Printable View
There's nothing wrong with teaching English but teaching it in Thailand most likely won't give you a lot of longterm security especiially if you have a family or go back to your home country. For most teachers, the money and benefits just aren't there. On the other hand, if you are thrifty, stay single and commited to staying in Thailand forever, you might just live a comfortable life.
About 4 weeks ago I was happening by a place that had a huge "TEFL" and "Prepare your child for international school" etc etc posted on the windows. Out of sheer curiosity I went in and sat down to listen. There were about 6 or 8 Thai people at a few tables and a Foreigner at the helm by a white board. Here is what I noticed right out of the gateQuote:
Originally Posted by socal
What do you actually do when you teach english ? Just draw a horse on a chalkboard and say "horse" ?Quote:
Originally Posted by FondlesMy step father is an English teacher at a government school in Chanthaburi and is on 35k per month, he loves it. The salary whilst extremely low compared to what I earn easily support's him and his wife, he is happy and has a nice life whilst not needing to dip into his savings unless a major purchase is needed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neo
I have never really understood what they do ? Is it a classroom with 30 kids ? Adults ?
* The class sizes, while small (Good thing), had age ranges from what I could estimate to be from 5 to 15. This must present a huge teaching issue. How to address this fundamentally must be a challenge(if they even really care)
* The teacher did pretty much as you noted SoCal. He had some pictures of various things and said the word then put them into various sentences. He wrote some sentences on the board. This particular teacher wrote in upper and lower case throughout words and his penmanship was horrific.
As I sat I had a Foreigner approach me asking if I was looking to be an English teacher. I said "No" but was curious about the curriculum standards. He looked a little lost with that comment.
I will not rip on TEFL teachers. It is a job and affords them to live here. If they like it then all good with me however I have heard from quite a few people most are terrible at teaching and if this is the case then students that leave are poorly educated which defeats the purpose. Sure they work but who ensures it is quality education? I am not sure what the requirements are to become a TEFL certified teacher. To me these little shop set ups are no different then an internet "Get your MBA" online deal. kind of scam'ish if you ask me.
On a closing note. Imagine what a Thai person must struggle with when they are at one place and are taught by a UK based teacher, then are moved to an Aussie based teacher next an American based teacher. All have vastly different ways of communicating and pronouncing the English language. None are bad but are vastly different.
I know an 34 year old American that has been teaching at the same language school in Bangkok for about 8 years. He has a Thai wife that has a decent job making 20k a month. He makes about 70k a month. The have been saving around 30k to 35k baht a month for the past 8 years. They have around 3 mil baht in the bank and plan to keep doing it for another 12 years with hopes of having 10 mil baht in the bank by then. They live a pretty decent life in Bangkok and will probably have a brighter future than most living in America.
He does not teach kids, but mostly uni students, company staff and other adults.
Not my cup of tea for a career, but I say cheers to him.
The biggest, most shining star on this board teaches English to Thais, though it is never disclosed publicly. However, I cannot reveal any further information as it is privileged.
Nope, I'm not a teacher of any description, but I do have several as clients.Quote:
Originally Posted by sabaii sabaii
Explains the insanity.
Put me in a room full of children for an hour and they would all be dead by the end of the lssson...or very very quiet.
Hillbilly's a teacher. Here he is on a good day.
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2011/08/1570.jpg
^
Don't mind Special Brew myself. :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Ghost_Of_The_Moog
Friggin DD, always new he was not a builder. :rolleyes:
Quote:
Originally Posted by chitown
Being involved with intelligent Thais at the University level would have to be a massive bonus for a Farang. Not to mention the awesome eye candy.
The contacts one would make would be priceless and these teachers operate on an entirely different level than the basic teacher that educates Primary school children.
I also say cheers to him.
I suppose all of us farang that are here working legally are teachers in some way, shape or form.Quote:
Originally Posted by sabaii sabaii
If the Thais knew how to do stuff themselves we in most cases wouldn't get a look in.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JPPR2
But on the other hand I think it would be fair to say that many are fully qualified in there own country and do indeed provide quality education especially in Private schools.
The average ones would be working in low level schools where they expect a lower standard of teacher.
Horses for courses really.
I certainly concur with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loy Toy
I've got this theory that Jim Thompson wasn't murdered. He just got so tired of telling Thais how to do the same thing over and over again that he "disappeared" intentionally.
Tefling here i come.Quote:
Originally Posted by terry57
Never realised it could be such fun.
This is what I did. I taught a language school for a year and I had an excellent DOS, from England. There were only two of us who taught there full time and we had a few part time teachers for evenings and weekends.Quote:
Originally Posted by chitown
I gained great experience there in teaching all age levels, but most of the students were from around 12-18. Before I started at this language school full time, I was teaching a night class for them 2 nights per week. This was a corporate class and I taught at their offices.
I had picked up other night classes with them after I let my DOS know that I prefer teaching older kids or adults. My colleague, who is also my friend, preferred younger kids so this worked out well.
When the contracts came due, the school didn't want to increase our salaries, so we looked elsewhere. I found a job in a company that specializes in corporate classes. It worked out perfectly.
I had about a three month gap between these two jobs, but I had found work at another language school during this time. The director of that school tole me that if I ever want to work there again, that I'm welcome any time. It's a 2 minute walk from my condo in BKK too.
In my corporate teaching job, I was working at a large well known American company. The people there were really great too. They had to have good English for their jobs and they would always ask me for help. They were really good to me and it was a bit sad when I had to leave.
And the comments about eye candy, yes there were many attractive ladies there - intellegent, career driven ones.Quote:
Originally Posted by terry57
In my first six months teaching in BKK, I had a couple of negative experiences, but I moved on to something better.
You do hear a lot of horror stories about teachers or schools, but we all have a choice. One suggestion I can make is, if you're looking at schools for your kids or even for your partner, to closely check out the school, the teachers, the principal or director of studies to make sure everything is OK.
Oh, I just remembered something, a bit off topic. Many of you commented on how you can spot a TEFLer from miles away by how 'he' looks. A lot of schools prefer to hire women as teachers, but the numbers just aren't out there.
There is a poster on a teachers' forum here who says that he refuses to hire women because most western women will just leave after a few months. Maybe it's him. (???)
Indeed but we get paid a fvck load more than they do...:rofl:Quote:
I suppose all of us farang that are here working legally are teachers in some way, shape or form.
Not anything against your friend (if he was a man), but I think you may find that those two things are not entirely unrelated.....Quote:
Originally Posted by natalie8
Must have been quite a good bunch. Most Americans don't seem to realise they need help with their English. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by natalie8
To be fair, that picture was taken in the staff room.Quote:
Originally Posted by terry57
I don't believe he drinks on the job.
:rofl:Quote:
Originally Posted by Thormaturge
My friend is a woman. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by nidhogg
5555555, the employees are Thai.Quote:
Originally Posted by Thormaturge
Amusingly one off my staff had a spanner slip the other day and belted his knuckles, rather loudly he yelped "fuck you cunty bolt", god bless him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loy Toy
I think your barking up the wrong tree.Quote:
Originally Posted by terry57Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Ghost_Of_The_Moog
Friggin DD, always new he was not a builder. :rolleyes:
Wonder if he knew Grasshopper.
^
You think too mut, already new that. :rolleyes:
Tezza's wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by sabaii sabaii
^
Could be, Willy tells me that he is but obviously bullshitting me as usual.
Carry on.
Ok Willy, what the fok are you doing in Jakarta besides playing cricket and spanking your monkey.
^Not much more to life than that...for some...