Ajarn

I'm staying in Sumkumwit soi 1, and there have been cops all the area today...The said it was a 'security operation"

Racing around to do my business before the area shuts down....

I have seen one severely messed-up situation here in Thailand in some private schools (and only in Thailand) where there'll be a really "naughty" class that's learned they can get rid of teachers who make them work.  Any attempt to impose discipline or assign homework will lead to them conspiring to get the teacher attempting to instruct them fired- 'cause it always is easier for the school to replace the teacher than replace even one parent.  So the kids remain rowdy and lazy little bandits and any teacher who doesn't act like a doormat is thrown out.  Since the schools involved tend to be private, they're much more sensitive to the money coming from only one parent than they are to the needs of the kids (some of whom do want to work, but don't have the parents coming in and fighting for them like the others).  Anyone have a solution for this kind of tetchy status-related problem, or is it just to find a new school (as everyone I've known in this situation has had to do eventually, voluntarily or otherwise)?

"Steven"

The solution to that problem is simple, but probably difficult to implement without the aid of parents and school.

First, the teacher should talk with the parents of the "naughty" children. Of course, this requires some DIPLOMATIC skills. You can't just walk up to the CEO of some company and tell him his kid is a spoiled brat, nor can you walk up to some street vendor and tell him that his kid is a menace. The results of that conversation will be counterproductive.

What I find helpful is a bit of honey to make the medicine more palatable. For example, I'll say, "Your kid is very popular in class and a natural leader, I just wish we could encourage him to set a better example for the other children."

This puts the parent on YOUR side, and makes your suggestions easier for them to accept.

The school should also support the teacher by constant and regular supervision and evaluation. Most teachers fear this notion, but in actuality, it PROTECTS teachers from arbitrary firing, because if a teacher has good performance reviews, the school can go to the complaining parent and say, "Look, we've been watching this teacher, he's doing a good job, so maybe we should talk about your child's behavior in class."

It gives the school and the teacher some PROOF to back up their claims that they are trying to teach that child.

Finally, the icing on the cake:

VIDEO TAPE.

Man, watch what happens when you pull this one on the kids. Set up a camera at the front of the class, and then tell the kids that problem students will have their parents called in for a teacher/parent conference in which the tape will be reviewed and the child's behavior will be SHOWN to the parents.

I call it: Insta-Angels.

I completely agree on every point. It's exactly what I'd do.

However, I would not encourage a farang teacher to bypass their Admin if they want to talk to parents, since this could really come back haunt you. I feel a farang should always meet with a parent only with admin knowledge and support- and as witness. Very important, this last point, in my experience..

Another very good point you mentioned that I like is deal with more like you are 'for' something, in this case, using his strengths in a more positive way.... As you said, it makes it easier for them to swallow, and it takes the teacher out of the bad guy role, with the parent, anyway

Video is very valuable. And not just for evidence of student problems, but for evidence of teaching problems, too. Video can be very valuable to help the teacher learn more effective classroom management skills, in my experience. I've videotaped literally hundreds of teachers, and, as you mentioned, teachers are very nervous about that at first, fearing it wil be used against them. But, once they have been taped and have gone over it with me, the teachers fears go away when they see that it's used FOR them..

It takes incredible inner strength and resolve sometimes to be a good teacher. I hope all schools will support their teachers, and I hope all teachers proactively advocate for their kids. That's part of the teacher's role, and if you, as teacher, feel like you can't do your job, then ###### do something about it, instead of getting stuck in a rut and convincing yourself it's a lost cause... That WILL become a self-fullfilling prophecy, in my experience.

Onward, through the fog

I believe we all share a responsibility for the world we live in, and we should feel obliged to help when we can, in the way we can... Money, food, or even just sharing a smile with anyone. It all contributes to the well being of someone.

True Ajarn, i wonder what it must be like for those kids, no education, no future....

No education?

Well, maybe not a formal one...

