Surviving the CELTA

Tips and advice for taking a four-week program

Before I signed up for an English teaching certification class, I spent 50+ hours reading about all my options. Maybe it is because it was the first big step in moving to Thailand, but also because I wanted to get the most for my money and time.


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.


Talkin' bout my situation

Everyone's situation is a little different

A section of the ajarn website for those teachers looking to embark on a teaching career in Thailand and have so many questions and no real answers.


How's the Thailand TEFL job market?

Are salaries really going down?

Ajarn.com asked about thirty recruiters, language school owners, government school hirers and firers, etc for their opinions on the TEFL job market in Thailand. So then - are teacher salaries really going down?


Nothing but misinformation

Postbox letter from Mr T

I'm finding out that almost everything in Thailand's TEFL industry is a big fat lie.


Are TEFL qualifications necessary?

Let's consider what can go wrong after TEFL courses.

One argument against qualifications is that teaching experience itself is enough to guarantee a good teacher. Not so. I have recently been learning French in an institution where my intermediate classmates are often poor performers in their out-of-class interactions. And for what reason?


An alternative guide

A rough guide to the lonely planet of teaching in SE Asia

If you studied TEFL or CELTA in your home country, something that would have almost definitely been lacking from your course was your tutors experience and knowledge of SE Asia.


Who can truly teach?

Postbox letter from RM

Education and ESL are two different things. Its that simple. What does a degree in Astro Physics have to with teaching a foreign language to a 9 year old for example?


Sweet spastic, silly swarms

Back in Korea again

Korea was the same as when I left it. New swarms of hagwons proliferated like rabbits on viagra and cheap wine. Every street twinkled with the latest corporate offspring – doe-eyed upstarts of whatever educational franchise chain. Small, independent, family owned schools struggled to compete; while saturating the nation themselves oblivious to supply and demand.


Are you certified?

Finding your way through the TEFL course maze

Teaching was no longer challenging. I was stagnating. Sure, I could always shake my life up with a weekend of debauchery, an occasional fling with a sexy female expatriate, or by traveling to a different city – and, truth be told, I often tried combining all three. But, at my core, I knew that I wasn’t growing productively. As a teacher I wasn’t developing. My methodologies had become stale. I needed a new bag of tricks. I needed rejuvenation.


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Featured Jobs

NES English Teacher

฿60,000+ / month

Pathum Thani


NES Lead Teacher

฿15,000+ / month

Bangkok


NES Grade 4 Math and Science Teacher

฿40,000+ / month

Chiang Mai


English Conversation Teachers

฿35,000+ / month

Thailand


English Teacher

฿42,000+ / month

Bangkok


Female Kindergarten Teacher

฿45,000+ / month

Bangkok


Featured Teachers

  • Lloyd


    Filipino, 53 years old. Currently living in Philippines

  • Sean


    British, 65 years old. Currently living in United Kingdom

  • Thilivhali


    South African, 23 years old. Currently living in Thailand

  • Lungile


    South African, 36 years old. Currently living in South Africa

  • Jeany


    Filipino, 24 years old. Currently living in Philippines

  • Arlene


    Filipino, 36 years old. Currently living in Philippines

The Hot Spot


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.


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.


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.


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.


The dreaded demo

The dreaded demo

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


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.


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?