inutil

Government continues to crumble. They're just delaying the inevitable now - the Shins are going to have to go.

Read careful what is report here:

"Thailands embattled government has offered to call off an election set for February 2 if protesters end their rallies and promise not to obstruct or boycott a new one within months."

They have no intention to delay.

Finally, a brain at last!

We will definitely delay! but only if you all go home and dont complain.

Whats that? This would undermine the whole point of your protests?

Well, thats the offer. Take it or leave it.

People arguing that shes been backed into a corner really have no idea what theyre up against. . At every step she keeps outplaying her opponents. Just like most people on this board who cant read between the lines, this will be spun in the mainstream media as a genuine offer and will play into the whole narrative of Yingluck as a moderate looking for compromise. Her brother will play the role of villain of the peace and the protesters will play the role of die hard nutjobs looking to overthrow democracy. Honestly, even Malcolm Tucker would get a run for his money here.

I strenuously object to this. I object to this with every iota of humanity in my heart, and every part of whatever is left, and even the smaller parts of them, in entirety.

A perfect summary. Red or yellow, it really wont matter soon enough. A terrifying escalation into state terrorism.

well, quite. Thats sort of the point of a state of emergency. You declare that a specific time period, the rights guaranteed by the constitution are suspended and peope dont have the freedom of movement and organisation that they would have if it wasnt a state of emergency.

Admittedly this isnt the conclusion drawn by HRW who simply pointed out that human rights were being curtailed (obviously). Its more at the weird headline.

How Brave are you the critics? posting your sarcastic so called expert opinions in your replies to TV news articles when the majority of you do not even live in the country?

I understood that Farangs are not welcome to get involved in the protests but obviously some of you can not resist the temptation to become a wannabee comedian with your boring comments.

Its obvious that some of you hate Thailand and its people probably because of a bad experience in the past? or maybe you are armchair cowboys with nothing better to do than try and compete with other posters to see who can post the most sarcastic comment?

Leave Thailand Alone! comment with something constructive, you are not an expert! You are not Funny, you are just creating boredom! Get a life! and think before you post your unwanted criticism!

no?

Really though, what on earth do you think thaivisa is? You realise this isnt some kind of secret power-base where we all discuss how we're going to pull thailand apart for our nefarious super villain gains right? Its a message board. No one on planet earth (with the POSSIBLE exception of the users of ThaiVisa) remotely cares what the people of ThaiVisa think about (hilariously biased) 'news' articles.

And with that point lingering in the air like a poison...

This breaks my heart. Genuinely. Not because it happened or that 'team Shinawatra' have lowered themselves to the status of fascist morons who cant handle even a moderate bit of OBVIOUSLY COMING dissent. But because i had it in my head that the low profile police and army presence was in fact a genuine strategy to take the wind out of the protesters sails. It was pure Gandhi. Let them protest, let them disrupt the lives of their own supporters. Let them cause a bit of mischief in their own back yard. And sure, you know, it might bring the tone of the neighborhood down a little, but maybe theyll come to their senses, realise its only really their house thats rubbish and tidy up a bit... i might be getting carried away with a metaphor.

Point is, the first cop or army dude to shoot a protester brings me kicking and screaming out on their side. And cosmically speaking (given what i wrote above) that changes nothing really since its thai visa and im not exactly smashing the state here. But im disappointed in this act. I should have really read the act though. Or at least the first post and a few of the comments and takes on it before plunging in based on a headline... Heres to a safe, peaceful protest. I cant believe the bait, mind you!

The OP is praying that the good lord drags him into the night long before he needs to face the music on that one. And if he doesnt, he hopes he has just enough wiles to become a street alchy and finds a solid doorway to kip in. Or even better, he'll find himself a nice quiet disowned cottage in the highlands of scotland that people just sort of forgot about and sleep there until the NHS spontaneously find him in a state enough to drag the OP kicking and screaming into a hospice.

The pirate code, yarr!

I drift aimlessly through it all to be honest. No point fretting about me and a cushy retirement, its not happening in this cycle. When the chickens come home to roost, ill maybes have some dinn.. ah, who am i kidding, they can come live on my incomplete farm. I reckon im going for 'eccentric' to get me through it all. If that fails, i'll go for myy Presbyterian genetics to make me revel in the hunger and cold. Itll be a penance! A penance for a life wasted with nothing to show for it. Ive got a bit of a martyrs disposition (:

But with all that...

looks like still nothing in particular worth bothering with. Id love the PGCE, but genuinely, if i became a teacher, id be teaching in my home language. If theres one thing i lament its that i just cant use language like a weapon in asia. I can everywhere else. But here, its a bag of happy kittens. I want my students to understand and better themselves as people, not as students. and the googley eyed 'foreigner babble' thing never really worked for me. If youre going to change lives, you change their perception, you dont just chuck a ppt on the big screen about 'poverty around the world!' It bothers me that this subject just lacks something... or rather, ive just never understood it. So im long past due out... But ive still got a couple of years. Im nowhere near the financial circumstances that would deliver me home to a hero's welcome after all. Got the tefl though. There should be one last act of plunder in my 50s before i need to give it all up for the sake of those poor kids whose time im wasting.

