Thailand needs 4,000 English teachers

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Thailand needs 4,000 English teachers
The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The Thai government is hoping to hire up to 4,000 Filipinos who can teach English in Thailand.

Diplomatic sources told The STAR that the hiring of the teachers is one of the matters to be discussed during the visit in Manila of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Thailand has opened schools teaching the languages of Southeast Asia in preparation for the creation of the ASEAN Economic Community by the end of the year.

President Aquino and the Thai leader agreed yesterday to advance the “Partnership for Prosperity” between the Philippines and Thailand.

They cited the economic and political stability of the two nations and their mutual desire to promote peace and security in the West Philippine Sea.

The Partnership for Prosperity will cover areas such as trade and investment, tourism, education, technical and agricultural cooperation, energy and the strengthening of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“I must submit: Thailand has surpassed our country in terms of economic vibrancy,” Aquino said.

“Even your unemployment rate is something to marvel at – at 0.88 percent. For our part, our government is working to reach the same, and I have every confidence that our partnership will contribute to our mutual growth.”

Full storyhttp://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/08/29/15/thailand-needs-4000-english-teachers

-- ABS CBM 2015-08-31

[arfurcrown]

As a matter of interest what is the Ministry of Education policy on non Thais teaching the Thai language and Thai subjects?

Must be possible and allowable for a non Thai to teach Thai as it seems as if the policy of allowing non native speakers of English and other languages to teach those languages irrespective of their countries of origin is allowable.

I must consult the local car mechanic about this pain I have in my ear.

No doubt his ability to diagnose a cars maladies extend to a humans maladies.

Well that would seem to be so if we use the same yardstick in applying ability to the teaching of English or any other language by non native speakers of those languages.

[thesetat2013]

If anyone has ever seen or heard a Philippine national teaching in English then they would understand that Thailand already has Thai teachers that can do just as good of a job teaching with poor pronunciation.

[MadMuhummad]

I have a duel citizenship Filo/Aussie GF. Tertiary qualified (psychology/behavioural science) and I'm wondering with the ASEAN changes could she enter Thailand on her filo passport and teach English. She'll be doing a TEFL course before we relocate.

We'll be in country in April to visit a visa specialist etc but any info would be appreciated.

[JSPS]

So we will have Thai students speaking English with a Thai accent on top of Filipino mispronunciations? What fun!

[zaphod reborn]

Who else would work for 15-20,000 THB/month with no resource support?

[bangmai]

Partnership of Poverty.

[aarontendo]

Way overly critical, fellas. Assuming the filipino teachers have a license from there, which I'm sure they will, I don't see any reason why this won't work. They'll work for a cheaper wage than the native speakers. I see a lot of butthurt from people who may see their jobs in danger.

People act as if government schools out in the provinces are all able to hire a white teacher.

[jerome2]

Philippinos are nearly english native speakers..more than half of their school programs is taught in english

[cmiuc]

In my school... chanabut max... they have me teaching reading and writing, while a Thai is teaching speaking and listening... My classes are a disaster because they cannot understand what I say when I speak... this countries English is getting worse each year... I used to be able to have accomplishment at least by the end of the semester, but i still feel like I am at square one... Of course the English teaching Thai teachers feel like they are bee's knees to in English.

This school has had Cameroonians, Filipinos, all of which the Thai teacher have spoken badly about...etc...

So its quite interesting why they say they want 4000 teachers... when the English is becoming less and less of an important subject... it is only a subject to have contests on(more extracurricular activity than a real learning language).

so as we say... "MOE....put your money where your mouth is... " because "all talk and no work/action" doesn't produce results. To put it bluntly.

And of course the teachers council and MOE does NOT support the foreign teachers with issues that we face in these schools.

[Docno]

I met a Filipina woman a few months back who was teaching English in Thailand. Her English was pretty atrocious (and worse than some Filipina maids I know). For example, she did the 'common' Taglish thing of switching pronoun genders... using 'him' and 'his' when referring to a woman. I can only imagine how confusing she would be to more motivated students in the classroom.

Edited August 31, 2015 by Docno

[aarontendo]

Yep spot on. I mean, I wouldn't classify them as native speakers but they generally have a good command of the language. If they had education training (which most of the native teachers here lack) I can't see why this wouldn't work out wonderfully for the teacher and the schools hiring.

[glasswort]

.......political stability of the two nations.......

Ho! ho! Ho!

[bangon04]

"President Aquino and the Thai leader agreed yesterday to advance the “Partnership for Prosperity” between the Philippines and Thailand."

What a mutual admiration orgy it was.... I guess Aquino was getting tips about staying in power, while the general was admiring the multitude of methods the top Philippino families have for controlling the money.

"hoping to hire" 4000 Taglish teachers is just a small sideshow.

[Friendly Stranger]

To the ppl that are piling on the phils' for their English, I disagree, as they're more than capable.

