Too old at 60?

Sent in by James

25th November 2011

In the end Thailand, as disillusioned foreigners leave, your tourist industry collapses and the current crop of teachers grow older and are replaced by smiling backpackers, or recession refugees happy to join the treadmill for their 30k pay, you will stay a developing country.

Over 50 and lucky

Sent in by beinaj

3rd July 2011

I am one of those teacers over 50 years old but I am fortunate to have a teaching position.

Not over at 60

Sent in by Rob

23rd May 2011

I'm 60 and have never been in so much demand. Am I that special? Not at all. I'm just proactive and do a good job.

In defence of the edutainers

A young teacher's perspective on teaching in Thailand

1st April 2011

Most of the English teachers in Thailand seem to be slightly older so it’s understandable that they would view energy, positive reinforcement and affability in the EFL classroom with disdain and denial.

We are all unemployable at some point

Sent in by Ian BKK

24th March 2011

Sadly, the older you get, the harder it seems to be able to get a job.

Unemployable at age 60

Sent in by Kevin O'Donnell

23rd March 2011

It seems that it is almost impossible for me to gain another teaching position in Thailand (in government schools and universities) as I have recently turned 60

Why older teachers find it difficult to get work here

Sent in by David Fahey

14th February 2011

What I saw over the years in Thailand though were a number of older teachers who had, over the years, gained a lot of experience but somehow lost their love of teaching along the way and had failed to realise it or, if they had, they were often in denial about it

Tossed on the TEFL scrapheap

Is teaching in Thailand a young man's game?

3rd February 2011

These are older teachers who have made their life in Thailand, perhaps even got married and raised children, and are now contemplating the unthinkable. Leaving the home they love. For many it’s either a case of seeking out pastures new or returning home to a country they left behind a long time ago.

Wisdom

Sent in by M.Benson

2nd November 2010

I want to home in on one very specific aspect of education within Thailand – namely, the prevailing approach to utilizing teachers. From what I have observed this country has moved strongly toward what I perceive, again, as an essentially money obsessed , cheap is better hiring scheme.

Keeping up with this topic

Sent in by Donald Patnaude

5th August 2010

Primarily, teaching English in Thailand is all about 'edutainment', meaning if you teach English in Thailand you must be an entertainer as well as an educator.

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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.