navara

Navara I am quite confused by your posts. I think that you are confusing many things.

First No school pays per week. The schools that pay per hour still pay their balance each month. It is not in benefit to a school to pay weekly. If you are looking for only part time temporary work that might be different but any legitimate job with a contract, WP etc will pay monthly.

The majority of jobs do not offer housing or even housing allowance. It is possible to get it but usually they are not the most comfortable places. My last school had housing at the school but teachers weren't allowed to bring alcohol, smoke or have guests visit, there was also an 11 PM curfue even for teachers.

Don't ever share housing with other teachers at a school. Separate your work life and your school life as much as possible.

Someone that wants everything paid for sounds strange. I would advise to ask more questions about the school's curriculum, methodoligies and mission more than asking about housing, vacation time, paid utilities.

It really sounds from your posts that you actually don't know how schools work. I don't know how you can have experience and sound so inexperienced.

Just get out and interview with every school you can find. Eventually you will find a position. Getting your own apartment, and paygin your own bills isn't the worst thing in the world

Ziechen and Onlycw,

Lol, typical farang thinking I would say.

Every Thai school has facilities for teachers to stay. Often new teachers come from far and they need a place to live. And in my region often schools have space for a farang teacher, Sure, it won't be Hilton style, but it will do and it's for free. Usually you teach conversation and the grammar is left for the Thai teachers. What they want from you is that you can get along with the students. A Thai school is a Thai school, they all the same. Some are poor, others have projectors and aircon in the classroom and are called rich.

When you don't understand me, you can't judge me. It's the habbit of farang people to analize people, Thai people don't.

I never said I'm a good English teacher, but I'm devoted to teach Thai kids English, because I believe it's very important for their future. I can teach English, I can be very usefull to them. I like to teach the children of the government schools. The onces who has less chance because they are/were obstructed by their social environment. It's hard work and bad paid.

It is important that you have a resonable place to stay, to relax and to prepare your lessons. Where do you live? I agree you shouldn't share your house, that's for youngsters.

I do not know everything about teaching in Thailand, but I'm sure you don't either. I always get paid by the week, because they always have asked me how I wanted to be paid. It's not a matter of rules, but a matter if the Thai school is willing to do so. I live in Thailand for about 10 years now and I am involved with government schools for the same period of time. And guess what? You never know what they decide.

My idea was to see new places and new people.

Thank you.

Hello gentlemen,

Thx for the offer.

I know that the salary is low and you might be lucky when they pay you 12 months a year.

I believe that a low salary should be compensated with a good place to live. Do you park your car in the heat whole day? Nope, I do not think so. Do you sit/sleep with a fan when it is 35 degrees or more? Nope, I do not think so.

Being paid every week, suites me better than once a month. (some schools pay by the hour you teach and it might be that it isn't correct what they gave you)

Thank you.

Not many jobs out there paying a weekly salary, accommodation (with carport) and bills!

You're right and I'd assume that OP can pay his electricity and water bills out of his monthly salary.

Quite difficult. Our school will need a new teacher for the new school year in May. I'd assume that you're a guy, so a place to stay/ live would be available. Paid weekly is a task our superiors wouldn't get. All that's not the norm seems to be difficult here.

The house is the biggest on campus with a carport, you'd have to share with me. ( Enough space for two cars, even If I have a longer one.( car!)

But: No air conditioner. The (foreign) colleagues consist of myself and five from an ASEAN member country, where you'll have to get used to.Honestly, not everybody's taste. They'd planned some changes, but that could take a long time.

They're actually looking-as usual- for a young dynamic and experienced teacher, which isn't really available. I'm 53.....started there three years and some moons ago.

Found my own way to have free internet, pretty fast for free though. Furniture, well shouldn't be THE problem. You won't find that downtown either.

I'm not in this house on weekends, nor on holidays, as I'm living in a neighboring province with my loved ones.

They'll pay you lunch from Monday to Friday, but it's not Thai cuisine.( A 20 baht coupon)

It's not in a rural area, it's in one of the biggest cities in Isaan, in the center of Ubon Ratchathani.

Please let me know what you think of it and page me, if you're interested. Good day.-

Hello Puyai,

Sure, I am interested. Thanks for your reply anyway. I'm in a kind of hurry right now, I have a meeting in BKK today. Please answer some questions.

If I am correct, I'm living with you in the same house? What nationality do you have?

Several ASEAN teachers you said? What kind of school is it?

How long is long? Are you driving a Caddilac El Dorado? Any scooter availible?

The trip to school is easy, one straight way!

I assume they want me to teach conversation? How many classes a week? And how big are those classes?

Okay, I have to go. I look forward to your reply.

Regards,

Navara.

