Surviving Tokyo trains
A commuter's guide
I hope that this quick tutorial will give you sporting chance should you step on a Tokyo rush hour train, but practice makes perfect so if you really want to get good you'll just have join the suffering masses and battle it out on a daily basis.
Becoming a salaryman
Preparing for life as a Japanese salaryman
By the time Monday rolls around I will be thoroughly exhausted which is the perfect way to begin the week because I will have the communal feeling of shared experience with my fellowsalarymen as we squash up against one another on the commute to work.
Casting off the shackles
A free agent at last
We all have to make decisions based on a given set of information provided at the time of the decision. Right now, for me that means abandoning Thailand and going back to Japan. As much as it may seem to be a step back, I am forced to see it as a step forward.
The Zen art of teaching English
Dharma, Zendo and all that stuff
Finally the last gong rings and the day is done. The monks quickly bow (clock) out of the temple as I check the next day’s scroll. It looks all right. I bid the nuns farewell – they work late into the night. I join the novice monks outside the temple and we all proceed to the izakaya.
Pissing on the tracks
The ups and downs of life in Japan
Hordes of middle-aged housewives roam department stores on the weekdays sniffing out bargains on anything and everything. The only variance on their routine is that the weekend sees the husband and children in tow. You see, shopping is the national pastime, er hobby.
Featured Teachers
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George
Diploma (1), Certificate (1), BA (1)
Canadian (male, 49 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Sarah
Diploma (1), Certificate (1), BA (1)
Canadian (female, 30 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Matt
Certificate (1), BA (1)
American (male, 33 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Daniel
Diploma (1)
British (male, 27 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Giovanni
Certificate (3), BA (1), Diploma (1)
Italian (male, 45 years old, native Italian speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Giles
Diploma (3), Certificate (2), BA (1)
British (male, 45 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Steve
Certificate (1), BA (1)
British (male, 40 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Arvin
BSc (1)
Filipino (male, 22 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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David
Certificate (2), BA (1)
American (male, 60 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Franka
BA (1)
Cameroonian (female, 21 years old, native English 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
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.
Renting an apartment?
Before you go pounding the streets, check out our guide and know what to look out for.
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 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.
Fancy teaching freelance?
How easy is it to cut out the middlemen and rake in the cash teach students at their own homes?
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"
