Why do English teachers get such a hard time.

[drlovelife8]

I have several friends who work in a high school. But when people ask then what their jobs are they either lie or say their job title with embarrassment.

Why. It must feel good to help people get prepared to live a more successful life.

Why do English teachers get a bad rap.

They seem to work quite long hours for a relatively low wage when you look at other farang salaries (managers of companies and engineers).

Don't give me any **** about their behavior out of work!! They don't earn enough to be the real bad boys of this city. That goes to the high roller farang. and well off Chinese and Japanese guys...... and me.

Is it because a few are **** teachers and only came here to **** girls..... Doesn't that make them over qualified???

If it is because a few are arse-wipes... Isn't that like saying all blacks are crooks because of a stereo-type of them which a small number re-enforce???

Thoughts please..... My 2 best mates in this country stared out as English teachers here and 2 more really good ones still are. My first job here was in a school too.

You thoughts...... I work in a hospital by the way..... Just to distance myself from such low class, farang keenok, couldn't score in a brothe, fat, overweight, bald, riddled with AIDS, *****-dating, hooker-barebacking, ugly, smelly, poor, useless, pitiful, blah blah blah scum

The last part was the inevitable Dr.Lowlife humour.

But really, I don't see Thai teachers being so embarrassed by their work choice.

[drlovelife8]

scum and scummer:

95% of the foreigners that live in Thai are scum. the percentage of English teachers who are real scum, gutter scum, is even higher. off the top of my head i'd say somewhere between 98-99%.

**disclosure: for me, if the main reason you are in Thai is that it is one of the few (the only?) places in the world that you can get laid (and that goes for women scammin on the african dope dealers, as well as men)... if the main reason you live here is to get laid... well get in line with the other scum.

i did some time in the trenches as an English teacher. met some beautiful, motivated people who really cared about students... consequently there was no way they could continue with that job in Thailand, where the schools are all for-profit businesses unless they're underfunded government schools with 50 students in a class..

1)i also worked with a guy that was on Interpol's Five Most Wanted list, for being a serial, flagrant, country-hopping child molester (now a guest of the thai govt in some prison near bkk)

2)a hugely fat, stinky, disgusting and ugly man (are you talkin to me? he says), with a prison tatoo ON HIS FOREHEAD, that would fill plastic bags in the school cafeteria to take home to his 18yr-old pregnant "wife".

3)more hugely fat, sweaty, disgusting whoremongers that would spend every baht they could get their sausage-like fingers on to get drunk, robbed, rolled by 40k girls... more of this type than you can shake a stick at.

and when they were out of money or couldn't leave the confines of school they'd be on school computers surfin internet porn (i like porn as well as the next guy... well maybe not quite as well but i can certianly see the point of it BUT ON SCHOOL COMPUTERS?!? JEEESUS CHRIST.)

4)and don't think the females are blameless. quite a good percentage were cokewhores, who back home knew their way around a pole in a topless club (lap dance anyone?) but once they washed up on the shores of Thailand they are suddenly "English teachers".

it's a job that anyone with a white face can get and keep, almost no matter how shameless and incompetent they are. many are called, but f**in few do it well. a TINY percentage of those called "English teachers" actually are... English teachers.

the label "scum" fits them so much better... that the two terms have become indistinguishable/interchangeable.

the few English teachers that in actuality are not scum, well, they realize their PR problem. it's something akin to the problem an honest politician or a lawyer/solicitor with a conscience has. nobody with half a brain will believe em.

Wow, did teachers make you upset when you were a baby?

Good examples though, number 4, that happens, really? Surely only 1% are like that on school grounds.

I could go down the same road, but it would mean dissing my 4 best mates in the world so I won't.

In just over 6 years here I have met loads of wankers, some of whom were teachers, plus loads of great people too. Some of whom were teachers.

Most guys I have met, regardless of their occupation, always talk about shagging girls and how easy it is, unless girls are in ear shot of course.

