Class sizes to be cut in all state schools

[lostinisaan]

Smaller classes will mean more teachers needed. Hah! Fat chance of THAT happening - teachers are deserting Thailand and very few are even considering coming. Until they stop treating teachers like dung, they're gonna get the educational system they've bargained for.

This article is about Thai Teachers and the Thai educational sytyem. Foreign teachers are only a small part of the overall picture. ESL is only an optional subject and is being overtaken in importance by Chinese. The majority of Thai kids need to learn how to be successful in Thailand. Learning to speak English or think like a westerner won't get them far in Thai government jobs, teaching, business etc... Remember, We are in Thailand.Things are very different here than back home. And that's the reason why we all like it here right!! The sooner people accept that differences exist and it is not up to us to change them the better for all involved.

You're right that we're in Thailand, where even the clocks are running differently. But please consider the importance of English for the kids, while ASEAN's approaching Thailand.

The tourist industry alone is a huge market and so better they are in English, the easier they'll find a suitable job.

Of course will not all have the chance to make the big money, but I truly believe that English is much more important than Chinese.

Thailand started to hire Chinese teachers about 12 years ago, but I've never met students who could actually speak one sentence of Chinese.

BTW, the main way to communicate seems to be English. Europe might be a good example.

I'm glad that my son's English teacher is asking him from time to time, when she doesn't know a word, or how to pronounce it correctly.

So in my opinion, he's got much better chances to land a good paid job.

Thailand is not even ready for ASEAN. You might rethink your words in a year, or two.

Edited March 30, 2015 by lostinisaan

[claffey]

50 is a ridiculous size for a private school. Mine (an EP) caps all classes to 30, but most are generally 20 - 25. My classes are usually 15-20. Don't tolerate 50 in a class, especially if it's an English Program.

The writing is on the wall. Just look at O-Net exam results. 60% of the country can barely muster 30-40% on a multiple choice exam. Judging by this, the majority of students know very little of the Thai curriculum once they graduate M6.

When my son starts the new school year in May, he will be in the high school part of the Assumption School, Siracha, they have no EP for kids of that age there.

Just to clarify another comment from someone else, I have lived in TH on a permanent basis for almost 20 years, so I am not a newbie!! Is it right that us the parents of our kids sit there button lipped & say nothing, dream on.

A Brit friend of mine, his 14 year daughter goes to another local Pattaya private school & she is on the EP, apparently most of the Farang teachers all walked out of there last term, including one who took pictures of his private parts & was showing number of the girl students the pictures!

As i said in my original comment my son struggles with Chinese, although does fine in English & Thai. I don't think the school sets an example when majority of the TH staff cannot speak or even communicate in English.

Again. how many teachers in UK, US ETC can speak a second language? You are expecting too much. 99% of the kids in Assumption are Thai so there is no need for all the teachers to speak anything other than Thai!! This is Thailand after all!! Obviously the subject teachers of English and Chinese should be able to hold at least a basic conversation in their subject language. I would suggest that they may also be intimidated if speaking to a foreigner...

[claffey]

Smaller classes will mean more teachers needed. Hah! Fat chance of THAT happening - teachers are deserting Thailand and very few are even considering coming. Until they stop treating teachers like dung, they're gonna get the educational system they've bargained for.

This article is about Thai Teachers and the Thai educational sytyem. Foreign teachers are only a small part of the overall picture. ESL is only an optional subject and is being overtaken in importance by Chinese. The majority of Thai kids need to learn how to be successful in Thailand. Learning to speak English or think like a westerner won't get them far in Thai government jobs, teaching, business etc... Remember, We are in Thailand.Things are very different here than back home. And that's the reason why we all like it here right!! The sooner people accept that differences exist and it is not up to us to change them the better for all involved.

You're right that we're in Thailand, where even the clocks are running differently. But please consider the importance of English for the kids, while ASEAN's approaching Thailand.

The tourist industry alone is a huge market and so better they are in English, the easier they'll find a suitable job.

Of course will not all have the chance to make the big money, but I truly believe that English is much more important than Chinese.

Thailand started to hire Chinese teachers about 12 years ago, but I've never met students who could actually speak one sentence of Chinese.

BTW, the main way to communicate seems to be English. Europe might be a good example.

I'm glad that my son's English teacher is asking him from time to time, when she doesn't know a word, or how to pronounce it correctly.

So in my opinion, he's got much better chances to land a good paid job.

Thailand is not even ready for ASEAN. You might rethink your words in a year, or two.

