How To Teach And Control Grade Six Students Most Effectively..

[isawasnake]

I know Sirchai personally and I can assure you that he does all to entertain his students.He does treat his students like his own kids, but there're too many foul apples. Kids who'd be at a school for special needs with a special teacher.

I"d the opportunity to watch him and two of his lessons.The problem is not the way he teaches. The problem is the loss of face policy in Thailand.

I've met some of his colleagues, when I was asking one "How is it going?, she'd answered: I go have lunch. No more words needed.

If they think foreigners who even speak Thai, like Sirchai does, are too expensive, let them go their old way and nothing will change..

Sirchai's school is well known over the boarder of Ubon Ratchathani for its World Class Standardized Bullshit. Nobody would like to have such a work load, doing all the written stuff for the school, making not even 30 K a month.

There're gifted people like Sirchai who know much about kid's psychology and I've seen them loving him more than their parents.

Head up, you can only try to do a good job but not in such a messed up environment, calling itself school. Get the f...out of there soon.

If they don't get an easy message, let them find new guys and all the stuff you're doing right now. Teaching school directors, seminars for primary and high school teachers, hiring foreign teachers, (have seen how much work that can be), etc....

Once you'll quit, they'll wake up, believe me. This school certainly doesn't deserve such a qualified guy like you.

In my opinion, foreign teacher are pretty much just punching bags here. The ones reveling in it are both the Thai staff and the students. It is some kind of look how much we can abuse a farang and get away with it. It is not about learning, far from it. I think most of us actually teaching know that, and know what is expected of us. We are there to put up with bs, and be paid for it. Period.

[sirchai]

I am a Counselling Psychologist and have lived, taught (psychology, English, and cookery as I am also a chef), and practised in Thailand since 1994 but now retired but come back every winter to miss the snow, etc in Toronto. My first question, which does not appear to have been asked or answer provided is simple. What are your qualifications? I ask that because in Thailand it is possible to teach without a degree or with no training, which is a big mistake. While working at one location in Salaya, I provided the Ministry of Education with a paper I had written, in 2003 concerning the hiring of teachers, including how to determine if a person held a genuine degree. Some of my recommendations are now being introduced. My second question, is rather simplistic. How do you, as an unqualified person, determine that students are autistic, as there are several types? I agree with one person who said she had been a psychiatric nurse, that such persons, if diagnosed as such by using correct procedures, should be in separate classes but in Thailand there are very, very few such classes available as there are virtually no teachers with the specialised training required. It can be extremely difficult to overcome your present situation and I suggest it could have been, if you had taken the initiative from the beginning. As one person pointed out, correctly, it is against the law for a teacher to hit a school child. If such is happening, you as a responsible teacher should have a private talk with the principle and if that does not have any effect, call a meeting of the school board. You will not win any points for doing so but it will allow you to get things off your chest and in the open. Do not hit a child, regardless of how annoying the child is. You are the one who will suffer as you are not Thai and the repercussions can be very harsh. I had a genuine case of autism in one class and the parents were astonished when I discussed it with them and they let me know I was correct and their son was undergoing therapy. The school principle did not like me having that meeting with the parents but soon realised that it was for the best. A few weeks later, the parents asked me to help their child during the holiday months and I agreed, but first obtained discussed the situation with his attending psychiatrist. All worked out well. Finally, I have compiled a 54 page document of strategies titled A Guide to English Courses. If you would like a copy, all you have to do is ask and I can e-mail it as an attachment. I distribute it free to be used as a tool for people who need assistance.

I am a Counselling Psychologist and have lived, taught (psychology, English, and cookery as I am also a chef), and practised in Thailand since 1994 but now retired but come back every winter to miss the snow, etc in Toronto. My first question, which does not appear to have been asked or answer provided is simple. What are your qualifications? I ask that because in Thailand it is possible to teach without a degree or with no training, which is a big mistake.

