Thai officials to slash number of foreign English teachers

[puffy]

I don't believe this article. Six is far too high.

[JAG]

Keep the immigrants throw out teachers ok latter works good for the duck and dive brigade (yes you) but also sort out the former.

Were you taught English by a Thai teacher?

[Jeremy50]

Well, at least it would clear out all the rejects, the sad dreamers, the fiddlers, the groomers, the military fantasists, the 'I love Thailand' sycophants, the KSU graduates, the sandal wearing misfits, the drunks, the deadbeats, the dopey backpacking bozo's, the tattooed beach bums, the 'I do all my own washing' smelly tramps, and the 'my 18 year old girlfriend is not a bar-girl' sex-pats.

[retsdon]

We need Thai teachers to learn how to teach English and no one knows that better than the British Council.

But they won't use the methodology they learn. I worked with a number of Thai educators with Master's quals in TESOL from British and Canadian unis. Every one of them taught by conducting a monologue through a microphone. Everything they'd learned overseas about language aquisition had been left behind on their dissertation paper.

Once back in Thailand they just went native again......

[GerdT]

As an Everton supporter I often get called "deluded" but this beats all.

Six weeks is enough?

I can understand the need to be self-sufficient and not to rely on western teachers. But there's a lot more to it than a short "intensive" course for a few Thai teachers.

How about instilling a desire to learn in students.

I don’t think that a desire to learn in students is missing and in my view is present from the beginning. It is strangled over the years the way we educate our children and that doesn’t only apply in Thailand but as I recently have seen in Europe too. Education in a country should be run by educators and not politicians and accountants. Investing into the education system is an investment into the future and denying that is putting an education system and a country into reverse.

I feel that 500 teachers to educate a country of over 60 million people in the English language is an undertaking that might be called a Sisyphus task and is doomed to fail.

[spambot]

It is interesting to see this announcement today since it coincides with the end of the long availability of the double (and also the triple) tourist visas .

Thailand is essentially replacing them with the METV that now forces foreigners to leave and return to their own country in order to get one.

If this report is correct foreigners under 50, not married to a Thai, but looking to work in Thailand even less Visas will be issued and the net result is less foreigners staying long term in Thailand.

Its not clear if this is just part of a longer term political trend or just coincidental and is really a money saving scheme.

If its political then which of the other Visas will be next to have changes limiting the time or opportunity for foreigners to remain here over the longer term.

If they get a job, they just need to go over to Laos and get a Non-Imm B visa.

If there are less jobs - There is less people allowed to apply for a Visa - Effectively less long term stayers - Irrespective of the method used to obtain the visa.

[Madgee]

You know the British Council is a great institution.

They can really teach English.

Train the Trainer is a little more complicate, but given a lot of year, this is a great step forward.

Have any of you Nay sayers ever worked with the British Council, attended any of their courses, or been a trainerment

Yes, yes and yes; albeit in China!

I was a speaker at a few BC seminars and attended many short training courses, it's amazing what they can cram into a weekend course yet alone a six week course as proposed in Thailand. Although my subject matter was the IELTS speaking module, their training methods were enlightening, very intuitive and fun. This new found knowledge I passed on to my fellow Chinese colleagues at regular 'in house' training sessions who enthusiastically embraced the methodology and consequently our students began to achieve higher scores.

I would love to see this happen in Thailand but as many posters, in my opinion, have corrected commented; most Thai teachers teaching English do not want to make the effort to improve because there are no consequences involved if they don't improve. The recent CEFR tests on Thai Gov. teachers proved their low ability and very little has been done to remedy this situation. At a fairly recent weekend long seminar for teachers who scored under B1 level (many at A1), I had the pleasure of being an instructor for the listening module and surprise, surprise! Many never attended the morning sessions and some of those that did spent the whole morning playing with their phones. All they were interested in was having a good time in the evening eating and singing.

