Stephen Louw

Phones in the classroom - a teacher's curse?
Should teachers tolerate telephones in the classroom?
Telephones have become an integral part of modern life, to the extent that they are an intrusion and compromise the long-term goals for our classrooms. I present the following arguments to support my position.
Jason Byrne

Communicating with new music artists
Why not start a conversation with an artist today? It’s a win-win for everyone involved.
Emerging artists, especially those with smaller listener bases, are in dire need of your support. They need people to listen to their music and to engage with it actively. Comments and replies not only boost their visibility but also help foster a community around their work.
Mark Beales

The good, the bad and the downright unlucky
The different kinds of foreign teachers who end up teaching in Thailand
Wherever you end up teaching, the chances are that you are going to be alongside people you'd never normally work with, which can make the whole experience more memorable, one way or another.
Laura Thomas

Why teacher observations shouldn't be feared
Don't dread observations, embrace them!
The mere thought of a supervisor sitting at the back of the classroom, clipboard in hand, can send shivers down any teacher’s spine. But take a step back and consider what observations are all about.
David Parfitt

Navigating teaching contracts in Thailand
Before signing a contract, take the time to thoroughly evaluate the terms.
Teaching in Thailand comes with its share of challenges, and one of the most critical aspects to understand is your employment contract. While some agreements are fair and well-structured, others can be ambiguous or skewed in favor of the school.
Joseph Hunt

Good morning teacher, how are you?
The ritual of greetings in Thai classrooms
You might be tempted to shake things up, maybe throw in a casual “Hey, guys!” or an upbeat “What’s up?” But don’t. This is not the time for creativity. This is not the time for free expression.
Richard McCully

Speaking Thai in the classroom
It is not what foreign teachers are paid to do.
It wasn’t until moving to a language school, with proper management, that I saw the negative side of a foreign teacher speaking Thai in class. It was also at that job where I saw that some TEFL teachers are actually stuck in the routine of speaking Thai with students.
Mark Newman

The ten teaching English in Thailand commandments
Tips and strategies to make your life easier
If you are new to Thailand, the following guide may help you to enjoy your time here and your classes more. If you are a burned out, old pro, the following gentle ‘reminder' may reinvigorate your verve.
Bangkok Phil

How's the 'decorate' and the 'supervise'?
The joys of filling in customer feedback forms
Should that be ‘supervision’ or ‘supervisor’? Was I supposed to rate the actual restaurant supervisor? Was I evaluating those that do the supervising as opposed to those who are supervised? Forget it. It doesn’t matter. It makes no sense whatsoever
Mickey Sheehan

All hail the mighty khao pat gai
Boring yes, but never a dish to be underestimated
How many times have I been out for dinner with a group of Thai friends and that enormous bowl of khao pat gai has saved the day?