I’m holding a genuine BA in social studies, specialized in social pedagogy. I’d worked with many people from different countries, suffering of various social problems. I’m also a certified social pedagogical supervisor and worked for drug addicted citizens to get them into a drug therapy. Then my cancer group, I’d with my sister on voluntary basis, doing that for almost 25 years. I’ve got at least a hundred of other certificates, a TEFOL,TESOL, TOIEC, Thai culture and awareness certificate, plus professional knowledge test. I’m fully integrated into Thai society and use Thai to translate words to save time.

While working at one location in Salaya, I provided the Ministry of Education with a paper I had written, in 2003 concerning the hiring of teachers, including how to determine if a person held a genuine degree. Some of my recommendations are now being introduced. My second question, is rather simplistic. How do you, as an unqualified person, determine that students are autistic, as there are several types? I agree with one person who said she had been a psychiatric nurse, that such persons, if diagnosed as such by using correct procedures, should be in separate classes but in Thailand there are very, very few such classes available as there are virtually no teachers with the specialised training

Honestly, I do not know how you come to the conclusion calling me an unqualified person. I personally don’t care what sorts of documents you’d forwarded to MoE. How I know that kids are autistic?

My Thai colleagues are telling me that, or I might find it out the hard way. I did study three semester medicine, as I always wanted to become a doctor. As already mentioned, my favorite subject is psychology. Kids, as well as all sorts of animals love me and I’m really integrated in the Thai society.

required. It can be extremely difficult to overcome your present situation and I suggest it could have been, if you had taken the initiative from the beginning. As one person pointed out, correctly, it is against the law for a teacher to hit a school child. If such is happening, you as a responsible teacher should have a private talk with the principle and if that does not have any effect, call a meeting of the school board. You will not win any points for doing so but it will allow you to get things off your chest and in the open. Do not hit a child, regardless of how annoying the child is. You are the one who will suffer as you are not Thai and the repercussions can be very harsh. I had a genuine case of autism in one class and the parents were astonished when I discussed it with them and they let me know I was correct and their son was undergoing therapy. The school principle did not like me having that meeting with the parents but soon realised that it was for the best. A few weeks later, the parents asked me to help their child during the holiday months and I agreed, but first obtained discussed the situation with his attending psychiatrist. All worked out well. Finally, I have compiled a 54 page document of strategies titled A Guide to English Courses. If you would like a copy, all you have to do is ask and I can e-mail it as an attachment. I distribute it free to be used as a tool for people who need assistance.

I really appreciate your offer and will send you an e-mail, as I’d like to have a copy. If you’re trying to discuss just one case of an autistic case here in Thailand, it doesn't make any sense, as the system with the red government won’t change. Let’s hope for the best and see if Aphisit comes back soon.

Wish you a good day.-

Edited January 26, 2014 by Scott

[sirchai]

I am a Counselling Psychologist and have lived, taught (psychology, English, and cookery as I am also a chef), and practised in Thailand since 1994 but now retired but come back every winter to miss the snow, etc in Toronto. My first question, which does not appear to have been asked or answer provided is simple. What are your qualifications? I ask that because in Thailand it is possible to teach without a degree or with no training, which is a big mistake. While working at one location in Salaya, I provided the Ministry of Education with a paper I had written, in 2003 concerning the hiring of teachers, including how to determine if a person held a genuine degree. Some of my recommendations are now being introduced. My second question, is rather simplistic. How do you, as an unqualified person, determine that students are autistic, as there are several types? I agree with one person who said she had been a psychiatric nurse, that such persons, if diagnosed as such by using correct procedures, should be in separate classes but in Thailand there are very, very few such classes available as there are virtually no teachers with the specialised training required. It can be extremely difficult to overcome your present situation and I suggest it could have been, if you had taken the initiative from the beginning. As one person pointed out, correctly, it is against the law for a teacher to hit a school child. If such is happening, you as a responsible teacher should have a private talk with the principle and if that does not have any effect, call a meeting of the school board. You will not win any points for doing so but it will allow you to get things off your chest and in the open. Do not hit a child, regardless of how annoying the child is. You are the one who will suffer as you are not Thai and the repercussions can be very harsh. I had a genuine case of autism in one class and the parents were astonished when I discussed it with them and they let me know I was correct and their son was undergoing therapy. The school principle did not like me having that meeting with the parents but soon realised that it was for the best. A few weeks later, the parents asked me to help their child during the holiday months and I agreed, but first obtained discussed the situation with his attending psychiatrist. All worked out well. Finally, I have compiled a 54 page document of strategies titled A Guide to English Courses. If you would like a copy, all you have to do is ask and I can e-mail it as an attachment. I distribute it free to be used as a tool for people who need assistance. [email protected]

Are you being serious? You know he is getting paid about 30k baht a month, right?

