Job Discussion Forums

[chon nom]

Newbies;
I don't know what people think working in Thailand is gonna be like;
but I look at these strings and am quite horrified to think that bright-eyed
newbies would even think about "teaching" there.
First; classrooms are filthy and unaircanditioned. The students are
completely apathetic and spoiled at best, and a riot at worst. You cannot disipline them, you cannot flunk them(to the point of admin telling you to pass them no matter if they've NEVER shown up) and you cant call their
parents(my wife was assaulted by a big kid. "Oh, he promises not to do it again").
The standard $900US/ mo is not really enough to live on, and you wont have enough for airfare to get out. MOD EDIT

[WhatsGrammar?]

Oh dear. Off to a bad start in Thailand?

Whilst some of that MAY be true in your case it certainly does not apply to all the schools.

Ones I worked at were always well resourced, air-conditioned and paid decent wages. Its your choice at which school or Language mill you work at...............no one has forced you.

Obviously Thailand is not for you.

[parrothead]

I agree with WhatsGrammar on this one. If you've only worked at one or two schools in Thailand, then you can hardly give an accurate synopsis of Thai schools in general. Every school is different, students and ages are different, management is different, school resources are different, pay varies.

Anyone care to share positive experiences?

[laconic]

[gusto102]

Everyone has their reasons for teaching in Thailand... but I think money ranks last on the list. I did teach at a school in Bangkok that was pretty close to what chon nom describes, ie filthy classrooms with no AC, very little resources for teaching, and very bad students. Discipling students was difficult, but there were always Thai teachers with bamboo sticks readily available. I taught there for 2 years. At the time I was fresh out of TEFL, and so for me, the school was a great place to practice and test new lessons, and also refine my teaching style. Now I teach at another government school in the south of Thailand, the cost of living is low and the pay is much more than the one in BKK. I also have my own classroom with AC, and the students are quite serious about learning English. It's all good here. I do think that the Thai school system is messed up in that students never fail a grade no matter how low their grades are. If they get a low grade, the Thai teachers will just let them clean classrooms during the summer to make it up. I don't think most M6 students are ready to study at the university level. But this is Thailand's problem, not mine.

[chon nom]

Well, I just got back and my wife is still there and got assaulted the day I wrote this; so forgive my immoderateness.
I DO love Thailand in general, but I was there a while, and while the tone was shrill, I stick by what I say for newbies to the EFL game.
Out of my TEFL class(I'm experienced in Asia but I got one) more than 1/2
have quit. I could go back now and get some of those goodish jobs you guys mention, but again; a newbie won't find them. All but a few schools
in BKK seem to be the same thing.
I guess it comes down to the old axiom in the Dancing Monkey game:
If you're here to teach, you'll hate it. If you just want a job to support travel in Asia, you're alright.
Just thought the scarily uninformed folks I saw on the string should know
what no one one here seems to be telling them about conditions and students.
Irena sakkarena tam Buddham...

[StrayCat]

I taught in Thailand from 1991 until 2007 (minus 4 years in Korea) and although I'm currently teaching again in Korea, there are/were many good things about teaching in sunny Thailand.

I started on about 30,000 baht in 1991, worked for a private secondary school for about 45,000 and then was on over 90,000 baht for an international school when 2005 rolled around.

You need a break from Thailand every few years IMO or the place can drive you nuts. Get more teaching qualifications as you go along your career path if possible to boost your chances of a decent job.

There are some very well paid jobs (mostly in those rich private schools or international schools) with good benefits.

Having said all that, these crazy Thai (new-ish) requirements for your teaching visa/licence are absolute madness. Culture course - what?
Things like that really put me off returning to work there (although I'm married to a Thai and have a house there).

Hmm... thoughts of a good post in somewhere like Vietnam...

