Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2015 11:21:59 GMT 7
Probably because there are some people who just want to make a difference. I understand how some people can't understand that. (see the last post on the previous page) Is it because they are trying to make a difference or are they doing it because they want to stay in Thailand at all cost and this is the only way they can do it ? Contrary to what people think I don't have a problem with teachers per se, but what I do have have a problem with in my limited exposure exposure to farang teachers in Thailand is the attitude some of them have all pumped up with their own self importance and they start trying to lecture people, to be honest the few I have come across over the years here have come very close to getting a punch in mouth because of their attitudes I have met many a farang who are not teachers that are wrapped up in their own importance towards Thai folk. My chum, a member here, is a teacher with absolutely no visions of grandeur, and a thoroughly nice chap. |
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Mosha
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Post by Mosha on Apr 21, 2015 11:30:32 GMT 7
The school in the village. One day they turned up with a wad of A4. They wanted me to help them set homework, and set some questions from these sheets. They had downloaded a scientific paper. Through my wife I explained that it would not work, No English speaking country in the world uses words like is in the papers. They were insistent. Took me ages to set 20 simple questions.
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Post by Soutpeel on Apr 21, 2015 11:34:26 GMT 7
Is it because they are trying to make a difference or are they doing it because they want to stay in Thailand at all cost and this is the only way they can do it ? Contrary to what people think I don't have a problem with teachers per se, but what I do have have a problem with in my limited exposure exposure to farang teachers in Thailand is the attitude some of them have all pumped up with their own self importance and they start trying to lecture people, to be honest the few I have come across over the years here have come very close to getting a punch in mouth because of their attitudes I have met many a farang who are not teachers that are wrapped up in their own importance towards Thai folk. My chum, a member here, is a teacher with absolutely no visions of grandeur, and a thoroughly nice chap. Agreed its not just teachers there are some seriously 'damaged " farangs running around Thailand with chips on their shoulders and attitudes to match |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2015 11:43:48 GMT 7
In my experience it has been farangs "attitude" towards their wife too. And not just a few.
???
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thaddeus
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Post by thaddeus on Apr 21, 2015 12:06:17 GMT 7
Probably because there are some people who just want to make a difference. I understand how some people can't understand that. (see the last post on the previous page) Is it because they are trying to make a difference or are they doing it because they want to stay in Thailand at all cost and this is the only way they can do it ? Contrary to what people think I don't have a problem with teachers per se, but what I do have have a problem with in my limited exposure exposure to farang teachers in Thailand is the attitude some of them have all pumped up with their own self importance and they start trying to lecture people, to be honest the few I have come across over the years here have come very close to getting a punch in mouth because of their attitudes Both types exist, it is usually very easy to tell one from the other. (and I agree with your attitude adjustment requirement for some of them) |
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thaddeus
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Post by thaddeus on Apr 21, 2015 12:15:11 GMT 7
I feel really sorry for the young teachers here (both Thai and western, qualifications are not relevant) who start with vim and vigour and a real desire to teach, most of the kids will bring you joy, but the Thai educational system will quickly beat that desire out of you. ...beg to differ: appropriate qualifications are relevant. Very few prospective teachers know how to set classroom goals, select strategies that are likely to produce the desired language, know how to grow the use of language in a classroom and understand how to test appropriately. All this is aside from the normal frustrations teachers must face: unsupportive and possibly suspicious admin, defeatist school policies, problem learners, frequent interruptions for the usual inanities, visa difficulties and the heat and mire we are all exposed to on a daily basis... Thai admin in schools should be known as The Department of Education Prevention. I agree that qualifications are pretty much essential once a certain level is attained, however, in the starting blocks they aren't. My parents had no qualifications in anything at all, I still managed to start school speaking fairly good English, someone qualified then taught me how to write it down. |
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Morakot
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Post by Morakot on Apr 21, 2015 13:08:15 GMT 7
What amazes me is that TEFL salaries don't seem to have increased since early 2000s. I wonder how much is actually skimmed of by agencies and schools, that should be on wages?? Good international schools in BKK pay in the region 90,000+ per month for qualified TEFL staff. |
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rubl
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Post by rubl on Apr 21, 2015 13:51:24 GMT 7
Not really sure why anyone would get up at 6am, teach, mark, planning, wear a suit in 35 degree weather, travel on a bike, moto taxi in all weathers or BTS and spend 10 hours in a classroom for 25,000 baht, whilst living in paradise??? Things don't really get better when skipping wearing a suit, I guess? |
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Post by professorfart on Apr 23, 2015 15:36:06 GMT 7
I used to think of TEFLers as utter vermin; the lowest of the low. Non-teachers selling their dignity for peanuts just to be close to the hookers, playing at 'respectable' 'professional expats when they were no more than mere performing monkeys playing party games and helping no one bar their own B*llocks.
