Job Discussion Forums

[MESL]

Thai students are much more disciplined, much less shy, and much more receptive than Chinese students. In Thailand, the students' attitude is "OK, we're just going to have this lesson and learn some English and everything will be fine." In China, it was more like, "But will this help me pass the exam?" "But I disagree with your teaching method." "But I don't like your personality."

At one school in China, I wrote less than 10 common vegetables on the board and told them to write the vocabulary in their notebook. I got a memo from the principal that this was too much vocabulary for one lesson. In Thailand, I taught a somewhat sophisticated lesson on using the post office. Vocabulary included air, sea, postage, rate, delivery time, scale, weigh, weight, pack, ship, insure, certify, register, confirm, track, and return address. The students absorbed it all without a hint of difficulty or protest. My Thai and Chinese students were the same age.

The Thai students view English skills as something they need and something they can master. Part of this is that the ASEAN Economic Community uses English as its official language. Contrast this with Chinese students being told they need English because of China's entrance into the WTO. There's a lot of crazy English books, a lot of packed English corners, and a lot of students requesting practice time with their foreign teacher, not to mention hordes of university English majors. But the passive aggressive resistance remains.

[MESL]

In Thailand:

-- Google, Gmail, Chrome, Facebook, Youtube, etc, are blocked.
-- 7-11 on every block.
-- Cold drinks everywhere.
-- No cold weather.
-- Beaches, etc.
-- Awesome food.
-- Friendly locals.
-- Enough English speakers to survive without a translator.
-- Clean bathrooms and clean classrooms.
-- Good transportation system.
-- Reliable postal system.

-- Nobody cutting in line.
-- Nobody hoiking and spitting.
-- Nobody smacking their food.
-- Nobody talking in a loud voice.
-- Nobody bumping into each other, climbing over each other, and grabbing each other.
-- Nobody setting off fireworks every 5 minutes.
-- Nobody allowing their children to relieve themselves in public.
-- Nobody saying, "Watch your bag!"

The contrast in public behavior is striking. There was a food court outside my Thai school. I explored that food court from one end to the other without anyone touching me. And this was in a place packed with energetic elementary students. In China, I would have been bruised from head to toe and my shoes would have been thoroughly scuffed. And of course at least half a dozen people would have cut in front of me while I tried to get my food.

Downsides:

-- Dress code.
-- Office hours.
-- Office politics.
-- No airfare.
-- No housing.
-- Heat and humidity.

[JB140767]

You forgot to mention Salaries - I did a CELTA in Thailand a while back, I was utterly shocked by the paucity of salaries over there, even compared to China.

In regard to your other comments;

I assume you mean unblocked - yeah that is cool, but, a$10 dollar VPN fixes that

7/11 - meh

Cold drinks are important, drives me nutty when Chinese shopkeepers turn off the fridge to save on electricity - total false economy

I was only in BK - no beaches there

Food is ok - cheaper too

Wasn't overly impressed by the locals friendliness

English levels also failed to outshine in my limited experience

China can have well manky bathrooms for sure

I only lived in BK, their skytrain is centuries behind Shanghai

Didn't post anything - then again never post in China, so not a factor

Agreed

Agreed

What does it mean to smack food?

Plenty of loudness in my experience

Have you been to China?

5 minutes is a bit of a stretch, but yeah annoying

Absolutely - drives me bonkers

meh

---------------------

not sure about that - taking off shoes was weird

Hate office hours

Airfare and housing somewhat bigger considerations than anything on your + list - plus - - -- SALARY

I couldn't live in BK - no relief from the weather

[ghost]

In Thailand any foreigner (including non native speakers) can get a job teaching English.

In places off the beaten track, there are many non native speakers teaching English.

In a small city about an hour from an important city, there is a whole colony of French speaking Africans from Cameroon (a francophone country) teaching English. They have even opened their own language school there. They are happy with the 30,000 - 35,000 baht a month they get ($857 - $1000). In those places, they can rent a small apartment for around 3000 baht a month ($86). So they still save money to send home to Cameroon.

I also met retired guys in the 60 - 70 age group teaching in remote places off the tourist track. They set their own schedules. In Thailand, everyone can survive, but unless you work in international schools - you will not get rich. But, once again, the quality of life is quite high....and it is a relaxing place, with, mostly, friendly, inoffensive people.

The quality of life in Thailand is quite high, because even in off the beaten track places, there is usually a Tesco Lotus supermarket, with all the foods that we like, like Cheddar cheese, and different breads and croissants. In that respect, Thailand is much more user friendly compared with China. You can buy sandwiches and crisps at 7-11, 24/7. Everything is comfortable.

