Can’t Speak English?
Sent in by Pablo Gravoso
I am sure that my students will sooner or later become school administrators. I hope that they will not look at the color of the skin when they hire ESL teachers. They can hire whites, blacks or Asians. It doesn't matter. What is important is that they should look at the qualifications.
Skin color does matter in Thailand
Sent in by Sano
I do agree that a language should be taught by a native speaker but it is also important to look at the person's qualifications.
Patience is a virtue
Sent in by Jeff
The way I finally started to see it, one may have all the qualifications they believe to get the job, but there's one 'qualification' Thais truly desire that they don't always mention.
Will I find work in Thailand?
Is there a definitive answer to this incredibly common question?
I wish I could look at the main scenarios, the reasons teachers ask if they will find work in Thailand, and give everyone a straight "yes, you will" or "no, you won't" answer. But unfortunately it's nowhere near that straightforward.
Give Thailand more time
Sent in by Del
Please remember that Thailand is still a developing country. Give the Thais time to develop their own social conscience instead of trying to impose your own values on them.
Discrimination pure and simple
Sent in by Jeff
When I see racist ads like the one that accidentally made its way onto the site, it only serves to open up some old wounds and scars.
Brown and proud
Sent in by Sudharani Subramanian
Let us keep the focus on educational credentials , pronunciation, sincerity and work ethics when hiring English teachers.
Racism?
Sent in by Del
It's the employers who pays the salary at the end of the month, so shouldn't they be allowed to specify who they want?
Blatant racism
Sent in by Robert
It appears that racial discrimination in advertising is alive and well in Thailand.I was appalled to see an advertisement on Ajarn.com which unashamedly advertised for white teachers only.
Thailand race Issues
Sent in by Mr B
I came to Thailand with my girlfriend and within two weeks we both had a job in the same school - quite fortunate, I know. Neither of us have degrees, but we have TESOL certs and various tertiary qualifications. The process of getting the job was a little strange or different to what I'm used to. We both applied for the same job posts that we found online and many of these applications required a picture. My girlfriend got quick replies and I hardly got any or was told that I would be 'kept in mind' for future positions.
Featured Teachers
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John
Diploma (3), Certificate (1), BSc (1)
Ugandan (male, 35 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Ludivina
BA (1), MA (1)
Filipino (female, 46 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Martin
Certificate (3), Diploma (2), BSc (1)
British (male, 57 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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David
Certificate (2), BA (1)
American (male, 61 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Princess
Diploma (1)
Filipino (female, 21 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Dmitriy
Diploma (1), BSc (1), Certificate (1)
Russian (male, 24 years old, native Russian speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Martin
BA (2), Diploma (1)
German (male, 43 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Alljoe
BA (1)
Filipino (male, 20 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Graham
Certificate (2)
British (male, 59 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Volodymyr
Diploma (1)
Ukrainian (male, 31 years old, native Ukrainian speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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
Renting an apartment?
Before you go pounding the streets, check out our guide and know what to look out for.
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"
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.
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.
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.
