Why I stopped smiling at the school director
Pay me on time. Treat me like a professional. Stop using me as a mascot. Then maybe you’ll see some teeth.
You know what finally broke me?
It wasn’t the broken printer, the unpaid overtime, or the students who treat class like nap time. No, it was being told, yet again, that I need to smile more. By the school director. The same one who hasn't said a word to me in English since I arrived almost two years ago. The same one who waltzes into the staff room, ignores everyone, and only acknowledges me when there’s a PR event and they need a foreign face for a photo op.
I’m Louise. I’m 34. I’ve been teaching in Thailand for three years. And I’m tired of pretending everything is “sabai sabai” when I’m being treated like a decorative plant.
Let me paint you a picture.
Every time there’s an inspection, I’m suddenly very important. “Teacher, you must attend this meeting.” “Teacher, wear this traditional dress.” “Teacher, come to the front for the picture.” But the rest of the year? I’m invisible. I’m not consulted about the English curriculum. My feedback is ignored. My ideas are “interesting” but never implemented. And my contract was renewed late. Again.
What pushed me over the edge was when the director told mem with a laugh, that I look “moody” in the mornings and should try to “smile more” because it makes the school look better. This after I covered three classes that weren’t mine, helped two colleagues fix their lesson plans, and had just found out my salary would be deposited a week late. Again.
Smile more?
Here’s a thought: pay me on time. Treat me like a professional. Stop using me as a mascot. Then maybe you’ll see some teeth.
I’m not against Thai culture. I’m not naive. I understand the hierarchy, the kreng jai, the obsession with saving face. But I didn’t move halfway across the world to be a prop in someone else’s photo album. I came to teach. I came to make a difference. And I like to think I’m pretty damn good at it.
I’m the one who stays late to help struggling students. I write my own materials. I run the school’s English drama club. And yes, I used to smile. A lot. Because I believed it mattered. But now? That smile feels like a costume. A mask I wear to keep people comfortable while I’m quietly losing all professional dignity.
You want a smile? Earn it.
Until then, I’ll keep showing up. I’ll keep teaching my heart out. I’ll keep giving my students what they deserve. But to the director and every admin who thinks my job is to play the “friendly farang” while being left out of every decision, I’ve got news for you: This face isn’t for sale anymore.
Louise
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Comments
I see a lot of new teachers volunteering for extra activities in a bid for recognition or to impress. It seems to come from a weakness within themselves rather than a strength. They are needy for attention like the young students.
These are the worst work colleagues.
By JJ, Bangkok (8th June 2025)
Louise nailed it. This is one of the reasons why good teachers leave Thai schools at such a high rate. Apparently, being a qualified educator now means moonlighting as a clown, cheerleader, and part-time circus act. If you have even a shred of professional pride, being treated like a “dance monkey” stops being funny pretty fast. We didn’t get into teaching for the applause—we just wanted to be treated like actual professionals. Wild concept, I know.
By JJ, Chiang Mai (4th June 2025)
Your unhappiness is partly self-inflicted. Work-to-rule. Stop staying late. Stop running the drama club, unless it is specifically required by your contract. Stop covering classes, unless it is specifically required by your contract. If you want to be treated like a professional then start treating yourself like one first. You can’t be a doormat and a professional at the same time.
By Kru, Thailand (3rd June 2025)
Smiling and being friendly / approachable is part of our job. As although we’re there to teach, we’re also there to inspire. But I often feel that many foreign teachers don’t understand why, or perhaps think they do but don’t really get it.
When I used to teach at a government high school in the countryside, we (foreign teachers) used to love the expression “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink” to describe teaching our students. But inspiring the students, is how you get those horses to drink. It isn’t always easy, but smiling and being approachable and friendly (even when you might not feel like it), is how we achieve this.
The effect we have doesn’t just inspire students to learn in our classes, but can inspire them to learn English in general, even with their Thai teachers. As specialist teachers, who aren’t Thai and don’t teach the same students for hours and hours every day, we can be the friendly face rather than the staunch disciplinarians their homeroom teachers often need to be. That contrast is what makes students love to study English.
The biggest barrier to learning for Thai students usually isn’t the teacher, or the student’s capability, but the student’s desire to learn. Those photo opportunities that they love to get us in for, when we look friendly and approachable, that’s what the school shows the parents, so that they're able to see a teacher who can hopefully inspire their children to learn.
Although for the blogger in this article, it sounds like her current school has burnt her out. She should look for a change of scenery so that she can hopefully be re-inspired herself, because it can be draining on teachers to maintain that persona (especially when the school have administration problems), even if we know why we need to do it.
By Brian, Thailand (2nd June 2025)
Yes Louise, the Thais are generally superficial, that's it really is all about appearances (playing the part), while they couldn't actual give a soi dog's turd about how a teacher teaches her/his students.
Whereas, unless you're on a never to be surpassed personal salary, it might be time to move on at the end of this school year's contract. (As in move on to at least new pastures if not not greener - or something like that).
I mean if they're late in renewing your contract, besides being late with your salary payments - they might even be trying to push you out. Ultimately, you're so much better than the school director so jump before you're pushed.
By Richard Constable, Bang Na (2nd June 2025)