As a teacher, I have friends who have received little to no salary hike this year and what's worrying is the rate of inflation going on. Currently as of writing it is 7.7% year on year. My monthly expenses have gone up by 10,000 baht and I always try to save everyday. My friends in the IT industry in Bangkok have received raises called inflation adjustment of 10% on their base salaries. It certainly helps.

International schools are even worse. True they have higher salaries to start with, but almost all have a 2-3.5% maximum yearly salary hike on their pay scale. So I am sure international school teachers are feeling the pinch as well. Some have pointed out to me that their pay has been frozen by the school since 2020. Plenty of reason to not stay at your school for long, and run away after the contract is done.

Will Thailand still be able to attract teachers on the bottom of the barrel 40k salaries anymore? On top of the new licensure requirements. I don't know how many teachers can still hold on to Bangkok, let alone the rest of Thailand.

Paul

Just saw an ad for a qualified math teacher at an international school for 75K a month. That's just over 400 quid a week and it's in Bangkok. Bangkok is not all that cheap. This is an international school, so they'll be asking for all the best qualifications and experience.

At the very least, the candidate will be expected to have a degree in maths and a PGCE (or equivalent). They will likely have to have several years of teaching experience in their own country. They probably aren't going to be provided with a pension (I am almost certain of this). They won't be entitled to any form of social welfare (despite paying taxes out of this measly sum) and they'll likely be worked to the bone.

I have a friend in Vietnam who works at an international school as a maths teacher and he's on double this salary. He doesn't even have qualified teacher status but he is good at what he does.

Darryl

My friend, who is Thai, has recently qualified as a teacher and got her first job in a provincal school in southern Thailand. She is a sweet, kind and funny girl, keen to be a good teacher and loves kids.
Recently I spoke with her about how important and satisfying it must be to be able to nurture, support and guide young people through the learning process. Unfortunately she was horrified at the thought of this, "no no no, we are not allowed. We must be strict and control the students" she has, in the first few days, seen teachers hit a student and another teacher call a young child 'crazy' because they didn't understand the question and asked for help. Is it the teaching system that needs to change or is it the culture of the teachers?

Philip

I came to teaching as a second career. Teaching got me out of the condo and the additional money buffeted all my cash burn. Having said all that I almost went to teacher's college after university. There were a lot of difficulties along the way but to be honest most of the pressure I placed on myself.

In my opinion 80% of teachers don't care and never will. Paying them more than 35K per month is just money in the bin. 10% care somewhat and 10% take it on as a career and profession. Here, I'm discussing EFL and all schools sans true internationals. I'm amazed at the full grown shirkers and artless dodgers. Having done this for a decade I shouldn't be but as we start the new year, I am.

Professional development is not easy to come by but few have any interest. It's all about silly games, methods to waste time, nailing down a staple of activities and tired worksheets so as to place a water bottle and your school owned notebook on your desk and slip off somewhere for an hour or three or...simply head home. Year on year they learn nothing new then gripe about their pay. They've become accustomed to the school and when they weigh a pay package at 42k compared to the 37k they've been making as long as they can remember, they decide that the effort is just not worth it. So, there they sit.

Another thing I have noticed that teachers never do is help students on their own time. It seems that any moment that could be spent off campus is better so than time spent helping their students. It's so self serving. New teachers bring in a bit of freshness and positivity but I'm struck by the false pride. Even when I started at 50 + I knew I hadn't a clue how to teach and was constantly searching for mentors and ideas. So few and far between I had to train myself. It's even a bit shocking as I see many of these younger teachers having gone through these limited programs playing games and doing board races but all that stuff academically speaking it's just purely a waste of time.

Moreover, with few exceptions I'm absolutely stunned at the lack of depth that most teachers have related to technology.

It's not been an easy road. One needs to constantly be searching for a school that's a fit for you personally. It will never be perfect and nothing even close. In the end, I traded my perfect school for money and although I am making approximately 20k + per month more at this new school plus bonus + perks, it is a bit of a lunatic asylum.

Why in world would anyone be teaching students with such abysmal English abilities? Not only are these poor kids challenging in themselves but the classes are complete headaches and the schools are generally disasters. This is precisely where a person with any sort of talent and career ambition does not want to work. There are better schools with far better facilities, students with exceedingly better English abilities, his students with grand ambitions and motivation. If you are sincere and genuine about your career then seek to educate yourself to a point where you can provide the best students something of value. Then, go make yourself 80,000 baht a month.

Jim

I know times are hard and the lack of teachers may cause suffering for some schools, but the number of so-called agencies offering teachers' work seems to be more than there are teachers and the new title of 'Non-NES Teacher' is impressive.

Like the agent who advised teachers in a school near me, offering 35K with no mention of other benefits including insurance payment or work permit or assistance with accommodation, and also not knowing that the school had been offering 45K inclusive for three teachers. What's amazing is that they were explaining to me that they only make a little money from acting as the school's agent.