So 14 years from now then (or 24), wheres the last port of call? Will this gig still have any legs on it?

PS. im also a happy drama queen. Its not really that serious (life)

Its actually the reds that are best placed to solve this mess. Cut ties with Thaksin (really cut them) and start representing the intetests of their constituencies. They don't need him to win an election.

It would a win for them and everyone that isn't Shincorporated. Giving up the sugar won't be easy though.

Count to ten. Think about it. Then have another go at reading the article.

If you still feel that way, try again. And again. And even again...

Keep trying though, im sure the point will sink in eventually.

A mixed bag of replies to be honest

Some helpful, some... possibly a little more from leftfield. Not complaining mind you. Let the thread follow its own internal logic and all that. Just curious how it happens...

Anyways, the gist im taking is that the path well traveled is still the way to proceed: Delta then into MA/Phd.

Realistically the delta part time (over a year since there is no way i could afford to lose three months of salary) is the only option im seeing on the table. Of course i couldnt ask my company to subsidise this as part payment for the relocation so really its just back at the old question we all invariably ask ourselves at some point: do i really want to do this as a career, or do i really want to get the hell out and start again with enough cash to retrain? And to be honest, i dont. Just looking for a way to add some small things to the CV that might beef it up and be financially (and temporally) unimposing enough that a company employing me might find the cost in training me is easily returned by the clients they can sell the qualification to in the general public.

"ah, your son is taking the ielts 7? As it happens we have a teacher fully trained up by cambridge on this very thing! just sign this paper and we'll have them working on it in no time"...

That kind of thing...

Oooh!... maybe im becoming evil?

Honestly, heres why i think the democrats went the way they did:

Yinglucks quick reaction in calling for a new election put them under pressure right away. The protest hadnt quite reached its potential (whether for good or ill), and the protest wasnt entirely about Suthep at that point. It was very much an anti-corruption protest. And broadly speaking, the popular will of the thai people may have leaned towards supporting it.

Because however it was the early stages of the protest, and because Yingluck had moved incredibly swiftly (almost immediately) to disband parliament and call a new election, they had to decide if the protest had more it could attain, or if they would achieve better results at the ballot box.

In the run up to the final deadline, talk of the coup was circulating (the army were 'not ruling out' a coup), the protests were becoming an event, but suthep was getting more and more erratic. It was a tough choice without a clear answer. They possibly thought that allying with Suthep would be the band aid option: A quick change of power, democratic reforms (namely electoral changes that would at least bring about a hung parliament by re-weighing districts and influence - vote buying was never an issue - boundaries are though; and the dissolution of PTP and the invariable refusal of Yingluck to take the reins of the new party). After a year of pro-yellow governance and some anti-corruption/anti-shin policies to help 'the thai people' into transparent government, they might even progress to the ruling party in a 'free and fair' election.

The other option of course was to agree to field candidates in the election.

At a stroke the protest would have turned from a mass anti-corruption demonstration by moderate Thai's, it would give Suthep complete free reign to do as he liked and conduct the protests on the grounds he wanted, allowing him far more power to set the agenda (and since the democrats were somewhat implicated in this agenda, should he go a bit rogue, they too might be implicated by it); and secondly, it would take the wind out of the sails of the anti-PTP movement that was growing around the protest. If he agreed to the election, Abhisit would have at once legitimised Yingluck and made her appear like a genuine moderate leader willing to listen to the Thai people by not allow party politics to get in the way of the good of the nation through delivering a new round of elections. And they would therefore find themselves facing a much more difficult task making the case in the PTP heartland that the government was corrupt and ripping apart Thai society.

I assume that was the gist of it. Then again, i might have been at the sauce

Either way, that quick decision by Yingluck to call elections should not be underestimated. Indeed, she herself, should not be underestimated (an absolute failure by all against her). Shes outmaneuvered her opponents at almost every step. Whether or not its the influence of her brother, the narrative that its the influence of her brother will keep playing right into her hands as a moderate who simply wants the good of all Thai people (but caught between a despotic puppeteer brother looking to control her and a megalomaniac politician looking to usurp her).

And all the while, the dems are trying to stay out of it, and keep their noses clean for the hoped (and prayed for) transitional government since its all they have left.

Or if you like... wheres the real career in it?

