It has a range of ‘interesting’ and ‘pragmatic’ methods to attract more and more students to learn English, whether it’s vocabulary, grammar, or conversation, which we all know are the three skills in language learning. Worried now?

All students at this renowned tutorial school learn English words through a vast series of English-and-Thai songs, notes the Bangkok Post, composed by their dedicated English tutors, who want to implement their unique teaching technique to help their pupils remember as many difficult words and idioms as possible in a more enjoyable, yet practical, way. God help us.

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The Language and Language Teaching Conference (LLTC), originally Southern Thailand English Language Teaching Conference, will be organized every two years. It will serve as a meeting place for regional, national, and international language and language teaching professionals and scholars to exchange ideas and practices and disseminate their research about issues and concerns in language and language teaching. Featuring an inspiring, thought-provoking keynote speech, paper, poster and workshop sessions, and excellent book exhibits, the LLTC promises plenty of opportunities for developing and fostering networks both at a casual and at a professional level. The conference focuses on all issues related to language and language teaching.

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The life of the English teacher in Thailand is the subject of this latest in the series of guest articles, this time from Luke Fisher:

There are a wide variety and number of TEFL courses in Thailand in locations to suit all tastes. Equally, teaching English in Thailand is well catered for due to the high number of TEFL jobs available. There is a high demand for English language knowledge and ability in this diverse and truly amazing country. Thailand is a central Asian country which enjoys a tropical climate with 3 seasons: hot and dry October through February, hot and humid with showers from March through May and wet and cool June to September. These seasons vary from the cooler north of Thailand to the hotter south. The average annual temperature is 28 C (83 F), ranging, in Bangkok, for example, from 30 C in April to 25 C in December.

The relaxed life style, friendly people and sense of tropical paradise, all make Thailand a very popular destination for teaching English. After completing a TEFL course in Thailand, TEFL jobs may appear to offer somewhat low salaries ranging from Bht 30,000 ($1000 USD) to Bht 60,000 ($2000 USD) per month, but the cost of living is relatively low. As a result, teaching English in Thailand provides the opportunity to live comfortably, save and travel.

One thing to remember is that as a teacher teaching English in Thailand, you will be going native and not paying ‘Farang’ (foreigner) prices for everything. Most people find that salaries are more than enough to support a very comfortable lifestyle, and that TEFL jobs teaching English in Thailand are a very positive life experience.

Thailand is a very popular location for teaching English and TEFL courses and it is important to remember to respect local concerns. Teachers teaching English in Thailand are respected members of society, and are expected to dress accordingly. It is, therefore, advisable that dress, when teaching or looking for TEFL jobs, includes either long trousers or a skirt below the knee, accompanied by long-sleeved shirt or blouse. Cut-off shorts and vests will neither win friends nor influence people. It does get very hot, so light-weight clothing is advisable. Simply show a little respect and this will be appreciated and reciprocated. As with many Asian countries the saving of face is extremely important, being rude or in-polite is seriously frowned upon.

The whole approach to TEFL courses in Thailand and teaching English in Thailand is dictated by your anticipated length of stay, and this will be reflected in your approach to visas. TEFL courses in Thailand can be completed on a tourist visa or a student visa. Teaching English in Thailand and TEFL jobs in Thailand in general require a Non-B visa which is renewable every twelve months. As well as this, teachers of English will need a teacher’s license. Employers help provide both the visa and the license. In order to be eligible TEFL job applicants would have to of successfully completed a TEFL course in Thailand or prior to arrival in another location.

Major cities for TEFL jobs teaching English in Thailand include Bangkok, Chang Mai, Udon Thani, Phuket and Hat Yai. Bangkok offers great nightlife, but at the cost of pollution, congestion and higher living costs, although salaries tend to be higher here. Mountainous Chang Mai and Udon Thani in the North of Thailand are proving popular, especially for those seeking the real Thailand and the unique experience that comes with it. The island of Phuket is developing rapidly and is very popular for TEFL courses in Thailand and teaching English. With development comes a strong and varied TEFL job market in the public, private and tourism sectors. Phuket also retains a great sense of tropical paradise regardless of the development.

