Thread: To teach or not to teach

Hello guys. I guess this is not very origional, but, I am looking at getting a TESOL/TEFL Certificate, to teach english. Is this a practical way to get a working visa in LOS? I will not look to make a lot, just soemthing to keep a little busy, and make beer money...Anyone here doing this? Any comments? Hahaha. I am sure there will be comments, but I will take the good with the bad....

Thanks Bob

Bangkok Shill over at Ajarn will be sure to slide you towards a fruitful future.

Originally Posted by Bobk_nyc

Is this a practical way to get a working visa in LOS?

If you work for a reputable/decent company, sure.

Originally Posted by Bobk_nyc

Anyone here doing this?

Hmmm...

Originally Posted by Bobk_nyc

Any comments?

Is there nothing else you can do? I would recommend teaching as a last resort, unless you happen to be a real teacher.

There's a mini-mart not far from here that I frequent now and then. It's run by a nice couple who have two teenage daughters. One is about 12 the other about 20. The older one is a university student. I like the place because I can buy a couple of cans of beer and watch the world go by. (Well, a tiny part of the world....)

The other night the couple asked me if I'd tutor their daughter in English for an hour a week. I'm thinking it might be fun because the younger one can already speak OK and is not shy nor afraid to try out her English on me. I could really help her, I think. So, I agree.

Turns out they want me to tutor the older one. She's all right, but she's always gives me the "invisible old man" stare. While I could have some linguistic fun with the younger one, I have no idea how to proceed with her older sister.

Should I give this gig a miss? If not, any suggestions on how to proceed?

If I were you, I'd take both sisters for the price of one. Personally, I hate one-on-one classes. There are so many more things you can do (dialogues, role-plays, games) with three people than with two, that I think it's easier to teach two than it is to teach one.

Also, you might be amazed at how her attitude changes when she starts to regard you as a teacher, rather than an invisible old man! I had a similar experience at a company I work at part time. I was hired to do editing and proofreading and spent a lot of time fooling around with a computer in the corner of one of the offices. There was this smoking hot girl who would always ignore me when she walked through the office on her way home every night. Well, the boss finally noticed that I was finishing my two hours of work in about 15 or twenty minutes &, rather than cut my hours, she put me to work teaching English to the girls in the Customer Service Department. Well, guess what! My best student is my buddy Pond - the hot girl who always ignored me before I became her teacher.

^^ I wouldn't recommend it unless you have someone else in the room at all times.
She only has to say that you touched her and you got problems.

I pretty much hate being with people anyway, so trashing the whole concept suits me just fine....

^
in which case, trash it and don't ask again.

^ but this thread could go for a century with his angst first!

Originally Posted by mrT

but this thread could go for a century with his angst first!

indeed it could, but it is better to nip in the bud the teaching ambitions of a person that would rather never talk to people that want to learn how to improve their ability to communicate.

What does the older one look like?

^ aint that the crux of the question!

Well, not really thinking that I could earn a living. more as a fill some time and beer money...and a visa that is less hassle.....I have taught before, that is not a problem....just looking for some input from people that are in LOS. as I only have a few months experence there.

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

but it is better to nip in the bud the teaching ambitions of a person that would rather never talk to people

You're right. I'll never change....

The 20 year old is tall, slim and attractive. She used to talk to me, but stopped when she found out how old I was. The last words she ever said to me were, "Oh, but you look so young...."

Damn.

Don't usually come across much teaching stuff here. Below is a ling to Taylor Mali's "What do teachers make?"

What Do Teachers Really Make? Taylor Mali... - Cellfish.com

^ really sucks to reach the tipping point eh?...

E. G.

Originally Posted by El Gibbon

^ really sucks to reach the tipping point eh?...

and an excellent book..did you ever read it EG?..

Originally Posted by Thetyim

^^ I wouldn't recommend it unless you have someone else in the room at all times.
She only has to say that you touched her and you got problems.

I have to disagree with this, Thetty.

I have tutored kids for the last five years, usually shut away in their rooms and have never had a problem. The only time a problem seems to arise is from the teachers' side, because (sadly) some do not know where the correct boundaries lie. I have known of two only two tutors out of about 50 who may have been a bit unsure of the teacher-student relationship. Considering the bad rep western teachers have over here, that's not so bad.

^ Well you have had a lot more experience than me but I don't know of any 18+ year old students in Phrae who wanted to pay money for their lessons.