Exactly 27,500, minus 600 for insurance. And I always pay good money for DVD's and covers, to give my kids English learning programs such as Rosetta Stone, cartoons in English, or dictionaries for their computers.

Trying to show them all the other possibilities to learn without just "playing" facebook.

In addition, I sometimes have to spend my own money to buy markers. Our Asian colleagues don't seem to need them.-

[Scott]

The email address in a post and replies has been edited out. Email addresses are not allowed on the open forum. Please use the PM function. Also do NOT post in large fonts. Political commentary is not going to be tolerated in this forum. There is a news thread for such comments.

I am no longer licensed to diagnose mental illnesses because I have not kept my license in my home country current. There are some students who are in the regular classrooms that are simply not capable of learning in such an environment and they have all kinds of diagnostic problems, and a few have more than one.

I have had the luxury of working in a private school with limited size classes, roughly 30. It's still too large, but most are manageable. There are a few classes with a few very disruptive students. They make a problem not for one or two teachers, but virtually all the teachers, including the Thai Teachers.

It's sad for the students who might either want to learn or to be capable of learning, that they are denied an education because of this. The problem is not the teacher, the problem is a system that allows it to exist. The problem has existed a long time across many different governments and military installed regimes.

[sirchai]

I taught in the UK for 10-years at three different colleges, although I was classed as a lecturer, due to the age of the students. ALL my students were 16-21 years-old girls. A dream job to some. Unlike other lecturers, I used the technique known as Student-Centered Learning. For the layman this means ALL activities are centred around the student, not the teacher. For example; If you were teaching basic maths to juniors and how to give monetary change, the teacher doesn't do all the work by standing at the head of the class pontificating with pre-prepared and duplicated hand-outs for the students. No, you pair them off and role-play. One is the customer and one is the shopkeeper and they play at buying items and giving and receiving change. Obviously, this is a basic explanation for children, not for the teens and young adults I taught, but you get the picture.

Thais LOVE fun and to laugh and play games. I would suggest Student-Centred Learning is your answer. It requires ENORMOUS amounts of preparation on your part, so you WILL earn your wage and you need eyes in the back of your head to control the room, but it is your job. Enjoy it! People learn when they are having fun. I know people dont learn their times-table anymore, but when they did, setting it to music made it so much easier to remember because suddenly it was fun.

As for disciplining students, I am all for it and I was VERY strict, albeit it dressed up in humour, but you never, EVER lay a finger on someone elses child, however old they are. I cannot stress this enough. You get much more with a tickle than a scratch! - and that is a figure of speech. You dont actually tickle students. - But that applies to ALL relationships. Get them to help you. Stop being the teacher. Let THEM teach YOU!

If youre struggling to teach and control the students, maybe youre not cut out for a life of teaching.

You need to be an entertainer to teach - Almost a stand-up comedian. Make em laugh and make them LIKE you. Theyll learn! If they like you, respect is easy and with respect you can move mountains.

I have had successful businesses from hair and beauty to car rental, property sales and development in Spain, web design and even summer-seasons and cabaret as an illusionist and writer for a magic magazine. My time all over again? I would teach. I miss it the most even today and my wonderful students. -theMagician

I taught in the UK for 10-years at three different colleges, although I was classed as a lecturer, due to the age of the students. ALL my students were 16-21 years-old girls. A dream job to some. Unlike other lecturers, I used the technique known as Student-Centered Learning. For the layman this means ALL activities are centred around the student, not the teacher. For example; If you were teaching basic maths to juniors and how to give monetary change, the teacher doesn't do all the work by standing at the head of the class pontificating with pre-prepared and duplicated hand-outs for the students. No, you pair them off and role-play. One is the customer and one is the shopkeeper and they play at buying items and giving and receiving change. Obviously, this is a basic explanation for children, not for the teens and young adults I taught, but you get the picture.

