Thread: Why such abuse for TEFLers?

Originally Posted by natalie8

The group was all men - 11 of them and they had asked for a female teacher.

So you choose the least perverted one as a life partner!

Just kidding.

Serious question though.
Do you think you life would still be as good if you stayed in Canada and concentrated on your previous career?

555. The story is a bit funny. The 'leader' of this group is a really tall thin guy with decent English and he talks talks talks......... On the first day of every class, the owner comes with the teacher just to see how everything is and to get feedback from the students and the teacher.

The class had been going on for about 10 minutes and my hubby and another guy came in late and apologized profusely. The first thing I thought was 'he's good looking, tall, dark and handsome', then I continued the class like nothing happened.

So, I'm one of those nasty teachers who got into 'a romantic relationship' as per our contract verbiage. We had to keep things quiet until the course finished.

I'd like to start a thread sometime on my experience in Thailand, but I keep wondering if people would be interested. Anyway, that's all for now. I need to go out in about 10 minutes.

Originally Posted by natalie8

Originally Posted by livelife

I might've mentioned it before, but most TEFLER's are here for the wrong reasons. And really do not care for teaching. They are here to get laid, drink cheap beer and live like kings.

Some are, yes, but it would be difficult for anyone to say that most are because we don't have the statistics.

Originally Posted by livelife

But some TEFLER's are very good teachers and take alot of pride in what they do. And I will say this, the teachers who can teach students English and make them enjoy it in those tiny little provinces where the level of english is horrendous, are remarkable and easily make more of a difference there than some guy teaching from a textbook at an international school full of rich kids. It's also in my opinion far more rewarding.

I've always taken pride in my work and in what I do. In all my years working in Canada, there was no point in having pride because people in special groups had special rights.

If you put any effort into your work, you are often asked to stay late, forfeit any abysmal vacation time or you just get harassed and managers take credit for your work.

The alloted vacation time in Canada is the same as the US - two weeks, and more often than not, you are denied your vacation because 'it's busy'. *rolling eyes*

My background is in marketing and sales and office management. I am known to be a procrastinator, so finally, in 2003 I made the decision to make my move.

I took a TESOL course, booked my flight a couple of weeks after that and flew to BKK in February of 2004. I had often heard of people teaching ESL overseas and I kept saying I wish, I wish.

I wanted to live somewhere hot, interesting and completely different from my 'home' country. Fortunately for me, my mother is a retired English teacher, the full package. When I was a kid, I used to help her correct her ESL tests. She would give me a handful and I would mark them.

My spelling and grammar have always been strong. This could be genetic or just experience, or a nice combination. When I started working, I was amazed at how many native English speakers couldn't spell. That's another story, though.

My reasons for going to Thailand were because I desperately needed a change and I was procrastinating doing this, I needed to live somewhere warm to hot, I needed a completely new environment, etc, etc.

I absolutely loved living in Bangkok and teaching ESL. I always found my students to be eager to learn and co-operative most of the time. I was very fortunate because I had worked at a prathom school in Minburi for an agency, but the owner's daughter started to cause problems for me, so I left to go to a well known language school.

At the language school there were only two of us who were full time teachers, and since I mentioned that I prefer older students, adults and business classes, I was given these, along with night classes at two companies.

After this contract ended, I moved to a school that specializes in business English and they teach employees of companies. For this school, I was placed at IBM's office at Phaya Thai. It was excellent!

The only reason that I stopped teaching ESL is because we came to Dubai. Hubby had come a year before I did. I moved here in February of 2008. I had wanted to continue eaching ESL here, but the majority of people here have decent English (or don't but think they do).

Originally Posted by livelife

But, to each their own.

This is a good rule to go by. In Canada I, like many people, was stressed out, surrounded by rude loudmouth people who have temper tantrums at work and in public, think they are better than you because of the clothes they wear, the car they drive or the size of the diamonds they wear or buy for their female partners. It just gets really boring and annoying.

Moving to Thailand and being around people who are the opposite of this, and who actually like to help, and are genuinely caring and curious was the best thing I ever did in my life.

I'm not into bars anymore, I quit that when I was around 22 or 23. In Thailand, I had good friends, who are still friends today, I went to nice restaurants or local places that had a live band. I travelled a lot, during every holiday that was longer than 3 days, I made good money working reasonable hours, I saved quite a bit.

I could go on and on, but I'll end it here. One thing I learned there is not to worry about others, if they have a different lifestyle than mine. That's not going to make me happy.

Great post. Really agree with your last paragraph. Spot on.

For all you Teachers out there!

One student said he liked the oral activity the best.
My daugher is off with her friends tonight to watch the
"Cow down" when I ROAnd FMAO. Dear it's the count down on New Years Eve. I love Laos accents.

[/quote]

Grammar Lesson:
Oral 'activity
Are they kidding?
It has become a class favorite
What happens when you use 40 year old text books here in Laos.
A duck walked into my Hotel class and I said:
"What do you think you are doing in my class."
The duck replied," I want to settle my bill"
I said, "Do you want to pay for it?"
Duck Drake replied, " No I always get the hen for free"

Originally Posted by Bogon

Serious question though. Do you think you life would still be as good if you stayed in Canada and concentrated on your previous career?

Sorry I missed this post the last time around. To answer this, absolutely not! I still cringe when I hear about Canada or think about it. I've found both in Thailand and in the UAE, there are far more positive things about living in each.

