The city is theirs!
Thailand - the home of all things that bite, sting, crawl, creep or scurry.
There are many dangers awaiting the new arrival in Thailand, but never underestimate what might be under the roof or under the floorboards.
A day in Pattaya
How was Thailand's favorite beach resort holding up?
“Gone up-market” is always a risky expression to use where Pattaya is concerned, but that’s genuinely how I felt about area around the beach road and the sea-front. Gone were many of the tatty beer-bars I remember from yesteryear and in their place was an assortment of pricey Indian restaurants, air-conditioned shopping malls and a selection of swanky hotels.
How’s the ‘decorate’ and the ‘supervise’?
The joys of filling in customer feedback forms
Should that be ‘supervision’ or ‘supervisor’? Was I supposed to rate the actual restaurant supervisor? Was I evaluating those that do the supervising as opposed to those who are supervised? Forget it. It doesn’t matter. It makes no sense whatsoever
A dollar or two on the side
A look at some of those business sidelines destined for failure
You may well be a teacher who lives to stand in front of a whiteboard. You may be up half the night compiling lesson plans. But the world loves a teacher who is also something of an entrepreneurial optimist.
Thailand? yes we went there last weekend
When one man's tropical paradise becomes everybody else's
I can vividly recall all the fuss and palaver that surrounded my first trip to Thailand all those years ago. My Aunt Jean – not, it must be said, the brightest bulb in the marquee – called me on the phone as I was packing a suitcase and reminded me to take a few bars of soap.
Yet another list of Bangkok annoyances
We all love a good moan now and again don't we?
Here’s a list of my own things that drive me crazy about living in Bangkok. Hopefully some of them you’ve never even thought about.
From the planet Xerox
All hail to the mighty photocopier
Just as bad as the schools who dabble in the lower end of the photocopier market are the institutes who insist on keeping the same machine year after year - even when the repairmen are drawing lots and praying they're not the ones to get your call-out.
Featured Teachers
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Justin
Certificate (1)
Canadian (male, 30 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Mukesh
BSc (1), Diploma (1), Certificate (1), MA (1)
Indian (male, 30 years old, native Hindi speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Jason
Diploma (1), Certificate (1)
Canadian (male, 38 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Mrs. Tawny
BA (1), Diploma (1)
American (female, 33 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Rogen
BSc (1)
Filipino (male, 35 years old, native Cebuano speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Ryan
Certificate (2)
South African (male, 23 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Noel
Certificate (3), BA (1)
American (male, 47 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Paulo Ange
Certificate (18), Diploma (3)
Filipino (male, 23 years old, native Cebuano speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Ross
Certificate (3), Phd (1)
American (male, 59 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Esterlyn
BEd (1)
Filipino (female, 33 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
Ajarn Guests
Going Home
I possess ten years of classroom EFL teaching experience, plus a solid education, and this was the type of work available to me. There were many moments, such as when I was cleaning a toilet bowl, or when a housekeeper ordered me to do something, that frustration welled up inside me.
Teacher nightmares part two
More stories from teachers in Thailand who have found themselves in difficult situations often through no fault of their own. Can you offer them some good advice?
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
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.
Friends of Ajarn
The Region Guides
Fancy working in Thailand but not in Bangkok? Our region guides are written by teachers who actually live and work in the provinces.
Hi, I’m Tony Dabbs
I was a licensed life and health agent in the USA for many years and now I'm ajarn.com's health insurance expert.
The cost of living
How much money does a teacher need to earn in order to survive in Thailand? We analyze the facts.
Fun Quiz
Find out how employable you are in Thailand as an English teacher. Is it a case of 'welcome aboard' or "Mom, I need you to send some money again"
Fancy teaching freelance?
How easy is it to cut out the middlemen and rake in the cash teach students at their own homes?
Renting an apartment?
Before you go pounding the streets, check out our guide and know what to look out for.
E-mailing for jobs
E-mailing potential employers in Thailand can be a very frustrating experience. Teacher Chris is on hand to give you some top tips.
