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Expectations from TEFL Teachers in Thailand

Smoking
Teachers are strictly abstained from smoking within a Thai school premises. Respectable females in Thai society do not indulge in smoking and the act also creates a negative impression of the individual, especially for a teaching professional who is a lady. This might also have an adverse effect on the prospective teacher’s career in Thailand. However, it is not a taboo to smoke in public, if the smoker is ready to face the consequences.

Alcohol
Intake of alcohol has to be beyond school hours; exceptions being parties or activities sponsored by school on school grounds. Teachers are subject to dismissal if found untimely intoxicated/ under the influence of alcohol within the periphery of the school. However, outside school, consumption of alcohol is allowed though it doesn’t speak high of the person who is revered and elevated in Thai community for his/her profession. The same stigma is attached to females who drink excessively as is for smoking.

Drugs
Narcotism and use of illegal drugs not only promises to damage the career of an ESL teacher in Thailand, but also is a prosecutable activity under Thai law. The laws are strict and penalties are crushing for use and trafficking of illegal drugs in the country. The ESL teacher certified by ATI and teaching in Thailand by choice is expected to be responsible and sensible enough to comprehend and accordingly respect Thai laws and regulations.

Thai culture
Thailand is identified for the preservation and extension of its archaic culture. Thais are quite passionate about their cultural heritage and expect similar conduct from the foreign teachers. Therefore, absorbing and adapting to Thai culture and customs, respecting rites and beliefs, at least superficially is considered to be a healthy effort that can augment one’s teaching career in Thailand. Sound understanding and accepting of Thai culture will also help the foreign ESL teacher to better explore the beautiful country, after acquiring the TESOL certificate and completing the teaching assignment.

Public expression of anger or agitation and indulgence in violence and confrontation is bound to earn aversion for a foreigner in Thailand. Such a behavior is considered negative and degrading amongst the Thais and results in ‘loss of face’. Aggressive and abrasive mode of communication is detested in Thailand. It is thoroughly recommended for all native English speakers to temporarily mould one’s conduct towards politeness, till the time they chose to live in Thailand. It is always wise to discuss individual problems and dissatisfactions with ATI, rather than exploding in public. A calm, friendly, understanding, patient and smiling person will achieve far greater things in Thailand than someone who is hot-headed or quick-tempered. Expressing anger will only be aggravating the worse.

Health / Illness
Adapting to a new climate, culture, food habit and way of life is always strenuous for a foreign body. Thus, it is not unusual to bear the brunt by falling ill, initially. Understandably, travelers/health insurance for at least 3 months is a must-buy for those teachers traveling to Thailand to do the TESOL program. However, health care is cheap and of high standard in Thailand. Medication and doctor visits are amazingly inexpensive. Providers of Health Insurance in Thailand are companies like BUPA or AIA.

The ESL teachers are eligible for sick leaves. However exceeding the allotted number of days salary gets deducted at a particular rate. Doctor’s note can act as proof of illness. In case of uncharted absences monthly salary is deducted at a rate of 2000baht/month. *Excessive illness without doctor’s certificate can cause loss of job for the ESL teacher.

Some schools lack substitute teachers where other teachers are often required to adjust their free periods in compensating the absence of an individual teacher. A foreign ESL teacher might as well need to substitute in their free periods. However, teaching under no circumstances should continue for more than 5 periods at a stretch. Certain contracts often hold the clause of paying for overtime. This system of substitution is applicable for all teachers in time of emergency.

Extra Curricular Activities
Regular school hours and schedules or beyond often accommodate extra curricular activities/ parties/ special days and celebrations which are good opportunities to mingle with the students and the teaching and non-teaching staffs of the school. Such activities would also present a foreign teacher to the community as they attend staff parties, field trips, weddings, dinner invitations etc. It is definitely an affirmative move from the side of the foreign ESL teacher if they participate in some of these activities.

Discrepancies
As many of the schools that ATI work with have never had foreign teachers or have had little exposure to foreign teachers and cultures, there will undoubtedly be some ‘hiccups’ along the way. Any discrepancies that arise between what the school asks the TESOL-trained teacher to do and the contract the ESL teacher have with ATI should be reported to the ATI Coordinator. Often times these discrepancies result from a communication error. By allowing the school and ATI to discuss the matter, it is hoped, and been proven, that most of these issues can be resolved much easier, faster and with less cultural tensions than if the teacher attempt to resolve them alone. Often these schools want their ESL teacher to do many extra little things because they want to take advantage of the fact that they finally have a foreigner working at their school. It can be easy to get frustrated and angry, but this will get nowhere in Thailand. *If you don’t mind doing a few extra little things… great, AND this is the best way to get involved and score extra PAID work after school hours. The more involved you are, the more liked you will be and the more people you will meet, thus more opportunities will arise. However, we all need our own time and you will need to know when to say “Sorry, I can’t do that”.

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