TEFL courses in Thailand are offered in Phuket, Ban Phe and Chiang Mai as well as several other locations. Searching on the net will provide a wide choice of TEFL course provider. Two things to consider are that the course provider is properly accredited and examined by the Thai Ministry of Education and that the provider has good TEFL job support services and that this element is included as part of the TEFL course.

For those seeking TEFL jobs teaching English in Thailand in advance of arrival, companies such as Anglo-Pacific Consultancy, Bell Associated Schools and EF English First, which has several centres in Thailand, are all worth checking out. It is perfectly possible to get jobs on the spot in most cities. It is simply a matter of checking out the local English language press, trying to make a few contacts, and making the rounds of the universities, schools and English language colleges. You will need a copy of your TEFL certificate, and increasingly in Thailand, a university degree is also a requisite.

As with any TEFL job teaching English in Thailand you should complete some research. You should enquire with your employer about class sizes, teaching materials, preparation time, time for staff meetings, and expected length of contract. In some cases you will be making up the whole curriculum for your students and in others working within a very rigid framework.

Most people find teaching English in Thailand a wonderful experience and teaching Thai people a great pleasure. A fortune is not there to be earned, but a great sense of worth and accomplishment is there to be realized. There are a wide variety of TEFL courses in Thailand to choose from leading to TEFL jobs and an opportunity live, work and travel in one of the world’s most amazing countries.

About the Author

TEFL in Thailand and TEFL International provides TEFL courses and TEFL certification leading to TEFL jobs and teaching English abroad. English teaching jobs are available in countries all over the world.

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It is a lazy Sunday morning but a diverse group from all over the country is gathered in Colombo intently listening to senior trainers going through the paces of how to teach English. This is just one of the numerous workshops and training programmes for teachers and would-be teachers being conducted by the Colombo Academy of Language Skills and Dramatic Arts (CALSDA).

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Nepal: ELT Survey: Needs of the Country

English language teaching in Nepal does not seem to have drawn the needed attention of the authorities concerned, in particular, and the government, in general. The government has not formulated any policies yet for its use and promotion. Of late, English teaching has started from grade One, and today it is a matter of heated controversy among the politicians as to whether to start teaching English from grade One or from grade Four as in the past. The decisions that have been made so far lack study and research.

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Malaysia, Japan & Thailand: Lots of Exciting Changes Ahead

The Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (Melta) has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Japan Association of College English Teachers (JACET) and Thailand TESOL (ThaiTESOL) that will open doors to knowledge and information transfer between teachers of English in these countries.

Melta president Dr Ganakumaran Subramaniam said the MoUs would also encourage more English teacher exchanges, as well as increase opportunities for research collaborative efforts and the organisation of conferences and events in future.

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In July 2007, while shopping with my Thai wife in the Chatuchak Weekend Market from Bangkok, I saw, among many Thai beggars, a foreigner begging for money to buy a plane ticket to return home (to a Western European country)! On a yellow future board, he informed the passers-by that he has got no money to go home and that he accepts anything anyone could offer.

Being the first foreigner in Thailand that I have seen begging, I approached him. I was curious to listen to his story. How on Earth was it possible for a white man to become a beggar in Southeast Asia?

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The full table of contents of the current issue:

Dealing with Job Burnout
by David Vincent

Are you an Effective Teacher of Reading?
by Adam Simpson

Secrets of those who do the TEFL Hiring
by members of the forum (General discussion)

The Meaning of Gay
by David Vincent

Begging ex-Teacher in Thailand
by Voicu Mihnea Simandan

Poll
Does your Employer Provide Medical Insurance? (General discussion)

Jack Snow’s Way of Dealing with the Past
by Joseph Bleazard

Teaching Collocations with the Word ‘Mind’, Using Concordance Data
by Michael Thomas

