Cross-cultural education for teachers
Adding to opinion and speculation about the teaching industry
When writing about the ESL industry and Western English teachers in Thailand or other Asian countries, it should be kept in mind the industry is extremely fragmented, unregulated and there is a startling lack of reliable statistics or data about the industry and the teachers working in the industry.
Scott Hipsher's Tag Cloud
Previous Articles
- 4th November 2011: Making the transition
- 4th October 2011: Student mistakes
- 9th September 2011: ESL teachers and global poverty reduction
- 26th July 2011: The power of positive thinking
- 30th June 2011: English teaching as part of your career path
- 26th May 2011: Win-win teachers
- 3rd May 2011: Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.
- 4th April 2011: What are we here to teach?
- 3rd March 2011: Is TEFL teaching a career or a job?
- 31st January 2011: Entrepreneurial teachers?
- 2nd January 2011: New year’s resolutions
- 7th December 2010: The middle kingdom
- 8th November 2010: The future of teaching in higher education
- 2nd October 2010: What a long, strange trip it’s been
- 1st September 2010: Impressions of home
- 2nd August 2010: Pros and cons of teaching English
- 4th July 2010: Expatriates, higher education and globalization
- 1st June 2010: Reflections on culture and the political situation
- 24th April 2010: Live in the East: Work in the West
- 19th March 2010: Theravada Buddhism and the workplace
- 16th February 2010: ESL industry analysis
- 22nd January 2010: So you want to be a writer?
- 3rd January 2010: Teaching in an intercultural environment
- 1st December 2009: The power of expectations
- 1st November 2009: English teachers and other independent expatriates
Ajarn Guests
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
Software for student tests
The integration of internet and computers with education and English learning is something students find normal, and classrooms without some access to educational software may seem quaint. Some students may even feel they can get more ‘professional' teaching from the numerous online ELT sites if a school is behind in IT.
Whatever happened to the shopping mall teacher?
They are the shopping mall English teachers - gliding like pale, undernourished phantoms amid the hordes of weekend Thai shoppers. The main reason I empathize with the shopping mall teacher is because I was once one myself. I know how desperate and soul-destroying it can be.
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
Fancy teaching freelance?
How easy is it to cut out the middlemen and rake in the cash teach students at their own homes?
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.
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"
Renting an apartment?
Before you go pounding the streets, check out our guide and know what to look out for.
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.