Ps you are male too isn't it? ;-)

Moved to Teaching section where you find more info

Thx! Perhaps there's a person who will read it. 555

After reading your replies I can conclude that ALL of you have an issue with the telephone behavior of your partners. Me too. Did I mentioned that there is also a facebook and games?

I believe that it is a culture problem, Thai (Asian) people simply do not know how to behave, or better said, how to protect themselfs of this telephone violence. It's BAD for your health and there's more in the world than electronic divices. It doesn't matter where your gf came from, they all do it, including grandpa, grandma and the kids.

IS there a life after FB, Line, etc?

Navara

This is remedied quite easily.

If you're out on a date with your GF or partner and she's glued to the smart phone, you just have to man up and politely remind her that seeing as she's out with you then you'd like to have her attention and conversation and not have to compete with the phone,.. and then ask her to turn it off.

If she won't comply then you simply tell her that if she values the relationship and conversation with her phone over dinner/lunch/coffee then that's fine,.. and then get up and leave her in the solitary and charming company of her electronic companion.

If she switches off the device before you can leave the table then you've just established an important maxim in your relationship. If not,.. leave with a smile on your face and seek another "non-addict" GF in the ever plentiful sea of willing females awaiting your favor!

You suggest a divorce?

Who is she chatting with, her girl friends, Thai guys, farang ? My guess is all three but I could be wrong. Also I would think she is playing games and looking her Facebook.

Prior to getting my own iPhone I did not understand why people spend so many hours glued to their phones, now I understand. In my case I check my emails, read the news, check out TV, do my banking, look Facebook, chat on Line and many other things. If i want to know about anything i have instant access to the web to do my research. I do not play games which many of these girls Spend many hours a day doing. If I am totally bored I could spend 6 hours or more in a day on my phone.

I do however make it a point to avoid being on my phone when I am with someone as that is totally rude. I have no time for rude people !!!

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

It is not the question with who she is chatting. It's going on, 07.00 till late.

Are you familiar with the fact that "dinner has to wait for LINE message"? She spent more time with her touch screen toy than with you? LINE message always goes first, even in traffic? She forgot her telephone, panic!

I call it being addicted to your mobile.

What do you think?

WHY NOT?

Thai woman look often much better than western woman, even when there older. I too married an "older" woman, she still looks 18 And indeed, she gain the main income too. I praise her wishdom too, which you can't find at the younger women.

So... who is the lust object here? 555

I was wondering if there's a school who can offer me what I'm looking for. I'm 52 and I have a wide general education. Next to English I know some other languages and I am skilled in many technical subjects. I have teaching experience on primary and secondary government schools.

I would like to have a weekly salary, which has to be paid every week the same for 1 year.

I need some help from the school to gain my teachers licence.

I would like to have a free, good place to stay, including the cost for energy, air conditioning, internet and some furniture. A carport would be welcome. It doesn't have to be big.

I am used to rual areas and I can speak some Thai. I am good with Thai children.

I'm not in for the money, I want to like my job, my place to stay, my colleagues.

Please, sent me an PM and I sent you my email adress and further personal information. Please, NO head hunters, I do not like to work for other peoples salary, no matter what you offer me.

Regards,

Navara

Alex,

Nope. They all like this. Never admit wrong. It's a bad Thai habbit. My wife is nearly 50 and my father in law almost 80. Still they do it.

Don't ask a thing. do not want a thing, do everything by yourself, never ask for there opinion. Quite life. LOL

Good luck

Farang (western guys) like to put Thai women in a box. But if you live a bit longer in this country, you see that here are more women types than only BG or Hso women. Often the Hso women have more "relations" then a BG and often big money is involved. BUT... you never know.

LUCKY the majority of the women are just simple hard working women, who want to work in any place (except in a bar).

SURE anybody would like to have a better life and farangs are known for the money (every farang is a millionaire, isn't it?) And parents like to aspect a bit of his wealth and they like to "sell" there kids to the highest bidder. YOU would do the same if you were poor.

Of course there are always people who like to abuse other people, these people are criminals. I am sorry to hear all these sad/bad stories from known friends, who lost there money and were left behind with a broken heart.

Thailand has millions of good people, it's up to you to choose them.

Good Luck

Im not going to tell you to lose your motivation. Its exactly in the right place. But on a similar theme to an earlier post, i dont think that people should have to choose between a vocational career for the love of it, or a career you hate for the money. Teaching should be well paid. I mean of course *Real teaching* from genuinely motivated, and professional teachers. Not backpacking ESL teaching from chancers looking for a graduate gig to ride out a recession. Real teaching should be well paid, and individuals should be paying their taxes to invest in their offspring because its the absolutely right thing to do.You should be paid what you deserve and you shouldnt have to do it solely for the love of it. You should be doing a job you clearly love AND being reqarded for your effort.

