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Teaching English in Thailand – a real possibility

Oh those whistle blowers

What a wonderful team

Loy Krathong in Sweden

Teaching English in Thailand – a real possibility

To the editor and H. Leslie;

As the teacher-trainer of one of Pattaya’s TEFL/TESOL institutes I have to respond to the unfounded criticism of Mr. H. Leslie.
Except for the charity institutions in Thailand there is no revenue based on just goodwill and brown eyes. Every business has just one goal: making money! Some sell books, others sell cars or food. People have got businesses because there are other people who need their products or services. This is one of the basic rules of the game called: economy. This is, by the way, not just only in Thailand but all over the world.
One of the activities is running an institute which trains and educates people to become a TEFL/TESOL teacher. After completing a course at one of the 5 institutes in Pattaya, you’ll probably receive your TEFL/TESOL certificate and gives you the opportunity to teach English as a foreign or second language, worldwide.
For most qualified TEFL/TESOL teachers there is no problem: with the TEFL/TESOL knowledge in their pocket, the right attitude and some undiscovered ambition the freshmen can be very success full.
For some qualified TEFL/TESOL teachers the problems start when they start trying to find a job. If you just miss the drive to deal with respectful, disciplined and eager students than you probably won’t make it.
If teachers are stuck to a certain place and not very willing or able to move or travel some distance, than they won’t find a job very easy.
If people want to be a teacher for a few hours per week just for the work permit, future employers are not very interested in them.
In your article, Mr. H. Leslie, you refer to the different courses in Pattaya. In all the cases the graduates will end up with a TEFL/TESOL certificate accredited by the Ministry of Education. The teachers have all the same possibilities in finding jobs and getting successful IF they are also in the habit of the drive, positive attitude and some ambition!
As every other kind of business there is some diversity in products. Businesses are trying to be better than the competition. As far as my knowledge reaches, all of the courses are good courses, organized by qualified people with experience and the necessary qualifications.
If you enrol for one course you will get just the course, the books and maybe some help with visa and housing.
Other courses offer paid practice (120 hours) and others offer even guaranteed jobs and work permits.
Every course has its own specific marketing tool and it is up to you to decide what’s is best for you: Value for money!
If you sign up for a TEFL/TESOL course which says nothing about guaranteed work permits and guaranteed jobs, than they course director will probably say: Bye, bye with a friendly hand shake.
Signing up for a course with paid practice teaching, guaranteed job and work permit will lead to a modest salary during the practicum, a paid job (if possible according to your wishes) and a guaranteed work permit.
About the practicum without a work permit: in every TEFL/TESOL course curriculum are 120 hours practicum included. Since the institutes and their courses are accredited by the Ministry of Education, the Labour Department accepts this as a part of the training and will allow the trainee to teach (monitored and guided). Of course the trainee has to prove that he or she is practicing!
About the necessary visa, license and work permit: in order to receive a teacher license, you need a TEFL/TESOL certificate, a university degree, a medical certificate, some photographs and a non-immigrant “B” – m.e. visa (of course accompanied by loads of copies of every page of the passport and all the above). For the work permit you need all the above and the necessary paperwork from the (future) employer (again accompanied by a lot of copies).
About jobs, Mr. Leslie: there are 1,000-s of jobs in Thailand. Yes, on www. ajarn.com, but also on www. englishclub.com, www.tefl. com and www.teflasia.com. Of course, most of the jobs are in and around Bangkok, but there are numerous jobs in the country side and even in the Chonburi province. Again, with the right attitude, drive and ambition it is absolutely no problem to find a job.
If you’re stuck to Pattaya for whatever reason and not willing or able to travel, than your chances of finding a proper job are minimal. Too bad! But on the other hand: that’s everywhere the same: If you are not mobile or flexible enough the chances of finding the job of your dreams are minimal; in Thailand, the U.S. of A., Great Britain, etc.
Mr. H. Leslie, I understand your frustration, but please: don’t project your frustration on institutes where you haven’t got experience with! Every institute keeps their promises and even more! Luckily for you Mr. H. Leslie, your 3 year old TEFL certificate gives you the opportunity to teach English as a Foreign Language all over the world.
Good luck!
J. Busgen
Teacher-trainer
TEFL

