Diary of a Thai football season

Diary of a Thai football season

2023/24 Chainat Hornbill v Samut Prakan

Three away games left in the season, starting with a comfortable road trip to Chainat


Laura Thomas

Laura Thomas

I actually don't mind gate duty

A chance to connect with both parents and students.


Initially, when I was assigned gate duty a couple of years ago, I felt apprehensive. It was unfamiliar territory, as in my home country, such formal greetings weren't customary. Greetings between students and teachers happened naturally.

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Adam Crittenden

Adam Crittenden

How to motivate your students

From using humor and surprise to employing reward structures


Bangkok Phil

Bangkok Phil

Renewing a UK passport in Bangkok

A fairly painless procedure


Like many bureaucratic processes in Thailand, advance preparation is key. In terms of paperwork, it's all about getting your ducks in a row so that the actual application day goes as smoothly as possible.

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David Parfitt

David Parfitt

A teaching room of your own

It's not just about having a space to teach; it's about creating a hub for learning, laughter, and lifelong memories.


Starting out as a floating teacher meant I didn't have a proper classroom for the first two years. It was like being a nomad in the world of education, but it taught me to adapt like a pro.

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Richard McCully

Richard McCully

It’s time to start paying non-native teachers fairly

Nationality shouldn't determine pay rates!


If someone speaks English to a native level, has great teaching skills and experience, they shouldn't be discriminated against purely based on their nationality.

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Mark Beales

Mark Beales

Types of students in a Thai classroom

Teaching young children, teenagers and adults


If you think language teachers may come in a range of shapes and sizes, just wait until you witness the range of students you’re going to teach. Some students are eager, some are recalcitrant; some students are delightful, some are dire.

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Stephen Louw

Stephen Louw

“I don’t like Teacher Nick.”

Is it important for a teacher to be liked by the students?


The argument goes that happy students learn better, are more willing to buy into a lesson, and feel better about being in class. Being liked is important!

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Ricky Batten

Ricky Batten

Expat’s guide to dental care in Thailand

Whilst Thailand is known for its medical tourism, finding the right dentist can still be a challenge


Rachel Diamond

Rachel Diamond

Finding a job in Thailand - the basics

From one newbie to another


If you're considering coming to Thailand on your own to find work as an English teacher, I promise you can do it.

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Ben Bartee

Ben Bartee

How to write a sleazy SEO article For a Phuket beach resort

Sleazy beach resort proprietors, multinational corporate executives with private jets, sleazy SEO article writers, and tourists are all in the same boat.


In my spare time at the university, I started writing search engine optimized (SEO) pieces to get older Western women to come to Thailand for titjobs, and for tourists to visit resorts, and other stuff involving foreigners spending money in paradise.

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Jessica Watson

Jessica Watson

The dreaded letter grade

The anguish of having to evaluate progress with a single letter


I teach Pre-School, Kindergarten and Prathom 1, 2 and 3 and while I find it easier to dole out letter grades to my Prathom students, giving A,B,C's to my Pre-School and K's is much more difficult.

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Steve Schertzer

Steve Schertzer

The making of a good true Thai

Towards a new patriarchy and an inclusive nationalism


With the recent change in government, now would be a good time for Thais to take their country back. Any time would be a good time for Thais to take their country back.

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Rob Newman

Rob Newman

Act professionally please

Why don't teachers act like teachers for a change?


Start looking at things from an employer’s point of view. Start thinking like a teacher, teaching isn’t a 9 - 5 job, it’s a profession taken up by people who want to educate young minds.

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Mark Newman

Mark Newman

Marko's guide for newbies

Ten top tips for new teachers arriving in Thailand


New teachers teaching Thais in schools are often placed into an awkward and stressful situation, not really sure of their authority and sometimes not even placed with assistants who are much help

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Phil Roeland

Phil Roeland

How to motivate students

Keys to improving language learning


Motivation can either be internal or external. Students who are internally motivated usually learn English because they want to, because they enjoy learning or because they want to achieve a certain goal, not because they have to. Examples of personal goals could be pursuing a promotion at work or planning to enrol in a foreign university’s graduate programme.

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Richard Constable

Richard Constable

Not a Mister Chips among them

EFL teachers I've known over the decades, who didn't always wax their tracks as serious educators.


I chosen to write about some of the teachers I've worked with down the years who I found to be the most amusing and likeable, well, apart from Nick.

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John Wilson

John Wilson

Are TEFL qualifications necessary?

Let's consider what can go wrong after TEFL courses.


One argument against qualifications is that teaching experience itself is enough to guarantee a good teacher. Not so. I have recently been learning French in an institution where my intermediate classmates are often poor performers in their out-of-class interactions. And for what reason?

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Sam Thompson

Sam Thompson

Tolerance

One aspect of Thai culture that must be the envy of the world


We foreigners may see some aspects of Thai culture as idiosyncratic, but it truly warms my heart when I see even young people in Thailand getting along in spite of personal differences

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David Walters

David Walters

Keeping your job application out of the bin

How to stand out from the job application crowd


Applying for jobs is always tedious and can take up copious amounts of time especially if you are tailoring each application for specific positions. I can't speak for all employers but for anyone applying for jobs I can offer advice based around what I look for when filling any position.

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Megan Swanick

Megan Swanick

Grammar vs speech

Differing techniques inside the classroom


In my experience, students recite a grammar rule or know the rule or learn the rule and maybe even vaguely understand the rule, but then you ask them a basic question and they don't understand.

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James Humphries

James Humphries

Be honest with yourself

Every teacher has made mistakes - including you!


I've read many teaching blogs down the years and I generally enjoy hearing about other people's experiences. However there is one thing I'd like to see more of - honesty

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Tom Tuohy

Tom Tuohy

Teaching in Thailand post COVID-19

The 'new normal'


What does the future hold for education in Thailand? With the “new normal” in full swing, a “tourism reset” on the way, will there be any other meaningful changes in education, as some are hoping for?

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Kylie Millar

Kylie Millar

Five myths about being a TEFL teacher

I'm sick of the moaners.....I really am!


I am sick and fed up of people coming out to Thailand with stupid misconceptions and then moaning about how awful it is to live in Thailand. Shut up and go home then!

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The Hot Spot


Will I find work in Thailand?

Will I find work in Thailand?

It's one of the most common questions we get e-mailed to us. So find out exactly where you stand.


The dreaded demo

The dreaded demo

Many schools ask for demo lessons before they hire. What should you the teacher be aware of?


Air your views

Air your views

Got something to say on the topic of teaching, working or living in Thailand? The Ajarn Postbox is the place. Send us your letters!


Teacher mistakes

Teacher mistakes

What are the most common mistakes that teachers make when they are about to embark on a teaching career in Thailand? We've got them all covered.


Contributions welcome

Contributions welcome

If you like visiting ajarn.com and reading the content, why not get involved yourself and keep us up to date?


The Region Guides

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.


Need Thailand insurance?

Need Thailand insurance?

Have a question about health or travel insurance in Thailand? Ricky Batten from Pacific Prime is Ajarn's resident expert.


The cost of living

The cost of living

How much money does a teacher need to earn in order to survive in Thailand? We analyze the facts.