Enough is enough
Sent in by Annoyed
I have just left Thailand after 10 years of teaching, my wife and two children are in the process of getting their passports and visas to follow me here in the next couple of months. Why? Enough is enough,
Go to labor court
Sent in by Kru Anon
The labor court can be your best friend if you think you are being unfairly dismissed from your teaching job.
How to take legal action?
Sent in by Isabella
The international school that I work for employed me on a 23-month contract but they want to terminate it after my first school year for very vague reasons.
Choosing the right employer
The joys of working for a teacher agency
I wouldn't say I have a "horror story" per se, but rather a three-ringed circus. I found the whole ordeal quite amusing for the most part, although the never getting paid on time or the correct amount, along with the constant harassing emails from whom I can only assume to be a mentally imbalanced employer did get a bit tiresome by the end.
Teacher tax issues
Working your way through the teacher tax minefield
It is not unusual for certain schools to under declare a teacher's salary and consequently the tax documents provided to the teacher do not always agree with amounts paid to the Revenue Department. Sometimes the Revenue Department do not even know the teacher existed.
When your face just doesn’t fit
When a school wants to fire you, what can you do?
I had been working as a Maths teacher for just under four months at a Catholic school in Bangkok when the head teacher, who is always happy to deliver bad news in a very dramatic way, informed me that parents had complained about the homework books not being marked. This was just the beginning.
Don’t get disheartened folks
Sent in by Jonathan
There are many good agencies out there and many schools that will hire direct. Visit them in person and drop off a nice little resume pack with all your photocopies, certificates etc. It will work wonders.
Book review
The essential guide to teaching English and living in Thailand
As they neared the end of their first year in Thailand, Michael and Sarah suddenly realized that while chatting with new arrivals, they were answering the same questions over and over again. So they began to compile a guide to help others who might want to give TEFL in Thailand a try.
Teacher nightmares part two
What happens when teaching in Thailand all goes horribly wrong
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?
What are your rights?
Where questions are thrown out to real teachers.....or just thrown out
Number one in probably a series of one. A teacher has a problem that ajarn.com just can't answer (it happens quite often to be honest) and we ask all you teachers out there to chip in with your two cents, particularly those of you who have been in the same situation. Who's been there, done that and bought the 12-piece gift set?
Featured Teachers
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Asger
Certificate (3)
Dane (male, 41 years old, native Danish speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Sary
Certificate (2)
Spaniard (female, 33 years old, native Spanish speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Nicholas
MA (1), Certificate (1), Diploma (1), PGCE (1)
British (male, 38 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Jennelyn
Diploma (1)
Filipino (female, 32 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Stephen
MA (1), BA (1), Certificate (1)
American (male, 43 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Benjamin
BA (1), Certificate (1)
British (male, 40 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Guillaume
BA (1), Certificate (1), Diploma (1)
Ivorian (male, 41 years old, native French speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Caroline
BSc (1), Certificate (1)
Irish (female, 26 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Nigel
BSc (1), Certificate (1), BA (1)
British (male, 52 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Wilcone
Diploma (1)
Filipino (female, 26 years old, native Tagalog 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
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.
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?
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.
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.
The cost of living
How much money does a teacher need to earn in order to survive in Thailand? We analyze the facts.
