Who deserves the job?

Postbox letter from Paul L

Let me add some fuel to the degree vs no degree debate.


Why not accept life degrees?

Postbox letter from James D

Is it cheating? Some people may feel this way, but read through this website and there are many posts supporting the fact possessing a university degree does not make you a better or worse teacher than the next teacher, it's down to proving yourself as an individual in the classroom.


Will I need a degree to teach in Thailand?

A question that will rage forever and a day.

Ajarn.com asks just how many teachers are teaching with fake credentials. Will schools employ teachers without a degree? And does a degree even make you a better teacher? Ajarn.com also braves the sticky, sweaty Khao San Road and comes face to face with not only foreign women that have let themselves go, but the degree makers themselves. Graduate for 600 baht? Surely not.


You lucky so and so

Postbox letter from

Here in Chiang Mai things are a bit different: we have to manage on B25, 000. Sounds like a lot, but it soon gets swallowed up, especially when you have a family.


Full-time teacher, part-time thief

Light-fingered shenanigans in the teachers' room

Don’t start thinking that these highly skilled education professionals resort to stealing luxury cars or become successful pickpockets in busy Bangkok. It’s much simpler and a lot less lucrative than that: some ‘teachers’ seem to think there’s nothing wrong with nicking books and teaching materials from the schools they work at. In a few cases teachers have even run off with computers, but let’s focus on the issue of disappearing books because that’s my main reason for writing this article.


To Mr Crazy

Postbox letter from Long term ajarn expat

You like the word naïve and use it freely…be sure you use it well and understand who is really naive. Just knowing the facts does not, a wise man make.


Naive and ignorant

Postbox letter from

So, who thinks that all western teachers can teach with the same standards, convictions and work ethic? Do you think that someone with degrees in education can’t teach more proficiently than someone with a degree in engineering?


Define qualified teacher

Postbox letter from Barry Parkes

I'm really struggling with the definition of 'qualified teacher'


Interview at The Ministry of Education

John Quinn asks the probing questions

John Quinn, the senior TEFL trainer at SEE, spent a morning at the MOE office in Chiang Mai to try and get some answers to questions teachers have regarding employment in Thailand. John has very kindly allowed ajarn.com to put the main points of the interview on-line. Some of the answers may well surprise you.


What a state to be in

Postbox letter from Richard Burgess

If I am a foreigner I must have teaching credentials from my country of origin to teach English in Thailand. If I am a Thai, I only have to have paid my fees to the Teachers School and I can teach English.


Showing 10 tagged items out of 61 total Page 5 of 7



Featured Jobs

English Conversation Teachers

฿35,000+ / month

Bangkok


NES Kindergarten Teacher

฿48,000+ / month

Bangkok


IEP Kindergarten / Primary Teacher

฿42,000+ / month

Bangkok


Head Teacher

฿55,000+ / month

Bangkok


Science and Maths Teacher

฿42,000+ / month

Bangkok


NES Pre-kindergarten - K2 Homeroom Teacher

฿50,000+ / month

Bangkok


Featured Teachers

  • Shena


    Filipino, 27 years old. Currently living in Philippines

  • Mary


    Filipino, 32 years old. Currently living in Philippines

  • Nomfundo


    South African, 23 years old. Currently living in South Africa

  • Honey


    Filipino, 25 years old. Currently living in Philippines

  • Joanna


    Filipino, 39 years old. Currently living in Philippines

  • Gofaone


    Batswana, 36 years old. Currently living in Botswana

The Hot Spot


Contributions welcome

Contributions welcome

If you like visiting ajarn.com and reading the content, why not get involved yourself and keep us up to date?


The Region Guides

The Region Guides

Fancy working in Thailand but not in Bangkok? Our region guides are written by teachers who actually live and work in the provinces.


Air your views

Air your views

Got something to say on the topic of teaching, working or living in Thailand? The Ajarn Postbox is the place. Send us your letters!


The dreaded demo

The dreaded demo

Many schools ask for demo lessons before they hire. What should you the teacher be aware of?


Will I find work in Thailand?

Will I find work in Thailand?

It's one of the most common questions we get e-mailed to us. So find out exactly where you stand.


Teacher mistakes

Teacher mistakes

What are the most common mistakes that teachers make when they are about to embark on a teaching career in Thailand? We've got them all covered.


The cost of living

The cost of living

How much money does a teacher need to earn in order to survive in Thailand? We analyze the facts.


Need Thailand insurance?

Need Thailand insurance?

Have a question about health or travel insurance in Thailand? Ricky Batten from Pacific Prime is Ajarn's resident expert.