Pack your suitcase!
The must-haves, the worth considering, and what to leave behind
Now that I have settled into my teaching job in Thailand, I can look back on the things I should have brought with me and the things I didn't need to bother with.
Learn all your students' names?
Surely you can't be serious.
It's never been my intention to become best friends with any of my students but I truly believe that a good relationship and strong rapport with students is absolutely vital in order to begin being an effective teacher. If I ever expect to receive the respect of my students (which is all the time) then the obvious thing for me to do is give respect to them as early as possible.
Thai students and the fine art of copying
I couldn't believe what was going on in the classroom
I come from a society and a culture where the copying of anything in or out of a classroom is simply looked on as cheating. Not only cheating the whole idea of education but cheating oneself out of any possibility of learning, not to mention a total disrespect of the student who goes to the trouble of learning the correct answers in the first place. So I was appalled beyond measure when I saw my first example of copying in my classroom at my first school in Phuket.
English program pitfalls
What are the disadvantages of being an English program teacher
Since I've been teaching in Thailand. I've by chance and not necessarily choice - always been placed in English Programs. English Programs are immersion-based ‘special' educative programs placed within government schools.
Ten reasons why I love my job and my life in Thailand
Thought you would enjoy reading something positive
Life offers many twists and opportunities to those with an open mind; and after an amicable divorce from my wife and selling my house and possessions, I hit the road with a small backpack for company. After three years on the road I stumbled into Thailand.
To use Thai or not to use Thai?
Why learning Thai has helped me so much in the classroom
My philosophy on spoken communication has always been that perfect grammar, extensive vocabulary and intimate knowledge of tenses are all totally worthless if the listener cannot understand the words that are coming out of your mouth.
Another swipe at the system
I know I'm not the first to write about the education system in Thailand
Last week I was sat down by my managers (yes, this required all three of them) with minutes to go before the bell for first lesson and was told that my teaching style is not appropriate for the school. I had to clarify exactly what it was that they didn't like and was met with the response, "We don't want TEFL style teaching at our school."
More English camps
Possibly the final instalment of my summer camp trilogy
As the semester at my Mathayom-level government school came to a close, the students in the Mini English Program (MEP) got the chance to go to two different camps, one in Cha Am beach near Hua Hin, and the other in Green Beach, also near Hua Hin.
Thailand, Asean and all that jazz
Postbox letter from Jonathan
Well dear readers I think it is time for another letter in relation to Asean, The Thai Education System and the fact that Thailand (in my opinion) is heading for a huge disaster upon the arrival of the Asean Community and all that it is supposed to bring to Thailand.
News from up't north
Postbox letter from Geoff Richards
The good news is that because the Teacher's Council of Thailand is trying to rigorously enforce the need for all foreign English teachers to sit the tests for a TL, many schools are now finding it difficult to retain staff.