Not for me to comment on the consequences if Thailand disposes of the NES teachers but the MoE must take this seriously and realise the dire situation of it's English teachers ability in schools across the country if it really wants to see improvement in the use of the international language of the world. Attitudes of teachers and students must be adjusted to accept that the use of English is vitally important for success in the world of today.

Oooops ....... I thought I was still in China, silly me.

[bangmai]

They won't be saving any THB on the work permits that are rarely issued.

[fang37]

Unfortunately, these days, you need more than just teachers.

Headmaster

Administrator/accountant/jack of all trades

Ground staff - janitor/gardener

Edited November 13, 2015 by fang37

[tukkytuktuk]

Well, at least it would clear out all the rejects, the sad dreamers, the fiddlers, the groomers, the military fantasists, the 'I love Thailand' sycophants, the KSU graduates, the sandal wearing misfits, the drunks, the deadbeats, the dopey backpacking bozo's, the tattooed beach bums, the 'I do all my own washing' smelly tramps, and the 'my 18 year old girlfriend is not a bar-girl' sex-pats.

But not the fascist bigots no your at home here, your the governments role model.

[mydee]

I wont be popular but given the quality of a large percentage of the foreign teachers here I cant blame them. Yes there are very good committed teachers here from all backgrounds but unfortunately we all know that most are here for the booze and hookers and nothing else.

If its any consolation I tend to agree with you. I contrast Thailand's approach with China's, at least their approach prior to the Beijing Olympics when they realized the need for English speaking support staff. In order to teach at the universities or schools you had to have at least a tertiary qualification and a teaching qualification. Yes, there may be those few people who are naturally gifted in imparting education and have a thorough knowledge of their own language without prior training but it is rare. And it is even more rare in the group you mention. I know from personal experience that I was hopelessly under educated in the framework of my own language until, faced with the enormity of studying another language I had to rush out and get a good grammar book before embarking on a study of that language.

Thailand should insist that Thai nationals who are teachers of English are forced to undergo continual professional development in the understanding, grammar and teaching of English and that foreign teachers at least have a university degree in some recognized field and a further Bachelor of Diploma in Education.

I think Thailand owes it to themselves to clean up the fiasco. I hope that this is one small step forward.

[Tingtau]

" Under the "train-the-trainer" program..........Thai teachers who teach English in government schools ............... intensive six-week training course taught by English specialists from the British Council" A good idea...but until they stop passing ALL students irregardless of the how low a mark they achieved on their test, I don't care who they have teaching English, the students will never cut it. And another thing...you have to WANT to learn, so if they really want to improve a student's proficiency, they will have to come up with two things: 1) An incentive to be in the class to learn, not just occupying a chair because their curriculum requires it. and 2) Require that the student actually can pass the tests that are administered, before advancing them. There are countless students who are deservedly at the Prathom 5 level in Thai subjects, but would be hard-pressed to, legitimately, be able to pass tests at the Prathom 1 or 2 level in English grammar. This is through no fault of the teachers nor is it fair to criticize the student, for he or she has been brought up to KNOW that they will get a pass no matter what their actual knowledge is!! That is the reality!

[62strat]

Reforms like reducing classroom time, reciting the 12 values, studying the heroic history of the Army, (written by the Army) and reducing the native speakering English teachers, should complete the job many thought was impossible ; lowering the standards of Thai education.

[tom21]

It makes very little difference who teaches the children English if they are not interested and do not see the point in learning . The English class at school is the only time they hear it spoken. There are no radio stations or tv stations that speak English and are aimed at thai youth . No magazines in english which are cheap and readily available, there are a lot in thai. The only thais good at English are the ones working in the tourist field and they would of learnt it after working with tourists.

[GerdT]

Am I game enough to ask just who will teach them Pragmatics.

Time to man the lifeboats and head for Myanmar boys.

The only way that Thais will ever learn to speak English is if the Chinese take their education system in hand.

You might be in the wrong boat.

http://theconversation.com/what-will-the-english-language-be-like-in-100-years-50284

[PhDEducation]

Hello,

Two years ago I posted a message indicating that it's not the students who are at fault but it is was the proficiency of the Thai teachers. The Ministry wanted 1.5 million students to be English proficient by the year 2015! We all know how that worked out.

