Thailand teaching stuff - March 2013
Another treasure trove of blog links for Thailand teachers
Hi everyone, it's Peter Clarke, back again with another selection of blogs and articles that I hope will be of interest to teachers working in Thailand or perhaps those who are just living here in this great country. So what have I managed to dig up for you from the last three months in cyberspace?
Time for a change
I've had enough of the Thai government school system thank you
I’ve managed to locate my frustration and work out a solution - the Thai education system just isn’t for me. Not the government schools anyway, or at least the school that I have been teaching in for the past 18 months. So I’ve decided to get out. Not out of Thailand, just out of the system.
Say hello to technology related stress
Stress comes in many forms - but how about this one?
There isn't an acronym for it. And there damn well should be. So I'm going it call it TRS. It stands for technology related stress. I can't put my finger on why but TRS always seems different to any other form of stress.
Thai gizmos are great!
Don't stick your nose up at them
For anyone living in Thailand on a budget, it's silly to pay twice the price for an electronic brand you know versus the Thai equivalent that works as well or better.
Wedding day blues
The invitation card has landed
Oh no, my wife has just come home and plonked an envelope on my work-desk. It's not a bank statement and it's not junk mail (I only wish it was) One glance at the familiar scented, pink envelope tells me all I need to know. It's an invitation to a Thai wedding. And there's no way I'm getting out of it.
Children's day
What this special day should really signify
One of the nicest aspects of living in Thailand is the way in which it embraces its children and families. Bangkok offers an impressive array of activities for children from Dusit Zoo to iceskating, from Lumpini Park to the Aquarium but they are only accessed by a small minority of Thailand's children.
Lucky day colours
Did you know that in Thai culture, each day has a colour?
A Thai student explained to me that the Thai people have a tradition in that they believe it brings good luck to wear certain colour clothing on certain days throughout the week. They take this tradition from an astrological rule.
Stick or twist?
Decisions, decisions, decisions
Like many other teachers I now find myself in the position where I need to make a decision about what I will do next academic year. Do I stay put? Or is it time to move on to pastures new?
It's been a great adventure
Postbox letter from William Putnam
It’s been a fantastic year. I have lived in Southeast Asia since September 10th, 2012. I was not sure I was going to work as a teacher when I arrived. I viewed my travels here as a long vacation. However, once I realized I liked it here, I began to look for jobs so that I could stay longer.
Grayscale
Potentially contentious issues in the LOS
"All in the game" is a great statement for Thailand. Omar, Avon, Stringer and the rest of the gang nailed it. Thailand is controlled by a few at the expense of the majority. The majority respond by doing what they can. It applies to all facets of daily life. For foreigners living in Thailand we're somewhere on the border of it all.
