The Filipino issue
Are they native speakers?
In my opinion, Filipinos sometimes get agitated because of the general attitude towards them. I agree that it can get frustrating when your umpteenth job application is turned down. You pick up the phone to try to find out why your services are not wanted and you are told that the school doesn’t hire Filipino teachers.
Teacher tax issues
Working your way through the teacher tax minefield
It is not unusual for certain schools to under declare a teacher's salary and consequently the tax documents provided to the teacher do not always agree with amounts paid to the Revenue Department. Sometimes the Revenue Department do not even know the teacher existed.
Too many are clueless about money
Postbox letter from Brian
It's hard to believe how uneducated people are on here about money when they say "You'll make three times what a Thai does," or "You have to live like a Thai!" It's total rubbish
Freelance teaching
Ever thought about going it alone?
How easy is it to go the freelance route in Bangkok and make money charging students upwards of 500 baht an hour? Well, here are some of the perils and pitfalls of teaching from your home, the student's home or perhaps even in the nearest McDonalds.
The Status Quo
Postbox letter from Keith in Dubai
I enjoyed my stay in Thailand, but from week one, I knew it would only be for a short period of time.
Problems with the system
Postbox letter from Mike
After 12 years and four different schools, I have come to the conclusion that the "quality of Thai students' English skills" did not improve within the last 12 years. But how is that even possible when more and more NES teachers with experience and degrees in education teach Thai students, even at smaller schools?
Long term work or short term work?
What are the pros and cons?
I'll simply take a look at some pros and cons for both long term and short term teaching stays in Thailand. For the sake of this article, 'short term' is anything less than a school year and for 'long term', any work that keeps you in Thailand for more than a year.
Reasons to be cheerful?
Postbox letter from Jeff
Foreigners working in Thailand, mostly as teachers, will often say that the low salary is okay for them because they love the lifestyle and love living in Thailand.
The ESL industry and wage ratios
English teachers in Thailand actually don't do that badly
I am not trying to claim this is any type of scientific research with a high level of reliability or validity, just a quick check to get a basic idea about whether or not ESL teachers in Thailand are underpaid and exploited.
The revolving door
Postbox letter from Danny
TEFL in Thailand is only an option for those seeking a one-year adventure abroad or retirees looking to pad their pensions..
