Mike Thompson

I just turned 33 back in October.

With a bachelor’s degree in science, I worked as a lab technician for several biotech companies. Then, before coming to Siam, I was a loan officer for a few months. At the time, the real estate market in San Diego was going through a down cycle so it wasn’t very lucrative. That’s when I decided to make a change.

The decision was easy for me. I can speak, read, and write Thai quite well. Also, I have a network of relatives already here in Thailand. LOS is really a second home for me. I have also vacationed here several times before coming to work.

I started out by applying to several language schools at Seacon Square and Seri Center. There were quite a few schools including ECC, English First, Wall Street, and AUA. I had an interview with ECC and was offered a 300 bath/ hour part-time position. Unfortunately, this was quite low so I had to turn it down. (Also, I was looking for a full-time opportunity.)
English First also showed some interest. I took an English proficiency test with them, but the Thai recruiter did specifically mentioned that parents much prefer the prototypical English speaker look to an Asian look and she was just going with the demand. What can you say?
A smaller institute also wanted me to teach some math and some science on a part-time basis but only for 250 baht/hour!
The employers were nice about things but with an MBA and years of working experience, I believe my Asian look played a part in the low offers.

Well, I interviewed with a nice American fellow. He offered me 32,000 baht/month to teach in Bangkok.

TEFL International called with their Chiang Mai TEFL TESOL certificate/ internship package. It was an offer I could not refuse!

Let’s just say, if I were to walk down the street, no one would really mistake for anybody other than an Asian guy…lol…However, the Thais are really good at picking out foreigners. Without having said anything, I have been approached and solicited by many locals in Korean, Japanese, and English! Is it the dress?

Yes, the Asian appearance can be a problem at first. However, native English speakers of Asian descent should not use this as a crutch. The demand in Thailand for good, qualified English speakers of ANY ethnicity is high. Stay positive. Be patient and apply to many, many places…a good place to start is the ajarn.com postings. Also, my value as a teacher went up significantly once I completed my 120 hour TEFL International course with hands-on teaching practice. A TEFL certificate like the one from Chichester or Chiang Mai will be a big boost to your job hunt.

Yes, that was definitely a big help. Without having any background in teaching, a formal course geared specifically towards teachers of the English language was essential to my teaching career.

Actually, I was looking in the ajarn.com job postings and postings on other web sites. One of the most common requirements seems to be a TEFL degree and TEFL International was one of the more popular ones for teaching in Thailand. The decision was a practical one.

The first semester felt like trial by fire. Although TEFL International prepared me for many things, teaching real live courses was a different animal. However, I was fortunate in that we had the support of competent teachers and TA’s to help us out. Eventually, as I learned the system, things became easier. Now, everything seems natural. You could say I am in a comfort zone

Your Asian appearance is not necessarily a drawback. Sometimes Thai employers like to use English speakers of Asian ethnicity to teach subjects like math and science. Also, don’t be too picky in accepting positions. Low-paying positions will give you the teaching experience that will get you into more prestigious positions at international schools. It’s good to aim high, but be realistic. A part-time job can turn into a good reference or a full time offer after a few months. After all, in this profession, teachers come and go, and you will get your chance!