This doesnt put me (self-interested and non-charitable) and you (kind and charitable) against each other as professionals. I want paid for what i do. And if i had the same work ethic as you (i dont) then theres plenty of money out there in the world to pay me (or rather, you), what i am (or rather, you are) worth. People shouldnt be in love with this whole 'vocational' thing. its a job. If its a job that needs to be done, then people should be paying for it. Its like the debates twenty years ago when people had the cheek to argue that nurses shouldnt be given a pay raise in line with the cost of living because its some kind of mystical calling and they should somehow sacrifice their lives for the sake of other people. Thats what a nurse is, right? Wrong! its a job. You need my sister cleaning your arse or generally stopping you from dying, then you should pay her a liveable (and frankly above livable because its an ESSENTIAL job in society with never enough people wanting to do it) wage. Dont play on her good nature twice. Not only has she chosen that for a career and sacrificed a great deal of other choices to help others, she shouldnt then be told that she should shoulder a shit wage on top of it. Thats outrageous. If theres money, you pay people. And if you cant raise money, then you stick the reductions on a manifesto and see how many people agree with you in an election.

Sure, job is a job. It should be paid.

What if there is no money to pay? You might not know that the Thai policy is that ONLY schools within the city can ask for funds. Schools outside the city area get zero. I tell yah the truth: there is a high school with an English program. They offer 34k for 22 hours. The primary schools offer: 10k and 5k or for free. All high schools outside the city area offer only for free.

So what is this? Class education?

The real problems are not with those fancy schools in the big city, not to mention the private schools. The biggest population is outside the city, the rual area. Those kids needed help the most. Tell the Thai government. They are in need for 50.000 English teachers, but they refuse to give any money. Do you think those farang teachers are as stupid as I am? I don't think so. They need a true job, with payment.

I stayed for two whole months in Thailand teaching (6 months in total). Im trying to decide what was the tipping point?

Teaching definitely played a part in it, but heres the rundown of things that made me leave:

1. The pay. Sorry. I know. But i can teach anywhere else in Asia. Ive got plenty of experience and more importantly, no real ambition or desire for a high salary. Im also rather employable once you see me in person. I dont need great pay, i just need enough to live on and send money home for the next time i get itchy feet and need to whole sale up sticks and move. The pay is awful.

2. The climate was horrendous (im a pale blue scotsman - its not for me ). Its not the heat, its the wetness. I was there from april to early october. So obviously i got the brunt of rainy season. But when it wasnt raining, it was humid, I lived in an apartment with a fan... and a bed. I would have furnished it out but i didnt even move into it until mid june, by then i was gagging for a pay cheque and then by the end of june id already made my decision to leave anyway.

3. The speaking test: I did a speaking/reading test with a p4 text book on P4-M3 students. I did initially try to use the grade below them to keep it easy, but i kept having to go lower down the grades until i found a happy and comfortable blind text they could handle. I found it at the start of the P4 textbook. This is my sister, her name is... she is... she likes etc. The reading test had my jaw on the floor, but the speaking component (very VERY simple questions) just had me wondering what theyd done for the last 6 or so years of their english classes. Some people might rise to the challenge and look at it as a fabulous opportunity to go back to basics. Im afraid i thought "Run!"

4. Because in conjunction with the INCREDIBLY low level the classes were an hour long. With just me. Im used to at least a disinterested co-teacher doing marking and occasionally piping up to tell them to shut up and stop running around. But by week 3 i was having 'quiet (INEFFECTIVE) chats with several students/lesson outside the classroom. And upon occasion actually blowing up at them. I know, youd have done it better, but in my defence, my teaching experience was japan (where im not the main teacher - and even when i am, theres always a very active coteacher with you, and korea where the coteacher is there (against their will usually and by the dictates of the vice principal), but still keeps the kids in line. Coming into Thailand was like being dropped into the deep end of the shark pool for classroom management. The kids have very little understanding of English. They treat your class as a fun game. Theyre super sweet, but my god, the attention span! And its an HOUR LONG!!! Jesus, im bored 10 minutes into a pimsleur lesson. And thats predominantly in my home language.

5. My crappy Mifi internet. An 8gb cap at max. I go through that in less than a few days. And if it rains, say goodbye!

6. And rural thailand is BOOOOOOORRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGG as hell! People are nice, but its boring as hell.