Great story Nat. I, too, made the leap - 20 years ago and though the road has had its bumps (menopausal school admin) and disputes with neighbours, its been a fantastic life.

five years teaching in Tokyo at language schools and high schools followed by 15 teaching in both in Thailand. What's there not to like? At the most we would be looking at 2-3 hours of teaching of a day, 2-3 months school hols of a year, cheap living, fine food, no responsibilities, loads of places to chillax.

My standard of living has soared, I bought my house 2 years ago at 40,000 pounds - the same would cost me a quarter of a million back in the UK! Five mins from the beach, loads of quiet roads and hills to go mountain biking in, a swimming pool in my village, no shitty/freezing winters, can even get waitrose food from Tops supermarket down the road (have a choice of two within 15 mins drive from home)

I think the only down side is the lack of new friends - people you would like to hang out with as opposed to the dross that often washes up here, in Thailand. Still, I've been out on the lash for over 35 years so I've done all the partying I'll ever need - 9 years in the Royal Navy saw to that! People say that its good going if you can produce a handful of really good friends and I can do that - though they are scattered around the world, somewhat.

The thing is, those that slag us teflers off are the ones that have lost out! They range from those on contracts in the corporate world (who may well find that they are being eased out of a job back home) or those who fell for the 'buy a bar and get rich quick' scam and have now realised they've been had! To those that have retired out here on ever dwindling pensions scratching around more and more to make ends meet before they join the Pattaya Flying Club. Don't envy any of them so let them have a crack.

Me? I'm having a cracking time of my own!

And fair dues too mate.

Cheers rock, and more power to you.

Great post, RS. Thanks for that.

But you're still not happy are you rock?












































Taking the piss mate.
Can't knock that post to be honest, but many would if they thought they could!

Originally Posted by Bogon

But you're still not happy are you rock?


































Taking the piss mate.
Can't knock that post to be honest, but many would if they thought they could!

Missed your ps at the bottom, first time around, squire

It's a relative term, I suppose - happiness. One can always identify ways in which life could be better and we could all be happier than we are. As a wise man said "for every supermodel there's a guy bored with making love to her - sooner or later!"

I'm facing the decision on whether to bring children into this world. Those that have kids tell me they have brought so much happiness to their lives and virtually everyday brings about a happy occasion (my bro, for one) and then my sister who has had three children states that unless we really really want them, not to bother as its such a commitment in time, energy, financial resources.

Still, Bogon, I'm as happy as I've ever been in my life though different parts are happier than others when compared to 30 years ago. Eventually, I think we all tend to settle for what we can get in life - as long as its low maintenance and life in Thailand is a fine example, most of the time.

Originally Posted by aging one

Cheers rock, and more power to you.

cheers AO. Hope the chaos has cleared up over your way, squire.

Originally Posted by natalie8

Great post, RS. Thanks for that.

Always a pleasure to back you up, Nat!

Who gives a shit who has what who is a better teacher this is Thailand!. Cheating and corruption seems the norm here so why knock any one trying work no matter how they got where they are. It seems their are a few who post on teakdoor who type out of their arseholes, probably two faced in person the sort of people you walk away from after five minutes in person. No I am not a teacher of any sort and did not come here to teach d,ont need the money but have been offered a job,declined but never say never who knows whats around the corner. P.S DD I did not realise you were a builder,just being honest no offence meant but some of the photos of building work you have posted looked what we call Dog! another word for rough,crap,shit etc. Mr Pot you know every TEFL personally so can call them scum of the highest order well done!, 6 months you better start looking for a school surely the kid needs a head start if he ever wants a head as big as his farther.

I hope you are a maths teacher judging by your English.

Next he will be telling you that writing on a forum is different to teaching English....

Theirs many ways of teaching English and I belief most English speaking people can teach, it proper teacher or not.Why knock any one who has chosen to teach what ever their reason. Fraud,cheating what in Thailand the natives would never do such things!. Some of the naive comments to be read on her here make you wonder whats wrong with people.Mr Pot reading from what you have posted I would suspect that your a TWAT of the highest order calling people you dont even know scum whats a matter with you?.

Originally Posted by Gravesend Dave

Theirs many ways of teaching English and I belief most English speaking people can teach, it proper teacher or not.

I say not, and trust me, you have proven my point beyond a reasonable doubt.

Nidhogg proven beyond reasonable doubt,not heard that for some years now been a good boy for quite a while.You have an opinion like the rest of us but thats all it is. Trust me, it does piss me off when people come out with this,most of the time it means the person is full of shit.Perhaps not you Nidhogg.

^I actually feel quite embarrassed for you. Seems you don't know why!

Originally Posted by Gravesend Dave

No I am not a teacher of any sort

Originally Posted by OhOh

I hope you are a maths teacher judging by your English.

errrmmm

Originally Posted by Gravesend Dave

Nidhogg proven beyond reasonable doubt,not heard that for some years now been a good boy for quite a while.You have an opinion like the rest of us but thats all it is. Trust me, it does piss me off when people come out with this,most of the time it means the person is full of shit.Perhaps not you Nidhogg.

perhaps not, but he has yet to prove that

Thank you Mr Jesus Jones I needed someone to be embarrassed for me as typing crap on here strange it may be does not have that effect on me.Keep up the good work Jesus.