Oh those whistle blowers

Editor;

Normally in Thailand there is a lot of noise, but in Chโteau Dale (Thappraya Road) the security staff are the biggest noise producers.
They use whistles and sirens all day long. (I wonder if it’s allowed to have sirens on motorbikes. I believe they belong to ambulances and fire engines.)
Actually I don’t understand why they use them. 10-times more cars pass into View Talay every day, but they don’t need these “power symbols” there.
About 2000 people live in the Chโteau Dale area, and the echo from this unnecessary noise is very irritating.
We don’t buy condos for many million baht to listen to this torture, which starts at 6.30 a.m.
Wilhelm K

What a wonderful team

Editor;

In the early hours of Friday, October 14, my Australian born wife woke to the realization that our baby had decided to enter this world some 2 months early.

Soon after arriving at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, the nurses confirmed that our baby was certainly on its way and concern immediately mounted as the baby was only 7 months gestation or 32 weeks.

What further compounded and distressed my wife and I was the fact that only two years earlier, our son Thomas also arrived too early and died at birth. We were concerned that history was again repeating itself.

The staff at the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital advised us that they did not have the facilities to receive and care for a 32 week premature baby and the baby needed a Neonatal Intensive Care facility.

Around 4 a.m. we called my wife’s obstetrician, Dr Rattana to inform her of what was happening; she is also based at the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, and at the time she was on leave attending a wedding in Bangkok. Amazingly, Dr. Rattana immediately drove all the way down to Pattaya to be with my wife.

While all this was happening, our good friend Dr. Iain arrived on the scene to support my wife and me. He also tried to assist us locate a hospital that would accept and could care for a baby of 32 weeks.

It was suggested to me at the time that I call the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, which I did and I spoke to another fellow Australian by the name of Robert.

After a brief discussion, Rob said leave it all to me, I’ll call you back in 10 minutes.

Less than 10 minutes later, Rob called back and said, “It’s all been organized, your wife will be medivaced to Bungrungrad Hospital at Bangkok, where another Australian doctor, Dr. Peter Morely has his Neonatal Intensive Care staff ready to receive your wife for an emergency c-section. It’s all organized, just get here.”

I just couldn’t believe that a government officer would care as much as he did. In the weeks to follow, Rob called on a regular basis and he and his wife actually came to the hospital to visit us.

As soon as the ambulance was ready, the wonderful Dr. Rattana, who had previously driven from Bangkok to be with my wife, decided to ride in the ambulance back to Bangkok with my wife for hand over to the staff at Bungrungrad Hospital.

After arriving at the hospital, our little daughter was delivered and cared for by another amazing doctor, who just never stops, Professor Oridee.

After 4 weeks at the Neo Natal ICU in Bungrungrad, our little girl, who we named Sienna Jane Rattana (after Dr Rattana) was discharged and is now at home with us.

Because of all of these wonderful people, our little baby girl was able to come home to us.

Simply saying thank you to all of these will never show our appreciation.
Our family is sincerely indebted to the following people:
* Dr Rattana – Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, she is one special doctor
* Dr Iain – Bangkok Pattaya Hospital – everyone knows this guy is a legend
* Rob – Australian Embassy Bangkok – a wonderful new friend
* Dr Peter Morely – Bungrungrad Hospital – even when I had to return to work in Pattaya, he made sure my wife was being looked after.
* Dr Oridee - and her team at Bungrungrad Hospital who allowed our little girl to come home.
Thank you to all
The Muir Family

Loy Krathong in Sweden

Hello!

It was a cold evening and snow was in the air, but we want to show that we celebrate Loy Krathong in Sweden too. This is a picture from Olofstrom in the south of Sweden.
Best Regards,
Hans-Christer

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