Thread: Record number of incoming ajarns to Thailand

Browsing a certain forum, the newbie section now contains a very high number of young guys who's goal it is to make a long term existence in Thailand. The disturbing point is, hardly any of them have a decent wedge of cash in the bank or any credentials. Ok, a few are heading for a Thailand based teaching course, fair enough, but where's the sense in relocating and knowing that the potential for becoming destitute is a matter of weeks away should they not gain decent employment?

Some are advised to walk the pavements offering themselves to government schools, (Bloody hell, who'd wanna do that?) many will obviously send bulk identical resume spam emails to all they can on a teaching jobs page, and a few will get lucky and quickly gain decent employment within a corporate environment, probably due to them having a few friends already working in this potentially lucrative area, and doing decent preparation beforehand.

Most don't mind that they will also exploring the dark unknown by requesting info on cheap apartment rooms in the 3-5k area, in areas of Bangkok they have never ventured to, cheaper areas amongst the hustle and bustle of a nearby traffic clogged main road and a sweaty 15 minute walk to a nearest train stop. Never mind the possible dangers of what lurks on those sois at night.

I'm not making fun of them nor judging, as many I know have successfully got along doing this, but that was back in 2002. Now, ten years on, the numbers of potential wannabe teachers is probably 20-30 times higher.

Most of them admitted that they had only spent a matter of 2-4 weeks in the country prior to their decision, another good few admitted that they were in low wage jobs back home, so they'd save up their hard earned cash, obviously.

So what is bringing them to Thailand? Are they encapsulated by just the culture? Have they been grabbed by the balls emotionally and financially by a girl they have had a liason with (Yawn..)? Another thing is that many are around the 25-29 year old age bracket which is also surprising. When I did it, nearly all the teachers I met were late 30s upwards.

One explanation could be that are they the offspring of the expats who moved to Thailand 10-15 years back? They went to visit dad in Thailand and loved it so much?

I don't honestly believe that Thai folks would favour this influx if they were aware of it, as they'll offer virtually nothing to the economy, and spoken english sure won't improve in Thailand even with all these extra ajarns.

Should someone tip off the Thai authorities on these wannabe useless long termers? Would they initiate a crackdown?

pollacks offer nowt to the UK and yet they come here in droves. hope ASEAN hurries up with the expansion so theres more freedom of movement with labour and that will give the chuzzwozzers something else to maon about

Do you have any evidence of those so called numbers and average ages?

Ok for you, but not for them? Bangkok has changed that much?

But you final nonsense, tell the authorities?

Please.

Yes....according to [another] a certain forum.
That's all you need to know that makes this story and added suggestions to be suspect.


Prosepective TEFLers [and their kin scum], be they qualified or not, need to be systematically collected and sussed out when they arrive.....taken away to secret prisons where they're never heard from again.

Job opportunities in the west, for teachers even if they are qualified, are diminishing for one.

The temples for another.

Take it from your expose there Pat that this new crop of TEFL'ers are headed for that apt title of 'Farang Kee Nok'?

I wanna be a teacher.. it'd e a piece of piss.

repeat after me

My name is Thipornwannatip
Nickname Apple
What is your Name?
Where you come from?
I am Happy

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Take it from your expose there Pat that this new crop of TEFL'ers are headed for that apt title of 'Farang Kee Nok'?

Another reason the locals don't really accept them types

Originally Posted by Sir wilson

Ok for you, but not for them? Bangkok has changed that much?

Yes. Where have you been hiding the last ten years? In your luxury condominium seventy storeys up in Sathorn?

oops double post

Think of it as an experience whether good or bad.

The term "Ajarn" should not be used to refer to TEFLers scrabbling around to earn Baht 300 per hour "teaching" English; it's a term of respect properly used for senior and experienced professors and such, at best these people may be called "Kru".

Patrick

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

Browsing a certain forum, the newbie section now contains a very high number of young guys who's goal it is to make a long term existence in Thailand. The disturbing point is, hardly any of them have a decent wedge of cash in the bank or any credentials. Ok, a few are heading for a Thailand based teaching course, fair enough, but where's the sense in relocating and knowing that the potential for becoming destitute is a matter of weeks away should they not gain decent employment?

Some are advised to walk the pavements offering themselves to government schools, (Bloody hell, who'd wanna do that?) many will obviously send bulk identical resume spam emails to all they can on a teaching jobs page, and a few will get lucky and quickly gain decent employment within a corporate environment, probably due to them having a few friends already working in this potentially lucrative area, and doing decent preparation beforehand.

Most don't mind that they will also exploring the dark unknown by requesting info on cheap apartment rooms in the 3-5k area, in areas of Bangkok they have never ventured to, cheaper areas amongst the hustle and bustle of a nearby traffic clogged main road and a sweaty 15 minute walk to a nearest train stop. Never mind the possible dangers of what lurks on those sois at night.

I'm not making fun of them nor judging, as many I know have successfully got along doing this, but that was back in 2002. Now, ten years on, the numbers of potential wannabe teachers is probably 20-30 times higher.

Most of them admitted that they had only spent a matter of 2-4 weeks in the country prior to their decision, another good few admitted that they were in low wage jobs back home, so they'd save up their hard earned cash, obviously.

So what is bringing them to Thailand? Are they encapsulated by just the culture? Have they been grabbed by the balls emotionally and financially by a girl they have had a liason with (Yawn..)? Another thing is that many are around the 25-29 year old age bracket which is also surprising. When I did it, nearly all the teachers I met were late 30s upwards.