I honestly appreciate your post, but you’re comparing a Volkswagen with a Bentley now. I did get the picture, but Thai students are much different, as their educators seem to put more weight on “teaching” too many unnecessary things like the phenomenal boy scout movement. Too many English classes are cancelled, because they have a “Big Cleaning Day, or other nonsense.

Thais LOVE fun and to laugh and play games. I would suggest Student-Centred Learning is your answer. It requires ENORMOUS amounts of preparation on your part, so you WILL earn your wage and you need eyes in the back of your head to control the room, but it is your job. Enjoy it! People learn when they are having fun. I know people dont learn their times-table anymore, but when they did, setting it to music made it so much easier to remember because suddenly it was fun.

I already spent a lot of time, mostly on weekends to prepare my lessons, considering their level of English. My lessons are Student Centered and I can assure you that thise who listen do learn a lot.

As for disciplining students, I am all for it and I was VERY strict, albeit it dressed up in humour, but you never, EVER lay a finger on someone elses child, however old they are. I cannot stress this enough. You get much more with a tickle than a scratch! - and that is a figure of speech. You dont actually tickle students. - But that applies to ALL relationships. Get them to help you. Stop being the teacher. Let THEM teach YOU!

I’m sometimes wondering how good I’m to act and show them how upset I am, but I’m actually smiling inside me, when they misbehave. I can’t just run to seek help of a Thai teacher, when they start to fight, or any similar incredible behavior. I’m using them to answer questions, to start to think critical ,as that’s a part they don’t learn at a Thai school I’m working at. Please read my post again and you'll see that I hate people who hit kids. Not just that, I also hate guys who hit their wives.

If youre struggling to teach and control the students, maybe youre not cut out for a life of teaching.

You need to be an entertainer to teach - Almost a stand-up comedian. Make em laugh and make them LIKE you. Theyll learn! If they like you, respect is easy and with respect you can move mountains.

I have had successful businesses from hair and beauty to car rental, property sales and development in Spain, web design and even summer-seasons and cabaret as an illusionist and writer for a magic magazine. My time all over again? I would teach. I miss it the most even today and my wonderful students. -theMagician

I’m not struggling to teach, otherwise I’d stop doing it. I love what I’m doing and I’m good in what I’m doing. I’m an entertainer, I make them sing songs, but tell them the meaning of what they sing. I play a clown sometimes and make jokes about myself. My students laugh every hour, but I can’t change many kids’ behavior and their interest in learning English as their second language.

Thais LOVE fun and to laugh and play games. I would suggest Student-Centred Learning is your answer. It requires ENORMOUS amounts of preparation on your part, so you WILL earn your wage and you need eyes in the back of your head to control the room, but it is your job. Enjoy it! People learn when they are having fun. I know people dont learn their times-table anymore, but when they did, setting it to music made it so much easier to remember because suddenly it was fun.

I already spent a lot of time, mostly on weekends to prepare my lessons, considering their level of English. My lessons are Student Centered and I can assure you that thise who listen do learn a lot.

As for disciplining students, I am all for it and I was VERY strict, albeit it dressed up in humour, but you never, EVER lay a finger on someone elses child, however old they are. I cannot stress this enough. You get much more with a tickle than a scratch! - and that is a figure of speech. You dont actually tickle students. - But that applies to ALL relationships. Get them to help you. Stop being the teacher. Let THEM teach YOU!

I’m sometimes wondering how good I’m to act and show them how upset I am, but I’m actually smiling inside me, when they misbehave. I can’t just run to seek help of a Thai teacher, when they start to fight, or any similar incredible behavior. I’m using them to answer questions, to start to think critical ,as that’s a part they don’t learn at a Thai school I’m working at.

If youre struggling to teach and control the students, maybe youre not cut out for a life of teaching.

