How To Be A Successful Esl Teacher Here In Los......... The Bible.

[Scott]

Further discussion of waiing will earn suspensions. The discussion is starting to absurdly pedantic. There are countless ways in which people can acknowledge others politely. That is not the topic of this thread.

[teacher17]

1. With some government schools...don't expect to get paid on time...(if you can't put up with this...change schools...)

2. If you ask them to get books for the students and they agree to do it...expect the books to come by next year...(if you're lucky).

3. If you ask the teacher's how to discipline the students...they will most likely just tell you to hit them (like in my case...)

It is true that teachers often don't tell you anything until last minute...why this is...I don't know. Ah, the joys of working for Thai government schools.

[pigeonjake]

i thought that to become a teacher you had to go to uni,??

but here you do amonths course and off you go,

im thinking that most of you and i say most not all, are only teaching to be able to stay in thailand, no other reason,

and now it seams to me that you want all the rules changing to suit you,

so why dont you learn to speak thai,??

get a grip

[skybluestu]

i thought that to become a teacher you had to go to uni,??

but here you do amonths course and off you go,

im thinking that most of you and i say most not all, are only teaching to be able to stay in thailand, no other reason,

and now it seams to me that you want all the rules changing to suit you,

so why dont you learn to speak thai,??

get a grip

Pigeonjake likes to pigeonhole doesn't he! Such an ignorant comment doesn't warrant a reply but I will. Saying most teachers are only teaching so they can stay in Thailand is ignorant and a bit like saying all tourists and expats are sex tourists and sexpats, pigeonjake included!

[pigeonjake]

so i take it from your coment you did teach in england, or for that matter your home country,,,lol

carry on ,, your turn,, start the name calling,, little child

[skybluestu]

so i take it from your coment you did teach in england, or for that matter your home country,,,lol

carry on ,, your turn,, start the name calling,, little child

Qualified teacher with experience in English schools, no. Qualified trainer with experience in a classroom environment and now 5yrs experience at the same school here in Thailand, yes. I didn't call anyone any names, what do you mean? If you make an ignorant comment about something you know nothing about then you might get an ignorant comment back but after reading your 'wai hookers' thread recently I might have been close to the truth!

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[Scott]

I would suggest that you not respond to inflammatory troll posts.

This is the teaching sub-forum and it is for teachers and about teaching. Overly negative comments about teachers/teaching will earn a suspension.

.....You have been warned.

[Mark1971]

These three steps to "success" are completely ridiculous in Teaching or in any other salaried job.

4. never complain about anything

5. assume that your weekends and free time are not your own (come to all after hour activities)

6. have no other commitment that is more important than the school

[bannork]

"wai everyone."

No wonder Thais think that we are stupid.

How about learn how and when to wai. If you wai at an innapropriate setting or person it just makes people feel awkard. Its similar to a 60 year old calling someone 20 sir or maam. It just seems strange. If you are older than your colleagues, don't wai them. It makes them feel old. My co worker is 3 months older than I am, I have wai'd her just to tease her because she is older, but she doesn't really like it. No woman wants to be reminded that she is older.

I will agree that being successful has nothing related to actually being effective. You could be the most effective teacher and add a lot to the student's potential for learning and yet still not get where you want.

1. Be respectful and learn everyone's name, wai when appropriate (you don't wai the garbage man)

1a. Dress appropriately and professionally at all times even off hours if you are near your school.

2. Show up early, stay late. Don't be seen leaving early.

3. Always look as you are doing something, or offer to help colleagues

4. never complain about anything

5. assume that your weekends and free time are not your own (come to all after hour activities)

6. have no other commitment that is more important than the school

7. don't ever compare what you think the standard of education is in your country to Thailand

8. don't ever assume that you are actually making a difference, or have something more to offer than Thai colleagues

9. have lots of extra materials that you are willing to share with everyone else (especially Thai co workers)

10. know more about teaching than just being able to speak English

I had to laugh at Tolstoy's post, we've all heard of the teacher's pet, but he undoubtedly qualifies as the principal's pet.