Naturally English is important but profiency in English is not so important. Many Thai adults who work in Business etc have enough English to communicate. Asean will have no impact here at all. Asian people do not like each other and will there will be no movement of labour, movement etc.It will not be the next EU! Most of the students in Assumption will go to university and find low to middle income jobs in the future. English will help their prospects but is not as important as you think!

[lostinisaan]

50 is a ridiculous size for a private school. Mine (an EP) caps all classes to 30, but most are generally 20 - 25. My classes are usually 15-20. Don't tolerate 50 in a class, especially if it's an English Program.

The writing is on the wall. Just look at O-Net exam results. 60% of the country can barely muster 30-40% on a multiple choice exam. Judging by this, the majority of students know very little of the Thai curriculum once they graduate M6.

When my son starts the new school year in May, he will be in the high school part of the Assumption School, Siracha, they have no EP for kids of that age there.

Just to clarify another comment from someone else, I have lived in TH on a permanent basis for almost 20 years, so I am not a newbie!! Is it right that us the parents of our kids sit there button lipped & say nothing, dream on.

A Brit friend of mine, his 14 year daughter goes to another local Pattaya private school & she is on the EP, apparently most of the Farang teachers all walked out of there last term, including one who took pictures of his private parts & was showing number of the girl students the pictures!

As i said in my original comment my son struggles with Chinese, although does fine in English & Thai. I don't think the school sets an example when majority of the TH staff cannot speak or even communicate in English.

Again. how many teachers in UK, US ETC can speak a second language? You are expecting too much. 99% of the kids in Assumption are Thai so there is no need for all the teachers to speak anything other than Thai!! This is Thailand after all!! Obviously the subject teachers of English and Chinese should be able to hold at least a basic conversation in their subject language. I would suggest that they may also be intimidated if speaking to a foreigner...

I do speak a second and a third language. Sad is that many foreigners who're living in Thailand can't even have a basic conversation in their chosen country Thailand.

I've met quite a few foreigners here, living here for 10 + years, with absolute nil ability in speaking Thai.But you should think about something many Thais don't know much about, even know, only 8 months before the start of the ASEAN community

Please take a look and you might understand what I'm trying to say.: .http://www.wallstreetenglish.in.th/wall-street-english/aec/?lang=en

[kaorop]

One of the biggest problem I've seen, is that very few teachers give a rat's toot about students learning.

Class size my a#s size, first point of order: get better teachers, pay them well and kick the lazy ones out!

But then you find another problem, money that could go to salaries are siphoned off at what must be a huge amount.

[maidee]

bilingual school of daughter...

60k per year

x at least 20 students

= 1.2 cool million ...

teacher salary ... 15.000 x 12 = 180.000 baht

no airco, only fans

so, let's say, at least 1.000.000 baht profit, per class, and they are about 18 classes of 20+ students for her grade only

mhhh, time to change investments ?

[lostinisaan]

bilingual school of daughter...

60k per year

x at least 20 students

= 1.2 cool million ...

teacher salary ... 15.000 x 12 = 180.000 baht

no airco, only fans

so, let's say, at least 1.000.000 baht profit, per class, and they are about 18 classes of 20+ students for her grade only

mhhh, time to change investments ?

I assume your daughter attends a high school, right? The bilingual primary schools I know in lower northeast pay NES teachers at least 36 K.

Asian teachers between 17 and 25 K. Parents pay around 35 K per year.

All classrooms are air conditioned, got projectors, internet, a PC, plus a notebook for personal use. I'd really think twice to pay such an amount.

Edited April 2, 2015 by lostinisaan

[Scott]

When calculating the cost of a teacher, it's a wise idea to include some of the other costs, such as Social Security payments, or private insurance, the cost of work permits and visas. The cost of replacements for absent teachers (sick leave, visa runs etc.). Many schools also provide housing and meals, at least lunch, for teachers.

I know a director of a large private bilingual school and his salary is 30,000 baht a month, which really isn't all that much considering he has several schools. He lives a pretty comfortable lifestyle, but it is far from extravagant. I am sure that in addition to the regular salary there are benefits which come his way, but he is basically a pretty honest person and bribes aren't really his sort of thing. His wife works full-time as well.

The overall issue of education is Thailand (and a lot of countries for that matter) is perilously problematic. Class size is a good place to start, since many students fall through the cracks and the larger the class the bigger the cracks. The next thing they have to tackle is the issue of educational standards of the teachers (not just English, by the way) and finally, the issue of cultural factors that go counter to students' learning.