You need to be an entertainer to teach - Almost a stand-up comedian. Make em laugh and make them LIKE you. Theyll learn! If they like you, respect is easy and with respect you can move mountains.

I have had successful businesses from hair and beauty to car rental, property sales and development in Spain, web design and even summer-seasons and cabaret as an illusionist and writer for a magic magazine. My time all over again? I would teach. I miss it the most even today and my wonderful students. -theMagician

I’m not struggling to teach, otherwise I’d stop doing it. I love what I’m doing and I’m good in what I’m doing. I’m an entertainer, I make them sing songs, but tell them the meaning of what they sing. I play a clown sometimes and make jokes about myself. My students laugh every hour, but I can’t change many kids’ behavior and their interest in learning English as their second language.Good day and a nice start of the week tomorrow.-

Edited January 26, 2014 by sirchai

[remobb]

Do not send kids out of the classroom. It's better if you walk out. tell them you will not return until someone comes to get you and the class is quiet. Let the kids sort it out themselves, believe me, they will.

[culicine]

"You have to get them engaged, involved and having fun. Learning without them actually knowing it."

sirchai doesn't want fun in class as he considers that a play that's why he accused those Filipino teachers of just playing in class.

I think having fun in a class is one way of motivating a class to get their attention and interest. Teaching seriously in class seems useless for a large class of Thai students

Fun lessons are OK but need to be used sparingly. The fun lesson is for motivation to learn, and helps the regular lessons seem not so tedious.

[sirchai]

"You have to get them engaged, involved and having fun. Learning without them actually knowing it."

sirchai doesn't want fun in class as he considers that a play that's why he accused those Filipino teachers of just playing in class.

I think having fun in a class is one way of motivating a class to get their attention and interest. Teaching seriously in class seems useless for a large class of Thai students

Fun lessons are OK but need to be used sparingly. The fun lesson is for motivation to learn, and helps the regular lessons seem not so tedious.

Thanks, as that was my point what some guys at our school are doing with our kids. They only play games, as they don't know how to teach and they don't know how much energy you'll need to see good results.

Still a high possibility that most of they will be replaced by people who know what they're doing in May.

I started to write a curriculum for the school, but didn't continue as I'm aware that other issues have to get fixed first.

Look forward to a stress full week.-

Edited January 26, 2014 by sirchai

[MusV]

You're a teacher, you'll know.

[Phatcharanan]

Do not send kids out of the classroom. It's better if you walk out. tell them you will not return until someone comes to get you and the class is quiet. Let the kids sort it out themselves, believe me, they will.

You are joking right?

And if some kid has an accident or gets punched by another student whilst you're wandering aound.......guess whose responsibility it is.

[attento]

As a precaution, discretely set up a small video camera in your classroom. You never know, sometime in future, you may need the evidence.

[stedyedy]

Tried looking up other teachers methods online wi/fi would be a problem,you would think theyll have a web marshall on there of some sort but As long as thats there students interest are going to be with that instead of you.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[thhMan]

First you need to tell the parents to discipline kids.

Second, you need to quit as you are more interested in your own self than disciplining the kids, which in turn will have respect for people in the future.

Edited January 26, 2014 by thhMan

[PedMakMakMakMak]

It sounds like the only solution for you is to figure out a creative workable REWARD system.

FInd out what the students want most on an ongoing, continuing basis.

Then devise a method of rewarding good or better behavior.

Rewards could take the form of leaving class 5 mintues early, the chance to clown around in front of the class for 5 mintues, whatever.

I have no idea what rewards would be most coveted by those monkeys, but use it.

Then you can also use negative rewards, which must be subtile to be OK'd by the school, I would guess.

Talk to the teachers at this or other schools that have had the same type of students but have unique ways to cope.

It is hard to do without good support from the school.

I would never attempt this.

And would rather try to herd ducks than get those students in line.

[sirchai]

First you need to tell the parents to discipline kids.

Second, you need to quit as you are more interested in your own self than disciplining the kids, which in turn will have respect for people in the future.

diiscilinoo09.jpg

With all respect, but you gotta be kidding. Our kids are mostly from poor backgrounds and many of them don't talk to their kids.

