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The Ajarn Postbox

This is the place to air your views on TEFL issues in Thailand. Most topics are welcome but please use common sense at all times. Please note that not all submissions will be used, particularly if the post is just a one or two sentence comment about a previous entry.

Latest Letter Received: "Catholic schoolteacher caught caning students" (sent in by Donald Patnaude)

Hot Seat

Loads of hot seat interviews for you to peruse, and the full list includes academic directors, teacher trainers, happy teachers, disillusioned teachers, and a whole plethora of characters that play their part in the exciting world of Thailand TEFL. If you've got a story to tell - why not put yourself in the ajarn.com hot seat?

Recent Hot Seat interviewees include David Fahey, Phil Dunne, Jorge Jo and Andre Park

Ajarn Competitions

Have a go at our free ajarn.com competitions. You can win polo shirts, textbooks, food and drink vouchers, etc. If you would like to sponsor an ajarn competition and offer fantastic prizes to teachers, then get in touch with us.

Ajarn.com’s book of the month

This is a little gem of a book for those teachers who need to prepare and deliver effective grammar lessons. Ideal for both old hands and the inexperienced, the book also includes activities that will make any grammar lesson enjoyable.

Only non-smokers need apply

In the 90’s, there was no shame attached to being a male teacher who smoked. You were part of the fashionable majority. But times have changed. As more and more teaching jobs are asking for 'non-smokers' only, is it time to say goodbye to the foul weed?

It’s goodbye to teaching

Here are stories from a dozen folks who resigned themselves to teaching because they mistakenly thought it was the only job they could get in Thailand. Then lo and behold, Lady Luck came a-knocking.

Spice up your teacher threads

What can a teacher do if they are fed up with the standard 'teacher's uniform' of business shirt, necktie and trousers? Ajarn's man of style, Sebastian Hawkes, comes to the rescue with some carefully thought out suggestions. Mimi Rodgers offers her valuable opinions from a woman's perspective.

Teaching tips

Regular ajarn contributor Tim Cornwall is back with more tips and techniques for both experienced and inexperienced teachers alike from smiling to laying down class rules and from teacher movement to setting up activities.

What’s your bag?

Fashion guru, Sebastian Hawkes, joins ajarn.com to cast a critical eye over what teachers should be carrying their stuff in this coming Fall. Could it be time to ditch the backpack for something more trendy?

The Great Escape

Are you a teacher who once taught in Thailand but decided to seek out pastures new? Has the grass been greener on the other side? Maybe you swapped Thailand for the financial lure of Japan or Korea? Read about those who have left Thailand, and their reasons for moving...

The latest escapee was Steve

Dave’s Journey

(updated 16th August 2010)

Inspired by our story about Julia, we’re also tracking the progress of Dave Montgomery as he prepared for life in Thailand as a teacher. Dave’s situation is slightly different to Julia’s. He’s married to a Thai lady already and he intends to teach in the city of Udon Thani - up in the North East of Thailand. And his father-in-law is also a teacher!

Julia’s Journey

(updated 19th June 2010)

Ajarn.com is documenting the story of one female teacher as she prepared to give up life in her homeland and head out to Thailand to teach English. Hopefully her journal will give inspiration and information to those about to embark on a similar journey. Let’s begin at the beginning and let Julia introduce herself.

Phil's Front Page Comment

Updated 2nd September

Donna Rao was the winner of ajarn’s Masala Art competition. In our September Food by Phone competition, we’re offering a free meal for two at The Bull’s Head British pub on Sukhumwit.

Ajarn blogger, Scott Hipsher, recently returned to the USA for a two-week holiday. While it wasn’t exactly a case of reverse culture shock, he was amazed at some of the changes that had taken place since he was last ‘back home’.

Do those teachers who leave Thailand for pastures new ever regret the decision? Cel and Steve are the latest escapees in ajarn’s great escape section. Cel moved from Thailand to South Korea and Steve went to work in Nigeria of all places. Steve worked in Thailand for six years. Although he loved it here, Nigeria offered him the chance to make some real coin.

I recently spent a few days up in Chiang Mai with an old pal and work colleague. I’m convinced that it’s now the perfect place to live in Thailand. If only it had the opportunities for teachers to earn decent money

He’s already sorted you out with what bag to carry your books to class in but now teacher fashion guru, Sebastian Hawkes, is back with some suggestions for those who are bored with that same old shirt, tie and trousers combination. Spice up your teacher threads.

The Ajarn Guide for Newbies

New to Thailand? If you've just arrived in Thailand or you're sitting at home thinking about coming to Thailand -- then the newbie FAQ is a good place to start.

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The Cost of Living

Find out how different people survive on their teacher salaries. Is it possible to burn through a fortune on entertainment alone? Will 40,000 baht a month get you a much better standard of living than 30,000 a month? Phil has the answers. You decide how much you need to survive either in the rurals or in big bad Bangers.

Our latest interviews break down Nicholas's 35-45,000 baht a month/month income and Gareth's 35-55,000 Baht per month/month income

The Work Permit and Visa FAQ

Thailand has quite possibly the most complex visa system on the planet. Ask ten different people about a certain visa and you'll probably get eleven different answers. We'll do our best to give you the most accurate information possible with the help of the FAQ and our 'visa guru'

Not long ago we answered the question Can you get a work permit without a degree?

Health Insurance

Be prepared for the worst - with Thai health insurance options. So many teachers live and work in Thailand without any kind of health cover whatsoever. What are your insurance options if you suddenly find that youth is passing you by and you still see your long-term future here? And are schools that offer you 'free health insurance' really offering you something worthwhile? Read Phil's article on Thai health insurance.

Region Guides

Only the ajarn.com region guides are written by teachers... for teachers. If you are thinking of teaching out in the boonies, then find out about various towns and cities around Thailand by reading our unique guides. Is there a supermarket? And will it have Jaffa Cakes? The Lonely Planet books can't always be trusted you know.

Recently information on the Mae Sot and Phang Nga regions was brought up to date.

Your Questions Answered

We have eight sections of your teaching-related questions including visa issues, legal issues, worriers, working in Bangkok and working and surviving in rural Thailand, If your question isn't answered here then why not send it to us.