I have my own ideas of course (IELTS training?). But i know this is a bit cursory. Of course, QTS is loooooovely, but thats a bit of a commitment (and as i found out to my own personal distress in 2008 - theres no guarantee that people will take you onto an RE for KS4 (Secondary school - GCSE) students, when you have a degree in philosophy and a few years teaching on the JET programme under your belt).

I know im a bit of a young fish in this pond, and genuinely im not THAT concerned with following the money (ive been teaching govt schools from day 1 after all), but my recent job is putting me in a few more 1on1 style teaching situations and its not exactly hard work. In fact, of the two, its incredibly easy work compared to dealing with 30 plus 13 year old mixed level kids and trying to keep them interested, inspired, engaged, whilst also having them understand and be able to apply the language points youre teaching them. Phew, garbled sentence. Ill fix it later

Point is, hagwons and language schools never appealed to me, and to be honest, they still dont. It feels much less... chaotic and fun... but its also more structured and straightforward. And the time shoots past. So the little devil is peeking over my shoulder...

Say it was time to add some new strings to my bow... what would you suggest? Consider, BA philosophy+120 hour in class Tefl. Have plenty of space to add soem new letters. But also moving towards the big 4-0 in a few years. Im still life and soul though (genki teacher par excellence). Assume short time commitments though. Maximum would be a month out of the office.

Actually, cards on the table: My company really want me to teach in their office because all the students regardless of age seem to like me. But i really like public school teaching and kinda dont enjoy 1-to-1 all that much. It would also mean relocating me to their main office 60kms away which im reluctant to do. So looking for a thing or two i might want to ask for to help sweeten the deal (since honestly, if they say i have to do it, im not going to tell them to stuff off - im peaceful, flexible and diplomatic, which is another reason they want me there). But maybe if i can bring something in to the discussion that would beneift them as a company (a specific qualification allowing them to offer a unique service) then they might be inclined to pay for the training (and the contract) on the grounds that i complete the contract. Im only asking because it beats just showing up and getting little more than a relocation allowance.

So just thinking what you old hats might recommend. Consider also im in China. Though that might not make that big of a difference since its a big world. Again, its something i cant spend a long time on (or rather, the longer i spend on it, the longer id have to commit myself to their employment out of fairness). But definitely something that might carry me along a bit.

Alternatively you could just answer the question in the title of course and ill read between the lines a bit

PS. Also going to push for chinese lessons. But they aint exactly expensive. And the relocation means itd be easy enough since it puts me in a better place to be honest. Lots of benefits to moving there if im honest.

Theres a lovely article in the bangkok post right now about the support for PTP declining in their heartland. It makes for gentle and intelligent reading. People are articulate, thoughtful and aware of the situation theyre in - just as anyone at all who has ever met another human being outside of their little rich bubble would know. The message of it can be boiled down to this:

They arent demagogues. Make a better offer and youll get their vote. This isnt a no-go area for other parties. In fact people are looking for a way to punish PTP for these very issues. But now what choice do they have?

The fun and dare i say, hilarious, punchline of all this is that the democrats must be KICKING themselves that they went with the tinpot tyrant instead of taking the fight to the road in an election. And i promise you, this message is ringing loud and clear in the ears of democratic grass roots activists who will be FURIOUS at their party for missing an absolutely open goal to progress into the red heartland and take the reins of power. Civil war is coming to thailand, but its a civil war in the democratic party. Its so tragic, for all concerned - the democrat core base, and the farmers and PTP supporters looking for a viable and potential GOVERNMENT to offer them something worth switching for (i mean, they could vote for a smaller party, but whats the point? Theyll just get brought into govt with PTP anyway and vote alongside them). But of course people will keep up with the yokel dumb farmer being bought by PTP because they would rather that than face the much colder truth that their party unbelievably screwed this one up. Hell, even if they didnt win, they just needed to build some trust and its theirs for the taking...

Indeed, at the point when theprotest was at its height and the democrats had to make that fateful decision to field candidates or not, all they needed to do was extract concessions there and then from PTP about power sharing agreements and bish bosh! legitimate government. She needed them for legitimacy, they needed her for legitimacy. But instead they screwed the pooch.

stuff

I would be inclined to leave the prosecution aspects of what happened to the channels through which they are going and to look at how better to deal with cheating in the house.

It clearly doesn't work when a majority in the house just votes for their own side in a censure debate and something needs to take its place to suspend legislation until an independent review has taken place.

Conflicts of interest also need to be dealt with. The amnesty debate was an absolute disgrace.

That the rice scheme has got to where it is is a major failing of the Thai processes.