Living by one's wits certainly is one of those 'sink or swim' kinda deals, for sure. The one's who swim and survived have likely at least gained the skills of manipulation, based on survival, and honed on the day-in-day-out for years on end hustling of people from all over the world.... To me, a very valuable education, and quite useful in life- assuming you can survive long enough. They just need some support sometimes to use those skills to help them in more positive and hopefully more fruitful ways.

Positive Role Modeling. That's the best teacher. The Natural Method

We can all give that to those kids (or most anyone else!), in some way, big or small. It all sticks, from my experience- on both sides of this issue.

Best to you, Steven. I do have quite a few years in the Thai Prathom and Mathayom levels, so I do know that feeling of being between a rock and a hard place, and I assure you you're not alone, even in your school...Maybe try some networking with your co-workers, if you can. You could use some support, na'?

Steven, your students need you. The last thing they need is to have their teacher give up on them and figure they're wasting their time with you...

Good luck!

And some classes (you call them the damaged ones, and they may well be) are simply unteachable....

Twenty-five years of teaching tells me that your comment is WRONG. Period. No such thing as an unteachable class- or an unteachable student.

I could agree with you on this most of the time, Ajarn. But I have "taught" classes here where the worst 5th of an already low-functioning grade level in a Thai public school was dumped into one classroom of 50 kids together.

Did I do my best? Sure. Did they have at least a little bit of fun? Probably. Did they learn at least one word of English over the 10 weeks I taught them one hour a week? Most likely. But in a class like that, there's no hope given the constraints of the system to make them follow anything like the "official" level curriculum- the cards are already stacked by the system against the students AND the teacher. My point was that the unteachability stems from the *system* as well as the students. And, of course, it's relative- if learning 2 or 3 phrases over half a year is teachable, then yes, they were teachable.

"Steven"

I'm not sure you give students, or yourself, enough credit

I've taught large classes

I've taught under oppressive circumstances...

But I've never experienced any situation where I would come away making the same comments as you've made about student's learning. It simply has never been the case, in my experience. But yes, students often have to study under less than optimum conditions, maybe most of the time, in Thailand.

Obviously, I don't know your personal situation, so I can't say what my take would be, or how I would deal with it.

But I clearly hear your frustration and sense of powerlessness with the system, and taking that into a classroom (if you do) would obviously be like a black cloud over one's teaching... Like a self-fullfilling prophecy, if the teacher has a negative attitude, and feels their students aren't learning.....

As I've said many times, being a kid teacher is the toughest teaching job there is, and classroom teachers rarely get even minimal support in most Thai schools, in my experience.

It sounds like you love teaching. But dealing with the Admin bullshit comes with the job, and you have to deal with that, while still doing your job with a smile... If you can't do that, it's time for a change of scenery, if it's me. Life is too short to drive yourself nuts...

Please understand that this is not a flame, and neither do I devalue your teaching. I feel I wish I could offer you some better support. My 'bottom line' kind of talking may sound harsh, but I'm truly coming at you with the best intentions...

Jetstoya, it is definitely worth the money. If you have no teaching experience,

it will be very, very helpful. A lot of highly educated people simply don't know how to teach. This course you plan to take should give you some actual teaching experience on top of the theory. It will also give you a piece of paper to bolster you resume. You should be able to make plenty of money to live comfortably, but like they say, everything is relative. One man's idea of comfort is poverty to another. It really depends on your spending habits. I would'nt lock yourself down with a girlfriend until you have established yourself and are making progress with work and saving some money.

I completely agree on all points...

But, if you're planning to teach outside of Thailand, you'll find the Cambridge CELTA course to be better recognized, and give you a better chance of getting your foot in the door..

If it's just Thailand where you'll be teaching, then the local TEFL course, or even the Text 'n Talk course, will help you a lot, based on some reports from grads... And they both give you practice teaching under supervised conditions.

