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Phil Dunne
You’ve heard the story about a man who liked the product so much that he bought the company. Well this is the story of Phil Dunne, once a teacher at a very well known Bangkok language school, and now the proud owner of Island TEFL on Koh Samui.
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Jorge Jo
Jorge’s story is a simple one of a good, honest teacher giving some of his best years to Thailand’s education system and then deciding that the new teacher licensing laws were the final straw. It was definitely time to leave!
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Andrew Stark
He took an international school to the Thai labor court. He studied for a master’s degree in ELT at a Thai University. He now lives and teaches on the Burmese border and knocks up teakwood furniture in his spare time. Let’s have a chinwag with Andrew Stark.
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Neil McDonough
Accommodation is always a hot topic among teachers in Thailand for many reasons. Apartment rent often consumes the biggest chunk of a teacher’s monthly salary. So let’s talk living space with Neil McDonough, the Director of EasyHomes.
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Marek Lenarcik
How difficult is it these days to get a teaching job in Bangkok for someone who is considered a non-native speaker of English? We’ve discussed this topic before in the ajarn hot seat. but if memory serves me correctly - never with a European teacher. Marek Lenarcik kindly offers to fill us in.
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Marko Cunningham
If you are involved in a serious road accident in Thailand, there is a 95% chance that a rescue organisation called Ruamkatanyu (RKU) will be the guys who come to your aid. This magnificent organisation employs one foreigner, Marko Cunningham. The ajarn hotseat welcomes a part-time teacher and a full-time Thailand superhero.
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Jason Alavi
After starting off as a salaried teacher at a private language school, Jason got the idea to supply teachers to Thai schools and became what’s effectively known as an ‘agent’. Since then he’s never looked back and now provides teachers to several schools in the Rangsit area
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Jono Blaze
About five years ago - maybe more - we featured a teacher called Jono Blaze in an article on ajarn.com. Jono’s was the ultimate teacher done good story. He gave up the teaching and opened Momma’s, his very own British restaurant in Sukhumwit Soi 23. Then after rave reviews from ex-pats, the restaurant literally disappeared. The question on everyone’s lips - whatever happened to Jono? Well, the man’s back!
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Glenn Van Der Heyden
Some teachers luck out in Thailand and find something that they truly enjoy doing. But you have to admit - few things would beat becoming the coach of Thailand’s national ice hockey team!
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Mark Reynolds
It’s fair to say that Mark’s Thailand TEFL career was nothing out of the ordinary, but you might say that he knew just when to quit, and how to plan for the future.
Featured Teachers
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Jonah
Certificate (3), BA (1)
Filippino (male, 28 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Karina
BA (1), MA (1)
Filippino (female, 31 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Robin Jame
BA (1), Certificate (1)
Filippino (male, 23 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Jonary
BA (1)
Filippino (male, 25 years old, native Cebuano speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Charlotte
BA (1)
British (female, 22 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Patrick
BA (1)
American (male, 42 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Deborah
Certificate (3)
American (female, 58 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Kay Anne
BEd (1)
Filippino (female, 27 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Abner
Certificate (10), BSc (1)
Filippino (male, 44 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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James
Certificate (1), BA (1)
American (male, 50 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
Ajarn Guests
Fear of change?
In Thailand the government has set 2012 as English Speaking Year with a goal of encouraging students to converse in English every Monday. Such policies are useful but the major leap of enacting legislation to make English an official language for Thailand is also needed
Software for student tests
The integration of internet and computers with education and English learning is something students find normal, and classrooms without some access to educational software may seem quaint. Some students may even feel they can get more ‘professional' teaching from the numerous online ELT sites if a school is behind in IT.
Whatever happened to the shopping mall teacher?
They are the shopping mall English teachers - gliding like pale, undernourished phantoms amid the hordes of weekend Thai shoppers. The main reason I empathize with the shopping mall teacher is because I was once one myself. I know how desperate and soul-destroying it can be.
Most recently answered question:
Are there any teaching agencies in Bangkok that I can just walk into?
About Ajarn.com
Ajarn.com was started as a small hobby website in 1999 by Ian McNamara. It was a simple way for one Bangkok teacher to share his Thailand experiences and pass on advice. The website developed a loyal and enthusiastic following. In 2004, Ian handed over the reins to Phil Williams and 'Bangkok Phil' has run the ajarn website ever since.
Ajarn.com has grown enormously and is now the most popular TEFL site in Thailand - possibly even South East Asia. Although best-known for its vibrant jobs page, Ajarn has a wealth of articles, blogs, features and help and advice. But one principle has always remained at Ajarn's core - to tell things like they are and to do it with a sense of humor. Thailand can be Heaven or Hell for an English teacher. It's always been Ajarn.com's duty to present both sides of the equation. Thanks for stopping by.