The gerrymandering of the flood relief hearings is another poke in the eye to democracy

The 2.2 trillion baht loan is an insult to fiscal discipline

Nepotism is another and includes all parties

In short these types of event need procedures that the government should adhere to and in the event of them breaking the rules, suspend the legislation and have a body with teeth sort it out and anyone guilty made an example of

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You havent said anything wild and unfair. Its a certain starting point for a negotiation. But it brings nothing for those supporting PTP doesnt it. It seems to suggest that all of Thailands ills, all corruption and all the problems of thailand come from the reds. But lets be honest here, they just happen to be the party of political power and can make these deals.

So lets unveil the elephant in the room.

The reds will win any election carried out. Not just now, but also for the foreseeable future given that the dems have allied themselves with an anti-democratic... spirit in the Thai people. One which many Thai people will rightly feel has one ultimate goal: to shut the reds and their supporters out of the corridors of legal/political power (as well as backroom and financial power). Now you may suggest this is ludicrous, but you cannot deny that this will be the interpretation. The democratss will have lost a great deal of neutral and moderate support from this once it dies down. And lets not of course forget, that through their own decisions at the height of the anti-government fervour they cut themselves out of the next government absolutely. It will take a great deal of work to reposition themselves as a trustworthy party of democracy to anyone who might be considered a neutral or swing voter in any election they may participate in. In addition, a power vacuum in the south is coming, and this will split their vote should this parliament survive for any period of time.

You do not need to be clairvoyant to see that not only will this lock them out of the North and east (areas they MUST make in-roads within to claim to represent the people of Thailand), it will destroy their representation through the extra list system (PR), and their vote will be split. This all but guarantees that PTP will coast to victory. It also takes away their remit to argue they have the power base to force negotiation and extract concessions. Which of course will increase the impetus for violence and civil disobedience as their single means for 'change'

Which of course brings us back to the elephant in the room.

The reds WILL come to power by democratic means (assuming there are no attempts to change the weight of the regions). So how will you bring in your anti-corruption laws exclusively focusing on the reds when they have the seat of power? What will bring them to the negotiating table? Another coup? Boundary changes? Electoral changes giving more weight to democratic constituencies and voters over the mass in the North and East?

So what will then bring them to accept this coup or these changes as anything other than the confirmation of their suspicions that the old order are locking them out of power and closing down the single most effective avenue for their voice and interests to be heard? Why should they accept this and why would this not be the catalyst for an absolute disaster in Thailand (or at best, yet another government kicked out of office by a peoples revolution and the return of red power to bangkok (and the exact same situation in 4 years time)?

The cycle then, continues. So where is the compromise, where is the negotiation that will break this deadlock and allow for these changes you desire to occur. The reds hold electoral power. They wont lose. And if you take it away by force, theyll just return to the streets to demand it back again. So is only fatalism left? Small release valve changes of government every two years or so following a street protest? Maybe a good old fashioned civil war to decide the issue once and for all... or is there still a chance for democracy, compromise, and negotiation to sort this out? Far from answering the questions, im afraid you simply restated the problem.

Interesting journalistic observation on how cautious the PM was when interviewed.

I suppose it's only to be expected. Yingluck has much to be guarded about.

Dear bigbamboo:

Every politician on the planet is guarded and cautious in interviews with the press. The shock is not that Yingluck was cautious, but that the journalist interviewing her was remotely surprised by this. Did the reporter think they could just pop to the PM of a country and get a no-holds barred scoop or something? Reporters have clearly become bunny eyed morons with no credibility to investigate and corroborate the information the receive. Either that, oooooorrr... international media doesnt really care enough about the situation in thailand to devote more than scant resources, intelligence and the occasional minute or two report here and there (just enough to keep up the idea its an international serious news operation) on the subject. Maybe theyll file it somewhere between justin bieber egging a house and "Romanian benefit scroungers" flooding the country. Pick your poison.

It's just stunning what you guys come up with in all your blindness. It would be amusing if the situation in Thailand is not so tragic mainly because of narrow minded people like you. So I'm called fascist only because I don't want any more Thais to die, I don't want Thai tax payer money to be wasted on the election in February which is bound to fail no matter what the outcome, I want politicians to be accountable for, representative, responsible for, and transparent about their actions and dodgy deals, I want nepotism out of Thai politics, once an for all, above all I want both parties to sit down and schedule the election for second part of May 2014 or later which will definitely ensure that the amnesty bill is dead and buried. Do not give me that line that the election cannot be delayed because of Thai constitution. It can be done legally. All it takes is good will to compromise.

Eh we're blind? Did you not watch the video? Who's blind here?

No, you're called a fascist because you support these yellow shirts who want to replace the democratic government with an unelected council. You say you want politicians to be held accountable, but how will they be that with an unelected council? At least in a democracy the people can vote them out if they want to. But I know those are just excuses because you don't have the balls to admit what you really think.

More abject nonsense from you. I watched the video few times and didn't see anything unusual. What are you talking about? Overactive imagination?