There are opportunities for any sharp teacher to make serious money in the Education field here....Outside of the classroom, too. I was able to retire on my savings from teaching here...Quite comfortably, too.

And as mbkudu suggested, a girlfriend is likely to be your biggest expense, in my experience, too

Will an Asociates degree coupled with the TEFL certification, be sufficient to teach english?

To teach legally, no. A teaching license requires a BA or BS, last I heard.

But, I have seen other stuff slip through, and maybe the addition of the TEFL might change things, or at least someone might bend the rules. In my experience, the amount of flexibility of the MoE often depends on your school's relationship with them. Schools they don't like, for whatever the reason...past headaches from the school, not enough 'kriengjai' from the school to the MoE, etc., won't get much slack cut, while other schools get lots...

TiT

Can anyone give me a website for Siam Racing and Siam Superbike? Thanks, Kringle

http://siamsuperbike.com (same as on their email address I sent to you earlier)

Don't know the other...

Good story.

Question: Do you or anyone else know if there's any documentation available that lists the scheduled import duties for various goods? I occasionally order guitar parts by mail, and when I pick them up at the PO I'm invoiced for taxes -- all documented, no bribes to speak of -- and I would just like to know how I might be able to calculate the duty in advance. This would in turn help me decide whether X part was worth ordering or not.

I saw this in another thread, and it had some interesting info...Like if the value is under 20,000 baht, customs will send it on through PO, if it came in as a postal package. That would have saved tons of hassle...

I would imagine that all guitar parts would be in the same category, but from what you said, it sounds like they're not...Are they using your value placed by the sender, or is customs assigning different values?

I looked for a list if duties, but I didn't find any. Let me know if you do, na'?

http://www.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/Perso...nalPer#eligible

A friend of mine has the solution. When he goes he takes 500 baht in 1 baht coins and when surrounded by the swarm lobs his coins in to the air and runs like buggery whilst the kids are scrabbling to pick up the money.

Scouse.

Your friend is a good man.

I was at first saddened not annoyed when i went to the border for the first time, i sat in the small food shop, me and my gf had some food there was some Cambodian kids sitting on the floor looking at us, when i put down my fork i still had food on the plate....within a micro-second the plate was whisked away and the kids where scoffing down my leftovers, i felt terrible, i ordered a lot of food for these kids, went to 7-11 and bought them some sweets and coke and gave them 50 Baht each.

I saw other farangs fattened by their wealth walking past these human tragedies as though they did not exist.

Did the children annoy me? No

Maybe we should drop to our knees, and thank whoever our higher power is that we where never in that situation.

The tossing money thing is bound to piss off some Thais. Some see it as being disrespectful to the King, because his image is on it....

But, under the circumstances, it sounds like a sound defense!

I believe we all share a responsibility for the world we live in, and we should feel obliged to help when we can, in the way we can... Money, food, or even just sharing a smile with anyone. It all contributes to the well being of someone.

Good intentions are a key, I feel. If you have that in your heart, everything seems to work out better for the intended, too

Probably wishing they were back in the womb with mommy.

Quite a few of us/them wish that, I guess.

And quite a few of us/them post in this forum.

Probably more than you/we think,...

On those chilly winter mornings, a nice warm womb sounds pretty inviting!

I am also a childrens homes product from the UK.  

So, now we know Begs,...

Yes, I am very lucky, I was fortunate to have been in Childrens Homes, I have seen life from many angles.

Begs, I agree. I grew up the same way. Nothing to be ashamed of. I'm grateful for the lessons I learned. I turned my pain into more compassion for others.

Sounds like positive experience, and a worthy story to be told

Good Question. I assume they have a Rate Book for used vehicles, but it's just  guess. If I remember, I'll ask my friend tommorow for what he knows of the current scene, and report back here. I've been mostly outa these loops for awhile. Man, I'm a Dinosaur!

