-
Erika Stevenson
One reader emailed me to say that there aren’t enough dames doing these hot seat interviews. OK, why should the lads have all the fun? Erika Stevenson has been working at Rajamangala University in Songkhla for the past two years and she’s got a few experiences she’s just dying to share. Take it away girl.
-
Preston Dixon
One area that many TEFLers show an interest in is hotel teaching. Can you imagine a job where your work environment is a five-star luxury hotel surrounded by swaying palms and waves lapping on to some private beach. And you probably only have to teach a couple of hours a day as well. Is it really as good as all that? Step forward Preston Dixon - a teacher at a hotel resort on Thailand’s Koh Samui.
-
Rick Carter
Rick Carter is the Human Resource Co-ordinator for English First in Jakarta. Ajarn.com asks Rick about his life as an English teacher and what made him up roots and make the move to Indonesia.
-
David Gevaux
Lets talk to a teacher who came to teach in Thailand but soon realized that he was perhaps a little ‘under-qualified’ or rather wanted to improve his chances of landing a better job. The answer was to enroll on a degree course in Bangkok. Take it away David Gevaux.
-
Andy Hill
Andy H (or Aitch as he’s better known) is the webmaster behind Mrroomfinder.com, one of Thailand’s most popular apartment websites. What a lot of people don’t know is that this extremely likable Cambridge lad was teaching in Bangkok as long ago as 1994. Since then, life has been something of a roller-coaster. Say what you like about Aitch, he’s always got an interesting tale to tell.
-
Ralph Sasser
Ralph Sasser doesn’t hold down a ‘big position’ in Thailand’s EFL business and he has no illusions of grandeur. He came to Thailand purely because it felt like home and happiness was of paramount importance. He’s a regular guy and a regular teacher.
-
Dave Roberts
As Asia-wide recruiter for Shane Language Schools, few people are in a better position to compare and analyze conditions for teachers in Korea, Taiwan, Japan, China…..and of course Thailand.
-
Timothy McCrystle
Tim McCrystle has spent six years teaching English in The Land of Smiles and in his words “had a good look around all the aspects of teaching in Thailand” - so let’s hear what he’s got to say for himself.
-
Al Lock
Let’s catch up with what’s happening in the world of corporate training, and who better to put in the hot seat than Mr Al Lock, Managing Director of NLI, a company that specializes in high-end training programs for multi-national companies.
-
David Solomon
David Solomon is firstly an Australian and secondly a very well-qualified teacher trainer for a well-known TEFL course provider down in Pattaya. He contacted Ajarn.com and offered to be 2007’s first hot seat candidate. Take it away sport.
Featured Teachers
-
Benjamin
BA (1), Certificate (1)
British (male, 38 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Serdar
Certificate (2), BSc (1)
Turkish (male, 43 years old, native Kurdish speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
David
Certificate (2), BA (1)
American (male, 60 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Lorenzo
Diploma (1), Phd (1), MA (1)
Filippino (male, 38 years old, native Cebuano speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Niels
BA (1), Certificate (1)
Dutch (male, 29 years old, native Dutch speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Mr. Dale
Certificate (2), BA (1)
American (male, 39 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Christophe
Certificate (3), Diploma (1)
Filippino (male, 37 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Roda
Diploma (1)
Philippino (female, 26 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Elie Grace
Diploma (2), BA (1)
Philippino (female, 30 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Shanisara
BEd (1)
Thai (female, 33 years old, native Thai 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.
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.