You might consider a professional help. Seeing things is usually a sign that there is a medical problem.

I specifically said that I prefer the election in second part of May 2014 or later. The best way to solve the current political crisis and save Thai lives. Apart from seeing things you seem to be misinterpreting and putting words into other people mouths. Pay more attention. By the way, in my humble opinion, the other guy was only paying you a compliment, that wasn't a name calling.

Rightyo, lets have at this then. What would you accept as pre-conditions for an election to take place legitimately? And how should those pre-conditions be brought about assuming you disagree with the current situation (since this election is clearly not going to qualify for you)?

As a couple of follow up questions:

Do we ban PTP? On what grounds?

Do we change the boundaries and the weight of voting? On what grounds?

If you cannot change those circumstances, how do you plan to bring the democrats back to the table?

If you force those changes through the 'people's council' or a similar body (stuffed to the brim with dem/suthep supporters/financiers), how do you plan on bringing the red shirt supporters (no doubt under a different name yet again after PTP gets banned (for winning elections)) to the table to agree to these changes?

And if you cant get them to agree, how do you plan on policing them when they invariably storm bangkok in 2 years time to demand new, free, fair, and LEGITIMATE elections?

If all that is a bit much:

How are you planning on breaking this cycle? Through democratic means (so what you going to concede to bring the reds in) or through force and oppression of the North East and their supporters?

Id be honestly curious if anyone has figured out how to square this circle yet to be honest. I genuinely doubt they have.

Oooh oooh! another one. MEGA SIMPLE:

Get them to write down a-z on 26 lines (a on top line, z at the bottom).

Send them out on their merry way with a small pocket dictionary or mobile dictionary or electronic dictionary or whatever...

Have them find one object for each letter.

They can ONLY write down something they can see (or prove).

Seems amazingly simple... and is... but once they get to j, q, x, and z it all gets a bit more imaginative and nebulous. X, i admit is a beast. If theyre smart one of them will eventually try xerox (since i usually photocopy the paper), the rest will immediately copy them... but if its dragging out a bit let them pick a word with x in it. Ban colors and names or demand 5 adjectives or 10 verbs or whatever you want and youre good to go. Outdoor shenanigans, plus theyll all probably stay in sight.

Only proviso: Probably need a bit of a motivated class and some dictionaries to go around if they cant use their phones.

Epik have been doing this for years.

Net result is always this:

As school placements go down or get cut back, private language schools see more students.

Truth be told i dont really understand the hoops you guys need to jump through because i NEVER ONCE had to jump through those hoops. Not by choice. But just by the incredibly, and dare i say, deeply inefficient and ridiculous pace of school/employer relations. I wanted nothing more than to stop filling up the pages of my brand new passport with cambodian visas and dealing with the cambodian mafia at cham yeam every 15 days, but it wasnt meant to be. My colleague who had been working there for 6 montsh longer than me was also sans teaching permit despite also being able to supply any and all docs his side as and when required.

Which brings me to the main point: these regulations mean NOTHING until schools start getting put under pressure to provide teachers with a valid work visa. If you ever find that someone is teaching under the counter in japan its rather shocking and a bit of a big deal. That dude is an OUTLAW!!! (in the best jesse james sense of things). If you find it in thailand, its probably just someone waiting for people to pull their fingers out of their butts and get stuff actually processed. And well... why bother paying all those fees and waste all that time when you dont even need it anyway? I mean its not like immigration are popping around unannounced). Until schools start getting dragged over the coals (and not in a photo op here and there to show that the reforms are taking place on a wet wednesday in the media war) for not processing visas, or employing teachers without a valid work visa, then its all just smoke and mirrors. And im fine with that i suppose. Next time ill be sure to remember to get the double entry visa in time before arrival just in case.

Anyways, can someone explicate whats going on here? If its QTS or the like then this leaves those teachers who passed the Thai teaching proficiency exam (im sure theres a few out there), and the occasional wanderlust teacher who wants to make a real difference out there and/or cant get a gig back home (in the latter case, they should probably research a bit more - moneys to be made for QTS all over the planet and in the former case... thailand? seriously?)

So thats about 7% coverage then... whats next? Well, whats next is the affluent paying for private lessons with a native speaker because their kid isnt getting it at school and others having to pay for it just to keep up. So it goes. Or so it doesnt. Im not mystic mog. Good luck though thailand. I have no idea what your plan is, but im sure youve thought long and hard about the rather obvious unintended consequences. So you dont need me banging on and on about knee jerk dumb governmental policies doing the exact opposite of what they set out to achieve.