7. The work permit. Im (potentially) legal. I have all my documents. So why on earth is this process so unfeasible long? Why am i constantly chasing people up to get this done. And why, when it is almost done, am i the one responsible for completing the bureaucratic stage? Arent i being employed by someone? Why is the employee doing all the legwork here for legality? Isnt this something the person sponsoring your visa should be doing? Eugh! Again, asian expectations. Japan and Korea both created the expectation that someone else would be taking care of my paperwork. My bad. But even then its still taking FOREVER!!! I took the job at the start of april. I assumed we'd start the process immediately. As the first visa run arrived around the second week of may, i asked how we were getting on. We hadnt started. They needed to wait for schools to come back. As the second visa run came, because I hadnt started the job yet (point 8 now i think about it) no one had come to the school yet to get the signature. At the third run? Ah yes, we'll send someone next week. At the fourth... oh, that was just the first step, we'll get the docs together and send them all out to you and then you need to do another visa run because you need to have x-days left on your tourist visa to begin the process and then...

8. Why did my job start in June? The term started in mid may, the kids were at school in mid may. You requested i move to Trat in the second week of may. So why am i just meeting people then spending the next 3 weeks stuck at home without a pay cheque?

9. By "at home" i of course mean at a hotel. Since the subsidized apartment the school had set up (see above - fan/bed), had the former ANGRY teacher in it who refused to leave because "he had a contract with the school for the apartment". I moved in a month later.

10. Ants. I never used to hate ants until i moved to Trat.

11. Visa runs. I should have just done the tourist visa run. But i was broke and didnt fancy it. Plus as point 7, i honestly didnt know it would take so long. I figured those 15 days would be enough THIS TIME to get it done. But Hat lek/Cham Yaem is a hole. The cambodian mafia there are just so nasty to deal with. And i had to do it no less than 6 times. Including throwing caution to the wind by giving them my passport for 4 days while they did the Phnom Penh tourist visa run so i could do my TEFL on Koh Samui without another visa run.

Special bonus mention:

12. The Golden Orbweaver spider that slowly descended from a tree onto my back whilst i was taking pictures of one of its brothers (luckily seen out of the corner of my eye)! YUUUUUUUUUUUKKKK!!! right out of the darkest hell of my fears.

I dunno. A litany of things that bothered me. Not all education. In fact only really a few of them were education. The kids are adorable for sure. The schedule was alright (18 classes per week). But in korea the job was really satisfying, whilst the lifestyle was okay. And in Japan, the lifestyle was awesome (whilst the job was alright), when you have both the lifestyle and the job not working it can be hard to justify sticking around. If the classes were 45 minutes or there was a coteacher, i might have stuck around. Hell, if id have done my tefl before i might have had another try at it.

I dunno if ive written it off entirely. I think its just the wrong time in all honesty. I made the decision to go there at a time when id just lost my job in japan (company lost contract to lower bid by interac is what i tell myself), and the notice time frame (20 days), was too short to not appear absolutely desperate/terrified to find something else in time. So came here to buy time and see if i liked it. I didnt to be honest. But i think with a bit of savings in the bank to pay for the move/set up and enough for a rainy day, i could have done it with a bit less worry about the future and having the means to escape should i require it. So if i come back, itll be because i miss it and want to be here instead of doing it because i hit a dodgy patch of luck and needed to ride it out. And theres enough reasons that you could enjoy thailand to make the complaints seem as trivial as they genuinely are. Plus im solo teaching in china right now, so hooray for classroom management skills!

In fact I agree with many points. I can fill in a few more if you like ;-). I guess it a "love thing".

Many years a go I have decided to live in Thailand. I fell in love with the country, even it has many major negative things. I started to teach English, while I am a designer/constructor/decorator. I believe that I was needed and I needed to do something about it.

I have my respect and gratitude. I have my place in the community. I lunch with the major.

I do not have a normal payment, because there is any. I have no aircon. I have almost no help. I have to speak Thai. I buy my own materials, no refund. And every hour/day that the school decided to do something "usefull" there is no financial compensation. I must be crazy.

But when my wife and I take a walk over the market and run into some little ones, it is so cute. Today my wife goes to the hairdo, I meet her in the shop. Waiting and talking with the hairdresser, a student of mine enter the shop. "hoey! khun mee look mai" 555 and the student give quickly a wai and shy as she became, went to the back. We all laugh and I tell mea that her daughter is "dek dee". She is proud.

Anyone teach in private or international schools? Is there a big difference in the educational environment?

Paradise they say. 50k/month. Smart and diligent kids. Aircon in the class. A friend of mine get 100k/month. The question is, what are you doing here? Make big bucks or teach English to the ones who need it the most?

My biggest problem is finding a school where I can teach the whole English program. Most of what I have come across are conversation jobs where the Thai teachers teach the grammar. This is a nightmare. The Thai teacher gets the students several times a week and destroys all my efforts with their horrible English where I get them only once a week. Thai students get more exposure from the Thai teacher and follow her speaking. I am taking 1 step forward and then 3 steps back. Of course, the Thai teacher's English is flawless in her opinion and the students could never question her ability.

