What is it like to teach in Thailand?

I've noticed that lately, my posts have been about our travels, our time off. Even though it doesn't sound like it, we do actually work here too! (Even though sometimes it feels like we spend more time vacationing than teaching). So let me delve a little bit into what it is like being a teacher in Thailand. [Disclaimer: Each person will have a different experience and it largely depends on which school you are placed.] But here's been our experience...

Your students call you by your first name. Of course, they add the "teacher" out of respect, but it's just easier for them to say our first names. And sometimes they even shorten 'teacher' to plain "-cher." Oh and they actually don't pronounce the "r" very well. So what I'm hearing all day is, "Teacha, teacha! Hello, Chah Nataly!" It's very endearing after a while :)

Just because your students take off their shoes outside the classroom doesn't mean you need to. I learned this one the embarrassing way. School, just like people's homes, are to be respected, so all the students remove their shoes before entering a classroom or office. I saw my students do this and not wanting to make a cultural faux pas, I did as well. For like the first 2 weeks! Haha. Then I finally had the sense to ask another foreign teacher if we needed to do so and I was responded with a chuckle. You live and learn I guess. Although I do have to say that it was kind of freeing walking around the classroom barefoot.

Don't try to learn the Thai alphabet and then show it off to your students in class. Considering 4 out of the first 6 letters are dreadfully close to obscenities, it's best to not even go there. I also learned this one the embarrassing way.

They love the fact that two of their teachers are married to each other. Seriously, they eat it up! My students will ask me what I did over the weekend, and I'll say something like, "Oh, we went to Bangkok and saw a movie." And then they'll get a little smile creeping on their faces, "Did you go with Teacher Jon?..." to which I reply, "Of course! We do everything together." Man, all the oohs, ahs, and nervous giggles I get... you would think that we were back in middle school! Which I guess we are technically. Jonathan let our students in on his secret trip for our anniversary and they couldn't stop talking about it! "Teacha Nataly! I know something that you don't! But I can't tell you! It has to do with Teacha Jon..." accompanied with giggles, smiles and shifty eyes. The novelty hasn't worn off yet!

 

Because you are a foreign English teacher, you are qualified to teach ANY subject in English...and more. We signed up to teach English, but then we showed up and found out that we are teaching English, Science, Health, and Computer Science. Mmhm, ok! Oh, you want us to teach for 3 hours on Saturdays too? No problem. Adding on Basketball class once a week, love it! Co-directing a skit for the provincial English Program Competition (including daily rehearsals)... all part of the job. I will tell you this: you will be utilized until there is almost nothing left of you.

You will at first feel guilty, but then relish when you cut students in line in the Cafeteria (or Canteen as they call it here). But it's totally kosher! And in fact, needed. I mean, you gotta get to class on time, right? Haha, maybe I take too much joy in it. Is it bad that I like the authority and privilege it gives me over my students who are mostly taller than me? Nah. It's normal. But seriously... I'm not the only one who does it.

This is basically what I have every day for lunch. It's awesome. And all for under $1!

You will literally be the LAST person to know anything. I cannot tell you how many times students have run into the classroom telling me that no one is coming because of this activity or meeting or what-have-you. We'll be told last-minute, there isn't going to be school tomorrow, oh and next Wednesday too. Or we'll walk into the office and be greeted with a "Good morning! We aren't having first or second period today." And you know, at first it was a bit frustrating, but now we just expect it. It's not that people keep information from you on purpose, I think it's just the Thai culture. I've noticed that disseminating information and communication in general are not high on their priority lists. Sometimes I'll try to be proactive and ask around, but most of the time the teachers don't know what's going on. Your best bet is to ask the students. They know what's up.

This is their daily morning meeting. And it always goes way over time :)

Students (who aren't yours) will be so excited to show you their English! Even if (and it usually is) minimal. I'll be walking around campus and groups of students will walk past me saying, "Hello, Teacha! How are you?" I'll say, "I'm fine, how are you?" And then after they look at me dumbfounded, they giggle and run away. There is a specific group of boys who sit outside, next to the Cafeteria and we pass by them on our way to lunch. And every day without fail they yell at Jonathan, "What's up?!" It's actually more like, whaaz ahp! It's hilarious. They are clearly too cool for school.

 

Don't be surprised when a student starts poking your belly or plops down on your lap. The Thais are certainly a touchy-feely bunch. If they start to like you, they will hold your hand, wrap their arms around your waist, or stroke your arm as you walk past their desks and tell you that you are soft (I had this happen my very first day). They also like to tell it how it is. There isn't any regard for sensitivity about your body here in Thailand. Every teacher has been poked in the stomach at one point and been told, "you have fat!" Almost every day, some student points to the bags under my eyes and asks me, "Teacha, why are your eyes like that?!" I just have to laugh and tell them, that's how I was born! Or I tell them that they make me tired :) They aren't trying to make fun or anything, that's just how it is here! Weight and appearance are nothing to be ashamed of. 

Even though your student is speaking English, you aren't always speaking the same language. Now that we've been here for 4 months, I feel like I've gotten pretty good at deciphering the Thai accent and substituting simple words in my instructions. (I've learned to say my directions 3 times, use charades, write them on the whiteboard and also walk around to make sure they are doing it right. You gotta make sure all the bases are covered.) But there are still many times that I have to ask a student to repeat their answer like 3 times before shamefully asking them to spell it out for me. One of the countless experiences of when things get lost in translation.

When in doubt, give them balloons! Ok, not really. But here's the point: Hands-on activities are the best way to shake things up and to help get over a language barrier. What better way to teach static electricity than to have 30 students rubbing balloons on each other's heads?! Never mind that 6 balloons were sacrificed in the process. It definitely made for some great pictures.

There is no greater feeling than seeing that one struggling student, who tries SO hard, get an answer right. Gosh, I never realized how tough the English language is until I started teaching it! I have to teach myself every day before walking into class! English grammar is no fun and many times makes no sense. And these poor students just want to know why. How are they supposed to learn and understand the 'loose' grammar rules when all the exercises in their books give them the exceptions? Gah! It's frustrating because most of the time I can't give them a reason. I just say, "English is hard. I don't know why. But that's what it is." They really try. But when that moment comes, when it finally clicks, you can see it on their faces. Their eyes light up, they break into a huge smile and I just want to squeeze them with all my might, jump up and down and say, "You did it!!!" Ah! There really is no better feeling. It makes all the frustration worth it. By far.

To sum it up, teaching in Thailand has been humbling, entertaining, frustrating, loads of fun, but most of all, rewarding. It's been awesome experience and if anyone is thinking about it, you should go for it!