Odd that this skype thing is taken seriously. Does anyone honestly and sincerely believe that in a period of national crisis, the prime minister of thailand would have a conversation with her 'shadowy puppet master brother' in full view of random people? Were he so powerful and nefarious do you think HE would allow it, then? That would be insane. So this leaves only two options:

1. A close and trusted advisor is briefing against her.

2. It was made up.

Since the situation is going to be somewhat paranoid anyways, im going with option 2. She said shed give an announcement. She had a chat (no doubt in private) with her brother for advice. She made her mind up. People in the more public meeting where she announced she would carry on 'fabricated the better part of experience'. The end.

Also, its fairly evident the threat has passed now. The next big challenge is the election. So far PTP have played a blinder here. Theyve continually given the protests room to breath and allowed them to carry out their 'peaceful' intentions (though lets be frank, the hardcore want nothing of the sort here - they want a clampdown, and the tanks to roll in and save them from a tyrannous illegitimate government). Riot and they lose the mainstream support. Dont riot and they lose their momentum. The government and their advisers have been extraordinary: give them room and let them expand as far as theyll go. This monday was the big test. I watched it all day. It did nothing. It achieved nothing. Its gone as far as its going in its current form. The only logical next step is dissipation or violence. And this will mean self-implosion SO LONG AS the government allow the protesters the breathing room to act as they have been doing. Its a masterclass, to be honest, in crisis control.

Total rubbish. She wanted to step down and Taksin told her he would have criminal charges brought against her if she did. I am sure if she did step down each and every one of the anti government protestors would not hold it against her, they may want charges against her for what she has done to the country in the name of her fugitive brother, but stepping down would not be on the extensive list....

Thats odd. I was absolutely sure that with the force of that first sentence ("total rubbish!") youd have added in some evidence to make your point. Must be getting on in my old age since i swear youve just repeated the exact same point i was mocking in the original post? I must have been working too long today...

Cell phone treasure hunt! Put them in groups of 4 or something, have a list of ten things (a blue flower, a math teacher or whatevers - its your school, you know it), give them a little white board and however many markers you need (i use laminated mario characters), then send them off to scamper away. When they find number 1 on the list, they take a picture, come back and show you. If its correct, you give them number 2 on the list. First team to climb the ladder to princess peach (or whatevers!) is the winners! Rewards all round!

Stupidly easy, only caveats:

1. You need to sort of trust them to be able to stay on school grounds and not get into bother/disrupt other classes. or you need to make sure everything is in view (along with the kids).

2. They need a phone or some camera device.

3. Youll need a spot of prep, or a means to wing it at short notice.

All it ever takes is that one class where you have ten minutes to kill and NOTHING AT ALL to kill it with to shame anyone (degree or no degree) into doing a MUCH better job next time (or quitting forever - whatever floats your boat). Too many variables. But on the wider subject, the point stands:

No degree versus degree doesnt matter a jot! One lesson and youll both discover where you stand.

Degree in teaching a second language versus degree in anything not related to the subject will have a reasonable impact in both your motivation as well as your ability to explicate and make sense of issues a non-degree holder in that subject might overlook as irrelevant. You might also be able to make some magic out of it. If theres nothing else in the universe, the one thing i love "proving" to wide eyed students that 1 does not equal 1.

x = 0.9999999999999 (recurring)

10x = 9.999999999999 (recurring)

10x-x = 9.9999999999 (rec) - 0.9999999999 (rec).

9x = 9

x = 1.

1=0.999999999999999

1 does not equal 1.

its a dumb trick and anyone who studies math will immediately guffaw. But tell that to a 12-14 year old kid with a moderate interest in math and watch their heads explode. The great thing as well is you never have to explain that its just a trick based on what we mean LINGUISTICALLY by recurring and infinity. You can leave that to their math teacher (also ax/by is fun - if a=4, x=3, b=3, and y=2, the answer isnt 2 (12/6). Its 8 [(12/3)2]. Its not hard, its just the order of operations, but if you like the subject, you can find those things that engage your students and will inspire them. If youve no love for the subject, youll struggle to be honest).

PGCE versus no pgce will be huge of course since its all practical, observed teaching practices and lesson planning from professionals. Its actual proper training. Cant really beat that, can you?

Tefl versus no tefl (and no experience either side) will be much better on the tefl side. Even if you only do 1 observation class, its still going to get you over that HORRIBLE first class where you will be crapping your pants, and where you will screw up your timings. It wont make you an amazing teacher, even if the feedback is outstanding, but it will at least get you past the first and rather high hurdle of becoming a teacher - that first jump into the deep end.

Celta versus tefl is one for the nerds. Im going with celta though because any idiot can certify you as tefl certified.

