Seven months to do it yourself!
Sent in by Mr Grumpy
One thing I learnt a long time back, providing you are not uneducated and meet the minimum requirements, is that one must do everything oneself! It is your passport, it is your work permit and it is your life!
Seven months and still illegal
Sent in by Mel
My school failed to convert the work permit and the non immigrant B visa into a "work visa". Now, I'm back on a tourist visa and they won't even pretend to feel any urgency
The chalkies need a real change
Sent in by Mr Grumpy
Nothing can prepare the foreign teacher for the employee-to-management-to-admin staff life. Dealing with these matters can drive the most experienced teachers up the wall and can turn a normally friendly teacher into a paranoid wreck!
The system is in one big mess
Things that seemed like a good idea at the time
It's about time there was an update on the much-criticized teacher licencing laws. Please try not to laugh too loud.
Work permits and health insurance
Do you need a work permit to take out health insurance in Thailand?
The work permit myth got started because of a company called AIA, who have a very strong marketing organization. They sell health insurance as a rider on life insurance.
My life as a farang teacher
Sent in by Larry Gellar
I probably should have seen the writing on the wall when I was asked to sign a contract in a foreign language, without a translation. I should have just slowly backed away.
Featured Teachers
-
Rowena
BEd (1)
Filippino (female, 30 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Diana Grac
BA (1)
Philippino (female, 28 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Jason
BSc (1), Certificate (1)
American (male, 35 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Jonny
Certificate (3), BA (1), Diploma (1)
British (male, 49 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Rob
Certificate (1), BA (1)
British (male, 36 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Rak
Certificate (2), BSc (1), Diploma (1)
American (male, 30 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Apple Grac
BA (1)
Filippino (female, 27 years old, native Tagalog speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
b.jpg)
Asger
Certificate (3)
Dane (male, 40 years old, native Danish speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Franky
Certificate (4), Diploma (3)
Belgian (male, 41 years old, native Dutch speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
-
Vernon
BA (1), Certificate (1)
American (male, 60 years old, native English speaker). Currently living in Thailand.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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?
