They should not say Native or Non Native the school should just interview the teachers and select them for what they are able to produce after all its the students that are in their care who have to face the blunt of everything .The Prounounciation of words the tone in voice and the personality should be taken into account. It is also necessary to ask the teacher if she/he can continue after a year if asked to after all the students especially the little ones like seeing familar facs this gives them confidence that they can still see heir teacher around the school and can always run up to her /him if they are having any problems .

By michelle, India (Kolkata) on 2012-01-12

I do agree with a lot of what is said about English teaching in Thailand. What bothers me, is there are there so many non-native speakers teaching English here. I have worked with many of these people, their pronunciation is absolutely terrible and they cannot string a good sentence together, however they try. I thought we native speakers were here to teach pronunciation and conversation, yet often a non-native speaker will get the job. Could this be to make it so Thai teachers do not look so bad when they speak.
In my 6 years of teaching English here I haven’t come across one Thai teacher who can speak half decent English. Thai kids will always have to go to private language centres to learn English, because it is the only way they can get good English teaching, unless their parents can afford to send them to the best and most expensive schools which is frankly speaking not the case.
Thailand has got to make it’s mind up one way or the other, use only native speakers or carry on the way they are and get the cheapest but worst option. The only way to speak English is with native speakers like it or not.
Non-native speakers may take offence to this , but would they like it if the tables were turned, and non native speakers of their language were teaching it and doing them out of work.

By steve salter, Thailand on 2011-11-03

The advices are good but then it came to the one about NOT sending the resume as attachment???? Thats what all the job ads require here on Ajarn and all the ads elsewhere… that made me lose confident in the writer of this list.

By Bruce, Pattaya on 2011-10-02

Ageism. My school doesnt win any major competitions, but attends every Tesco and BigC karaoke contest going. Happy, happy with lots of fun by a succession of recently qualified backpackers. Fine by me Thailand; you can stay the country with one of the lowest IQ’s in Asia. Welcome China, S.Korea . . . .

By Ian, Thailand on 2011-07-25

The advice in this article is quite useful. But some of the comments in reply are telling indeed. Why are we helping schools promote age discrimination? In my country, that is supposed to be illegal but happens all the time. In the 19th century job seekers in Boston were greeted by signs reading, “No Irish Need Apply.“ Black citizens could not vote or visit “Whites Only” places of business. Women could not apply for a “man’s” job. So why is ethnic and gender discrimination not acceptable practice in the 21st century while ageism is tolerated? Even if not illegal, it is certainly unethical and if such discrimination were directed toward an applicant because of race or gender then I am certain much more would be said and done about it. Why are not schools and recruiters who engage in such hiring practices boycotted and attention brought to the media? Why are teachers not raising some hell? Let’s lay aside the idea that ageism is acceptable practice in the TEFL industry due to cultural norms. Absolute rubbish. Tell it like it is: Ageism is practiced by schools and recruiters for reasons related to profit. They can pay a younger teacher less and write contracts more in the employer’s favor because “the market” allows it. Overhead costs are lowered and profits increase. More concern is for “the market” than for quality language instruction. I have an answer. Why don’t all countries sign on to a UN treaty forbidding such violations of civil rights? Or we could simply go along with this and other practices like union busting and stacking legal codes in the employers’ favor. Wait a sec…that’s America!

By Paul McKannon, Eugene, Oregon on 2011-07-14