Second biggest problem is Co-Thai Teachers are completely useless. I have come to the opinion that they are there only to report on what you are doing in class. No matter how good you teach, as a foreigner, it's never good enough. I would much rather teach a class alone and not have the constant distraction of the Thai teacher having conversations with the students in Thai while I'm trying to teach, which makes the focus on Thai instead of English.

Not to be completely negative, I do enjoy the relationships that are created with the students. Some of them can be quite fun to converse with.

Just my 2 bits.

Hello expat888,

I think we teachers are only invited to assist. The major players are always Thai teachers. You should have your own private school if you can't stand this. I have understood that the quality of Thai teachers with a major in English is pretty okay, when you mentioned the grammar. Often they are better than I am. The spoken word is indeed worse and understandable English an absoluut problem. What you can do is assist the Thai teachers, without offending them. Be carefull, Thai used to have very long toes. 555

I can recognize easily if a Thai teacher was taught by farangs or by Thai. English is not a popular subject in Thailand. Infact you must be stupid to choose so. Difficult to have your promotions and very difficult to gain any progress.

I read you have an assistant. I have understood that the assistant should help you with your lessons, not to check on you. I believe you have to use his/her Thai quality, which is very important when you can not speak Thai well. It save you lot's of teaching time and seaching for a teacher to help you out. I wish I had one. You should forbid the assistant to talk with the students, this is an English class, not a Thai ballroom.

Thank you for your reaction.

"Most primary schools in rural areas have less or not at all motivated kids."

I really don't fully understand this. Teacher's job is to provide the motivation. There is no way that I have just been lucky for the past 15 years of teaching. I have taught rich kids, poor kids, city and rural, large classes with 50+, small classes with less than 10, I have taught students with 0 ability and near natives.

Creating an environment of mutual respect, trust and fun is very important early on. Routines and structure are very important in your first few days of building a rapport with students.

Also for those commending themselves on not practicing corporal punishment, so what. If you are not doing something to stop it, you are as guilty as those that do it. It is against Thai law to hit kids. If you are seeing it happen, you should take photos, have them arrested and fired. Unless the stick is just for intimidation. If a kids has a bruise from a teacher, that teacher should be fired. *I have created workshops and training for Thai teachers to show them better/more effective methods of control. I have written policies and guides for teachers at my schools that administration has supported. If you show people how to protect themselves, they will most likely conform to the laws. One school I worked out banned students from having phones or cameras at the school, that was their solution to avoid lawsuits.

I reply a bit late, sorry for this.

90% of my students are farmer kids. Nice kids, nothing wrong with it. BUT, the parents are very low educated, they do not care what there children learn. Many of them are poor, very poor. There is absolute no stimulation from home. The parents aspect the teachers to solve there problems. However, the Thai system say that the kids should be happy, not smart. Many can not read or write Thai, so what should we do with stupid English? On the local people is English know as useless, stupid, waste of your time, etc.

WHAT should we do? Your teaching techniques from Europe, USA or whatever simply doesn't work.

IF they like you.... you might have a chance.

I'm going to print pictures tonight and try to make them understand and speak. ;-) 5555 See the fun of it, it saves stress.

Well, SlyAnimal has put it well and I would like to second him.

At a new high school, I teach M3, M5 and M6 classes. TBH, there are only 3 really good classes. In all others, I have been quite unsuccessful in getting them to speak English to each other. Me doing most of the talking and having one-on-one conversation doesn't cut it. So I'll keep pushing for them to speak to each other and do group work etc.

Anger and annoyance with admin is a big thing. Take the way they add a 5-digit amount payable by us and days being off on some Visa runs and you get the picture. Can't say they care! Some schools have been laying off their foreign teachers, then not hired replacements. Why's that, you think?

Last week in Vientiane, I met many a teacher who couldn't get his B-Visa due to some small errors by their schools' administrators. The wrong month, addressing the ambassador incorrectly, whatever.

Being middle aged, I enjoy interacting with students and try hard to be friendly, approachable and to motivate them to speak. (Many still literally run away when a foreigner says "good morning"). During gate duty, I try to engage many students in small talk, sensing that those who respond feel a real sense of success when they say what they had for breakfast!

^^^

The usual once a week lesson doesn't cut it. But then, a teacher named Steve Forrester's interview with Ajarn.com shows how admin feels about foreigners being at the schools. TBH, I'm fairly certain Thais would rather have none of us there!

