Why I stopped smiling at the school director
Pay me on time. Treat me like a professional. Stop using me as a mascot. Then maybe you’ll see some teeth.
I’m Louise. I’m 34. I’ve been teaching in Thailand for six years. And I’m tired of pretending everything is “sabai sabai” when I’m being treated like a decorative plant.
My approach to parent complaints
Postbox letter from John
I only take parent complaints seriously if they're easy to understand or the school explains them properly.
Just plain abuse
Postbox letter from Connamera
School officials have never openly threatened me but they have made it clear to everyone that they don't like me and they're out to get me
No pay Jose
Postbox letter from Mike Walker
I returned to my school in Bangkok today after almost two months waiting for the floods to subside. When I enquired about being paid for the last eight weeks, the staff just laughed at me.
Oh, one more thing - you're fired!
One teacher's account of being popular with students and getting fired
I found out later after talking with other teachers, that there were two teachers that didn’t like us and they were both on the “committee” The director couldn’t go against the committee because she would lose face.
Problems at your school
There are always problems where you work
So there are 25 things wrong with your teaching job? Actually there are 25 things wrong with every teaching job - you just pray they don't all happen on the same day. As Phil explains, it's the way you handle these often 'minor inconveniences' that will make or break your time in Thailand.
Moans and groans
Postbox letter from Jeff V
I have "some" moaning and groaning to do, so I guess I'm here at the right place to do so!
Don't forget Mr Wunder-ful
Postbox letter from Ralph Sasser
He's the one that secures a job over the Internet, promises to be here on a certain date and comes a month later claiming he had some problems leaving his other job.
Principles and principals
Postbox letter from John Smith
Principals are the first to know about who has proper credentials and who doesn't. In many cases they rely on fake teachers as snitches (informants) to give them information about the teaching troops.
My life as a farang teacher
Postbox letter from Larry Gellar
I probably should have seen the writing on the wall when I was asked to sign a contract in a foreign language, without a translation. I should have just slowly backed away.
