kenkannif

I've not heard anything bad about them. Why not ask them about the job? Although as it's so easy to find work here it's kind of pointless anyway.

^ I thought Unis generally booted you here at 63??? Although they can then employ you as like a lecturer or something???

We have a chap in his early 70's working for us....and many people in their 60s....so I'd not worry too much.

You can but try/ask mate.

All the best!

SM,

I assumed from the OP that the kid involved was half Thai and Western....so really the kid shouln't be learning English as a second language...but rather as like a joint first language???

OP....more info please???

Point of clarification: when we say "phonetic alphabet" do we mean a variant of the IPA for English, with upside down letters and backward letters that let you know that one "th" sounds different from the other "th" sound; and then there's the good old schwa? Literally, that's another alphabet, as tough as Greek.

Yep, that's exactly what I'm talking about ! What I'm referring to is the usual way it's taught in UK schools whereby the various sounds are attributed to each alphabet letter. To avoid the risk of boring the pants of people, the Jolly Phonics website explains it in layman s terms.

But aren't you both now talking about two different things? PB the phonetic alphabet and Hong Kong about learning the alphabet phonetically (soundwise as opposed to written which is what PB is on about)???

^ Maybe see if a normal long sleeved yellow shirt would be acceptable?

I love Mum right??? A classic!

Probably would be better to say learn the alphabet phonetically as opposed to learning the phonetic alphabet.....didn't think PB...sorry mate!

Well if you look on here the quals side of things is answered as are the wages to an extent.

We're not really supposed to link to competing sites...but ajarn is quite good (you can guess the URL I think).

Nah mate just the sounds of the letters

So you teach them Ae is the name, aa is the sound etc. That's what I learnt at school and that's how most of the educational 'toys' seem to teach it nowadays....I'm surprised (or am I?) that it's not used here more as ABC is pretty pointless really.

Like you say that would be a nightmare elsewise

I think the Thais kind of learn their alphabet phonetically?

Mate he's lived here for 12 years and the kid is 9.....I'm guessing the kid is not a Thai beginner (although what does this have to do with learning English???). At what stage are you referring to???

I'd personally teach the phonetic over the regular....it helps more so in the long run and will help to avoid transliteration. Which is kind of what the OP proves as it's not helping at all

Works fine for my nipper! He speaks both English and Thai pretty darn well, albeit his Thai is a fair bit better than his English.

Err how much mate???

Have you run it through a spell checker to get rid of the obvious ones???

LoL mate the problem with that is if you ain't got a clue you often don't last long....you run away!

It's best to know what you're doing when you go into the classroom....for your sake as much as the kids....and with online training....you won't I'm afraid.

Also you'd be surprised IJWT....I know many a teacher that took a TEFL years (in some cases 10 years plus) after teaching here....to better themselves (and often they'd actually been doing stuff wrong for many of these years) and make life easier for themselves....as well as their students.

In Thailand it's a foreign language as they rarely if ever use it or have to use it (second would be in like India where they use it a lot or for non-natives living in an English speaking country where they have to generally use it). It refers to who you're teaching, not those actually on the course.

Saying that most of those employers asking for a TEFL will accept a TESL although a TEFL has more relevance in Thailand.

Also think about getting some of the amazing new educational 'toy's from I think Leapfrog (will check over the weekend and get back to you Sunday) and another one. You can get them over here, or on E-Bay. They ALL use the phonetic alphabet (for example one has all the letters of the alphabet and a word that begins with that letter....you get the name of the letter, the phonetic sound of the letter and the word at a touch of a button).

The other one he's got is amazing. You just add a cartridge and a book and then it reacts to where ever you move the pen....even I like playing it. It's incredible and everso educational.

I'll try and also Google up some pictures for you.

Actually with the lack of teachers mate and schools struggling to get teachers I can see it getting easier personally....I mean a few years ago I didn't know many people obtain WPs without a degree, now it seems to be all the rage.

Darling I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one

Just teach them the phonetic alphabet (very easy) and then use it to build simple words......easy peasy! I do it with my kid and even my wife and they seem to 'get it' reasonably easily and quickly.

Cross the gh and th etc. bridge when you need to, by then they should be okay (as most of us were!).

English has loads of exceptions which makes it a nightmare even for native speakers......so avoid the exceptions until they come to them....job done.

Reason Thais have problems with phonetics is they ain't taught it from what I can gather (generally) so you have Thai teachers fossiling mistakes with them.....there's no reason why they can't say all the letters we say in the same way....they don't as they tend to transliterate English sounds/letters in to Thai ones....stop them from doing so by getting them to learn the phonetic English alphabet

You got acceptable and better IMO.

Beard/tash acceptable.....clean shaven is better.

Short sleeved shirts acceptable......long sleeved better.

Long hair acceptable......short hair better.

Etc.

They ain't shy, so if you're doing something wrong IMO they'll let you know (as I found out when our Principal came in with some deodorant (sp?) for me....always had a problem with personal hygiene).

But like a lot of things here.....sometimes they'll make slight allowances and take the good with the bad as it were.

One of them things as has been said before....more you look like a teacher, the more you'll be accepted as a teacher!

^ LoL or 'cos they weren't taught it phonetically perhaps??? I remember learning it when I was a nipper.

Should be easy to teach them.....and PB aren't all of the phonetic sounds different from the names of the letters??? If you get letters right then it's easier to make simple words....in fact it's kind of similar to maths in my mind.

I was under the impression the OP was talking mainly about the alphabet than whole words (which will come in time even native speakers struggle with that).

I think clean shaven is 'better' but moustaches and beards aren't IMO&E going to be a job breaker.

Yeah I never really understand why people teach the ABC over the aa bu cu phonetic alphabet....seems strange.

Just teach it now I'd say! Not a lot else you can do really!

You will be discriminated against with an online cert and you will find it harder to teach than someone that's done an in class course. You may also find that some countries won't accept it due to lack of class hours and/or observed teaching practice (100+ class hours and 6+ hours OTP).

Still has PB says it's better than nowt...but then is it worth what you're paying?

:There are a few niches and crannies around with decent work for those with a decent academic credentials. However, it takes a few years to work out what they are, and without a college degree you'll have no access to them.

I'd disagree with this personally. It's down to the individual and really has nowt to do with paperwork (although it can help for some work)...a good Thai ability will help, having your head screwed on will also help. I know quite a few non-degree holders earning 60K plus....up to 150K a month...so it's certainly doable. I think it's illegal for companies to have inhouse teachers (as inhouse teachers) so they can employ you as something else....and a degree is not always needed to do this.

We're actually struggling to get teachers in Phuket at the mo, so it might be doable there....still the wages compared to cost of living aren't quite as good as Bangers it seems.

^ Doesn't really help a great deal with lesson plans. I think a simple Google would find better examples and info.

^ Not the Visa mate, rather the WP.

^ I was trying to be diplomatic and that mate

Thanks though!

Also too Eurocentric (oh how that word makes me feel all clever and that).