Yes, it seems this may push out some of the westerners; cheaper and not as high maintenance. This is my opinion of course

[bangmai]

In my experience, the Indians are just as easy to understand, and will work for the same bag of peanuts, but you don't see them mentioned much. Is it the turbans, the body odor, or something less subtle? The Spaniards were in the Philippines four times longer than the US; India only had the Brits.

[jacksam]

Philippinos are nearly english native speakers..more than half of their school programs is taught in english

I think the Philippino English teachers would make an excellent contribution to Thailand. They often speak better English than SOME or the expats from native English speaking countries.

Have conversations here with UK teachers here in los and depending where they are from....I can hardly understand them.

[MadMuhummad]

Philippinos are nearly english native speakers..more than half of their school programs is taught in english

I think the Philippino English teachers would make an excellent contribution to Thailand. They often speak better English than SOME or the expats from native English speaking countries.

Have conversations here with UK teachers here in los and depending where they are from....I can hardly understand them.

Absolutely! I've had the same experience. And the reasonably educated Filo's use far better grammar and punctuation in written and spoken English. Edited August 31, 2015 by MadMuhummad

[Lukecan]

Brits wont work for anything less than 30k, filipinos are willing to work for 15k, so basically its win-win. But thais will still prefer white teacher because they value white skin over anything else.

[jacksam]

Has anyone visited HCMC and mixed with English teachers drinking in district 1. Hanoi the same.

Basically rejects from their own country impersonating qualified teachers. Vietnam could copy Thailand's idea here.

[Friendly Stranger]

In my experience, the Indians are just as easy to understand, and will work for the same bag of peanuts, but you don't see them mentioned much. Is it the turbans, the body odor, or something less subtle? The Spaniards were in the Philippines four times longer than the US; India only had the Brits.

I think what you're referring to are Sikhs. Sorry to say that Indians are not looked upon too favourably in the eyes of Thai's. Also, and this is a stretch, phils blend in much better.

Edited August 31, 2015 by Friendly Stranger

[AyG]

I think the Philippino English teachers would make an excellent contribution to Thailand. They often speak better English than SOME or the expats from native English speaking countries.

The Filipino English teachers I have encountered here have been devout Christians. Unlike many native speakers, they don't come in with hangovers reeking of booze, don't stink of cigarette smoke, don't have criminal records in their home countries, drug addiction, or serious psychological problems (apart from an irrational belief in an invisible sky wizard), and they haven't expressed an unhealthy sexual interest in pubescent boys and girls.

Add to that that they have had the experience of learning English as a second language, plus they're less expensive. Quite frankly, why would anyone hire a native speaker over a Filipino?

[Farang99]

Philippinos are nearly english native speakers..more than half of their school programs is taught in english

If they want 4,000 effective English teachers (rather than just any old teacher) they need to subsidise the schools to hire native English speakers - British, Australian, American whatever. Otherwise they will end up with the usual incompetent mess of heavily accented, minimal vocabulary so-called English speakers.

The current state of English spoken in Thailand is the reason I exerted myslf to be able to communicate in Thai - there is a better chance of what I want to say being understood.

[SOTIRIOS]

....the fact of the matter is...a native English speaker ...degree or not.....could probably teach English better than 90% of Asian English teachers...

...the rest is all politics......

[bangmai]

I think the Philippino English teachers would make an excellent contribution to Thailand. They often speak better English than SOME or the expats from native English speaking countries.

The Filipino English teachers I have encountered here have been devout Christians. Unlike many native speakers, they don't come in with hangovers reeking of booze, don't stink of cigarette smoke, don't have criminal records in their home countries, drug addiction, or serious psychological problems (apart from an irrational belief in an invisible sky wizard), and they haven't expressed an unhealthy sexual interest in pubescent boys and girls.

Add to that that they have had the experience of learning English as a second language, plus they're less expensive. Quite frankly, why would anyone hire a native speaker over a Filipino?

They believe they were created by God; you believe you were created by monkeys. Perhaps, you are both correct. And aren't you thankful that the Buddhist aren't the least bit superstitious and have so much respect for living things (except for pedestrians, of course)?

Edited August 31, 2015 by bangmai

[sammygood]

let's hire some filipino or na with a little bit of english they can pay low wages, instead of a descend english TEACHER

[tingtongfarang]

Wonder how the parents feel when the kids come home speaking like carmen miranda.

[MadMuhummad]

let's hire some filipino or na with a little bit of english they can pay low wages, instead of a descend english TEACHER

Say what??

[Lukecan]

let's hire some filipino or na with a little bit of english they can pay low wages, instead of a descend english TEACHER

Its decent, not descend

[IMA_FARANG]

Of course it is all a generalization, but I know Philippinos or Philippinas whose English is better than many native born Brits.

One of them is a 40 year old Fhillippina woman who works here in this hotel where I live.

She is not a teacher, however, but a University trained nurse with a nursing degree.

Now, however, she is married to one of the sons of the family who are the owners of this hotel.

She takes care of the hotel reservations system and the hotel guests billing accounts.....mainly because she knows the computer billing system better than anyone else in the family.