In regards to the person who taught English and tried to educated Thai teachers is absolutely correct! They have no interest what so ever. We all are aware of the problem, now what is the solution? From my experience as a university lecturer, hire more Foreigners! I don't refer to myself as a farlang, I'm a foreigner. I've been an Administrator, English teacher, and university lecturer. I refused the position of a Thesis Advisor. I taught Chinese teachers as well as Korean teachers. They had a desire to learn!

My children are Thai and the school they attend is a travesty due to their curriculum. I'm not criticizing the students but the total Automony of the owners of the school and the Ministry of Education. Solution for the USA should slash all Asians who teach the different languages. That would improve the linguistics of a foreign language. I'm sorry for being so sarcastic but this is totally absurd!

This is a perfect way to hinder the education of the students! Footnote, a teacher asked my daughter to help him with his English! End of story! I apologize if offending anyone but this article has offended me.

[z42]

Honestly i can't see them following through on the scheme.. when has any scheme implemented by any government here gone to plan.

[fekman]

Lunacy

What are the chances that the creepy Matt Dillon wanna be in the picture is not banging, or trying to bang his underage students?

[csabo]

I hear they are gonna get Donald Trump to build a wall around Thailand next.

[schietkop]

Yes, the Thai teacher stating to loose face.

So the only option for Thais is to eliminate the competition. Since this is thailand and no one is facing the music, what easier way to just kill the band.

Politics never cares about education only power. How to stay in power? Make the people happy. Promise them something .

Set the date in the near future. Aaaaaaaaaaand voilà you have nice obidient people how give a flying ? .

They do care for education, they just rewrote the history books. Its great to teach the masses how it really happened in history and very benificial for politicians. In the end, the history books are always right!

[toybits]

Suddenly Myanmar looks soo much more attractive.

[uptheos]

Thai's can teach grammar very well.

There is no way on earth they are going to be able to teach how to speak it, to a good enough standard.

[tumama]

I don't get it. Does the Thai government subsidize English teaching schools?

OK, I get it. These are government run schools. So essentially this is just cutting down on costs. Not like the military cares about the people. This is why the Redshirt keep winning every election.

Edited November 13, 2015 by tumama

[Jimjim1968]

These young Chinese intern teachers at my school are teaching 28 contact hours a week and get 4000 baht a month. We do 22 hours. The Thais do about 15.

[lowbo]

this fits with the current approach to maintain an uneducated society. The current PM has demonstrated his objective to keep education as the lowest priority by 1st reducing the school day, and now this... with an uneducated society, there's less of a chance to question or challenge the leadership! ... strike two!

[SymS]

I got tot Engrish by a franch titcher, and I don't see the probleme, my Engrish is parfait!

[pendingo]

This is a result of country bumpkins ruling the system.

Better to shoot onself in the foot than lose face.

[kinmaew]

Nationalism is the last refuge of the scoundrel

[brewsterbudgen]

Thai's can teach grammar very well.

There is no way on earth they are going to be able to teach how to speak it, to a good enough standard.

True. But at least they know how to use apostrophes.

[thesetat2013]

Yes, the Thai teacher stating to loose face.

So the only option for Thais is to eliminate the competition. Since this is thailand and no one is facing the music, what easier way to just kill the band.

Politics never cares about education only power. How to stay in power? Make the people happy. Promise them something .

Set the date in the near future. Aaaaaaaaaaand voilà you have nice obidient people how give a flying .

They do care for education, they just rewrote the history books. Its great to teach the masses how it really happened in history and very benificial for politicians. In the end, the history books are always right!

Are you nuts?

Thai history books have always been favorable to the current admins views on how history needs to be taught. It is not based on factual occurrences in most cases. It's biased and one sided leaving no room to form your own opinions. You should actually look and try to teach history using their books before you make such a uninformed comment.