The biggest offenders for this has been high paid nuttas, as they can afford to go wild with hookers galore. Dazza (name changed to protect innocent) can't afford to go wild as people seem to think all teachers do.

I am sure most can't be scum. Surely people who own bars, gogo's and visa service offices for girls to go abroad are doing a worse service to Thailand.

I really have started to think that many farangs need a social group to blame for stuff they all do (and believe me, 80% are all on the chicks). I think teachers get the blame as they are an easy target.

No doubt some are fat pieces of **** who couldn't score in a brothel, (out side of bkk and Pattaya of course), but most I meet seem OK. A few of the mates I referred to earlier hate the stigma. One works at Harrow and pulls in over 120,000 a month basic!!!! He can't be ****, can he?

Aren't they prepping loads of Thais for the future, a better future for their country?

The negative stuff highlighted here seem to be examples of huge problems in Thailand the shitty teachers are able to exploit. Surely the employers are to blame for employing them. I don't notice KPMG employing any old Tom, Dik and Harry. Surely its employers problem.

I think most guys are generally here for several reasons, but the easy ***** and vibrant social life are always some of the main reasons.

I guess through out history we have all needed scape goats.

Jews (money)

Muslims (terror)

Immigration (rising crime)

Black people (drug dealing)

Taksin (everything wrong in Thailand)

and now English teachers to blame for the some pleasures we all are guilty of enjoying.

I feel for them, not all, but a fair few.

[digitalcat]

now English teachers to blame for the some pleasures we all are guilty of enjoying.

speak only for yourself please

[PiAnt]

Steve mate you can say you were an English teacher and then call them all scum? And Don you do the same? So when you were teaching you were also scum? But now you're not? But almost everyone else is?

Do you also think that the Catholic Church in Ireland is full of pedophiles with just a few good apples? Or that that occupation merely attracts that type of person?

Granted, the whole system stinks rotten. It's way too easy for almost anyone to come over here and land a job "teaching English" as an easy way to get the visa. And, without a doubt, there are too many undesirables who caught onto that fact.

But I doubt either of you are like that. I certainly am not. Nor are any of the people I employed. Despite the fact that I managed a "language school", and as well as I could notwithstanding the pressures of the boss, whose motivation was, is and always will be money, I tried very hard to ensure that a decent standard was maintained; though I was sometimes forced to provide teachers who I would never have employed (because of ineptitude more than anything else).

Steve's experience might not have been the best, but even he says that there were decent guys really trying to do something good for people. As do you. I think the point here is that it's an easy job for bad types to get into, because there are no resouces to pay for decent people.

It could mean that bad people can do it, but that doesn't mean that all people who do it are bad.

(Unfortunately, Dr8's arguments seem much less reactionary or even angry than do either of yours.)

[zeusbheld]

Open a bottle at a club and you'll have any English teacher within 100meters trying to be your best friend.....

english teachers can afford to go to clubs??? um... which school do they teach at? a friend wants to know.

[zeusbheld]

it's fairly interesting this difference in perception. farrangs definitely see foreign teachers differently, on average, than Thais do. i've been teaching English (and science) at a private school since about august. whitey thinks english teachers are ***** chasing, drug-addicted alcoholic scum (i'd say at least one of those guesses is correct at least 60 percent of the time) but Thais see teaching as a respectable profession (which it *could* be). problem is, as many have mentioned: "standards? we don't got no standards. we don't need no stinking standards."

oh sure there's lesson plans and ISO900whatever paperwork to fill out but the reality is no one gives a **** what you do as long as you show up, turn in your exams on time, and keep your paperwork up to date. (except the students).

and yeah most people end up doing it to get a permit to stay. i ended up doing it because it was either go back to new york without girl and cat and work until i could afford to import them, or get a job here until we can sort that out. being a sissy at heart, and having an inordinate aversion to living in cardboard boxes under bridges even for just a few months, i chose to stay and get a job.