I don't really want to know what some of them are doing to their kids.....

I'm not more interested in my self, and I do have a good relationship with most of them. Seems that you're not really familiar with Thai schools.-

[sirchai]

It sounds like the only solution for you is to figure out a creative workable REWARD system.

FInd out what the students want most on an ongoing, continuing basis.

Then devise a method of rewarding good or better behavior.

Rewards could take the form of leaving class 5 mintues early, the chance to clown around in front of the class for 5 mintues, whatever.

I have no idea what rewards would be most coveted by those monkeys, but use it.

Then you can also use negative rewards, which must be subtile to be OK'd by the school, I would guess.

Talk to the teachers at this or other schools that have had the same type of students but have unique ways to cope.

It is hard to do without good support from the school.

I would never attempt this.

And would rather try to herd ducks than get those students in line.

I do have my own system to reward them in form of useful DVD's, language learning programs, cartoons in English, but love the part with the ducks.

It's a new week and we'll see what the herd's doing this week. Unfortunately, I'm not alone, as the Thais are fighting with the same behavioral problems.

There's nothing that can surprise me anymore. Good teaching week to all.-

[sirchai]

As a precaution, discretely set up a small video camera in your classroom. You never know, sometime in future, you may need the evidence.

George Orwell's vision. The completely controlled system. No, thanks.-

[Somtamnication]

I am not a teacher but was a psychiatric nurse (children and adolescence) at Napa State Hospital in California, USA for years. I think all of the teachers that think- little games and involve the students so they learn and don't know it- attitudes are the problem the world has today with teaching. It does not work folks. The idea of "mainstreaming" autistic and MRDD students with "normal" children is so much crap. That is true with children that have behavior problems as well. The real truth is that teaching the three "Rs" should be the only subjects taught. If they do not have parents that support education or teachers that know more that they do then there is not chance anything will change. You can then call yourself a human warehouseman just keeping the kids off the streets. Teach in smaller groups. take away the i-pods, mobile phones and make the computer something the better students get to use. If you give a kid an inch they will take a foot. Don't try to be their friend because they will manipulate you and make you think you are doing the job. If not just accept that you are burned out and do something else for a living.

Can you really compare US students to Thai students? Really?

Teach in smaller groups, in Thailand? Really?

[Somtamnication]

And with regards to Onet. Mine test on the 8th. Since the beginning of the year (May 2013), one week a month I do nothing but Onet.

Onet is really stupidly written, horrible grammar and sentence structure and way way too advanced for these kids.

What I do is start with the copy of the last Onet test and pick out words that they see a lot, such as SITUATION, the WHs and slowly work them into understanding a question.

Keeping fingers crossed. Feb 2012, they tested at 18% (not from my lessons). Feb 2013 they got 30% (still dismal but an improvement).

And to the poster suggesting to talk to parents. Ha! These kids go home alone, stay alone until midnight, as parents are either non existent, living with grandparents or work in the "hospitality" industry.

Anyways, to all hard working teachers doing the P6s, good luck. The Thai English teacher (hello, hot today) will get all the credit, as she did last year.

[bundoi]

Well Thailand does have schools with problems no doubt - every country does and @sirchai works in one, but try comparing the problem schools in the UK or the USA with the problem schools in Thailand!

[attento]

As a precaution, discretely set up a small video camera in your classroom. You never know, sometime in future, you may need the evidence.

George Orwell's vision. The completely controlled system. No, thanks.-

It's interesting that some people's first reaction is in terms of the extremes of "complete control", whilst others' instincts don't go beyond simple self-preservation. Yes, please

[meand]

Cameras are actually an interesting idea. I have heard this has been implemented at some schools.

[sirchai]

And with regards to Onet. Mine test on the 8th. Since the beginning of the year (May 2013), one week a month I do nothing but Onet.

Onet is really stupidly written, horrible grammar and sentence structure and way way too advanced for these kids.

What I do is start with the copy of the last Onet test and pick out words that they see a lot, such as SITUATION, the WHs and slowly work them into understanding a question.