One explanation could be that are they the offspring of the expats who moved to Thailand 10-15 years back? They went to visit dad in Thailand and loved it so much? o

I don't honestly believe that Thai folks would favour this influx if they were aware of it, as they'll offer virtually nothing to the economy, and spoken english sure won't improve in Thailand even with all these extra ajarns.

Should someone tip off the Thai authorities on these wannabe useless long termers? Would they initiate a crackdown?

and I bet there's allot of women coming too. Goes to show that Thailand isn't just for sex. There is a sense of freedom in Thailand that u don't get anywhere else

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Yes....according to [another] a certain forum.
That's all you need to know that makes this story and added suggestions to be suspect.


Prosepective TEFLers [and their kin scum], be they qualified or not, need to be systematically collected and sussed out when they arrive.....taken away to secret prisons where they're never heard from again.

There is fuck all for work or anything in the west right now. What do you expect ?

Plus Thailand kicks ass. Why the fuck are any of you here ?

^The weather.

Originally Posted by Patrick

The term "Ajarn" should not be used to refer to TEFLers scrabbling around to earn Baht 300 per hour "teaching" English; it's a term of respect properly used for senior and experienced professors and such, at best these people may be called "Kru".

Patrick

I hated being called ''Kru'' and being wai-ed. I knew I wasn't worthy of it. For Gods sake I haven't even got a TEFL certificate never mind a degree. But I got by and did a job just as good as any TEFL-er, it's hardly rocket science.

I agree, those that have taught in bonafide schools and actually got the correct credentials do deserve the acclaim of being called ''Kru'' and the TEFL-ers give them a bad name. Sadly Thais can't distinguish the difference, they just want a well dressed farang standing in the classroom.

Originally Posted by socal

There is fuck all for work or anything in the west right now. What do you expect ?

Plus Thailand kicks ass. Why the fuck are any of you here ?

Socal is spot on. The global economic downturn has hurt a lot of people, and I'd say this is the main driving force. And when the possibility of at least supporting oneself in Thailand is added to the perennial enticement of having a fling with exotic Eastern females, it's no wonder more guys in their twenties are arriving.
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Originally Posted by DJ Pat

Now, ten years on, the numbers of potential wannabe teachers is probably 20-30 times higher.

Originally Posted by Sir Wilson

Do you have any evidence of those so called numbers and average ages?

no answer yet

Are you really suggesting that the Thai authorities should be contacted about people who are attempting to do what you did 10 years ago, because there are more of them, because they are younger than you when you did it or because they might have less funds than you had. Teakdoor is full of people having pointless arguments and I really am not interested to partake in one, but are you not being a hypocrite.

Originally Posted by Jesus Jones

Think of it as an experience whether good or bad.

Exactly. There are a lot of young expat (not only Western) student teachers on 'placement' deals in Govt schools here in Rayong.
I've met a few of them and they seem to enjoy the work and the job here. Hope the kids they teach think the same.

I have little doubt the #s of TEFL emigrant wanabes is on the rise, and no doubt it's due to the econ.

And esp in the US where uni' education has evolved into such an advanced racket-- I forgot which pundit gets credit for quipping that, "uni grads today graduate with a mortgage, but no house..." and I'd add, no job prospects which will compensate at a high enough rate to service their student debt in addition to affording them at least a middle class lifestyle. The McWalMart service sector doesn't want the (desperate) degree-holders either, for reasons you can guess.

Other western countries vary in levels of gov socialization of uni costs... but I say in the US the racket is "advanced" because, for one thing, the money lenders coerced in laws such that student loan debt is no longer dispellable even through bankruptcy... so the "well educated" sucker has that ball & chain leading to the money lenders, shackled onto them come hell or high water. They don't service the debt, their credit report/rating is F'd, and with it their ability to get house, car, personal etc loans (a blessing in disguise, I say! )

Couple years ago sometime I was listening to a (financial pundit) Peter Schiff podcast, where he was talking about this young US gal's predicament: she had gotten herself into a couple hundred K student loan debt, seems she had a masters in this or that social science; but she couldn't find work, and had a website up telling her story and basically begging for donations! Schiff's advice to her (and all in situations resembling hers... millions I'd guess albeit with lower avg debt): LEAVE THE COUNTRY (and the debt).

couple clips, & last one's a full hour docu' just 1-2 year old, tells the "(US) higher education as mega-racket" story in comprehensive detail:

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

Now, ten years on, the numbers of potential wannabe teachers is probably 20-30 times higher.

Originally Posted by Sir Wilson

Do you have any evidence of those so called numbers and average ages?

no answer yet

Yes. From several sources who are complaining. Advertised jobs are getting hammered by sheer volumes of applications. I have a brain and eyes as well, you know.

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

So what is bringing them to Thailand? Are they encapsulated by just the culture? Have they been grabbed by the balls emotionally and financially by a girl they have had a liason with (Yawn..)? Another thing is that many are around the 25-29 year old age bracket which is also surprising. When I did it, nearly all the teachers I met were late 30s upwards.

One explanation could be that are they the offspring of the expats who moved to Thailand 10-15 years back? They went to visit dad in Thailand and loved it so much?

At the risk of being Captain Obvious yet again - why not simply ask them on that other forum rather than speculating about it here?

I think it's great the young are invading. So many women as well to play with.