Honestly, when you get into the Customs end of things, anything is possible. I spent yesterday at the Chiang Mai Customs getting a paintball gun cleared, and these guys merrily led me around by my cajones, which even my wife couldn't do 

The story is in the CM forum.

Just to report back a bit..

He confirmed the Harley (new) at 100% duty, but also included what I mentioned before about Customs being upredictable, in his experience.

The deal with bringing your bike (or car) via Singapore, and driving into Thailand, is still the same as I described earlier. I was also reminded that you need to get a Carne' (carnet) for your vehicle. I believe this is still good for one year, and allows for 'temporary importation' without paying taxes, duties, deposits.

Still not sure about the valuation regarding a used BMW being imported in permanetly.

I'm pretty sure I'd prefer the 'temporary' option. It's such a great ride.....

Here's a related story I wrote about 7 or 8 years ago http://asiarecipe.com/penang.html

I should have added that it's VERY easy for any adult to go back and get an M6 certificate (high school diploma)

The government has special schools located all over the country (there are 2 within 5 kilometers of my house) that provide classes in the day time, evenings, and weekends.

Basically, you study for a test that allows you to 'graduate' to the next level...Someone who left school with a M3 or P6 (depending on their ages, this often corresponds to the max level of 'free' education offered by the govt at that time.) for example, would probably only need to study for a term, or even less. A friend who went in with P3 (third grade, elementary) studied and tested over 2 terms for her M6. Most any office-job employer will give consideration to an M6, but rarely to even an M3 except for the most menial jobs. Education does have value here if guided well.

Again, it's intended to give more choices in life. It's up to them to make the choices after you've presented everything.

But, if we all are more aware of such relatively easy opportunities for higher education, we can support our friends to help maybe make their own lives better with the information you've presented

I can understand your gf telling the truth as to where you two met to her sister, but to others in the village? I would imagine mentioning working in a bar is something most village girls would avoid doing.

Ask her to stop telling everyone where you met or tell her to make something up.

It is completely understandable the reaction Flum got, and it wouldn't make one difference if she never said another word. The word has been out for a long time, and it happened ZOOM! like a rocket, first through the family, and then, at the first sign of new car, or something else out of the ordinary, through the immediate area, and beyond. It is IMPOSSIBLE to keep secrets in any Thai village I've ever been in because nobody wants to keep quiet, or be left out of the loop, and most everyone wants to gain or keep face, and money, from literally ANY source, can offer a lot in this regard, in my experience

Everyone has dreams. But many feel their options are limited. Some just continue to go with the flow, as Thais seem to do so well (at least better than me!), and some try to fight back to change their life. This where they must make some really tough choices.

In a past time, long ago, I was a Manager in a quite large go-go bar and restaurant for a couple of months, as a favour to the owner, whom I'd met years earlier in other circumstances.

I remember seeing the process the Chao Mai's (New Kids on the block) went through...First night, huddled in a group in a corner, arms and legs crossed, with an aprehensive look on their faces...

But, once they left with a customer the first time, their hearts seemed to change. They now seemed to 'act' like prostitutes, whereas they were sweet young girls only moments before...

I always was stung by this, and after a short time, I quit, because I just didn't have the heart, and nor did I want my heart to change after awhile, like theirs.

I feel education is the answer for many, but not all, especially once they've gotten into working. Then those education dreams just fade away for most, it seems...So sad. I've offered to pay the tuition and books for a few workers over the years, but not one has ever followed through..

That's why I've refocused on supporting kids before they get to the point of making such life choices. I work with schools near orphanges, schools with poor hilltribe kids (Not all hilltribe people or villages are poor, by the way) and I pay for my housekeeper's kids to stay in school, too. I'm greatfull that I have the resources to help now, and I firmly believe, that education and health care should never need to be denied because of lack of money.

Flum, obviously you're just going to have to accept the fact that your situation is the way it is, but that doesn't mean you can't influence it, too. Maybe offering to help with tuition and tools to learn hair styling? Or pay for some other vocational course to help them have more life choices through expanding their education...

