Being fired as a foreign teacher is par for the course at Thai government schools. Only if you are popular in the staff room will you last very long. Thai teachers are a strange breed, so proud and full of hubris but really know very little about anything. They need to be flattered and made to feel important. The longest I lasted in a Thai school was three years. Being fired from one is normal. All the foreign teachers I ever met were eventually fired including me.

Rory

It's a stone cold fact that the most-liked foreign teachers at my school are those that can either speak Thai fluently or at least to a basic conversation level. They get the most respect from students and have no problems with basic commands, explaining worksheets and tasks and maintaining order in the classroom. I've read a number of articles on the internet about not having to be able to speak Thai in the classroom in order to be successful, but I'm not so sure, particularly when faced with a classroom of 40 rowdy and easily distracted teenagers.

Steve

Strange that not being paid for not working has now turned to how badly you perceive yourselves to be employed. It's simple and there’s nothing right wing or conservative about it – you don’t like it, you leave. You go back to Europe and ‘the dole’ as people put it, where at least you’ll be fed and housed and have free medicine. What on earth is difficult to understand about that?

You can’t live on 30/40k in Bangkok? I don’t blame you, but have you ever thought of looking elsewhere for work, somewhere in Isaan where the cost of living is cheaper? You’re not prepared to eat Thai food? Too ‘beneath’ you is it? Straight off the dole in the UK and want to live it up in the capital playing the ‘big farang’? I am not better than anyone else, I simply perhaps have a little more sense than those of you who whinge on about having the same rights as in the UK or the U.S? You want those rights? Go back if you can’t hack it here!

You are correct, we only have one support system and that being ourselves and my original post asks why are you in the mess you’re in for not having saved a little for emergencies? There follows a tirade of it’s the schools fault, it’s the governments fault, my wage is too low, I’m not living on Thai food. You say in Thailand there are teachers who get paid 15,000 a month? I can assure you that I didn’t force them to work for that amount and I think that you wouldn’t find any in Bangkok working for that. I have never said (I repeat) that the Thais do not have a social safety net, it is we foreigners who don’t and it is up to us to look after ourselves. Again I repeat, if you are unable to do so then go back to Europe or wherever. The Thai boss does not have to save up for a rainy day because it’s not his rainy day, it’s yours.

Can we stop comparing conditions in Europe or the U.S to Thailand? You know the score here, (or perhaps you don’t) You pay 750 baht a month for insurance if you’re legal? Really? I was legal and didn’t. The school paid for my insurance and I topped it up to provide reasonable cover. You’re not paid enough? Go back home and try the minimum wage. The bottom line is that I don’t have a problem. Some of you guys do and that problem is of your own making in not being able to put a little bit aside each month, instead of blaming everyone else for it. Try the foreign Embassy, see what they say when you tell them you require assistance because you couldn’t or wouldn’t save.

I’ll tell you what the problem is; you’re in the wrong place with the wrong attitude; grow up and learn to adapt and stop blaming everyone else for the mess you’re in. This isn’t Europe. Is that what you were expecting? Has it all been a bit of a disappointment? Are you slowly learning that this isn’t the paradise you thought it was? Stop scratching your head and making excuses. I say this with all respect, but some of the letters I read should be signed 'loser'. You couldn't hack it in the UK or wherever and you've got the same problem here. No change there then.

James

There's so much talk about Filipinos, how about looking into the topic of Native English Burger Flippers?

The typical NEBF is a 40+ year old American or British, most often looking like someone from the lower class or with the physiognomy of a petty criminal or alcoholic.

The typical NEBF has right-wing or far-right views and has fled the West to find an easy life in Asia. He has had several relationships with Asian women, most often met in various bars.

In everyday life, NEBF has a very high opinion of himself, as he is a Native English Speaker. He can be recognized by his various stories about how other teachers are terrible and tragic. He dislikes South African, Filipino and other Asian teachers the most.

NEBFs are very thirsty for power, so as soon as they get even a little bit of it, they immediately start making life miserable for other teachers. Wars? Dramas? Constant backbiting of others? These are typical NEBF traits. Everyone is bad and only they are the knights on white horses.

Admittedly, most often they have no qualifications, but they are from the US or UK. That's enough.

NEBF can most often be found in smaller agencies and schools, where they work for 30-40,000 baht. If it weren't for these low-paying jobs, they would have to go back to where they came from and flip burgers for a minimum wage.

Marisol

Greetings All, as I am contemplating the ever-growing possibility of making the leap to Thailand, I see it fit to present a few thoughts on qualifications beyond that of an undergraduate degree.

I understand an am empathetic towards proper international schools asking for a teaching license from one's homeland. As I am an American, I am not in a position to speak on the value of a teaching license from other countries. But, I will take some jabs at the perceived value of one from the U.S.

The recent data from the U.S. indicates that at most, one-third of 4th-8th graders can read at a "proficient" level. As that is one step above as barely basic, I cannot glorify what it means to be "proficient." Additionally, graduating seniors fall within this realm, though some data points have not come out as of yet. Furthermore, proficiency in History, and Civics are abysmal..some individual states at 12%. Interestingly, roughly 80% of pubic schools teachers in the U.S are women (traditional men are not wanted in the classrooms, there).

While I am certainly able to go on, along with providing the appropriate references for review, getting preoccupied with the data-matrix is not my main intention ((if Ajarn wishes me to do so, please let me know).

