Do students in private language schools have the right to choose who teaches them?

Should the most popular teacher get the largest share of the work?

1st April 2011

The student was not happy with this arrangement and asked the manager why I could not teach her. The manager replied, 'You learn with who I choose, not who you want. And I have chosen the other teacher.'

Observation blues

How do you feel about teaching observations?

29th January 2011

Many teachers fear observations, especially when they are unannounced. On the other hand, announced observations are easy to handle because the teacher can prepare a little bit more.

Of teachers and emperors without clothes

An ironic view of a job ad

21st September 2010

Employment agencies in are in dire need of actors for live performances on stage. Body piercing, visible tattoos, drinking or smoking in public, or any kind of physical handicap, even if slight, will qualify the applicant.

Encouraging observations

TEN welcomed Alan S Mackenzie as its February guest speaker

21st February 2010

Set up to create an environment in which educators can discuss personal concerns and to establish a positive forum for teaching opportunities in Thailand. We meet every month at the Roadhouse Barbecue.

Welcome to the Thailand Educators Network (TEN)

What's coming up in our teachers' evenings this year?

28th January 2010

Set up to create an environment in which educators can meet to discuss and explore professional and personal concerns and to establish a positive forum for the enhancement of teaching and teaching opportunities in Thailand, we meet every month, on or close to the 10th at the Roadhouse Barbecue.

The dreaded teaching observation lesson

Angel or daemon?

1st September 2009

Do they perform a useful function, or are they an instrument of control often misused by the resident DOS?

Those crazy interviewees

A tongue-in-cheek look at some rather eccentric teachers

20th August 2009

I’ve always been wary of religious types. Let me be the last man to begrudge anyone the right to have a faith but there’s a time and a place. Sunday morning in church springs instantly to mind. But if I ever saw the name ‘Jesus’ written on a lesson plan I would subconsciously file the teacher under ‘one to keep an eye on’.

Notes on a semester

What can you do when teaching starts to get you down?

3rd March 2008

How can I or any teacher that feels he's underachieving turn things around? I doubt there is any magic formula, but I've come up with a few ideas. Many of them are blindingly obvious but it's often the easy points we miss during difficult classes.

Notes on a semester

What lessons can a teacher learn from a difficult semester?

1st March 2008

When a number of students fail their course, what can a teacher do to make the next semester a better and more successful one? It's all about preparing well, observing other teachers and talking less in the classroom.

Don’t forget Mr Wunder-ful

Sent in by Ralph Sasser

16th November 2007

He's the one that secures a job over the Internet, promises to be here on a certain date and comes a month later claiming he had some problems leaving his other job.

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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.

Ajarn Competitions

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.