaching practice. A TEFL certificate like the one from Chichester or Chiang Mai will be a big boost to your job hunt.
So you ended up doing a TEFL course in Chiang Mai combined with a semester internship?
Yes, that was definitely a big help. Without having any background in teaching, a formal course geared specifically towards teachers of the English language was essential to my teaching career.
What made you decide to go down that route?
Actually, I was looking in the ajarn.com job postings and postings on other web sites. One of the most common requirements seems to be a TEFL degree and TEFL International was one of the more popular ones for teaching in Thailand. The decision was a practical one.
So you ended up in a government school in Petchburi. The job has turned out OK after something of a rough start it seems?
The first semester felt like trial by fire. Although TEFL International prepared me for many things, teaching real live courses was a different animal. However, I was fortunate in that we had the support of competent teachers and TA’s to help us out. Eventually, as I learned the system, things became easier. Now, everything seems natural. You could say I am in a comfort zone
Any positive words for those who are worried their Asian appearance will be a drawback?
Your Asian appearance is not necessarily a drawback. Sometimes Thai employers like to use English speakers of Asian ethnicity to teach subjects like math and science. Also, don’t be too picky in accepting positions. Low-paying positions will give you the teaching experience that will get you into more prestigious positions at international schools. It’s good to aim high, but be realistic. A part-time job can turn into a good reference or a full time offer after a few months. After all, in this profession, teachers come and go, and you will get your chance!