And First language (any old degree) versus second language (with the right qualifications/scores) im siding with the second language instructor anywhere where teaching of grammar and structure is paramount. However, anywhere where SPOKEN fluency, creativity, modeling and expression are paramount, it flips. Dunno, edge this one to the second language certified dude (from outside the host country) over the native uncertified and unqualified teacher if only because the certified dude has proved theyre interested, enthused and engaged with learning english as a second language. The other one is untested. Might be amazing, might be crappy. Total crap shoot.

There we go. World done. Bang to rights! Im off for a well earned sleep!

This serves no one and will destroy thailands booming tourism economy. In conjunction with their deflating rice yield economy, it would be nothing short of massive stupidlty on their part. Also, lets also be clear. Thai people are not solely the people who support the protest. In case "your wife" isnt aware, there are plenty of people IN THAILAND who oppose the actions of Suthep. So lets not jump to radical conclusions about what 'the thai people' want. It seems they want several things. Things, i might add which transcend the current political lines because there seems to be little in the way of a center ground (where the majority of people actually live).

So 'your wife' might want to add to her calculations the population of thai people who oppose the actions in one city, by one aspect of the electorate (potential or otherwise), in the name of one issue (the Shinawatra influence in Thailand), the population supporting Yingluk as well as (and lets be fair, the majority) who simply want a solution to a gridlocked political criss held hostage by people on both side of the political spectrum - the moderate centerists who have yet to be listened to).

Corruption must be tackled. Rules must be enforced. Government waste must be controlled. People must be held accountable for extra judicial killings in 2003. Absolutely. But people must also look to making thailand a powerhouse in ASEAN and in South East Asia. The invisible hand must do its work within thailand and schools and communities must not be left to fend for themsleves (and ALLOWED to fnd for themselves) because they are outside the boundaries of government funding. Your wife is Thai. Thai people dont only suffer from the 'influence' of the Shinawatras. She should think 'thai' and the interests of ALL thai people. Not just the people she agrees with in an echo chamber of opinion she frequents. This is the DEMOCRATIC process at its core and its why it should be nurtured. Peaceful demonstration is a part of this process, but its usurpation destroys any chance of it to have any positive affect for change in the interests of all Thai people no matter their political persuasion.

(ETA: too patronising? Sorry, but i live in the center ground and believe you must win the argument no matter if that argument is framed on articulate prose or (as is sadly the case in this day and age: stupid (on message) soundbites repeated ad infinitum in the media)).

Thai wife says you sound like a politician, just babble on about nothing

But i the end she is Thai so has every right to her opinion and vote

you do not

She wants Taksins influence and control gone, and then FAIR election

IF PTP wins with out Taksin then so be it

she has a good home, a good job, her own car and a family

so her concern is for her fellow Thais not her self

PS we live in Issan

You should have just said your wife was a troll then, and we could have all not wasted our time. Then again, thank "your wife" for the free bump of a moderate and rational opinion in among the shit flinging

...and as i say, its going to be in PTPs interest. They will absolutely romp home in any election carried out right now. No matter what, they stood for the continuation of the democratic process. Though the people against them will be still against them, in a choice between rice subsidies (and possible future payment versus no future payment) and disenfranchisement, the north will keep voting PTP and send them easily back into governmment. Moderates and swing voters will also be turned off by the democrats attempting to hold the electoral process hostage. PTP will romp home comfortably. And if theyre smart, they will use the opportunity to IMMEDIATELY re-organise the democratic process ON THEIR TERMS while they have the majority say, through a degree of tit for tat power sharing with the dems. This will help the dems confer legitimacy as a party of moderation in the north and restore trust (and help them maybe win an election one day), and at the same time will legitimise the election and allow genuine governance by PTP for the next four years (and maybe help them push through reform of the senate). You bet your ass that democrat grass roots representatives realise theyre now playing a longer game because of their stupid actions last month and will be more than willing to take the poison chalice sooner rather than later if it means they arent locked out permanently from a massive voting block. These issues will certainly be top of the agenda now or soon enough. Politicians arent idiots as far as their constituents (and career) are concerned, at least.

Odd that this skype thing is taken seriously. Does anyone honestly and sincerely believe that in a period of national crisis, the prime minister of thailand would have a conversation with her 'shadowy puppet master brother' in full view of random people? Were he so powerful and nefarious do you think HE would allow it, then? That would be insane. So this leaves only two options:

1. A close and trusted advisor is briefing against her.

2. It was made up.

Since the situation is going to be somewhat paranoid anyways, im going with option 2. She said shed give an announcement. She had a chat (no doubt in private) with her brother for advice. She made her mind up. People in the more public meeting where she announced she would carry on 'fabricated the better part of experience'. The end.