the process:

day one: responded to about 3 ads. didn't bother sending out resumes, just inquired by sms. by the end of day one i got a phone call. guy turns out to be an agency of some sort (i say some sort because it wasn't organized enough that i could tell what sort). the job is teaching science at a private school. i'd have to do an 'audition'--teach a class. do i have degrees? yeah. got degrees. good, they love degrees (which seems to be the case all over asia). that was on a thursday. i will have a teaching audition/interview on monday.

had to improvise a class, no lesson plan etc (cheap way for the school to get a sub for that class i'd imagine). that was actually pretty easy. got hired that day, although i suspect the audition was bomb-proof.

so this job teaching science turned out to be teaching reading and writing for mathayom 4, 5 and 6. great thing about it is i don't have to do all the tedious stuff like grammar and can let the students read and write about stuff they're interested in (which unfortunately is mostly k-pop bands). took a while to whip the little shits into shape because they hadn't had the same teacher for 3 weeks in a row in a long time, but it can be done. then i actually did end up teaching some science courses, go figure.

verdict:

bottom line is, the hours are easy, the school is a 5 min walk from home, if i don't have to actually teach i can sit at home in my underwear, and i work a lot fewer hours than i did when i had 'glamor' jobs. and teaching is a LOT more fun and interesting than proofreading at a newspaper or 'coordinating a corporate communications plan.' or any of the usual jobs people get over here, like (ugh) real estate on a commission basis (i know quite a few who do that).

also, teachers back where i'm from can get a 'get out of jail free' pass for their school loans. i'll still need to sort my credentials (yeah they actually expect credentials over there) but i'd be making a decent salary (70k or so), have 3 months a year off, and did i mention the school loans... so i might as well get a paycheck while i get some experience.

so i've met quite a few farrangs in the 5 years i've been here, and my impression is that the vast majority of farrangs in thailand are only here because they can't get laid elsewhere, it isn't just the 'english teachers'. most of the rest are here because drugs are cheap and plentiful. i don't fall into either of those two camps (not that i can get laid elsewhere i just don't have much interest in whoring or scoring). i ended up in thailand by accident. i was aiming for china but missed. by quite a bit.

and yeah the vast majority of teachers are teachers for the visa only, really. one thing though. about 30 percent of the teachers where i work are here because they're married to a Thai woman. one of them even met and married her in the US and moved over here because she missed her family (he gave up a good job too). is it a coincidence that most of the best teachers are in this group? doubt it.

it's good though that whiteys in Thailand have English teachers to look down on (and yeah i look down on 'em errrr us too) because otherwise the only people on Earth the vast majority could feel superior to would be TFers. English teachers thus provide a valuable service for the expat community.

conclusion:

so yeah. i do tend to be a bit sheepish when i say what my current job is, but it's less embarrassing than living here in the first place (because of whitey, not because of the Thais). but i'll admit to just about anyone that i teach english. and i'll admit that i live in thailand. but i really, never ever admit that i'm signed up to www.thailandfriends.com. i have standards, after all. or at least i pretend to.

[drlovelife8]

now English teachers to blame for the some pleasures we all are guilty of enjoying.

speak only for yourself please

Easy ***** and a vibrant social life IS one of the reasons you choose to stay here.

[drlovelife8]

Steve mate you can say you were an English teacher and then call them all scum? And Don you do the same? So when you were teaching you were also scum? But now you're not? But almost everyone else is?

Do you also think that the Catholic Church in Ireland is full of pedophiles with just a few good apples? Or that that occupation merely attracts that type of person?

Granted, the whole system stinks rotten. It's way too easy for almost anyone to come over here and land a job "teaching English" as an easy way to get the visa. And, without a doubt, there are too many undesirables who caught onto that fact.

But I doubt either of you are like that. I certainly am not. Nor are any of the people I employed. Despite the fact that I managed a "language school", and as well as I could notwithstanding the pressures of the boss, whose motivation was, is and always will be money, I tried very hard to ensure that a decent standard was maintained; though I was sometimes forced to provide teachers who I would never have employed (because of ineptitude more than anything else).