Our existence here is precarious and uncertain. Many are on their 2nd waiver. Those with kids to support might find greener pastures elsewhere (one teacher shared how he earned > 50 k Baht in China, teaching just 11 lessons per week). Then there are contracts like mine, ending in February. Students really need to trust a foreign teacher to open up and interact in English. Staying some years at a school would be nice. Alas, this seems to run contrary to what directors want, for whatever reasons.

I am sorry to read this, but I know that it is often true. A fresh USA teacher came to teach at the high school, not far from my home. Nobody helped him, the accomodation was like a pig stable and for weeks he stayed alone in his house. After 3 weeks he simply left, did not took any money, sold his phantom to the shop where he bought it. Goodbye.

You may fill in what I think.

One conclusion; IF Thailand seriously choose to upgrade there standard, they should start with teaching admin and teachers HOW to behave towards foreign teachers.

Lucky not all schools behave like this.

Seems to me that the majority of problems you teachers face are because you haven't had proper training. If you either studied Education in school or at the very least kept current, you might not have those issues.

classroom management, an interactive approach in the classroom, well designed lesson plans, scaffolded lessons, and a few strategies to change up lessons if they are not effective, and realizing that you need your students as much as they don't need you. Stop thinking that you are the center of their learning.

One reocurring thing that I hear from this thread could be solved with learning how to impliment technology in the classroom. Since students are listening to music, put that in the lesson. Create activities that follow the curriculum that use music, games. "Bus Stop" create activities for them to explore things on 5 different tables *put a large piece of paper on each (whatever new vocabulary, grammar, concept, idea you want them to explore/discuss/know. Put them in groups and have them look at pictures, sentences in the wrong order cut out, etc. have them write, ask questions, or arrange things, Then after 3-5 min, have them go to the next table and add to whatever the other group just did. Building off their ideas. They can even write questions challenging what others wrote.) Then put each separate sheet on the front board and explore what each other came to. Facilitate and stop standing in front of the class.

If I need to lecture/present new material, even with a power point, I am walking around the room constantly. I do not stand in front of the class for more than 30 seconds a period, knowing every students name and engaging them constantly helps to.

Another thing to realize is that you represent "the English speaking world" if the students have a bad experience in your class, it will hinder their desire for learning all foreign languages and their desire to be with or communicate with foreigners. So yes, I agree with directors, you should not be taking away their technology, sending them out of class, and making them enjoy the entire time they have class with you. As long as their is a skill attached to everything that you do, a proper assessment, outcome and goal of every project you have them do, they will learn and find it worthwhile. Speaking English isn't and shouldn't be the only "goal" of taking an English class.

Watch TED TALKS, there is one on how we hinder children's creativity. My guess is most of those complaining of discipline problems, probably don't know the goal of education. If you think that learning facts, and knowing things is why we go to school, you are in the wrong profession.

It is clear that everyone posting has the heart in the right place, but it is also clear that the majority of problems being faced are not issues for veteran teachers with the theoretical knowledge of best teaching practices to back it up. I am not saying we don't have bad days also, but having clear objectives outlined on your board, letting the students know before they are assessed what criteria they are being assessed on, allowing their imput on what to learn, or what activity/project would help them the most, will turn a lot of these problems around.

I am a very energetic teacher, and have a naturally deep and loud voice, if students fall asleep in my class, they must be exhausted. English and other languages are quite boring to learn, they aren't practical if you don't achieve a certain level. So it is hard for them to see putting in effort day after day for no results. People also lack motivation when the result is a long term goal for when they are older. Math is another subject that is very hard to teach effectively, however since so many see and fully accept the use of math, they tend to work harder. Making tangible practical goals each lesson, showing them they progress, making it interactive and just plain fun will turn their motivation around.

Hello Zeichen,

Yes, many things you wrote are true. But there's a "but". If your classes are motivated, even it was just a little bit. All those techniques you mentioned will work. If you teach on a secondary school you might have more chance to succeed. Sure, I have been teaching grade 7 until 12.

Most primary schools in rural areas have less or not at all motivated kids. My idea is to win there hearts as a parent, show them that you care about them and try not to be that "alien".

Hallo Puukao,

Yes, yes, yes, yes. Unfortually most teachers came with a different idea to Thailand. Get the money to finiance there lifes. I do not judge them, because you simply need some cash to live right? And sure.... every guy has big brains and small brains. It will not say those people teach without any pleasure. I guess I am an exceptional case, I teach for my pleasure ( sometimes it is really hard ) but most of all for my face and the face of my wife. The little compensation I receive, I use to buy some parts for my truck. I wanted to do something usefull with my spare time. ( instead of drinking beer and chasing women ;-) )

But who ever you are, what intentons you have to teach, there are days that you are really <deleted>*p about it.

