Are English teachers non-essential right now?
Postbox letter from Scott
It might be a good idea for many teachers to take what is offered, within reason, and wait until the situation approves before expecting to be able to bargain with employers from a position of strength.
Teaching English in Thai schools vs teaching English online
The pros and cons of both teaching lifestyles
I am frequently asked by aspiring teachers, which is better: teaching English in a Thai school or teaching English online? The answer to that question is complicated.
Think about what students you want to teach!
Are you the serious, lecturer type or do you enjoy clowning around?
New teachers in Thailand often give plenty of thought to where they want to teach and how much money they want to make. But strangely, one question few teachers seem to ask themselves seriously is what kind of students they will be happy with.
My experiences of working at a college in Bangkok (part 1)
Swapping Korea for Thailand
The job search was looking grim, and I figured I’d either return to Korea or perhaps look back into teaching in America, as the economic situation there had improved. Suddenly, lo and behold, a job ad graced my phone.
Do Filipinos really do it better?
Postbox letter from Jim Hensby
I have worked with Filipino teachers, and it has been no easy task. The English material they produce for students is consistently riddled with grammar errors and inappropriate language.
Succeeding with Thai college students
Using Thai teaching assistants and adapting materials, etc
From 2016 to 2018, I worked at a small college in Thailand. Many of my intensive English students came from poor families in Isaan and this was their first experience away from home.
Stumbling blocks
What I didn’t learn in my 100-hour online ESL course
I can see my skin through my dress shirt because the thin layer of fine linen is totally soaked through. In short, it’s too hot to care about anything academic.
A great career but......
Postbox letter from Elisha
The element of autonomy in the teaching world was what appealed to me about teaching compared to other (employee style) careers.
Bye, bye Thailand
When poor evaluation strategy and lack of communication mean one thing - the exit door
I have taught at five schools in Thailand and only ONE has let me finish the semester and given me a recommendation letter. I've had enough of this place to be honest.
The good, the bad and the virtuous!
By just being here, you are making the education system better.
I've isolated the most compelling reasons why people teach long-term in Thailand and there are four of them as far as I can see... we like doing it, we can do it, we get paid for doing it, and 'purpose'.