Steve's experience might not have been the best, but even he says that there were decent guys really trying to do something good for people. As do you. I think the point here is that it's an easy job for bad types to get into, because there are no resouces to pay for decent people.

It could mean that bad people can do it, but that doesn't mean that all people who do it are bad.

(Unfortunately, Dr8's arguments seem much less reactionary or even angry than do either of yours.)

I think most of the negatives here are from guys who just need a group to blame for a sigma they have all created themselves.

Someone said "so i've met quite a few farrangs in the 5 years i've been here, and my impression is that the vast majority of farrangs in Thailand are only here because they can't get laid elsewhere"

I think that might be true for some. I also see a HUGE AMOUNT of farangs who were very successful with women in any country but, as it is, they are even more successful with women in Thailand because.. well, the percentage of English speaking Thai women between 18 and 40 who hang out in farang places and are really easy, is. well...... significant.

Not just a country and profession for losers, also a country and profession for really winners too............. Bar owners, mmm they do a lot for society don't they... no, but they get there balls licked by your average punter.

Blow me.

[sugar_husk]

now English teachers to blame for the some pleasures we all are guilty of enjoying.

speak only for yourself please

Easy p*ssy and a vibrant social life IS one of the reasons you choose to stay here.

ohh yeah that s one reason for your life to end up single, alone with only boxes of beer and cartons of pizza don't blame us Thai girl for wanting only your money then.

[condotown]

Steve mate you can say you were an English teacher and then call them all scum? And Don you do the same? So when you were teaching you were also scum? But now you're not? But almost everyone else is?

I was not an "English Teacher"

I was a certified school teacher with two masters degrees in education from accredited universities in USA, including one which licensed me to work as school administrator from PreK-Grade12.

I was not an "English Teacher" and you can bet your ugly ass and warped brain that I'd rather be one of those fake beggers on the walkover than to ever stoop so low as to be an "English Teacher" in Thailand.

Let me reiterate, "I worked at one of the more famous international schools in the Bangkok Metro Area from 1996-2001. Part of the reason why I quit was because it wasn't worth making only 120K baht per month and being mistaken for being on par with the alcoholic ***** banging scum "teachers" at a newly opened Sarasas school not far away."

Douchebag

[Stramash]

[rodgerdodger]

"Some teachers are wonderful and totally put their hearts into their work and really change the lives of the students in wonderful intangible ways."

So Don, you wouldn't "stoop so low as to being a english teacher" but admit that some of them really change the lives of the students?

Strange logic.

[Tygr]

I was not an "English Teacher"

I was a certified school teacher with two masters degrees in education from accredited universities in USA, including one which licensed me to work as school administrator from PreK-Grade12.

Stand for applause.

I was not an "English Teacher" and you can bet your ugly a*s and warped brain that I'd rather be one of those fake beggers on the walkover than to ever stoop so low as to be an "English Teacher" in Thailand.

Lucky, this kind of empathy would be wasted in a classroom.

Let me reiterate, "I worked at one of the more famous international schools in the Bangkok Metro Area from 1996-2001.

Where everybody knows your name.

Part of the reason why I quit was because it wasn't worth making only 120K baht per month and being mistaken for being on par with the alcoholic ***** banging scum "teachers" at a newly opened Sarasas school not far away."

Egotism, vanity and bigotry - nice.

Douchebag

Quite.

[ben_usa]

Sounds like the closet homo that goes around gay bashing

[beej]

I think the thing I find most irritating about them in their out and out shamelessness and willingness to just take take take.

Not only that, they act really ******* smug for some unknown reason.

[zeusbheld]

Steve mate you can say you were an English teacher and then call them all scum? And Don you do the same? So when you were teaching you were also scum? But now you're not? But almost everyone else is?

I was not an "English Teacher"

I was a certified school teacher with two masters degrees in education from accredited universities in USA, including one which licensed me to work as school administrator from PreK-Grade12.

I was not an "English Teacher" and you can bet your ugly a*s and warped brain that I'd rather be one of those fake beggers on the walkover than to ever stoop so low as to be an "English Teacher" in Thailand.

