Should I stay or should I go?

Getting to grips with life as a teacher in Thailand

I flew in to Bangkok and spent four amazing days and nights there. I was about to head out towards Ubon to start looking for work when I was tipped off with a potential opportunity in the Si Sa Ket province of Isaan.


The teacher's diary revisited

One teacher's descent into madness. Now updated for 2011

The diary is the heartbreaking four-week journal of Mr Jim Elmdon - a teacher who came to Thailand and failed miserably. Keep a box of tissues handy.


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.


Win-win teachers

How to become a more valued employee

Whether in the staffroom, lunchroom, shop floor, barracks, or around the water cooler next to the cubicles, the main topic of conversation has always been how incompetent the bosses and management were.


Are you a crappy teacher?

Time to take the self-evaluation test

If you have evaluated yourself honestly and you have come to a conclusion that you are in fact a crappy teacher, what can you do about it? Since most of these things actually have to do with personal motivation, probably not a lot.


Low wages

Postbox letter from Marcus

A three to six month training course is not closely equivalant to the years of sacrifice and study it takes to receive a degree in education. Although it may be enough to find work in a developing country, it is not recognised, and I believe one would be far pressed to find employment, in a native English speaking country.


The enemy within

The evil side of the TEFL industry

It is a complicity of silence that sees many foreign teachers working hand-in-glove with a Thai administration that cares only about money and maintaining an educational system mired in cultural backwardness and social repression.


Why?

Standing up for the teaching profession, and the complicity of silence.

“Someone wrote on your blog that you are 'dangerous'. I say you are a neurotic loose canon and a liability for a school, working with children”


A lifelong journey of learning

Postbox letter from Bhavna Khemlani

If I was to introduce myself, I would say that I am the silver spoon that facilitates the flow of knowledge to students who crave learning and creativity at the different educational stages of their lives.


Handling a 'sanook' class

How to handle a classroom full of badly-behaved children

Success in handling naughty students calls for common sense, creativity and resourcefulness on the part of teachers. Furthermore, a lot of reasons that trigger students’ behavior have to be addressed too, for if they are not, problems will surface


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Featured Jobs

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฿35,000+ / month

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NES Grade 4 Math and Science Teacher

฿40,000+ / month

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฿42,000+ / month

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฿100,000+ / month

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฿45,000+ / month

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Featured Teachers

  • Angelica


    Filipino, 28 years old. Currently living in Philippines

  • Enes


    Turkish, 30 years old. Currently living in Thailand

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    Filipino, 51 years old. Currently living in Thailand

  • Tanaka


    Zimbabwean, 26 years old. Currently living in Thailand

  • Krizzle


    Filipino, 29 years old. Currently living in Thailand

  • Jefferson


    Filipino, 26 years old. Currently living in Philippines

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.


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!


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.


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 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.


The dreaded demo

The dreaded demo

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


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.