The majority of Thai educators are resistant to change.  The Government is pouring bhat after bhat into improving the Thais ability to speak English, but it is not happening much because Thais are resistant to change and there are some farangs who are not serious about teaching in Thailand.  Of the sincere farangs, they must deal with unneccessary amounts of dysfunctional behavior from Thai educators.  Sure there are some Thai educators who are serious, but they are overpowered bny directors who will not let change happen.  Farangs don’t know everything about education, but nor do Thais. 

Twice I have tried an honest and polite approach to teaching English, but to no good avail. I have asked for information about the school but told that little would come until the start of school.  Asked politely for information to help me prepare for a good year but this was denied me and other teachers.  We were occasionally asked for our opinion about matters of English, only to be told that “Sabai Sabai” is the way of the school.  This means that nothing will change.  I have even been told by a Thai teacher that I don’t know English, even though it is my first language and I have a BA from a university in the USA.  If many Thai educators are fine with Thai English, why is so much money being spent having Native English Speakers teach?  It is just a matter of people, farangs and Thais making money from poor Thai tax payers?  It’s pretty sad.

Paul

I’ve read so many doom and gloom letters and posts about the perils of being over 50 and a teacher in Thailand. I teach in a provincial private school an hour out of Bangkok. I also run some courses at the local university as well as teaching IELTS preparation courses at a leading academic language school. Total hours 35 per week, total pay 96,000 per month excluding bonuses ( before you say that’s too many hours, I used to work 60 hours a week in a high pressure job before I came to Thailand 7 years ago).

I’m 60 and have never been in so much demand. Am I that special? Not at all. I’m just proactive and do a good job. By the way, at the language school there are four out of the six teachers who are over 60. It certainly helps though that I have a lot of experience coupled with a Masters degree. My advice to the older guys, if you are qualified there is a lot of work. You just have to get out there and sell yourself. if you are armed with just a TEFL, of course you will struggle as you are competing with a veritable army of young good looking and likewise unqualified teachers. One final piece of advice, have your feet firmly placed in at least a couple of camps, that way if one source of your income suddenly dries up you will still be OK.

Rob

I’ve just completed the Thai Language and Culture Course. Despite all the negative stories I had read before attending the course, I have to say I found it very interesting. I had adopted a very negative attitude towards the Thai education system and Thailand in general. The course has helped me understand the Thai people and their sometimes indifferent ways. Hand-on-heart. I feel that the course has made me a better person and hopefully a better teacher.

Keith Evans

After spending the holiday period looking and applying for jobs, I interviewed last week at a Thai school 30 mins from my home. After the interview I was told I was the best candidate and could I start on the18th May.

OK, here goes. I started today and everything they told me at the interview was a lie. No computer use, no internet, no use at all of copying facilities. All copies for the students have to come from my own pocket. I will be required to teach classes of up to 60 students. 25 contact hours a week. NO books, notebooks or resources, everything is to be made by myself for 25 individual classes, who I see for one hour a week only. Again, from my own pocket!

No contract either! Just paid monthly on their word! Also, after speaking to the other foreign teacher today,who was here last semester, I was told that the guy I replaced was fired on the very last day of last semester and wasn’t given his two month holiday pay which was agreed upon when he interviewed.
I know what I need to do and follow suit but why is this getting too difficult? This is not an agency post, it is direct with the school. Seriously, does anybody know of any schools in Bkk that are still looking, that treat their teachers like human beings?

I agree that ajarn.com accepts job ads with ridiculous to insulting wage offers. I also noticed that you are currently trumpeting that you have received over 600 job ads in the last 20 days. Whoopdee-doo. After checking these ads out it seems that for the most part they are not from actual schools but simply more of the same old rip-off agencies offering the same indentured slave wages. We as teachers should boycott these middle man employers, and this website, and apply directly to the schools we wish to work for. Maybe then we can effect a change and accomplish 2 goals;

1. Force these agencies to offer better wages by not responding to their ads.
2. Force ajarn.com to stop accepting these insulting ads and maybe set a minimum wage requirement for advertisers.

This site is mostly for unqualified so called teachers that are only working in Thailand for a non immigrant B visa. I understand that this is a business and you are entitled to make money, but at some point you must develop a conscience and decide if you are only here to make a buck or if you actually wish to better serve your target teacher audience. Remember, without us visiting your website it wont take long for your advertisers to follow. Perhaps you should actually read the majority of letters that you print here and take note of which direction the winds of change are blowing. The only question remaining is whether or not you are impartial enough to print it, or perhaps it doesn’t serve your obvious, money hungry agenda.

Glen Travis