I’m Kenneth. I’m 46. I teach English in Thailand. Apparently, that’s now too old.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about retirement. I’m still full of energy, I still care about my students, and I’m probably in better shape (mentally and physically) than half the hungover 28-year-olds showing up to class after a weekend bender on Khao San. But when I scroll through job ads these days, all I see is this neat little age range: “Applicants must be between 25–45.” Some even have the nerve to put “under 40 only.” Like at 46, I’ve suddenly become incapable of stringing a sentence together or standing in front of a classroom without collapsing.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about qualifications. I’ve got a degree, a TEFL, years of classroom experience, and a deep understanding of Thai school culture - something you can’t learn from a three-week online course and a YouTube video on how to teach the present perfect.

What this is about is ageism - plain and simple. Wrapped in the usual fluffy excuses like “energy,” “relatability,” or my personal favorite: “the students prefer younger teachers.” You know what students actually prefer? A teacher who gives a damn. A teacher who shows up prepared, who doesn’t bugger off mid-term to go island-hopping, who understands that teaching is a job and not a gap year.

I’ve seen the waves of young TEFLers wash through this country, smiling wide for the ‘gram, jumping from contract to contract, often vanishing overnight when they realize this gig is actually work. And sure, some of them are fantastic, they're sharp, dedicated, passionate. But let’s not pretend age guarantees quality in either direction.

Here’s what older teachers bring to the table:

Stability. I’ve been in Thailand for over a decade. I’m not leaving when the rainy season gets too depressing or when I miss my mum.

Classroom management. You don’t spend 20 years in education without learning how to get a room full of 15-year-olds to sit down and shut up—without yelling.

Cultural understanding. I know the difference between sanuk and sabai sabai, when to back off and when to stand firm. That comes with time.

Professionalism. I show up. I meet deadlines. I don’t need a babysitter or a visa run excuse every other month.

I get it—schools want someone “dynamic,” “cool,” “relatable.” But here’s a hard truth: being 28 doesn’t make you dynamic. Being on TikTok doesn’t make you relatable. And being older doesn’t mean being boring. I bring music, humor, storytelling, and yes, even tech into my lessons. But I also bring something most 25-year-olds don’t: wisdom.

So to the schools advertising those "under 45 only" jobs, I say this: Grow up. Stop pretending age is the issue when it’s really just your obsession with image. If a young face and a native accent are all you need, then good luck building a real education system.

And to the younger teachers reading this? Respect to the ones who take the job seriously. But understand this: you’re not better because you’re younger. One day, you’ll be where I am - looking at ads that suddenly don't want you anymore. So maybe it’s time we stop letting schools pit us against each other and start pushing for what actually matters: good teaching.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have papers to mark and a coffee to reheat. I may be 46, but I’ve still got lessons to teach - and maybe a few lessons to give.

Kenneth (proud to be 46)