Category: Jobs

Jobs Thailand 2019

Head down, arse up

So one of my old teachers used to say, back in the previous Millenium.

And that’s the situation at the moment, with mid-term exams coming up, and certain fools ( me & the other foregin teachers, for example ) having to write the questions.

In a case of small mercies, I’ve been told they should be multi-choice, but it’s still a truckload of work. Fifteen-plus classes spread over 6 yaers ( grades ).

Not to speak of needing to mark all the assignments I set via Google Classroom so that we can belch out a mark for each student. And then matching the Thai names with ones I can actually read.

So this is where I earn my keep.

But in the words of a late great Uncle — “buy the ticket, take the ride.”

Jobs Thailand 2019

Much better today – better prepared, with a clearer idea of subject. Plus I got to pad out the lesson with a 15-20 minute introduction, using Google maps and images to talk about myself and NZ.
Five classes today, all of them the first time with that particular bunch of kids, so I did the intro in each. I met with Thai teacher Film before each to confirm lesson subject. Some of them were repeat lessons with the same grade, but a different stream, so just repeated and honed a previous lesson. Plus getting used to projecting the computer onto the whiteboard, and using apps within Google.
Relearned an old lesson – bribery works. They have a credit system whereby they earn academic points for good class performance. So I give them away for good answers, and suddenly there are a lot more hands up.
Another beginners trick is to avoid spending the entire lesson talking, instead include an activity or get them talking.
Most Thai kids seem to know a combination of these things about NZ – sheep, and kiwi ( birds ). No-one knew about the All Blacks ( Thailand it seems is a football nation ). One class knew a helluva lot including Maori being the first people,the dairy industry, seafood, etc,etc.
That class was older, year M4, about 15-16. The school is M1 to M6.
Film ( Thai teacher ) is always there in lessons, so he’s a good safety net if I start fumbling the ball.
The kids are really well disciplined and respectful, so easy to keep class control. I did have to raise my hands with a loud ‘thank you’ class to close off a paired group discussion session, but all good.
I also discovered that the school canteen is dirt cheap. Bought 6 hard-boiled eggs for 40 baht ( < $2 NZD ). I can't cook in the hotel rooms, so a wee stockpile never hurts.

Tags teaching

Jobs Thailand 2019

First Day teaching

Not to put too fine a point on it, this shit’s hard!!

Five classes ( @ 50 minutes a time ) today. Brilliant support from Thai teacher ‘Film’. Without him I would have been pretty much clueless as to lesson plans. He knows the syllabus, and I don’t. To soften the blow a little, I took the opportunity ( following advice from another NES teacher ) to use a part of each lesson to introduce myself, and talk a little about NZ, with the help of projected Google maps and images.

After work, I treated myself to a first swim in Thailand. The big rock groynes they use have created at Seang Chun beach produce large and shallow tidal pools. Good for wallowing in, but to do any real swimming you need to go out beyond the groynes. It was getting dark, and I had all my valuables in a bag on the beach, so I didn’t risk it. I donated a couple of teaspoons of blood to the really vicious wee sandflies, or mites, in the roadside sand. But it was a small tax to pay – the water was beatifully warm at 7pm, and of course, I always feel better after an ocean swim than before.

One more day of work tomorrow, then the main weekend mission is to find some permanent digs. Tempted to take up the Mae RamPhung beach offer after tonight’s swim. Watch this space.

Jobs Thailand 2019

Rayong Wittakayom School

The School

Work officially started yesterday, Monday. Unofficially, it’s meant a lot of sitting around for new teachers, waiting for the bureaucractic wheels to turn.

There are a few long-term NES ( Native English Speaking ) teachers there, which is a good sign. Among the Nationalities a troupe of Filipinos, a couple of Americans, at least two from the UK, and a couple of suspected South Africans. And me.

I signed the teaching contract today, expect to get my classroom timetable and start working with my Thai support teacher tomorrow.