Just my 2 kyat...

Interesting post Ajarn, growing up 350 miles north of you and yes driving around my VW bus,

I agree with your post.....

being FOR a drug free society instead of being AGAINST drugs takes one a lot further.

I believe what one is FOR empowers you and what you are AGAINST weaklings you, so I like taking this pro-active approach.

Khun SendBaht (to me!)

Thanks. I've thought a lot about your words. You put it in a way that immediately clarified so much for me, and has added to my own question on the paths I choose to follow...

Positive vs Negative. So easy to see, at that level, which is more 'positive', na'?

But, in reality, it surely seems many of us choose the Negative as reference/motivation so often... Why?

Anyway, I now feel I have a better tool to help me make some choices, and gauge my effectivess. I usually rely on my heart, but the Scientist in me just doesn't always want to trust that, so having a simple Reality Check that pretty much works the same for everyone seems like a valuable gift you've presented.

Go for the Positive 'For', and ###### the Negative 'Against'...Simply because it works better

Cheers.

I agree that in some hospitals, there is not much support offered when a test comes back positive....I have been with a couple of friends when they were tested, and got the bad news... And, there was no real concern about keeping voices down.

The exception, in my experience, is Suad Dawk Hospital in Chiang Mai. They immediately have you talk with a counselor in private, who goes over your options... Suan Dawk is also the center of AIDS research in Thailand, and they are very well informed.

Oh, and Flum, I do believe Thais have access to all the information. If you understand Thai, you can see many TV programs discussing these isues openly. In the hospitals, even the government ones, there are pamphlets and even posters with all kinds of health advice, including AIDS.

But, I think many prefer NOT to know, so some do bury their heads in the sand...

OK I stand corrected but then why such widespread misunderstanding? Perhaps my experience of this in deepest rural Thailand is different to others.

Maybe, for some, not a misunderstanding as much as a desire to believe some other possiblity not quite as bad, in order to calm themselves. Seems like human nature, to me.

I really appreciate hearing the real concerns for the Thai people being expressed in this thread... I wonder if there's a way for us to channel our energy and resources to provide some real and direct support? Any ideas, anyone?

I agree that in some hospitals, there is not much support offered when a test comes back positive....I have been with a couple of friends when they were tested, and got the bad news... And, there was no real concern about keeping voices down.

The exception, in my experience, is Suad Dawk Hospital in Chiang Mai. They immediately have you talk with a counselor in private, who goes over your options... Suan Dawk is also the center of AIDS research in Thailand, and they are very well informed.

Oh, and Flum, I do believe Thais have access to all the information. If you understand Thai, you can see many TV programs discussing these isues openly. In the hospitals, even the government ones, there are pamphlets and even posters with all kinds of health advice, including AIDS.

But, I think many prefer NOT to know, so some do bury their heads in the sand...

I too smell a tall story. Kindly stay on topic, how can we as foreigners improve medical assistance for the poor in the villages.

Not at all.

You might get to see the doctor without money, but not the resulting treatment.

Drugs cost money is the bottom line.

I remember seeing a little boy in the local gov hospital here.

He had had his operation and needed some medicine, but as Mum had not visited

for a day or two (she was working) he only had the prescription. Not the pills!!

Fortunately Mum did turn up, otherwise I would have paid.

If the kid is a patient, then the hospital will provide all meds as long they are a patient, then the whole bill is settled as they leave... I have never seen any situation to differ from this, except when the hospital asks for perodic security deposits. But I've never heard of a hospital withholding meds from a patient after surgery

Hospital meds are a lot more expensive than if purchased outside, and maybe the mom had told the hospital to let her buy the meds herself, to keep costs down...

Just a guess, of course.

