ragamuffin

Being a teacher is a responsibility itself. In addition, it's a profession. Would you become an electrician just because someone offers you a job in this field und you've swapped light bulbs at home? Does anyone here ever honestly consider his qualifications when it comes to TEFL?

Why do you think you would make a good English professor without any knowledge in that field?

I would not dare to teach IT just because I've taught Education Studies at uni already and have a computer at home.

I was there recently for a few days.

First thing, do you have your own transport, or are you able to hire a car and drive yourself?

Enterance fee for farang is 400 baht per person, you like I live here so you pay 40 baht.

Find out how much a package tour would cost and what form of transport is used, I see these mini buses flying up that highway and give thanks I aint a passenger.

Yes its ok for a day out, but there are better places to go for free.

Sorry, forgot, for just to go there and wing it and do your own thing, you will need your own transport.

The 40 Baht is only for Thai persons (with Thai ID card). Sometimes they let you in on a Thai driving license or Residence Permit, but this is actually not according to the book. I understand that they have started to get more strict on this lately. Last time in Kaeng Krachan NP they even gave me a pone number to call if I didn't believe them (I didn't call though)

I paid 40 Baht with my Thai student ID (uni) one week ago.

Because you might disturb others in their freedom to rest. I would rather call it careless a lot of the time, just like many other things here. Don't get me wrong, we do tend to be over regulated in the West, I agree. Thailand is the other extreme, though.

I said in bed. Not in the sauna.

I'm in bed but too lazy to sleep. Now beat that.

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No, this is why neither not properly trained Thai teachers nor not properly trained native speakers is what the kids need. Teaching is not a natural gift. It does involve intuition and empathy, yes. But it also is a lot about necessary background knowledge in education studies and knowing how to apply it.

Without a degree and background knowledge in learning psychology, methodology etc. native speakers with teaching experience still won't have a clue about teaching properly and meeting students' demands. Being a parent does not mean you're an expert in education either.

I honestly hope something will change in the Thai education system soon although I doubt it. Teachers need to be qualified. Being a native speaker is not a teaching qualification and I would not want my child to be taught by random people who think they can do this job just like that.

I'm a youngish female in Bangkok myself if you'd like to meet up and go out sometime .

It was awful when it happened, especially the slow-mo moment immediately before the van hit the bike and the sound of the crash. Feels very surreal now.

We took a regular non-tourist van from Anousawari. The only difference seems to be in the coaches where I find the governmental ones far more pleasant.

Model learning. It doesn't matter what/who the models are.

Where exactly in Buriram did that happen?

It's also good to hear I'm not the only one who cares about her. Apart from my five friends who were on the van, too.

A lot of the challenges don't come up with women who are educated and don't work on their backs AND men who are interested in a genuine relationship instead of feeling all macho for throwing money around to make ladies interested in them. Normal people will find normal partners.

They're simply Catholic.

Are you alright today?

I wish I could afford it. Squeezing 1.85m with joint probs into Economy Class is awful .

The girl has to spend some days in hospital to make sure her brain is alright but apart from that she seems to be okay.

My Thai friend will ring the van company today to get more info on the girl. I honestly hope she survived but I expect severe internal head injuries.

Yesterday night I saw an enormous swastika graffiti with a zombie Hitler on a van in Bangkok. Extremely bizarre.

I'll probably pop in at the van station this week to inquire about the girl.

Four rooms with 8-10 hours of A/C per day can easily add up to 22.000 Baht a month, especially at your rate. Friends with one room and night usage only already pay around 2000 Baht.