The harsh reality
Sent in by Ralph Sasser
When a student inevitably fails the semester final exam and/or has poor grades, the foreign teacher is instructed to dumb down the exam and let the student retake it so he/she will get a passing grade or retake it several times if necessary. If the teacher refuses to give the exam until the student passes, the foreigner teacher is deemed incompetent and terminated.
A teacher, an old wise man, two punks, and a chicken
Taking responsibility for your teaching
Every once in a while I get frustrated with my students. Yes that’s right; I’m not a perfect teacher. But the person I should get most frustrated with, however, is me.
Of teachers and emperors without clothes
An ironic view of a job ad
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.
Teaching tips
What to do and what not to do in the EFL classroom
Regular ajarn contributor Tim Cornwall is back with more tips and techniques for both experienced and inexperienced teachers alike from smiling to laying down class rules and from teacher movement to setting up activities.
The Mismeasure of Thais
Teachers rarely take the blame for students constantly failing exams.
It is not the students’ fault that they are failing tests and exams. All students want to pass. They simply don’t know how since most teachers have never taught their students how to study effectively and to recognize the pitfalls of taking tests and examinations.
Skirting around the problem
Why focus on issues that have nothing to do with problems in education?
Why are these banal topics regularly raised when so many critical and more pressing problems are evident in the Thai education system? What about the huge shortfall of qualified teachers? The embarrassingly low salary offered to them?
Bangkok Post Articles
Sent in by Asian Teacher
Thailand's plunge in education from the Bangkok Post - A teacher's response
Ralph has hit the nail on the head
Sent in by Peter Batchelor
I asked why the school did not employ an English native speaker and was told "we get our two English teachers (the Filipino and the Thai) for the same price as one farang teacher so this way is better for the school"
Unteaching what the Thai teachers have taught
Sent in by Ralph Sasser
Let’s look at the reality. Thai teachers do teach grammar and vocabulary, although I don’t see how considering most can’t even speak a coherent sentence in English
Responsibility: Teaching the fourth R in education
It's time to make our students look good - and not just academically
In our zeal to teach the three ‘R's, reading, ‘righting, and ‘rithmetic, we are neglecting to teach another very important ‘R': Responsibility; responsibility for oneself and responsibility for others
Featured Teachers
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Mary Jean
BA (1), MA (1)
Filipino (female, 34 years old, native Cebuano speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Simon
Certificate (4), BSc (1)
British (male, 49 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Gustav
Certificate (4), BA (2)
Austrian (male, 56 years old, native German speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Dominique
Diploma (1)
Filipino (female, 24 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Martin
Certificate (4)
Czech (male, 40 years old, native Czech speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Grace
Certificate (2)
Nigerian (female, 24 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Adriel
BA (1), MA (1)
American (male, 35 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Lone
Diploma (2)
South African (female, 26 years old, native Afrikaans speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Volodymyr
Diploma (1)
Ukrainian (male, 31 years old, native Ukrainian speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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Dunstan
Diploma (1)
Filipino (male, 21 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
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 cost of living
How much money does a teacher need to earn in order to survive in Thailand? We analyze the facts.
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.
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.
Fancy teaching freelance?
How easy is it to cut out the middlemen and rake in the cash teach students at their own homes?
