Going Home

The difficulties of finding employment when a teacher returns to the USA

19th May 2012

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.

I like Hat Yai just the way it is

Singing the praises of Thailand's third largest city

15th May 2012

Hat Yai has got all the good of Bangkok with only half the bad - it's Diet Bangkok, Bangkok light, Bangkok with no added sugar, and I can't imagine a more ideal place to live and work as a teacher in Thailand

Absolute pile of sh*te

Are the job ads really that bad?

13th May 2012

A disgruntled ajarn.com reader wrote in to say that he had never seen such low quality job ads on the Thailand TEFL websites. Is he right in his assumption? And if so, what are the reasons?

Arai Na?

English in Thai vocational schools

13th May 2012

I came here 1.5 years ago and it was all planned as a 10-month experience. I had a high paid marketing job back home in Europe and everybody told me that it was crazy to leave my career and become a ‘teacher' here in Thailand.

Talkin’ bout my situation

Everyone's situation is a little different

6th May 2012

A section of the ajarn website for those teachers looking to embark on a teaching career in Thailand and have so many questions and no real answers.

The who’s who of farang

The characters you meet on your Thailand travels

19th April 2012

There are travel wankers to be found littered throughout South East Asia, one-upping other backpackers and sneering the word ‘tourist' at them through a mouthful of whatever the utterly terrible but terribly cultural diverse local delicacy is

Teacher mistakes

Avoid falling into any of these teacher traps

19th March 2012

Ajarn has put together a list of the most common mistakes that teachers make in Thailand - both new arrivals and those who have been here a while.

Why I started teaching

Sometimes inspiration only comes from flapjacks and Facebook

16th March 2012

This isn't a blog I ever imagined I'd be writing, I like a drink as much as the next guy and have never been the most responsible person going. But if you're reading this and thinking about becoming a teacher in Thailand then think about why you want to do it. Is it just because you want to travel?

Young teachers vs old teachers?

Which age group do Thai employers really prefer?

28th February 2012

It’s the argument that refuses to go away. Which teacher group do Thai schools really prefer to hire and for what reasons? In this light-hearted ajarn article, older teachers and their young counterparts square up to each other over 11 rounds. Seconds out!

Surat Thani and my gold tooth

Weighing up options on where to lay your hat

18th February 2012

I love Surat Thani. And so when a job was recommended to me in town by a guy I trusted, I thought about the fact that it was under two hours away from Koh Samui and I thought about the dreary town filled with wonderful people, and I decided to accept.

 1 2 3 >  Last »

View all Jobs »
TEFL and TESOL Training Courses
View all Resumes »
Schools that need Teachers

Ajarn Guests

Teacher employer etiquette

I feel it is just unprofessional that if someone well qualified for an advertised job takes the time to research the job and your school, then you as an employer should have the courtesy (manners) to acknowledge that application even if the applicant may not be right person for the job.

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?
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.