Checklist for Thailand

If you decide to work in Thailand you will be coming to a totally alien culture. You will be coming as a professional worker, not as a tourist. You will see very few non-Thais during your working week, except your colleagues. You will have little or no Thai language skills and you will rely on your Thai helper for so many of the very small tasks which are so easy in your country, but which can be so difficult in a culture so different from your own.

If you are conscientious you will work very hard producing lessons and teaching materials for your weekly lessons, You might find that you aimed too high or expected too much. You may be disappointed at the slow progress you are making and you might feel that you are not a very good teacher. This, however, is your subjective view. The children will take you to their hearts very readily, but you may still be struggling with the idea that you are making little progress.

The idea that you cannot teach Thai children to the standard you wish, or you cannot function in a purely Thai environment may start to dishearten you. A simple misunderstanding you have because of language difficulties, or failure to understand the local customs could be taken out of proportion and a very small incident may be blown up into a major crisis. Unless you can recognize this as the onset of “Culture Shock”, you might start looking for a way to leave and go home where everything is comfortable, predictable and regulated, viz. get back to your own culture. This usually happens after about three to four months. It then occurs at regular intervals, usually when you have had difficulty in expressing yourself, being understood or expecting the normal western values and responses to a given situation or crisis.

1. Are you over-sensitive and disheartened easily?

2. Are you a quitter?

3. Do you have any debts or financial commitments, which must be met from your Thai salary? Remember, your salary is sufficient for your needs in Thailand and nothing else.

4. Do you have any dependents in your country of origin?

5. Do you have any ongoing personal relationships in your country of origin which might cause you to leave Thailand before your contract is completed?

6. Do you have any contractual obligation which you must fulfil, which would preclude you from keeping to the time frame for appointments?

7. Have you ever broken a contract with an employer, or left any employment without mutual agreement between yourself and the employer?

8. Have you ever left any job before the full term of your contract was completed, whether by mutual agreement or not?

9. Have you ever been dismissed by any former employer?

10. Do you have any convictions in a court of law, which would preclude you from being a teacher in the United Kingdom, Europe, United States, Canada, New Zealand or Australia?

11. Do you have any problems accepting the Dialogue Teachers' dress code?

12. Do you think you will need more salary than is offered for this position?  Please look at the current exchange rate of the Thai Baht

13. Do you have any problem with the contract you have been offered? 

14. We have a policy of "clean air" for pupils and staff in the work place. Smoking is not permitted in the presence of pupils or on any school campus. (This includes standing out side the school smoking.) Do you have any problems with this policy?

15. Do you suffer from poor health?

16. Have you had many absences from work due to ill health?

17. Are you taking any medication for an ongoing illness?

18. Have you suffered from any major illness or had any major operation in the last 3 years?

19. Do you suffer from any allergies?

20. If so, is it a problem for you to afford the drugs you are taking to effectively control these symptoms?

21. Do you have any problems living in a country with no seasons, with temperatures ranging from 27-39 degrees Celsius and with relative humidity around 70 - 90%?  The current weather conditions in Suratthani are: click here

22. Do you think you would be uncomfortable living in an environment with numerous insects and without western standards of hygiene?

23. Do you have any problems preparing lessons and modifying and adapting text book materials?

24. Do you have any problems producing supplementary materials and worksheets?

25. There is a provisional timetable for this appointment. Do you think you will have any problems preparing and delivering interesting and meaningful lessons to these groups?  

26. Are you an individual/loner who doesn't like to work in a team?

27. Do you have any problems operating a computer?

28. Do you have any problems using the phonetic symbols to assist EFL students in the pronunciation of difficult sounds and consonant clusters?

29. Are you are poor timekeeper?

30. Do you have any problems taking part in a staff induction and orientation period for about two weeks in order to prepare you for your work in the new school?

31. Do you have any problems engaging in regular staff appraisal and training in order to help you be more effective in the classroom?

Our purpose in asking so many questions is to help you focus on the sorts of difficulties you may face if you come to Thailand as a teacher. Also to assure everyone that the best interests of all parties are going to be met, not least of all the interests and well being of the students in the schools, for whom we have a strong sense of care and responsibility. It is very important that we appoint quality teachers of good character, who can fulfil their teaching obligations. To ask the above questions in a telephone interview would waste valuable time and would not give you the best opportunity to provide thoughtful and considered answers.

If you answered "No" to the questions above then you stand a good chance of settling into Thailand and having a worthwhile and enjoyable working experience.