Also, its fairly evident the threat has passed now. The next big challenge is the election. So far PTP have played a blinder here. Theyve continually given the protests room to breath and allowed them to carry out their 'peaceful' intentions (though lets be frank, the hardcore want nothing of the sort here - they want a clampdown, and the tanks to roll in and save them from a tyrannous illegitimate government). Riot and they lose the mainstream support. Dont riot and they lose their momentum. The government and their advisers have been extraordinary: give them room and let them expand as far as theyll go. This monday was the big test. I watched it all day. It did nothing. It achieved nothing. Its gone as far as its going in its current form. The only logical next step is dissipation or violence. And this will mean self-implosion SO LONG AS the government allow the protesters the breathing room to act as they have been doing. Its a masterclass, to be honest, in crisis control.

Actually, there is a report elsewhere in the news that she was close to quitting on Sunday night, is fed up having to deal with the pressure, but Thaksin talked her out of it. So much for your theory. Besides, did it not occur to you that Thaksin's enemies are having a field day because the prime minister is a rookie politician, lacking any experience, clueless and having to get on Skype before making any statements. She was a gift to their cause. She won't last, she might get re-elected eventually but it was never going to work, running a country on remote control through a barbie doll.

i realise that... Sourced by 'sources' close to the 'source'.

Thats really what i was laughing at with my points. Not because its funny, but because the whole media war is absurd. No one should be keeping a straight face.

The thing with Yingluck is that she strikes me as someone who genuinely IS having a hard time dealing with the fallout of this. Theres a side of me that thinks shes a frail person who wants the reconciliation she promised, but is constantly thwarted by the rejection she receives from her opposition (in the democrats or suthep - who is playing a terrible game by the way - pure panto villain stuff. Which of course MIGHT be his game - so it makes any coup seem heroic in comparison just to get him off the streets). She may well be incredibly frustrated by this whole thing and just wants to get back to her old life.

Then again, she might well be the calculating crocodile teared fake damsel in distress that the PDRC keep trying to portray her as. And as such IRONICALLY show her to be incredibly intelligent, thoughtful, shrewd politician capable of dealing with such a challenge. Either way, it poses a problem. Is she shrewd and canny and thus the match of this issue with her careful manipulation of popular opinion? Or is she genuinely upset by it all and genuinely feels saddened by the circumstances? No matter which way you go, theres the prospect that you might be propping her up through your damnation. And that, my friends, is the stuff of genius (via hindsight, which we shall soon have).

As for me (for what its worth, and not believing in evil criminal masterminds)? I think shes genuinely discouraged by all this and has trouble holding her nerve. Her brother, thanks to distance and of course experience helps her with advice. Thus, far from it being a masterclass in real politik, its just indecision and luck. But i have no horse in the race so i dont hate anyone. (Though certain other people also seem a little out of their depth and might lack the intelligence and grace to cope with this situation and their sudden rise to power, (if im honest)). Which makes the call for a centerist with no agenda (hahahahaha!) that much more compelling. Which brings me to another part. Theres sooooooo much room in the center ground, im amazed its yet to happen to be honest

This serves no one and will destroy thailands booming tourism economy. In conjunction with their deflating rice yield economy, it would be nothing short of massive stupidlty on their part. Also, lets also be clear. Thai people are not solely the people who support the protest. In case "your wife" isnt aware, there are plenty of people IN THAILAND who oppose the actions of Suthep. So lets not jump to radical conclusions about what 'the thai people' want. It seems they want several things. Things, i might add which transcend the current political lines because there seems to be little in the way of a center ground (where the majority of people actually live).

So 'your wife' might want to add to her calculations the population of thai people who oppose the actions in one city, by one aspect of the electorate (potential or otherwise), in the name of one issue (the Shinawatra influence in Thailand), the population supporting Yingluk as well as (and lets be fair, the majority) who simply want a solution to a gridlocked political criss held hostage by people on both side of the political spectrum - the moderate centerists who have yet to be listened to).

Corruption must be tackled. Rules must be enforced. Government waste must be controlled. People must be held accountable for extra judicial killings in 2003. Absolutely. But people must also look to making thailand a powerhouse in ASEAN and in South East Asia. The invisible hand must do its work within thailand and schools and communities must not be left to fend for themsleves (and ALLOWED to fnd for themselves) because they are outside the boundaries of government funding. Your wife is Thai. Thai people dont only suffer from the 'influence' of the Shinawatras. She should think 'thai' and the interests of ALL thai people. Not just the people she agrees with in an echo chamber of opinion she frequents. This is the DEMOCRATIC process at its core and its why it should be nurtured. Peaceful demonstration is a part of this process, but its usurpation destroys any chance of it to have any positive affect for change in the interests of all Thai people no matter their political persuasion.

(ETA: too patronising? Sorry, but i live in the center ground and believe you must win the argument no matter if that argument is framed on articulate prose or (as is sadly the case in this day and age: stupid (on message) soundbites repeated ad infinitum in the media)).