Basic advice for beginners (and not only beginners)

Postbox letter from Gregor

Beware of agencies that offer a visa and work permit after a 3-month probationary period. A 3-month "probation" is nothing more than illegal work and forcing teachers into visa runs.

It takes all sorts

There's nowhere like an ESL staffroom when it comes to a crazy and diverse range of characters

People become ESL teachers for all kinds of reasons. Nowhere else will you find such a mélange of backgrounds, attitudes and beliefs, which is what makes the ESL staffroom like no other you’ll ever work in.

Just plain abuse

Postbox letter from Connamera

School officials have never openly threatened me but they have made it clear to everyone that they don't like me and they're out to get me

Laugh and be happy

Postbox letter from DJ

Try to apply the advice offered to you by experienced staff. Try to empathize with the different groups of students rather than to each individual student.

Take heart, the schools are out there

Postbox letter from Michael

Unfortunately, the schools with the most vacancies are the schools that have some problems with student (and sometimes teacher) motivation and discipline)

At the end of my tether

Postbox letter from Steven

The problem I encounter with almost every class, is a lack of respect, plus attention, demonstrated by the students

No pay Jose

Postbox letter from Mike Walker

I returned to my school in Bangkok today after almost two months waiting for the floods to subside. When I enquired about being paid for the last eight weeks, the staff just laughed at me.

Teaching in Thailand for keeps

The main reasons teachers get fired

Getting fired from a job causes teachers anxiety, embarrassment, trauma and often sense of injustice.

Oh, one more thing - you're fired!

One teacher's account of being popular with students and getting fired

I found out later after talking with other teachers, that there were two teachers that didn’t like us and they were both on the “committee” The director couldn’t go against the committee because she would lose face.