Thanks, Sling - Teachers discussion

Sling, thanks for the info. I'm being pulled in about three directions right now. I have friends in the Hong Kong and Singapore who are all telling me to 'come come come'. I'm also thinking about taking a teaching job back in the USA.

I don't know all that much about Sing, except they have extremely high taxes on cars coming into the CBD. Supposedly, you don't see bumper-to-bumper there like you do in BKK.

However, I wonder what rents are like? I'd guess outrageous. Also, I wonder what the salaries are for ESL folk? I'd guess not so good after reading your post.

If I keep running into these dead-ends, I'll be retiring from ESL after less than two years.

R

Go to one of the four tigers - Teachers discussion

You'll be much happier teaching in one of the 'four tigers', BD: South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Singapore.

Hong Kong seems to be attracting a lot of attention of late. Two of my colleagues left Thailand (after three and five months working here) last month to teach in HK. I'll be hearing from them soon. If they like what they see, I'll start hunting for a job there as well.

Good luck. I hope you find something you like.

Wait a second, BD - Teachers discussion

BD, you were actually in the Marines? And you want to come to Thailand and teach ESL?

Oh, man.

Yeah, you need to go someplace else. You know you sound a lot like me. Pragmatic, hard-working. We're both used to a 'system' of logic and discipline that gets things done back in the states. Those things got us pretty far. And I'll keep on using discipline and logic when I get back there.

You won't see that 'system' here, and you'll be reminded of its absence daily if you teach ESL in Thai-ville. And every day you'll get pissed off. 'Why won't they just do the work?' you'll ask yourself over and over and over. Finally, much more sooner than later, you'll simply pack up and head for Don Muang airport. You wouldn't put up with this baloney for long. I'm barely hanging on, and I'm what one would call a 'bleeding heart liberal'. I can imagine what an ex-marine from the US would think about this place, its education system, or its slacker students.

I think one of the most hilarious ideas for a reality show would be for Lee Armey, the drill sarge from the movie 'Full Metal Jacket', to come to Thailand to teach ESL and portray the same mentality he displayed in that movie. I'd watch it, for sure. That's because I know how it will end. I can vividly see the opening act of the first episode: the main character chokes a Thai kid to death the first few minutes on his new job.

You don't need this place, BD. You'll only get aggravated here, I'm telling you. Thailand is for slacker teachers, not serious guys.

I'm a slack-o-phobe - Teachers discussion

I appreciate your opinions. However, pragmatism rules, at least in the world where I come from.

After working here nearly 18 months, I can go even further in my posts and add this claim:

With such slacker students in Thailand, I know I should have stayed home or gone gone to Korea instead.

Germophobe, yes.
Slack-o-phobe? You better believe it.
Xenophobe? Not a chance.

Well said! - Teachers discussion

Rheno, now's the time you should apologize - unless you have no DNA in your body. being a generalizing specialist sucks.

George
loves Thai woman and food.

Stereotypes - Teachers discussion

Im the original Devil! A white, middle-class American man, complete with blonde hair and blue eyes! Born and raised in the United States. Served my country in the United States Marine Corp. Pay my taxes (no make believe deductions for me). Worked full time while I earned my degree. Blah, blah, blah...

I will tell you that MOST of my fellow Americans are over-weight, narrow-minded, ignorant rednecks. Stereotypes would not start if there was not at least some truth to the matter. I know that I am not, but if someone assumes I am just because MOST of my countrymen are -- thats life. People are to thin-skinned.

uhh.... - Teachers discussion

I hate to say this, but I was wrong, BD. That letter was actually posted in the NATION newspaper. Do a search for 'nationmultimedia', 'bangkok', and 'newspaper'. When you arrive at the site, find the 'commentary' section and click on 'letter'. There you 'll find opinions of the grand state of the education system here. You can also check out back issues of the newspaper if you want. Check the September 15 issue, especially. Look for a letter posted by 'A teacher who's not a backpacker'.

It's good stuff.

Sorry 'bout that, BD.

They changed the site - Teachers discussion

Let me look around the site. The last time I was there it was a different layout. I'm also assuming the letter from Sept 15 will actually be posted.

its not what you say its the way that you say it - Teachers discussion

From where I sit, in my comfortable arm chair in Blighty, Rhenos comments are racist, perhaps not so much his observations but the way he expresses them.

If someone was to ask me the same question about America and I were to answer that they we all over-weight, narrow-minded, ignorant rednecks then my observations would be equally racist.

Yes, I have visited Thailand twice beautiful country and I cant wait to go back. Wouldnt want to work there though and the same can be for most of Asia and the Middle East. But I didnt need a volley of racist postings on a website to work that out for myself.

I prefer to work in places which have a culture more similar to my own this way I dont have to deal with things that are a little too alien for me and dont end up forming opinions that cloud my true judgement and then expressing them in a public forum.

Much of what Rheno says I can agree with I just take umbrage with his unnecessary attacks on what is a culture a little too alien to his own. My best advice to him would be to leave Thailand as soon as possible. He will then paint a much more objective and valuable opinion of working in Thailand with out letting his personal grievances taint it.

