My Real Qualifications Thread.

[otherstuff1957]

For those of you who don't feel like reading through the 100 or so pages of the Qualifications Thread, or who have done so are still puzzled, here is my own list of qualifications required for working in Thailand, listed in order of importance:

1. The ability to show up. To be more specific, the ability to show up for class on time and more or less prepared to teach 99% of the time. If you can't do this, a Phd in Ed, 20 years of teaching experience in Farangistan and teaching licenses from 5 different English Speaking countries won't help you keep a job in Thailand.

2. The ability to not have psychotic episodes during working hours.

3. The ability to use soap, deodorant, a good laundry service and breath mints.

4. The ability to look and sound more or less like a Native English Speaker. This doesn't just include the usual UK/US/Aussies, if you have the other qualifications you can be Dutch, Danish, Irish or even Northern English/Scottish/Irish!

5. The ability to say no POLITELY when Admin starts acting particularly irrationally. Their usually just trying it on and will back down when you firmly but POLITELY say no.

6. A BA or BS and a TEFL Certificate. (TEFL optional if you have a BEd. or something similar)*

* Anecdotal evidence seems to indicate that there is some occasional, localized exceptions to qualification #6.

[wangsuda]

7. The ability to pass all students, regardless if they pass or even if they show up for class.

7a. The ability to say, with a straight face and to all concerned, that all your students are passing.

[PeaceBlondie]

8. The ability to learn more grammar, punctuation, regional variations, essay writing guidelines, English literature, teaching methods, psychology, etc.

9. Working sober and smart/clever, challenging your students by your own thought processes, so that Pakakorn says to Maracha, "Ajarn Smith really knows his somtam from his sapalote!"

[Ijustwannateach]

10. The ability not to alienate every one of your foreign co-workers with an anti-social personality.

11. The sense not to talk about your colourful private life in front of the Thai or even the other foreign teachers.

Good thread!

[Scott]

12. The ability to show up at work sober--or close to sober.

[patongpanda]

13. Ability to draw 'Hangman'

14. Stoic ability to mask egregious hangover

15. Falang can eat spicee

[Lifesabeach]

16. The sense to let the Thai English teachers think that there English is really very good!

[Thaiboxer]

Here's another important one: Smile, Smile, Smile Being that this is the "Land Of Smiles", a big grin will often win! Even if the students are not too keen to learn (in some classes it may be the whole class), try to smile and let it go. When I had my first job at a government school, I had a few episodes where I raised my voice, banged on the chalkboard, etc, however it doesn't help when the entire system fosters a chaotic environment and doesn't have a good discipline policy.

Edited October 20, 2007 by Thaiboxer