I certainly think that was the case 10 - 15 years ago. However over the past 10 years with all the restrictions various regimes have put on the 'trade' has seen a genuine shift in the types of folks we see TEFLing nowadays. Most now seem to be here for a year or two for a little 'life experience' before returning home to embark on serious careers in other fields.
I was quite surprised when recently taking my neighbour's kids to (a well known Catholic quasi International school with a large Western staff) the other day, to note that the Western staff were all young, clean cut types with not a single example of the stereotypical 'Sexpat' type in sight.
Five years ago when I lived near this same school, I'd often see/bump into/chat with some of the Western teaching staff out on the p**s most nights around the neighbourhood. They almost to a man fitted the traditional sexpat stereotype; Hooker wife or GF, drink problems (several were let go for drink related issues in the few years I was in the area), absolutely no interest in the job or educational welfare of the kids, few had any qualifications either. Which shows o me that the modern requirements for teaching here (licenses, degrees etc) really does seem to have weeded out many of this ilk hence the rise in Digital Pikeys/Boiler Room vermin over the past decade.
That said, I've met some excellent TEFLers over my years here, many of whom remain pals to this day. They tended to be the one's who accepted their lot and got on with their lives and jobs here. They didn't spend their lives hanging out in expat bars playing at 'lawyers' or 'real estate salesmen' or eternally griping about how hard done by they were or Thailand in general....so maybe my post here explains the fall in 'negpats' too....
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curtaintwitcher
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Post by curtaintwitcher on Apr 23, 2015 16:47:50 GMT 7
I used to think of TEFLers as utter vermin; the lowest of the low. Non-teachers selling their dignity for peanuts just to be close to the hookers, playing at 'respectable' 'professional expats when they were no more than mere performing monkeys playing party games and helping no one bar their own B*llocks. I certainly think that was the case 10 - 15 years ago. However over the past 10 years with all the restrictions various regimes have put on the 'trade' has seen a genuine shift in the types of folks we see TEFLing nowadays. Most now seem to be here for a year or two for a little 'life experience' before returning home to embark on serious careers in other fields. I was quite surprised when recently taking my neighbour's kids to (a well known Catholic quasi International school with a large Western staff) the other day, to note that the Western staff were all young, clean cut types with not a single example of the stereotypical 'Sexpat' type in sight. Five years ago when I lived near this same school, I'd often see/bump into/chat with some of the Western teaching staff out on the p**s most nights around the neighbourhood. They almost to a man fitted the traditional sexpat stereotype; Hooker wife or GF, drink problems (several were let go for drink related issues in the few years I was in the area), absolutely no interest in the job or educational welfare of the kids, few had any qualifications either. Which shows o me that the modern requirements for teaching here (licenses, degrees etc) really does seem to have weeded out many of this ilk hence the rise in Digital Pikeys/Boiler Room vermin over the past decade. That said, I've met some excellent TEFLers over my years here, many of whom remain pals to this day. They tended to be the one's who accepted their lot and got on with their lives and jobs here. They didn't spend their lives hanging out in expat bars playing at 'lawyers' or 'real estate salesmen' or eternally griping about how hard done by they were or Thailand in general....so maybe my post here explains the fall in 'negpats' too.... a) "so maybe my post here explains the fall in 'negpats' too...." actually, your post gives more insight about you and your crude judgments and generalizations of others b) "Five years ago when I lived near this same school, I'd often see/bump into/chat with some of the Western teaching staff out on the p**s most nights around the neighbourhood."