Job Discussion Forums

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

How are qualified EFL teachers regarded in Thailand? As a point of reference, my experience is that ELF teachers in Japan are typically seen by the Japanese as underachievers who, while sometimes fun and entertaining in a mind-candy way, are basically floating around Asia looking for sex and aren't up to making a good life back home. Unfortunately, even well qualified university EFL teachers tend to get swept up in this net. An EFL teacher can distinguish himself as a productive worker, but can expect to start from the beginning when moving to a new job or neighborhood. How about in Thailand?

Pauleddy · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 295 Location: The Big Mango

Good post!

I work at one of the 'main' unis here and have post-grad quals plus years of experience.

IMHO, the situation is 90% as you describe. You can 'make a name' for yourself later...if you are good.

The problem is, of course, compounded by the westerners who are already here PLUS the "Thai view" of life, including Thai resentment and hypocrisy. Unlike some countries, you will always be considered farang here (i.e. a foreigner). I live with a Thai, but I know that I will never fully penetrate certain 'smoke and mirrors' stuff.

Since the Americans started to arrive here for R and R in the 60's (Vietnam war etc.), Thailand has always 'sold' a certain lifestyle. Many people come here for the hedonism, sex especially, and ... the Thais cater for that (the reputation glows world-wide, let's not deny it). Mix that up with the Buddhist doctrine about good behaviour, peace and restraint, especially not drinking too much (if at all), and you can see that we have a big stereotype to live down.

Now, to the above recipe add 000's of backpackers who get stoned (and all the rest of it) but also dabble in EFL on the margins.

I know a lot of teachers here, and most have some kind of closet skeletons, altho' most don't know it! Drink, drugs, sex addiction...and in some cases the inability to live a 'rounded' life back home//or just plain wanderlust. Many of us get branded or labelled as being different. Some of it may be discrimination which is thoughtless and blind (if you are black, you may understand).

Much of the above is a potted version. I am sure that I will now get several replies which will convey wailing and gnashing of teeth. Overall, however, I think that yr post is interesting and rings true! IMHO.

PEd

roguegrafix · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 125

Yes I would tend to agree. While ther are lots of serious, dedicated teachers here (not all of them qualified), there are a lot who are here for the beer and the sex and as Pauleddy says they "dabble" in English teaching. Some of these are qualified. They do not really care about the effect they have on kids' lives. But then again, there are lots of places who only want these dabblers because they want the token farang to show off and they don't care about good pay or conditions. Unfortunately, it's probably a case of the pot calilng the kettle black.

renzobenzo1 · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 85

That was my exact situation when I left for Korea!
I couldn't get any sex but it sure made a man and a teacher out of me!

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

Thanks for the replies. My image of Thailand was that poverty and maybe Buddhist-inspired rusticity would account for most obstacles EFL teachers would face, but I had no idea discrimination and corruption were so rife. It sounds like the way to be a respected adult is to occupy a lofty position with a status-symbol corporation and flash your cash the right way; anything below that, and you're a no-account foreigner. Is that basically how it works?