Literacy is everything and in the U.S., there is a distinct difference between literate and functionally illiterate: which U.S. public schools have, by design, created a rapidly growing society reflective of the later. When public schools took the systematic teaching of phonics out of the curriculum, electing to teach the "whole word" approach, a distinct demographic was highly impacted by this. Unfortunately, while teachers' unions have decided to jump on the rails of malevolent ideology as opposed to teaching what matters most, across the country, the nation's largest metropolitan areas (and once-great cities) have been under control of the Democratic Party (for quite some time). In these cities, minority-majority demographics represent an ironic reality.

What I am getting at, is that in all of these cities, crime, violence, gangs and murders are all the norm. With that said, during the early 90's, the Clinton administration commissioned a study on the sources of juvenile delinquency. The overarching theme with the source, was illiteracy. Though, there are more narratives to point fingers at but we can do that another day.

So, why would a teaching license from the United States be considered to hold any value? The data is there and the U.S.. has regressed to become a very dumbed-down, violent, anxious and ignorant society in which literacy skills are genuinely as bad as I noted (I only gave you a taste and matters are worse, due to COVID).

Personally, and I do have a bias in this debate, an experienced ESL teacher with an M.A. related to Education, History, English or Political Science can do better. This comes with the assumption that a genuine enjoyment and level of dedication to the job are prevalent, along with the right personality and disposition(s) being included. See, experienced ESL teachers have a major advantage: experience teaching phonics (especially if you have taught in South Korea). Furthermore, I believe along with many of my colleagues, that teaching is NOT a science...as the likes of Thorndike, Dewey and the followers of their progressive gospel, carrying their measuring sticks, wanted folks to believe. In fact, William C. Bagley was right all along, and has all but disappeared from the curriculum in teachers' colleges in the U.S. BOTH Essentialism and Perennialism have been demonized by Progressive (and Post Modern) education in the U.S. for decades and are portrayed as some fictional narrative from the past.

As noted, I cannot speak on the value of a teaching license from other countries. However, if I am Director of Studies at an international school and two candidates are competing for the job, each from America with one having a teaching license and the other having in M.A. in one of the aforementioned disciplines, along with some experience as an ESL teacher....I'm going with the candidate with the M.A.

As an American, you could not pay me enough to buy into failure by obtaining a teaching license here. Why would any rational individual want to invest in designed failure?

Knox

I find it strange that some things aren't stated about working as a teacher in Thailand. Firstly, if you are contracted directly by a government school, they are legally required to enrol you in the social security scheme, the teacher paying one part and the school paying also. This will cover all medical expenses in a government hospital and it also pays towards several other benefits such as childbirth and some unemployment payments and over the long term, a pension. Should you then decide to work in non-government school, or heaven forbid for an agency, you can move over to self-payments, which are about 450 baht a month, and retain medical cover and pension.

I know this because I had a heart attack, and received full ongoing treatment for free. Plus if you return to your home country, you may also get a lump sum of the pension payments you have made. Also paying tax will also see you have a tax rebate. If you are married and have other expenses, most tax offices will be happy to help you. Be wary of some agencies stating they only pay for less than a year. Most will have received the funding for the whole period and the other legal requirements of a government school. If injured at school, the school are responsible. Don't let them tell you otherwise unless the agency can show/give you insurance details while you are at work.

Petch

Let's review a few facts.

1. The Philippines was never colonized by the USA. It was colonized by Spain for around 300 years when it then became an autonomous US Protectorate for another 48 years. It was also occupied by Japan from 1942-45.

2. Thais hire Filipino teachers based on labor cost. There are many Filipino teachers who deserve better consideration than this, but it is the economics that drives these decisions--not Thais contrasting the English skills of various nationalities.

3. Non-Filipinos throwing around the whys and hows of this situation is not going to change anything. Calling Thais racist will not affect change (see number 2). Filipinos are capable of expressing their views themselves and sharing their perspectives.

4. Filipinos, like foreign teachers from any other country, do not fall into any one category of competence. Some are terrific, some are awful, many are somewhere in between. Painting generalities about them (either positive or negative) is unhelpful and baseless.

Carlos

Wealthy foreign businessmen and women own a number of pseudo-International schools in Thailand. They charge the locals exorbitant tuition fees. The outer construction of the school buildings are well maintained but inside there are dirty, unclean desks and chairs and restrooms. The learning materials are 20 years old. Worst is that the majority of staff at these schools are untrained Filipinos making 20-something thousand baht per month. These teachers give 50-minute lectures to lower primary students and the students do not learn much. Certainly the Thai parents do not understand that they are paying a premium cost for a low-quality service.

Sadly, the tuition money does not remain in Thailand. The owners send it back to their own countries to support other industries; that, and more specifically, they use the money to operate World Class IB schools. Then, after a few years of experience, the Filipino teachers price themselves out of a position / they are let go so that HR can hire the next (unfairly) low-salaried employee. If a teacher is good they will not work for low money. If a school is good they will not have bad teachers. The problem is that companies foreign to Thailand employ the former and the latter to make money. This at the expense of the Thai and Filipino people.

It is a very sad, unfortunate situation. Any solutions out there?

Robert

TEFL courses and training can provide English teachers with valuable skills and knowledge that can significantly enhance their teaching abilities. There are several advantages to having a TEFL certificate compared to not having one, including increased employability, improved classroom management, and a deeper understanding of teaching techniques and methodologies.

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Joe

When I see offers for Filipinos (15,000+ baht) or native English speakers (30,000-35,000 baht) I wonder if the advertisers are serious or maybe they are looking for people with elementary school diplomas? The most embarrassing are the schools that have EP/MEP/IEP programs and offer this kind of ridiculous money. I appeal to all teachers: do not be robbed and do not accept derogatory job offers. Also do not accept contracts shorter than 12 months and visas after 3 months of illegal work. 24 lessons a week are also a sign of poor working conditions.

Gunther