I guess I'm just so lucky where I work, the rules at my school need some adjustment to Tolstoy's:

1. okay.

2. We have to be there for morning assembly at 8.00 but can leave once we've finished teaching.We have an average of 16 lessons a week but there are usually a few cancellations due to various school activities.

3. We have good wireless connections in the farang teacher's room, we can download free all day. Sometimes we download material relevant to teaching but often we're downloading our favourite documentaries, sports, whatever.

5. In our contracts we have to go on an EP school camp once a year at the weekend. It's good fun as one of our teachers has connections to the navy so we go to the beach at Prajuap or Sattahip and stay in pleasant hotels run by the navy.

6. We do our best, no one ever fakes sick or skips classes, but commitment ends once we're off the premises.

7. We always write lesson plans which are reviewed by our boss, a very capable and fair English lady, ideas for teaching are shared, with lots of support. Currently all our kids are studying the ESOL exams from Cambridge, ranging from Starters to PET.

8. For holidays we get all of October off, half of March, all of April and 2 weeks of May. no need to go to school then.

[tolstoy]

well of course my list was a little tongue and cheek.

But, there are many schools that will drop a " you must come to the assembly on Saturday, or you will be deducted a days wage".

Complaining about curriculum, grading systems and comparing what you think the standard should be only gets you on the ignore list.

I will say to fit in you really shouldn't complain. It isn't really appreciated. Those around you might have it even worse.

My overall point is that it doesn't matter how effective you are. The person that gets the promotions are the one's that don't complain, go to every faculty function, volunteer to do weekend boyscout trips and the like.

Bannork, you do realize that your situation isn't the norm. Read ajarn or other forums and talk to people at the TEFL conferences here in Thailand and you will think that you hit the jackpot with your job.

Many schools only offer 11 month contracts so that they don't have to pay for summer vacation. Many schools also have scanners to sign in and out.

having a capable Native speaking DS is also rare.

As stated by another poster who was trolling. There are quite a few dead beat teachers and academic directors just collecting a paycheck.

You are fortunate, not the norm.

[puchooay]

well of course my list was a little tongue and cheek.

But, there are many schools that will drop a " you must come to the assembly on Saturday, or you will be deducted a days wage".

Complaining about curriculum, grading systems and comparing what you think the standard should be only gets you on the ignore list.

I will say to fit in you really shouldn't complain. It isn't really appreciated. Those around you might have it even worse.

My overall point is that it doesn't matter how effective you are. The person that gets the promotions are the one's that don't complain, go to every faculty function, volunteer to do weekend boyscout trips and the like.

Bannork, you do realize that your situation isn't the norm. Read ajarn or other forums and talk to people at the TEFL conferences here in Thailand and you will think that you hit the jackpot with your job.

Many schools only offer 11 month contracts so that they don't have to pay for summer vacation. Many schools also have scanners to sign in and out.

having a capable Native speaking DS is also rare.

As stated by another poster who was trolling. There are quite a few dead beat teachers and academic directors just collecting a paycheck.

You are fortunate, not the norm.

Of course you can complain. Just do it the right way.

My school has finger scanners to sign in and out. No problem there as long as you arrive and leave on time, like everyone else.

Nothing wrong with a Saturday every now and then.

I too get two weeks in October. This past term I left school on 19th March. Returned on 5th May. All paid holidays as I am on a 12 month contract.

There is a certain element of " you get what you give".

I know there are some horrible schools out there. There are also some good ones.

As is said many times, Thai people tar western teachers with the same brush. Let us not do the same about Thai schools.

Edited August 2, 2012 by puchooay

[thequietman]

midterms just finished. one student achieved a zero score.

I was asked to re test. No problem.

He got zero again.

I was asked to upgrade him to a pass.

So an important rule for the ESL Bible is 'thou shalt not fail any student under any circumstances."

So what has this student learned from this experience ? That he can sit and do FA all day in my class and he still passes. He will probably end up as a politician.