Academicus Electronicus
by Brandreth McClure

The PITS (Politically Incorrect Tasks)
by Martin McMorrow

Interview: The People behind the Websites
Sue Swift from ELT Notebook

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Once TEFL certified, course graduates are qualified to teach English abroad. Opportunities for teaching English abroad are plentiful with TEFL jobs, Teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language, available in most countries. The vast majority of English teaching jobs tend to be in countries where English is not the first language an example of this is TEFL in Thailand or China. Asia is generally considered to be the largest market place for TEFL teachers. Although, in countries where English is the native language, there is an increasing demand for English teachers. This is due to growth of immigrants into countries where English is the native language such as Mexicans migrating to America and Poles migrating to England. The worldwide demand for knowledge of and ability to use the English language has created a wide variety of TEFL jobs throughout the world. For those that are TEFL certified, teaching job offers overseas or at home are plentiful.

A number of areas need to be covered with regard to TEFL jobs and teaching English abroad. Fortunately, most of these areas are covered during the job guidance and support sessions within the TEFL course and are a fundamental component of the course itself. Interview techniques are covered along with resume building. A variety of potential questions and answers are discussed in relation to interviews. Positives and negatives for TEFL in different countries are considered and discussed as well as salaries, working conditions and employment benefits. What to expect from your employer and what your employer will expect from you. Lastly and perhaps most importantly: where and how to locate TEFL jobs.

The internet has quickly become the main source for research into TEFL jobs and teaching English abroad. There are a plethora of forums, TEFL job databases and directories offering or advertising teaching positions in countries all over the world. Simply type ‘TEFL in Thailand’ into a search engine and you will receive thousands of results. Two of the most popular directories are ELT career portal and Dave’s ESL Cafe which both list thousands of jobs. Dave’s ESL Cafe also has many, many forums that cover most topics relating to teaching English abroad. Another good source for TEFL jobs is the classified ads in newspapers both in print and online.

The variety of teaching jobs continues to increase with TEFL jobs available in areas such as schools, colleges, universities, language centers, businesses and companies, hospitals, hotels and tourism generally. TEFL in Thailand for example, businesses, hotels and hospitals employ English language teachers to train their staff to communicate with customers from overseas. This has become big business in Thailand due to the generally lower costs of living and especially in terms of lower medical expenses. For those wishing to teach English abroad there really is a great variety of locations and teaching positions to choose from.

Salaries, conditions and benefits vary greatly from country to country. TEFL in Thailand for example, salaries range from $800 to $2000 USD per month depending on qualifications and experience. Salaries are high in Thailand where a typical salary for a Thai person is about $200 USD per month. Living costs in Thailand are low and salaries afford the opportunity to live well, save and travel. Employers in Thailand provide all working papers which are renewed every 12 months. Health insurance is arranged automatically through monthly contributions. Teachers will have on average 20 to 25 contact hrs per week with their students. Students in Thailand are respectful and are keen to learn.

Approximately 80% of TEFL graduates teach English abroad for between one and 3 years before returning home to pursue other forms of employment. This is not surprising as TEFL tends to be the spring board for travel and employment on a limited basis. Employers at home look favorably on applicants who have spent time overseas training, teaching English, gaining new skills and qualifications. Approximately 20% of TEFL graduates go on to gain advanced TEFL qualifications and continue with TEFL jobs. Advanced level qualifications include Diploma in TEFL and MA TEFL. With these advanced level qualifications the types of TEFL job options increases with positions such as Director of Studies, Teacher Trainer and Curriculum Developer become available.

Weather you choose teaching English abroad as career, a conduit for travel and experience or as a stepping stone to other things, you will have a wealth of choice in terms of location and type of TEFL job. Teaching English abroad will provide you with an unforgettable experience and also provide you with an opportunity to help in the lives of others through education.

Teach, Travel, Live and Work Abroad.

About the author

TEFL in Thailand and TEFL International provides TEFL courses and TEFL certification leading to TEFL jobs and teaching English abroad. English teaching jobs are available in countries all over the world.

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