Thread: What's so bad about TEFLing?

Originally Posted by Neo

a jealous outburst by those incapable of stringing a sentence together

Probably.

Start a poll, lets out the Tefler scum on here

Let me think we got Sir Wilson doin it in Jakarta, if Tezza's right

Thormaturge hzas to be one, workin with kids, or animals, or fish, drive you insane

Chairman Mao ?

Anymore ?

Anyhow can't be too bad a life, gotta be better than teaching them little bastards back in the UK

My money is on Dick being one too, and The Gent

And with the cheap price of Mama noodles and Pattaya whores

What a Life , Without The Wife

^

Don't mind Special Brew myself.

Originally Posted by terry57

^

Don't mind Special Brew myself.

To be fair, that picture was taken in the staff room.

I don't believe he drinks on the job.

Jealous? Of the 30k baht lifestyle...... count me in.

Originally Posted by drawp

Jealous? Of the 30k baht lifestyle...... count me in.

That's a $1,000 per month and seems to be more than what many Americans earn in the USA. Although the USA is fast heading towards third-world status, the cost of living is still first-world. 1,000 baht per day in Thailand gets me drunk, fed, laid and provides a roof over my head.

Originally Posted by teddy

Originally Posted by drawp

Jealous? Of the 30k baht lifestyle...... count me in.

That's a $1,000 per month and seems to be more than what many Americans earn in the USA. Although the USA is fast heading towards third-world status, the cost of living is still first-world. 1,000 baht per day in Thailand gets me drunk, fed, laid and provides a roof over my head.

1,000 baht per day in Thailand gets me drunk, fed, laid and provides a roof over my head.

That answers the question.

^

Is that really all an English teacher can expect to make in Thailand? Can you get up to the 100K range eventually?

Originally Posted by FailSafe

an English teacher

Well, that is really the crux of the problem. What is an "English teacher"?.

To me, that implies someone with a degree or full diploma in teaching or education, coupled with a specialization in teaching English.

What it does not include is some one who has the (often bare) native ability to speak English, coupled with a one month course in TEFLing done by a dodgy "school".

It seems to be one of the biggest con games going (and not just in Thailand) that those TEFLers are called "teachers", when in all reality they are little more than (at best) language assistants.

I would think that properly trained, accredited teachers may be able to hit the 100K mark, while the poor bugger struggling along with a native ability and a TEFL cert will certainly be lucky to rise much above the 30K mark (by and large). And just to knock it on the head before it starts, the long running debate of TEFL plus or minus a degree is not really germaine here - UNLESS that degree is in education (or teaching). A degree in fine art no more equips one to teach English, than does a life spent delivering newspapers.

Thailand does however reap what it sows. It inability (or lack of desire) to hire and pay properly English teachers directly results in the generally abysmal level of English language displayed by the vast majority of the Thai population.

Even more radically, I would also suggest that if Thailand is really serious about getting its population fluent in English, it makes serious efforts to ensure that its Thai English teacher can actually speak the language before letting them loose in front of a class.

Last time i posted about the life style of a TEFler the Mod's delete it.
I guess the truth hurts,specially if the Mod was the TEFler i posted about

The few I've met have been OK, but for some reason when many of them get on a forum they get all uppity, superior and snobbish like they are some kind of fucking intellectual stars. They seem mostly to be really left wing apologists, so right there, sane and sensible people are compelled to dislike them... I hate it when they start poining out my little spelling mistakes and typos.....and crowing about it like it's really important or something.... I'm certainly not jealous of any of them...being comfortably retired and not having to face a bunch of Thai rug-rats every day. I don' think I could do that job for any amount of money....so I do admire them for doing it...

Originally Posted by FailSafe

Is that really all an English teacher can expect to make in Thailand? Can you get up to the 100K range eventually?

Of course you can. But it takes time and effort initially. Sure as hell cant be done overnight. Make the right decisions, find something special to teach and it can be done. But as for me 100,000 to just above is the best you can do without an international school as your employer, if you go beyond that you are working too hard and defeating the purpose of living here.

Luckily for me my wife makes much more than I do.

Originally Posted by Fondles

Originally Posted by Neo

Is it simply a jealous outburst by those incapable of stringing a sentence together against their better educated adversaries, or is TEFL truly the lowest form of employment known to man and deserving of derision?

My 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.

What do you actually do when you teach english ? Just draw a horse on a chalkboard and say "horse" ?

I have never really understood what they do ? Is it a classroom with 30 kids ? Adults ?

Originally Posted by socal

Originally Posted by Fondles

Originally Posted by Neo

Is it simply a jealous outburst by those incapable of stringing a sentence together against their better educated adversaries, or is TEFL truly the lowest form of employment known to man and deserving of derision?

My 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.

What do you actually do when you teach english ? Just draw a horse on a chalkboard and say "horse" ?

I have never really understood what they do ? Is it a classroom with 30 kids ? Adults ?

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 gate

* 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.

Originally Posted by chitown

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.

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.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

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.

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 taught ESL in Thailand for 4 years and I really enjoyed it. I was in BKK for three years, teaching full time, and in Phuket one year, teaching part time. If you manage to get good night classes and / or privates along with your regular work, you can make good money and have a decent lifestyle.

While I was there, I had a good social life, I travelled quite a lot and I saved quite a bit of money too. I only left there because my husband got a job in Dubai and I joined him here.

I miss Thailand at times, but I know it will always be there for vacations with free acommodations.