Still, the school has no one with the qualifications required at present and certain other agencies still offering very poor monthly returns with few legal benefits. And they wonder why we are happy to stay teaching online to international students because we can earn more or the same and stay at home. Alas the schools are getting what they deserve and hopefully the agencies will wrap up and disappear

Phetpeter

It is time for Thai parents to realise they pay for the teaching and not the grades. Too many kids get high marks for literally doing nothing. In old days everyone got a passing mark. Now that is not good enough they still want 80% even when they do not deserve it. Wonder when that will change?

Micky

Usually your experience doesn’t matter too much as long as you’re likable, preferably younger and enthusiastic towards the students. The degree matters but here in Thailand the TEFL doesn’t matter as far as obtaining a job but will help you in the classroom with lesson planning and classroom management. Don’t accept a lower wage in regards to your experience. 38-43k is the usual “fair” wage. Don’t work for less, it’s not worth the time or frustration.

If you've never worked in Thailand before you'll probably see a lot of things you won't like (6-year-olds drinking Pepsi at 8am, teachers turning up stinking of beer and/or cigs, teachers being told to ''just pass them'' in exams even though in reality they can't answer the question 'What is your name?'...the list is endless). My best advice is try not to rock the boat or change anything...unless you work in one of the very top international schools, your well meaning advice will be ignored. Just come and enjoy your time here!

Do try and be nice to your Thai co-teacher if you are fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to have one. They are the boss make no mistake about that. Be nice to all your Thai colleagues. Don't tell them what to do. Don't come in with a superior attitude. Beware your foreign colleagues, they can be very slimy. Don't take work home with you. Don't do extra if you dont want. Don't think you're going to get anywhere unless you train yourself. CPD is nonexistent in the typical EFL Thai schools. None of this applies to international schools obviously, Have fun, try to get out and meet as many people as you can and travel at each and every opportunity.

Cary, Ed and James

I agree that when Filipinos come to teach in one school, they really make a lot of noise in their free time or even on the public transportation and that is something as a Filipino, I dislike the most. I have my work ethics and I always observe them. As much as possible, when we are inside the office, Filipino teachers should refrain from speaking their language or any other dialects. Speak English! Or if you wan to speak your dialect, at least speak softly. Most importantly, do your job and never practice professional jealousy. I personally don't like cliques in the workplace because I see it as a starting point of all internal and professional problems. Please Filipino teachers, love your work, love the children, respect others and keep your comments to yourself. Always bear in mind that we are not in our country and we must be socially and professionally responsible. Nobody asked you to come and teach here. It was all your choice, so please behave!

Naizer

In response to 'qualifications won't turn your fortunes around' (Postbox 25th March 2022), I'm halfway in agreement. While it is true that getting better qualified does not automatically lead to higher salaries, there are indeed good options here for those who look for them.

I can only speak for myself, but I left back in 2016 to get experience teaching back home. I was able to work at a public school in the States, and later at an international school in Asia. During such time, I added onto my qualifications with a graduate degree in my content area and in curriculum and instruction. I was then able to come back to Thailand in 2021 to work teaching in my content area. The salary is in line with what I have made with my previous two jobs, which affords me a nice life if I may say so.

The jobs *are* out there. Admittedly, it's not a guarantee but to suggest that there aren't jobs here to support a decent life is simply silly. Now admittedly, I don't teach ESOL (though I did for much of my career) but the experience doing so has helped me with my students, who are varied levels of ELLs. I would say that if you are experienced in teaching your content area, there are jobs to be had. I think many teachers who stick it out here and improve their skills and qualifications find themselves in better jobs. For those considering upgrading their qualifications, while it is true that it is no guarantee of a massive upgrade there are jobs to be had.

Aaron

Teaching in Thailand is a joke. Most of the things pulling you here can be found in other South East Asian countries. For what many of these so-called 'international' schools are offering, in terms of salary, a non-degree holder could likely achieve in countries such as Vietnam.

Many schools in Thailand simply don't respect foreign teachers (of any nationality) and contracts are meaningless and frequently dishonoured. You don't even want to try bothering with these 30-40k jobs, especially in Bangkok. If you choose to, consider that they may not pay for your holidays and likely don't provide any meaningful health insurance. In addition, I have found that you often need to budget for materials, if you wish to make your classes interesting/ enjoyable.

After arriving with no degree and no experience, 8 years ago, I now earn about 100 pounds a month more than I did then. This is having gained a BA in TESOL and an M.Ed. Take it with a shovel of salt when people claim that gaining education qualifications will turn your fortunes around in Thailand. The reality for myself, and many other teachers I know, is that you put in a shift at school (hybrid learning and clown world goof rules) and then have to go home and do 2-3 hours of online teaching or you're living hand to mouth. Have a good read through the letters on Ajarn, to get a feel for the situation, and just look at the qualifications the job ads are demanding in return for what they're offering. In short, do your research before coming here. I'm on my way out.

Steve