Educational policy: what can a teacher do?
Will the ministry listen to anything we have to say?
'Government policy' is a major concern to many teachers here, and rightly so. When policy undermines our classroom practice, things can get frustrating.
The senselessness of Thai bureaucrats and oligarchs
Thailand is ruled by men, not laws
I understand that Thai people do not like causing conflict or losing face, but the first step in solving a problem is admitting that there is one
Thailand's month of mourning
This is when Thai culture can really catch us unaware
Thailand has entered a month of mourning following the death of His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch. So what does that mean for us foreigners? How will this period of mourning affect us?
Remembering the terrible floods
We will never forget the horrors of late 2011
A lot of Thais said the 2011 floods in Thailand were the worst in 50 years. Factories and businesses, agricultural crops and countless properties were damaged at a huge cost. Anyone who experienced it will never forget.
Thai education shambles
Postbox letter from Ajarn Jim
Outside of MEP and EP programs, why are government schools fixated on NES teachers doing so much conversation? From what I understand, the English section of the university exams covers reading, comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar.
Is Thailand taking it seriously?
Postbox letter from Marvin
It seems the only thing required in most schools right now is to be a young “fresh face”. Experience is not appreciated (or paid for) in most cases.
Age limit by Ministry of Education?
Postbox letter from Richard
I feel like I've been spinning my wheels here for weeks sending CVs and emails and not getting any results.
Getting hitched in the Land of Smiles
Continuing the adventure but as a married teacher
Hi, I am Elizabeth (Miss Ellie if you are one of my 5 year old students) and I am a homeroom teacher at an International school in Nonthaburi. I moved here from South Korea where I lived and taught for a year
Where will the money go?
Postbox letter from Cliff
I retired from my job in the States last year and decided to spend my retirement here in Thailand, teaching Thai people to speak better English among other things. I knew beforehand it would be an uphill battle. I have spent 4 years of my life here, plus another 11 working at a Thai church near my home in the San Diego area, so I was well aware of the difficulties Thai people have with our language. In fact, most of the few Thai people I know who speak it fluently have a very heavy Thai accent.
Fear of change?
Why the reluctance to adopt English as an official language in Thailand?
In Thailand the government has set 2012 as English Speaking Year with a goal of encouraging students to converse in English every Monday. Such policies are useful but the major leap of enacting legislation to make English an official language for Thailand is also needed