Let me reiterate, "I worked at one of the more famous international schools in the Bangkok Metro Area from 1996-2001. Part of the reason why I quit was because it wasn't worth making only 120K baht per month and being mistaken for being on par with the alcoholic ***** banging scum "teachers" at a newly opened Sarasas school not far away."

Douchebag

all those degrees and you never learned how to read? or did i miss the memo about how you changed your name to "Steve"? maybe you should give "hooked on phonics" a try. it could change your life.

here, this may come in handy for you:

*******cut and paste *********

it's about me, isn't it.

**** end cut and paste ********

pompous pretentious ass.

[zeusbheld]

I think the thing I find most irritating about them in their out and out shamelessness and willingness to just take take take.

from whom? there must be a story here (and i'm bored because Arisamun isn't playing spiderman today).... or is this about the bottle on the table in the club ...

Not only that, they act really f*cking smug for some unknown reason.

now that, i've seen. gotta wonder what the **** that's about. (except in cases where one has TWO masters' degrees in edumacation, now there's some real justification for smugness) especially after seeing a good few of these smug fucks teach (or fail to).

although the thing i find most irritating is all these fucks want to pitch a movie *idea*--as if they'd somehow get a royalty or at least a reacharound for having an *idea* (which, by the way you english teachers, aren't copyright-able, so i can steal your genius idea without owing you a reacharound. **** you. not like you'd get off your ass and write a script then is it.)

[condotown]

I was not an "English Teacher"

I was a certified school teacher with two masters degrees in education from accredited universities in USA, including one which licensed me to work as school administrator from PreK-Grade12.

Stand for applause.

You're one of "them" !!!!

.......One of those hapless broken drifting worthless futureless losers who have found themselves eking out a hand-to-mouth existence in the fantasy land of tropical shagfest

ha ha ha

I am also sad that the world is not a utopia and have had all my childhood dreams dashed by the harshness of the real world...

At least I've managed to save a shred of my dignity.

[digitalcat]

Sounds like the closet homo that goes around gay bashing

Sounds like a far way to go to fail at courtship again.

[GAV]

I was not an "English Teacher"

I was a certified school teacher with two masters degrees in education from accredited universities in USA, including one which licensed me to work as school administrator from PreK-Grade12.

Stand for applause.

You're one of "them" !!!!

.......One of those hapless broken drifting worthless futureless losers who have found themselves eking out a hand-to-mouth existence in the fantasy land of tropical shagfest

ha ha ha

I am also sad that the world is not a utopia and have had all my childhood dreams dashed by the harshness of the real world...

At least I've managed to save a shred of my dignity.

So speakith the "Vestal Virgin" of the tropical utopia who ekks out a very profital existance with his "monkish pursuits.

Lighten up a little Don. We all have our own moral code and it is not up to us to judge those who we may consider come up short in that department. As long as you dont drop your own personal standards, thats all that should matter to you. If you were still an "English Teacher" you would be judged on your prdformance, not on those around you. :wink:

[zeusbheld]

...

At least I've managed to save a shred of my dignity.

only to give it away more quickly than a nymphomaniac during fleet week with your broadside of smug, masturbatory self-aggrandizing drivel in this thread.

well played that, TF was getting boring.

[zeusbheld]

Someone said "so i've met quite a few farrangs in the 5 years i've been here, and my impression is that the vast majority of farrangs in Thailand are only here because they can't get laid elsewhere"

that'd be me.

I think that might be true for some.

don't recall saying it was true for *all*. probably 'cause i *didn't.*

I also see a HUGE AMOUNT of farangs who were very successful with women in any country but, as it is, they are even more successful with women in Thailand because.

i, too, have seen a HUGE AMOUNT of 'em. but not a HUGE PERCENTAGE.

well, the percentage of English speaking Thai women between 18 and 40 who hang out in farang places and are really easy, is. well...... significant.

there are many out to see how many farang uh,... scalps they can hang on their uh... belt, yes.

