Tips for new teachers coming to Thailand

Postbox letter from Cary, Ed and James

Usually your experience doesn’t matter too much as long as you’re likable, preferably younger and enthusiastic towards the students.

Perfectionists: stay away from English teaching

Some rules of the road

There are some businesses you’ll get into in Asia as a teacher where the best you can hope for is a good one year and then you leave either because the environment is just so toxic or because you are going to get burned out or maybe you’ll just get sick of living in a rural area.

Why can't Thais speak English?

Some of these students have had over 2,000 hours of English.

Considering that English has been the international language of tourism and commerce for I don't know how many decades now, and there are I don't know how many thousands of English teachers all over the country, why is the general level of English so poor?

Are Thai teachers actually helpful?

Or is the foreign teacher better off without them in the classroom?

Before beginning my experience as a TESOL teacher in Thailand, way back when I was a newbie farang taking my TESOL course on Phuket, I was repeatedly assured by indifferent agencies and instructors not to worry because you will always share classrooms with Thai teachers that are there to help you.

Thailand teaching stuff - July 2014

A selection of interesting Thailand-related articles and blogs

Hello all, Peter Clarke here, and I'm back again with a selection of links to interesting Thailand-related blogs and articles that I've found on the internet over the last couple of months.

When your face just doesn't fit

When a school wants to fire you, what can you do?

I had been working as a Maths teacher for just under four months at a Catholic school in Bangkok when the head teacher, who is always happy to deliver bad news in a very dramatic way, informed me that parents had complained about the homework books not being marked. This was just the beginning.

Father's Day

Honouring and respecting the Thai King

Tuesday's ceremony was quite interesting. I have no blooming idea what was going on, but I showed up in a nice yellow/gold tie with a gold flower I bought from a Thai teacher earlier in the week to show my support for the King

Dancing with coordinators

Sometimes it's better to keep teaching colleagues at arm's length

The next term is fast approaching and many schools have job openings. Have you decided to apply to another school and look for a new teaching job because you have some conflict with your coordinator? If you don't plan to leave then how do you handle the conflict?

The purpose driven teacher

Self motivation and the teacher's heart

The Purpose Driven Teacher guides his students towards progression by using a pedagogical method that takes them where they need to go quickly, effectively, and efficiently. With a Purpose Driven Teacher, there is no time to waste; every moment counts.