The truth hurts - Teachers discussion

The truth can hurt at times, sure.

Thank goodness for the truth - Teachers discussion

At least somebody out there's telling it like it really is. With all the lies and liars in the T.E.S.O.L. world, I'm one who appreciates the truth and those who tell nothing but the truth.

WINNIE

Truthful Answers - Teachers discussion

The 'best' city in Thailand, in my opinion, is Chiang Mai. Another that's pretty cool is Udon Thani. There are lots of little towns and villages along the coast down south. Some of those have nice beaches, and you'll find at least one school in each town. Little towns out in the sticks are pretty lame. I'd avoid those. They're boring and nobody will understand you. Yeah, the language barrier will get old fast if you teach in a small Thailand town.

There's always Bangkok, but it's crowded, noisy, and polluted. I believe I read once where BKK has the world's worst infrastructure, which is no surprise to me. Organization is a big weakness in Thais. They don't have the brains for organizing something like a city. I think I read in that same article that by 2020, BKK traffic will be so bad it will be faster to walk to get where you need to go. Hell, it's nearly that bad now some days.

BKK does have a good public transport system, though. Tuk-tuks, buses, the skytrain (an El), and the new subway will take you anywhere and everywhere. Bus fares are cheap, but they are very slow and the fare collectors may have trouble understanding you. The 'new' subway is reasonable, but the skytrain is a little pricey and taxi drivers love to rip those with white faces.

Do I have an opinion of schools? Absolutely. I'll say what I've been saying all along (I'm sounding like a broken record even to me), and that is: Don't come here if you are a serious teacher. Teachers, especially those of the white persuasion, are powerless in Thailand. On top of this, Thai kids have an aversion to mental effort and won't work
--something serious guys and gals will have a big problem with all in itself.

So, saying that, I'll say this (again)--if you're serious, avoid Thailand.

However, if you are coming here to dick around for a few months then go back home, Thailand's a good place to come. The weather is great overall, and there are beaches galore here. If you're one of these guys, you can find a recruiter in BKK that will set you up with a high school someplace along the coast. Don't expect much from your students, not even the M6s (seniors). Also, don't go too far south. The Muslims in the far south are shooting people and setting off bombs because theyre angry with the Prime Minister. You don't want to be smeared all over a street because of some dumbass's selfish political agenda. You can do an online search for more gruesome details about what's going on down there.

The one big shock for me, other than the fact Thais are the biggest slackers on the planet, was the toilet situation in Thailand. I thought Thais would be cleaner in the bathroom. What a shock it was.

These people are dirtier than Mexicans. One should carry sanitizer with him or her at all times and avoid any food a Thai actually touches. If you take a peek into a typical Thai bathroom you'll understand why. No soap, no sink, no towel, no running water except for a squirter (sometimes), and no toilet paper. Thais never clip their groudy finger nails, either. Some of those Thais will be happy to prepare your pad thai, som thom, or pork salad right after coming out of the bathroom. They will, of course, NOT be wearing gloves.

I'll leave you to fill in the delicious details. USA food and health inspectors would have brain hemmorages here. Especially after watching a Thai come out of the bathroom, pick his or her nose, ears, or ass, and then handle silverware, dishes, food, ice cubes, whatever.

Yummy!

Yes, I have taught at a high school, but not a uni. I teach at a private college right now, but I chuckle when I say that. I've not seen bigger slackers. Not here. Not in the USA. Certainly not Korea. Here, as at my old high school, the students will cheat every time you give them a chance. If a teacher turns his or her back for five seconds, his or students will jump on the chance to get a freebie. There's no stopping it.

Thai kids have to cheat. They refuse to do homework or any other work teachers assign, and they damn sure won't ever study for quizzes, tests, or exams. But to them, this is fine. They know they have all the power. If they bitch to the administrators because they don't like you and your 'slave driving' ways or the (deserving) failing grades you give them, the administrators will change those grades behind your back. Yeap, they'll come out fine even if you do fail them--and they know it.

Everybody passes here. Everybody.
'They pays their monies and they gets their degrees.'

Can you live with all this?

If not, stay the hell away from Thailand.

And it gets worse. Both Thai administrators and students expect teachers to be dancing bears or bozo-the-clown characters in classes. This is because making students actually exert mental effort will get you nowhere in Thailand.

It's no surprise that Thai students have very little or even no proficiency after a decade or more of trudging to English classes day after day after day after day after day. Some of those classes (but never mine) were filled to the brim with bozo and dancing-bear routines--and they STILL don't know
jackshit.

If I ever run into a Thai back in the USA who can't speak perfect English, I'm putting my foot three inches up his ass. I know what they're getting over here--a damn good opportunity. An opportunity they are pissing away on a daily basis.

Make it five inches up his ass. I WILL remember to wash afterwards, of course.

Good luck.

I hope this helps.

It's okay to ask me here - Teachers discussion

BD, I keep anything related to this site here at the site. I don't write folks using personal emails. I could simply create a throw-away account and email you that way, but then that would defeat the purpose of the 'open discussion' that's present here.

Ask away.