Keeping fingers crossed. Feb 2012, they tested at 18% (not from my lessons). Feb 2013 they got 30% (still dismal but an improvement).

And to the poster suggesting to talk to parents. Ha! These kids go home alone, stay alone until midnight, as parents are either non existent, living with grandparents or work in the "hospitality" industry.

Anyways, to all hard working teachers doing the P6s, good luck. The Thai English teacher (hello, hot today) will get all the credit, as she did last year.

Only 13 more days and the naked truth will open some eyes. Or not. I've got some students who bring father's porno CD's to school.

Just wondering what some parents are actually doing with their kids. Stop. Can't talk about it, as they'd lose face.

Education seems to be very difficult these days in a world full of facleless teachers, students and school directors.

But I do love what I'm doing, got some ex- students who became doctors, lawyers, etc...the last thing that dies is hope.-

[zeichen]

I love CCTV in the classroom. I worked at a school where parents could go online and see what their kids were doing. It is a great control for little kids to think that mom and dad are watching them.

[kirstymelb101]

A healthy dose of fear keeps children from growing up to be dictators. Either you discipline them when they're young, or they'll grow up to be fools.

Sorry, I'm also having a bad day aswell.

Unforunately I have to teach the LD (learning disorder) class 1x per week. I know exactly how the OP feels. Every time I ask for help I'm told to just play games and keep them occupied. Parents refuse to receive special care for their child because it's seen as 'losing face', and don't realize how beneficial special care will actually be for the future.

Edited January 27, 2014 by kirstymelb101

[sirchai]

A healthy dose of fear keeps children from growing up to be dictators. Either you discipline them when they're young, or they'll grow up to be fools.

You gotta love this country. Just had my " hair saloon" class, where some girls always make some pony tails and other useful stuff, like Make-Up.

Being in the middle of a science lesson, the topic was different animals and their behavior, their homeroom teacher comes in, tells me to stop teaching for a second.

She's holding a test question, where the word introducing is being used and asks me how to pronounce it.

Purich, my clever student doesn't give a flying Kangaroo and tells her what it is and how to pronounce it.

Her head turns purple, when she walks out with a thank you very march.- You're welcome, my reply.

Said teacher has got a Master's in English, the noise her students are producing doesn't seem to bother her. Life's great.-

[sirchai]

A healthy dose of fear keeps children from growing up to be dictators. Either you discipline them when they're young, or they'll grow up to be fools.

The fear that they'll have to repeat grade six would be best.

I certainly don't create such an environment, where kids have to fear anything. I'm pretty sure that they've to fear many things that happen at home.

It's the system that creates fools and two hours of English per week taught by me, doesn't seem to be enough.

I just focus on those kids who really want to learn now.The results are great.

Anything else is wasted time. How can you teach a sixth grader how to read and speak, if there's no ability in English?

Unfortunately, I've got already five different job offers, without asking anybody. -

Edited January 27, 2014 by sirchai

[tingtong]

A healthy dose of fear keeps children from growing up to be dictators. Either you discipline them when they're young, or they'll grow up to be fools.

Sorry, this is false!

Kids - as it is in Thailand - disciplined more than lots of other countries...teachers can beat the kids, cut into their hair when they think, do the stupid line ups before and after school, march, clean, and whatever else comes into the teachers mind, like hauling building materials around the school yard.

It is a lot more disciplining than most places.

And it is going on for generations, with no clear sight to end the practice.

Yet cant call the current Thai children, or those past in the government schools bright or smart, really, however much they were disciplined as young ones. Certainly there is few who above avarage, but not the common case.

And when you see what many of those parents doing, you could say they grown up to be fools, sadly, even after all this disciplining.

On the other hand many seems to grow up with a dictator like attitude as the case is.

[phil2]

"You have to get them engaged, involved and having fun. Learning without them actually knowing it."

Sounds like propoganda from Edutopia.com

they teach that in the MA teaching course here, which clearly shows that the lecturers do not have a clue about what takes place in a typical Thai classroom

[Scott]

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