..... But all students have discipline issues – for example, they come to class late, they will get up and walk around during a lesson, they will use mobile phones and tablets in class, they will wear ear-phones/plugs and listen to music (I presume) during lessons, & they will do homework for another subject in class. The school tolerates this kind of behaviour so it can be frustrating sometimes.....

I'll be you 1000 baht that if you ask if its ok for kids to listen to music, use their i-pads, do other homework, in your class, they will say its NOT ok. How can they say that? So if you don't like that kindly inform the students you will take their electronic equipment off of them if they use it, until the end of the lesson. You need to get agreement about this with the admin. If they can't agree to this, they you will then know just how important the children's education is to the school. Of curse you can also integrate positive reinforcement with your measures as well....give points for well behaved students, etc.

The answer to that question will depend on who you ask. If you ask the students then they’ll probably say ‘yes’. If you ask the Thai head of department then I know he’ll say ‘Hmmm... it depends on what the students are using their electronic gadgets for. If they’re using them to look up English words then it’s Ok’. (I know that because he said it when I asked him). And of course that Thai teacher explanation is the way the school condones its policy of turning a blind eye.

As I said, the school tolerates the kind of behaviour I described, so I know already how important the education of the students is seen as being by the school. But I don’t tolerate this kind of behaviour in my classes and will often confiscate electronic equipment and Thai homework. But it’s a constant battle. I’ve found that many students are persistent offenders and eventually they stop coming to class rather than give up playing with their electronic devices. But you do need to be mindful of the way the students are using their gadgets, because on more than one occasion I’ve gone to take a tablet off a student and then as I’ve looked at the screen the student will indeed be looking up the Thai meaning of an English word. But I never hesitate to pull earphones out of ears.

Giving points for good behaviour etc – yes I do that already too. Not that many of the students seem to care. When students can’t be bothered coming to class they care even less about whether you give them credit for exhibiting good behaviours. Again, however, you need to be mindful of the school’s policies in this area. For example, last year the school asked me to award additional points to students according to ‘how much they loved the King’. How do you measure that? (The school couldn’t tell me the answer either).

Anyway I take the rough with the smooth and as I said in my first reply to the OP I enjoy teaching here. What are your own experiences of teaching in Thailand? Did you also have issues with students using electronic gadgets in class?

The answer is No. Those electronic devices ( phones ) are forbidden, If they get caught with it during a lesson, the principal will keep it for at least a month. I do have issues with students, most of them do not obey. I warn them, 3 times, then I sent them ou of the classroom, if this did not help, I'll see that they end up at the principal's office. They do not smile any further.....

Other issues I have: talking in the classroom, walking, busy with other things than English, making loud noise, drumming, singing, lazy, rude, naughty and for sure: not paying attention. Now I try to have them in the classroom on time and I started to report kids who are absent more than 10 minutes without good reason.

Sure, I have "dek dee" ( I reward them well when everybody is looking ) and also slow students who really want. But in most classes, there are a few who like to mess up a lesson. Every grade has a "better class" ( never any trouble ) and it is adviseable write a different lessonplan for them.

Thai teachers maintain order with a huge stick. I as farang I do not use it. I never hit my own kids, and certainly not other mans kids!

One of the things that surprises me so much about TV in general is that so many people here post such profoundly anti-Thai views that I wonder why they are here at all - trapped in unhappy situations but can't afford to go back home ? Or maybe those views predominate in the large number of posts (I heard it was 25-40% on an average day) that originate from outside of the country?

Fortunately this trend seems to be much less prevalent on the teaching forum, but still so many of the posts even on the teaching forum, to me at least, seem to be from people who really don't want to be here.

Personally I enjoy Thailand very much. I've worked in many countries and I haven't enjoyed any country more than Thailand. I'm at an age where I could officially retire in Thailand (but I don't want to). Consequently I don't have the same financial pressures that younger forum members probably have. If I did have those pressures I would not be working in Thailand, and I would almost certainly not be a teacher either for that matter. Yet I grealy admire those young teachers here who are making a go of it.

Bundoi,

Real off topic question, but I'll reply as short as possible.

Many came here to start a new and most of all happy life. The truth is, it is almost impossible to have a happy life here, even when you have tried to accept the " Thai way ". Everyday something happens ( your wife, family, job, traffic or whatever ) what gives you loads of stress. And then you think to help those little kids to have a better future, so you can relax a bit from all other " s*** ". You have more stress.... AH! You have some respect, for your efforts, that's really great. But 10k/month is absoluut idiot even when your are rich.

Hello guys,

I have loads of spare parts, it consume space I do not have. Perhaps I can sell some items. Please PM me. I live around Suphanburi.

As far I remember I have:

- original radio

- steeringwheel

- some rubbers

- exhaustparts

- shockabsorbers

- radio cover for screen

- rear axle + differential

- front and rear brakes

- and more what I can't remember.