In the provinces, I can get a nice hotel with a/c, fridge, and cable TV for just 400 - 450 baht a night ($12). Even in Pattaya and Bangkok, I never pay more than 1000 baht a night ($28) and in those places, there are excellent breakfasts served, which will satisfy you for many hours.

Even in remote cities throughout Thailand, the expat scene is quite organized, and there will usually be at least one English pub, serving a full English breakfast, and beer, plentiful, at night....at 80 baht a bottle, or less with promos. I could go on.

You are never far away from a medium sized city, where there will be a shopping mall, with bookstores like 'Asia Books' (www.asiabooks.com) which have very good selection of English language books, including recent novels, sport biographies (Thais are mad about Premier League, so all the latest bios are there - Gerrard, Fergie, Mourinho, Benitez).

Whenever I have a vacation from China, I tend to hop on a plane for either Thailand or the Philippines, for many of the above reasons. When one gets older one becomes attached to the small and familiar comforts, which make life more enjoyable.

You may pm me for more details.

Ghost in China

[Aristede]

[hdeth]

[ghost]

[hdeth]

[Hermosillo]

I live in Thailand on a retirement visa. I am just a bit over 50. You see me on here occasionally, because I love to teach Math, and believe I have some productive working days ahead. Haven't really seen anything that would tempt me to trade in my long stay visa, on a working visa. It's really more about long hours and paperwork problems than the low wages.

I've only been through China on airport layovers, but I've dealt with a number of Chinese in the US. Recently, I flew on KAL through Inchon, and I thought the Koreans were about the rudest people I had ever encountered. KAL is great, though. I refused to get up out of my seat, until the door at least opened, and these people (about my age) climbed over me. Then they were the ones stopping 20 feet from the exit and "reorganizing" their group on the jetway, blocking the exit of about 200. Could the Chinese be worse than that? Que jumping is a big annoyance here, too. Public toilets are pretty disgusting. Having toilet paper, soap, and paper towels is about a 1 in 500 proposition. Sanitation varies widely, with handling money and food would be considered perfectly acceptable. The Thais are great at sharing the sidewalk, not sure if is a necessity, good manners, or practice...but if you are approaching a group of them on a two meter wide sidewalk, they will split up, go around or whatever, but I've seen many foreigners, who were totally clueless on this matter. Broadband is good, and I watch Netflix with a free VPN, and I also watch sports with my Dad's Cable provider in the US. Some of my biggest complaints are hideous driving, and street dogs. I also despise litter. I walk a lot, and sometimes life seems way too cheap. Maybe a human life isn't worth 10 million USD; but it sure as heck is worth more than 3000 USD.
Medical and dental care is well above average quality and downright cheap compared to America. I spend about 105 USD per month on medical coverage.

Over the last several years, there has been a big decline in the number of European tourists, but there has been a huge increase in Chinese visitors, especially in Chiang Mai. The cab drivers seem to hate them, and are often making comments about them. It's mostly about them being bad drivers (as if the Thais should talk), and stopping in the middle of the road to take pictures, etc.. Their sidewalk manners could use a little improvement, too. Apparently, the Chinese are pretty big spenders, but it happens at Duty Free, and luxury stores. They aren't big patrons at the bars and restaurants, but they do like to drink.

The bottom line is that their are thousands of potential foreign teachers here. Add the Filipinos, Indians, Africans, and even the Eastern Europeans to the equation and it equals low wages, before you even count that Thai teacher salaries are low, and their just isn't that much money to go around.

My advice would be that if your job is tolerable, and you are legal, stay put, but you really need to save some money....like 15000 USD; not 1500. I think if you just come to Thailand as a tourist for two months a year; you will likely maintain a much higher regard for it.

[ghost]

[CNexpatesl]

"But I disagree with your teaching method." "But I don't like your personality"

Lol. I think China is the only country in Asia that will actively fire or refuse a job to someone for not having what they believe to be is an ideal English teacher's personality, even disregarding their qualifications or superior teaching style.

I'm pretty sure Japan and South Korea don't do this. Where did the Chinese pick up this irksome little belief, anyway?

[ghost]

[Hermosillo]

I agree with the popularity contest BS. Have you ever noticed how often someone doing a "perp-walk" in America is a former "Teacher of the Year."
Teachers complain about long hours, yet they give their mobile numbers to students, which in itself is crossing the line.