[Coco the Monkey]

My advice is to do a proper school search by actually visiting the school you plan to teach at before you interview. I was lucky. I found what seemed like an oasis in the middle of Bangkok. I spent two years at a Thai school, and while the original post does have a small kernel of truth (pay is low) my actual experience with the so-called spoiled rotten students was minimal. Every class had its challenging students. I had classes that were full of stars, and classes which I jokingly referred to as "my one-way ticket classes," classes which would make me contemplate a run to Khao Sarn for a ticket home. I had students wai me in sincere respect, and others who practiced thier latest learned crude slang on me. I was never assulted, but one of our staff was in a fight with a Mathyom 6 student. A real shame because it was over something easily handled: tardiness.

Thailand is a wonderful place to teach. I got a bit tired of it and moved on to Vietnam,, back to America, and now I'm headed to the UAE. I hope the one assult doesn't mar what can be a really wonderful experience in an interesting country.

[kidefl]

I've been here 7 years. I earn $800 a month. My classes are 53, no AC, no resources. I love it. But there are lots of jobs as the OP describes, mine is one of them, I still love it. This past two weeks I've gotten more paid days off than America would offer me as an ordinary employee in more than a year.

I like Thai people but it's difficult to hold them in high esteem. It's a laid-back kind of place. I don't live and will never live in BKK.

Things have indeed changed, lots of new regulations, prices are up, Thai people are less friendly.

To a Thai it's okay to lie so be careful and remember - it's always the lazy way out to go along with what you're told when you need that job real bad.

And when you get to a town do whatever it takes to get yourself connected. Give free lessons to the governor's son and daughter if you must. It's very important to have "banamee" - that's clout.

[newyork]

Why would you assume the a whole country is bad news just because of your own personal bad experience? There are some very good schools in Thailand and if you're not happy where you are at, just look for a new school. Try www. ajarn.com

Good luck

[Pauleddy]

There are many viewpoints and experiences. I have been here 3 years.

The main thing to say is that "it's not like you thought it wuz gonna be".

Some people settle here. Most people come for the "lifestyle" (read s-x and fun) and have enough after a year.

Teaching is not often fun here. many places/employers are bad or mad. All cities are grimy and hot. Many people write to me thinking that they can sip cocktails in a beach bar while teaching English to lovely girls who will desire them. Here u r seen as an ATM machine or a slave to be put in front MOD EDIT
Rarely is it possible to live here well and save any money. The best situation here is to be older and to have pensions or existing money. If u r 20 and in a gap year, bring money, get a TEFL first and get a job for 6 months. Enjoy it but see it for what it is.

Most older guys know that the 'best times' are long gone. The yanks started the whole Thai pleasure thing by having breaks from wars they were engaged in, and using Thailand for RandR.

Thailand is living in 2008. many people are poor. The govmt is corrupt. There are many reasons to avoid this place and head for Costa Rica.

P

[Miyazaki]

I would never live in Thailand. I like hitting Phuket for a week or so, but I just could never live with the Thais. Forget about TEFl'ing in Thailand! I agree with the OP - you can get stuck there without enough money to purchase an international flight out of the country and back home! MOD EDIT

in sum, hit the beach or whatever for a week or so in Thailand but live and TEFL in countries like Korea, Japan or Taiwan where you can earn a descent wage.

Living and working in Thailand is not the same as enjoying it as a tourist.

[PattyFlipper]

Worth repeating:

[ESL Hobo]

I worked in Thailand in 1985, it was a much nicer place and time to live and work there. But this trend of things changing in the ESL industry are happening worldwide. I think if a person wants to step back into those "good times" in the ESL industry, the best way to do it would be to look for jobs where ESL/EFL jobs are just starting up in countries, for example Kazakstan. Avoid the countries that have been EFL teachered to death for 20 years.

My last stint in Thailand was in 2007. It was a bitter-sweet experience.
I think if a person has some personal savings or the energy it takes to work 2 esl jobs and still go out then things would be OK. One can still enjoy the cammaraderie of fellow teachers and traveling about the country when you have free time.

[Pelican_Wrath]

I quite fancy a stint in Thailand - but only when I've finished my PGCE and can get a decent job over there.