...so, you being out on the p**s to observe these "types" is fine, but others doing so is just horrible. c) "They almost to a man fitted the traditional sexpat stereotype; Hooker wife or GF, drink problems (several were let go for drink related issues in the few years I was in the area), absolutely no interest in the job or educational welfare of the kids, few had any qualifications either."...this unfortunate generalization may be more a reflection of the kind of folks you mixed with in your wild and crazy youth than a valid population sample... d) "Which shows o me that the modern requirements for teaching here (licenses, degrees etc) really does seem to have weeded out many of this ilk hence the rise in Digital Pikeys/Boiler Room vermin over the past decade."...the relatively new teacher licenses are money spinners for the Thais involved: they are not skill-based training experiences as the Thai instructors themselves have little idea how classrooms should be manged, educational goals set, etc. sorry to go on at length, but such an ignorant and pompous post based on "personal experience" needs a reality check...what the author needs I'll leave up to his discretion... |
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Post by professorfart on Apr 23, 2015 17:19:01 GMT 7
I wasn't in a position of trust, nor was I responsible for teaching young kids. The fact that I could merrily roll into work in the morning feeling a bit delicate, was of no consequence to my own habits at that time.
I'd say it was more a definite reflection of the sector of TEFL teachers around at that time. Indeed the 'generalisation' was certainly the rule, rather than the exception.
As you were not in that area at that time, I fail to see how you can call it/dismiss it as a 'generalisation' while labelling me as 'pompous' at the same time.
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curtaintwitcher
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Post by curtaintwitcher on Apr 23, 2015 17:33:11 GMT 7
I wasn't in a position of trust, nor was I responsible for teaching young kids. The fact that I could merrily roll into work in the morning feeling a bit delicate, was of no consequence to my own habits at that time. I'd say it was more a definite reflection of the sector of TEFL teachers around at that time. Indeed the ' generalisation' was certainly the rule, rather than the exception. As you were not in that area at that time, I fail to see how you can call it/dismiss it as a ' generalisation' while labelling me as 'pompous' at the same time. "while labelling me as 'pompous' at the same time"...a more careful reading will show that I labeled your post pompous... you, however, might be a kind and unassuming person willing to tolerate mildly inappropriate behavior in others...who knows? |
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Phil
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Post by Phil on Apr 23, 2015 17:41:15 GMT 7
What amazes me is that TEFL salaries don't seem to have increased since early 2000s. I wonder how much is actually skimmed of by agencies and schools, that should be on wages?? Good international schools in BKK pay in the region 90,000+ per month for qualified TEFL staff. With a very good University Degree and you're guaranteed to work 60. 70, 80 hours a week doing all you need to do. Nowhere pays 90K for just a TEFL qualification. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2015 17:51:53 GMT 7
Teaching Language support or EAL ( English as Another Language) in an real top notch international school does pay well and has all the benefits to go with it. ( Here in HK anyway) Privates, corporate teaching top up the income not sure if that's legal in Thailand though. Nice levelheaded posts curtaintwitcher. Painting all ESL teachers with the same broad black tar brush is offensive and there are some very dedicated teachers out there maybe not earning that much but in it for the passion of the profession.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2015 18:01:23 GMT 7
I would love to help Thai folk with English, I have NO qualifications but can speak Oxford English.
Now folk here can tell me to feeeerk off, but I HAVE helped Thai folk with their pronunciation....
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