Dealing with the troublemakers

Discipline: tips on control in the classroom

Troublemakers. We have all seen them do their thing, causing mayhem and disorder in the classroom; perhaps you were even one yourself at some point during your time as a student. Troublemakers are the bane of every teacher's existence and they make our job go from difficult to pounding headache and hair-tearing proportions.

I don't want to learn!

The biggest teaching hurdle: motivation

Motivation in the classroom, both from the teachers and the students, is essential for learning but it is a tricky balance to strike since the two are so interconnected; if the teacher loses motivation, so do the students and if the students lose motivation, so does the teacher.

Using a touch screen in class

Maintaining student interest with technology

I felt so overwhelmed by the results of using the touch screen computer for this was my first time in 9 years to use the most updated technology in my English classes. In fact, during my last observation, my inspector rated me excellent in my teaching.

Thailand teaching stuff - July 2015

A selection of blog links that will be of interest to teachers in Thailand

Here's another selection of interesting teacher-related blogs and articles that have popped up on the internet over the last month or so, including an interesting comparison between the costs of living in Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

Class control

Tips on how to make your kids classes go smoothly

You need to know how to control kids better than they know how to control you. The way you control any class depends on what size class you have and also on the age of the children, but here are some tips on how to keep your class together.

Young teachers vs old teachers?

Which age group do Thai employers really prefer?

It’s the argument that refuses to go away. Which teacher group do Thai schools really prefer to hire and for what reasons? In this light-hearted ajarn article, older teachers and their young counterparts square up to each other over 11 rounds. Seconds out!

Advice for nervous newbies

Postbox letter from Mark

The best way to overcome your anxiety in the classroom is to know your stuff. But even knowing your stuff won't fix everything if you are nervous in front of a crowd.

Writing activities

Some fun-filled, challenging activities to get your students writing.

Some activities may not be applicable to your students but with creativity, you can modify them to suit your students' levels and needs.

Advantages of team teaching

Working with a co-teacher who becomes a valuable assistant

When I taught with my partner, the Thai teacher would translate everything I would say. When I modeled all the oral activities, the Thai teacher would explain. But the flow of the lesson was in the hands of the Thai teacher.