Regards, Navara

Navar, you said: I sometimes think the students must have memory issues, because I can teach them something one week and by the end of the lesson they seem to have learnt it. They will answer questions about the topic with confidence. Then when I see them the next week and do a quick recap on the previous week’s lesson they seem to have forgotten everything. Maybe committing things in English to their long term memory is just too much work for them; maybe the appeal of computer games and TV once they get home from school is just too strong. I’d be interested to know if it’s the same with their work for subjects taught in Thai. But at least this means that when it’s exam time the good students really do stand out.

Try this: instead of waiting a week to recap, do a daily "Distributive Practice" (explained at the end). Briefly it's a matter of a number of exposures to the new information over time. Each day I have 2-4 questions about yesterday's lesson, maybe a lesson a few days ago, AND about a information from a week/month ago. This takes planning so information that is presented is not left by the wayside until next week or next month. Daily EXPOSE students to what you've previously taught and teach students to do it for themselves. When you teach something, they have it in short-term memory; they haven't learned it, yet! If you consistently implement this, I think you find the success you're looking for.

Distributive Practice is a process of having students to periodically recall information that has previously been taught in order to promote long term learning of the information. This applies for any subject area in the classroom.

What It Looks Like:

Distributive Practice, or DP, is a daily event.

On the chalkboard, before class begins, write 2 to 4 questions and/or problems that review past lessons. Each question should review something different.

Students can begin when they arrive to class and work on it while the teacher takes attendance, etc. It can be part of the morning/afternoon routine.

When students have had approximately 5 minutes to work, the teacher elicits correct answers from the students and students self-check their work.

Students are encouraged to correct their errors and to review the topic during a nightly study-time. ("study-time" is another issue...and should not take more that one hour)

Dear ImaxV,

On my schools, those kids are taught by Thai teachers, teachers who are graduated for primary schools only, to teach every subject. The only English course they had is what they got during this education. 3 months, that's it. Can you image what a student of grade 5 or 6 knows? They can not speak, they can not understand what you are saying and a question in English is impossible!

Almost every child who has parents with a better income, have left to better schools. So... what's left? Nearly 5% on this government school has a reasonable iq. Everything else is under average, slow learning, learning disability, adhd, autistic and behaviour problems. Very poor families and the school of my wife exactly the same. ( I often teach for free, because they can't have a budget injection for farang teachers )

Most of the farang teachers, teach on a "model" school, but the true need is with the poor schools, which are the greatest part.

White Tiger: I am amused to read your story. It is amazing that the school allow those things happening in the classroom. It amazed me me even more to hear that you can make any progress with those kids. You also wrote about an English program......

Tetleythedog: I got your name ;-) What you wrote is certainly true. Without any notification from the admin, students are dragged out of there lessons, busy with other more importent things like dancing, cleaning the lawn, pay respect to somebody or other "fun" activity. Often I came to school for just one hour! I understand that learing English is the most unimportant subject of a school and pretty soon you feel like a disposible... Keep the students happy, indeed, it is the primary directive of every government school. Let them pass, no matter what. That Thailand is digging there own grave, seems not to be clear jet. What follows is the additude of the kids, 90% behave really horrible.

The money issue. Here we have a high school who has an English program.... na na na....good thing you would say? NO! Not when you understand that it is a money thing. Every student has to pay 90k baht for one year. They have 150 students in the English program. na na na...150 x 90.000 = 13,500,000 baht. All managed by 2 farang teachers and 2 from the school it self. The farang get 32k each/month which is 576k (they pay only 9 months). But those teachers were assigned by some agency who get paid around 60k/month for each teacher. They used to advertise on Thai Visa too. Now you know where that luxury vehicle comes from.

I choose different. My wife constant complains about the quality of the students. She actually said: " Some of them are so stupid, I have to teach them from the start, a,b,c... etc ". I had noting else to do, so I decided to see if I can do something about it. And so I became an English teacher.

And so I discovered all those troubles with the Thai educational system and the learning problems of the children.

Thank you of your reactions.

Mr. SlyAnimal: Yes, I reconize so much in what you wrote. Your a part of the community, which made it worth to put your effort in it. And those few good students (the ones who really try) to see them grow. But I also reconize your comment on the administration or The schools who really have no money to support you. The only thing I can have is some free A4 paper or a marker for the white board. Everything else: I pay myself.

Mr. Hotrod4098: The payment is a joke. You can't stay in Thailand of the payment they offer you. Beside that, is that every day off will not be paid, believe me: many, many days you will have days off or short hollidays. I know several directors who almost begg you to teach for FREE, simply because they can't have a budget from the state.

I feel like a social worker.