So hard sometimes to know the whole story. Even with our best intentions, we, as humans, can still make incorrect judgements and assumptions about situations where we're not privy to ALL the info, either through language problems, or through incomplete hersay, culture issues, or maybe through a con job for sympathy or money.

Anything is still possible here

I think we must admit that anything is possible here. Lots of terrible things do happen, on a daily basis...

But, in my time here, I've heard LOTS of BS stories, too....Especially on the internet in recent years. Anonymous writers, able to easily escape responsibilty for their words...

Recently, a posting was made in SCT accusing a hotel of racial discrimination. He named the hotel, too. My first reaction was anger at a hotel who would do this. I wanted to make sure everyone knew about this hotel, even though I'm aquainted with the owner...

So I wrote the accuser privately, asking for more info so I could verify the story before making an even bigger stink about their racism. He wrote back with the names and details.

I contacted the front desk manager and relayed the story I'd heard. She was familiar with these people, and said she would write the details of the situation and send them to me, which she did, including a copy of the original registration form they filled out. I also talked with her later, and the original front desk worker who had dealt with the situation.

Anyway, to cut to the chase, it turns out there were lots of holes in the accusers story, and plenty of reason for doubt. To me, it looked like the hotel was following responsible security measures, and the (Thai) accuser got pissed off that she wasn't given the key to a room registered only in a farang's name, and she could provide no proof to security that she also belonged in the room....

I do have the inclination and resources to follow-up with such allegations- and do something more.... But, in the interest of fairness, serious charges should followed-up for verification before condemnation...Thailand has enough problems with the true stories. They don't need the BS lies, too. And these kinds of accusations do effect the business, or in the case of the hospital, negatively affect people's opinions about Thailand and Thai peole. If the accusations are correct, the guilty should be fried, but if the accusations are false, then the accuser should be fried, in my book.

Ajarn, excuse my ignorance, but what is a KSR degree? Just curious thanks.

Khao San Rd, Degree...It's where one can find all kinds of fake documents like Student ID cards, Press Card, IDP, university degrees... The last one I saw a few years ago was looking pretty ratty, as it looked like a 50th generation copy...

Thanks, I am familiar with Khaosan Road. If that is the case and they didn't check it out, that's pretty sad. They either don't care or are very desparate to hire.

In the case of my friend, he's quite a handsome and charming man. I'm sure the interviewer was impressed

Plus, he is a good teacher, so Harrow still got a person who can do the job, and he won't be cheating any kids out of a good edeucation....

But, frankly, with the number of pedophiles targeting Thailand- and some recently caught were BKK teachers, I feel that any school that doesn't do even just a cursory check is asking for problems.

Oh, and I'm not new here

Me too and I have seen absolutely no eveidence in my time in Thailand of Thai's being turned away in emergency situations. The Thia's aren't monsters Re, withholding medical help. The Americans hold that honour. (Now I've gone and done it )

But, I have heard of more than a couple of times when a patient gets transferred from one hospital to another, and gets caught in a referral circle....Some patients have died..

I want to be clear, I'm not trying to protect hospitals or suggest that the health care in Thailand is good...It's not, generally, in my experience...and this is one area where I do have a lot of widespread experience in Thailand, going back almost 20 years...One must be very proactive with one's health care here. Many dangers lurking for the clueless or those who over-acquiesce.

Good Question. I assume they have a Rate Book for used vehicles, but it's just guess. If I remember, I'll ask my friend tommorow for what he knows of the current scene, and report back here. I've been mostly outa these loops for awhile. Man, I'm a Dinosaur!

Honestly, when you get into the Customs end of things, anything is possible. I spent yesterday at the Chiang Mai Customs getting a paintball gun cleared, and these guys merrily led me around by my cajones, which even my wife couldn't do

The story is in the CM forum.

Reminded me of when Mayor Boonlert was campaigning, he promised permant public toilets would be installed, 'staffed 24 hours per day'...What a shitty job........Ok, sorry for the corny humour