Not just a country and profession for losers, also a country and profession for really winners too.............

well i have met guys here who dated models etc. back where they're from. they like it here because they don't have to work very hard (or at all) to pull and if they do decide to have a relationship it tends to be on their terms.

it certainly isn't me, i can't get laid in Poseidon on an expense account, but perhaps you are one of those guys? if so, why do you spend so much effort advertising your sexual prowess in the forum? does it work? do you get laid that way? i'm curious because you only go for the big advertising campaign on a film release if you're hoping for a big first weekend gross because you expect that the word-of-mouth would be bad.

Bar owners, mmm they do a lot for society don't they... no, but they get there balls licked by your average punter.

wonder if those punters would still be licking balls if they knew they were licking the manager's balls, not the owner's?

Blow me.

while i've read extensively of your fantastic sexual prowess (admittedly only from your posts) i'm afraid i can't; my girlfriend is violent even by Thai standards and would cut my **** off if i let you fill my lovin' cup. sorry.

[English_Bob]

Hey! A thread I can really sink my teeth into!

I was pretty successful in UK - earned 3500 - 5000 sterling per month, nice house, car, one ex-wife (no palimony).

I also had a pretty good track record with attractive girls.

I moved to Thailand 8 years ago because I was bored with life passing me by and wanted to do something to stop my life from following a predictable pattern of house, wife, kids, retirement, death.

I was an English teacher for the first 3 years or so - and I had a blast. I loved living in Thailand, met some good people and got by on a pittance. I have savings and investments in UK and I have a house rented out there, but I almost never touch that money.

While I was teaching I prepped pretty well, knew my grammar and made my lessons interesting. Most people will know my posts are usually correct and I don't mix up my "there's", "their's", "your's" and "you're's".

I boned a couple of students, but I was only teaching people over 20 years of age, and I was a nice guy. One of them is still a good friend now... and her English is excellent thanks to all the extra hours I put in...

I moved into F+B after a silly offer of money for an 'easy' job. I enjoyed it and still do, but if it all went ****-up and I went back to teaching, I don't think I'd be heartbroken.

[Teddy]

[quote name="English_Bob"

I boned a couple of students, but I was only teaching people over 20 years of age, and I was a nice guy..

You were a nice guy, past tense...What happened?lol

[drlovelife8]

Well, after employing "English Teachers" for the last 10 years, I've gotten more than a few insights.

Out of a few hundred or so, I've probably come across maybe 1 or 2 who actually planned to be a teacher here and who actually went as far as to do some training for it beforehand. Funniliy enough, Dannyboy was one.

The reason 99% of them "teach English", is because they have no other skill (other than their English ability), which can get them a legitimate job and, hence, a work permit and, hence, a long stay (12 month) visa (the ultimate goal).

A typical applicant:

"Hi! Are you looking for English teachers?"

"Possibly. Do you have any experience?"

"No. But, I trained crane drivers/pulled wire/drove a truck/dug ditches back home, so I can piss it. Can I get a visa now?"

If it lasted that long.

Why do they all seem so universally despised? Well, that's cos they are. The overwhelming majority are teaching English simply because they want to stay here. And that's what everyone knows.

Forgive me for being jaded, but the first thing that comes into my head when someone says "I was an English Teacher for x years." is "So it took you x years to find a real job."

I've seen pretty much everyone you could think of right across the spectrum. From people (wankers mostly) who were waving multiple degrees around, to people who I wouldn't employ to teach a dog to lick its balls (and probably couldn't), to people probably on the run and people who seriously made my skin crawl.

So, when the OP's mates say sheepishly that they're English Teachers, it's because they aren't proud of the fact that they (assuming that they're actually ok, and many actually are), are doing the job merely because it's all they can do.

Until they find a real job.

The guys who inspired this thread have PGCEs or masters, surely that's ******* legit.

[drlovelife8]

now English teachers to blame for the some pleasures we all are guilty of enjoying.

speak only for yourself please

mmmmm I guess you are the only bloke in BKK who doesn't party and ****.