Teacher compensation

Second article on Thai labor law and how it applies to teachers

This article is about how the Thai labor court system works in terms of mediation, arbitration, etc, how much money you can expect to be awarded in compensation - and most importantly, how much it will cost you.

The Thai labour law

And more importantly how it applies to teachers here

This is the first of a series of articles about the Thai labour law and the labour courts and how foreigners, especially teachers in Thailand, are affected by them. As a teacher, I have been to the Thai labour court twice and in both cases had a settlement awarded to me. I have also been to the labour court in South Africa as an employer several times. I have never lost a court case.

Stick or twist?

Decisions, decisions, decisions

Like many other teachers I now find myself in the position where I need to make a decision about what I will do next academic year. Do I stay put? Or is it time to move on to pastures new?

An overview of teaching in Thailand

I thought this might be of benefit to new ajarn readers in particular

I was asked to fill in a questionnaire by my old university on the topic of teaching English in Thailand. Although it was intended to encourage applicants to take a Thai study program in Germany, the information might be useful for those teachers thinking of coming to work here in Thailand.

Summertime blues

Major changes that will affect many teachers

Next year it's going to be a very long summer. Schools will be finishing in early March as usual but the new school year won't begin until mid-June. That's a 3-month holiday we're looking at. Great news for our students but it may be a little worrying for teachers that don't get holiday pay

Does Thailand want to keep its teachers?

Postbox letter from Jonathan

I think it is plain to see that Thailand has to change the way it operates. The fat cat agency owners are making a killing ripping off teachers. The school directors are pocketing money to buy their Mercedes instead of buying what the school needs.

Don't turn your back on the kids

Postbox letter from Jon

Who are we there for? The school? Maybe. But I would hope that most teachers would say that they are there for the children, to offer the kids a chance to improve their English

When your face just doesn't fit

When a school wants to fire you, what can you do?

I had been working as a Maths teacher for just under four months at a Catholic school in Bangkok when the head teacher, who is always happy to deliver bad news in a very dramatic way, informed me that parents had complained about the homework books not being marked. This was just the beginning.

Enough is enough

Postbox letter from Annoyed

I have just left Thailand after 10 years of teaching, my wife and two children are in the process of getting their passports and visas to follow me here in the next couple of months. Why? Enough is enough,