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This Asian English teacher need not apply to many of the more commercially-minded educational establishments, despite his fluency with the language, his teaching experience and educational qualifications. It’s the look that counts. |
It is not a surprise then, that the demand for English language training in Thailand exceeds the supply of language schools and institutions available. On Silom road alone, there is at least one language school in each of the skyscrapers and smaller office buildings, making the area home to the highest concentration of language schools in the country.
Many business-minded individuals are cashing in on the demand for English by opening schools and charging high tuition fees for classes. In Bangkok, there is a multitude of choices – anything from world-renowned and extremely expensive Berlitz and Interlingua to university programmes offered by Chulalongkorn, Mahidol or Assumption and lesser-known schools in Bang Lamphu and Ramkhamhaeng.
Classes are offered for everything from examination preparation to business English and writing skills. The prices also vary and some courses, such as the TOEFL preparation course, can end up costing more than 30,000 baht.
The problem is that the vast majority of these establishments operate without employing fully qualified instructors. Some teachers, in fact, are high school dropouts. As is the case in many other countries, there is no control of foreign language teachers in Thailand, so basically anyone can claim to be an ‘English teacher’.
Many of the foreigners employed in the language schools are here on tourist visas. They want to immerse themselves in a new culture and way of living, and teaching is one of the easiest and fastest ways to earn some money. Dan Gibson of the TEFL Institute says that "Bangkok is an exotic and interesting place. People will find any reason to come to Bangkok. And it’s affordable."
As long as the teachers are white and appear to be or are native speakers – a key selling point for most language schools – they will be able to find a job without a problem.
The plight of non-Caucasian teachers
Thai students studying English in private language schools in Thailand will, for the most part, expect their teachers to be native speakers and be farangs (foreign Caucasians). Most do not enquire about the teacher’s exact academic background, teaching experience or teaching credentials. Students will not ask questions like "Where did you go to school? What did you study? How many years teaching experience have you had?" This seems not as important as a teacher’s looks and country of origin. "Where are you from?" is a much more typical query.
"Thai people go for ‘native looking’ rather than ‘native speaking’ says Darryn S. Vine, director of the TEFL1 course at Muangthai Phatra Complex on Ratchadapisek Road. It’s like people who drive around in a Mercedes Benz because it ‘looks good.’" Thai students want teachers who have blue eyes and are blonde, rather than someone who looks like themselves.
Asian-Americans, Filipinos and other non-white teachers will have an extremely hard time finding employment in most schools, even if they speak perfect English and have all the required degrees or certificates and teaching experience. I applied to one school at Time Square, and they simply rejected me after one sentence, claiming that I did not ‘have the right look’.
In most Western nations, such overt discrimination would be grounds for a civil lawsuit, but in Thailand it is acceptable, largely because that is what customers want. Mac Walenciak from The Callan Method School of English in the Silom Center Building conducted a survey and asked his students if they would enroll in classes taught by Filipinos, Indians or Thais and found that the majority of the students would strongly prefer only non-Asians instructors.
What Thai learners of English say
Thais tend to determine one’s ability and capability based on appearance. For this reason, part of the language schools’ recruitment policy is that teachers not have any piercings (apart from normal ear piercings for female teachers only), are clean-shaven and are properly attired to reflect the professionalism of the occupation. Practically all male teachers in language schools in Thailand wear a shirt and tie, something that is compulsory for the integrity and look of the school.
Chantana Kuisakorn, a student at Chulalongkorn University, said that she "prefers foreign teachers". Most Thai students have problems with their listening skills, she says, and she would also like to improve her accent with a foreign teacher if given the opportunity.
Another student from Ramkhamhaeng University, Kwanjai Supasra, has taken English lessons from an in-house English teacher who was hired by her company. She says she has found the experience very rewarding.
"I had a teacher from England and he was very helpful. I personally prefer native speakers who would be able to help me improve my accent. Thai teachers who teach me English do not give me the same feeling as having a farang teacher. I want to learn practical things that I can use and apply in my everyday life," Kwanjai explains.
Teachers’ work conditions and pay
English language teachers in Thailand encounter a large disparity of working conditions, pay rates and benefits. There are schools which offer a full-time teaching position with a one-year contract or longer, fixed monthly pay, visa assistance and benefits. Others will hire only on a part-time basis, with hourly wages, no visa assistance or benefits.
Some schools, like King’s College, provide teachers with their own individual classrooms and an excellent working environment.
On the other hand, another language school in the Bang Lamphu area places teachers in Thai schools and makes them sign a one-year contract. The school provides remuneration at a rate of 200-250 baht per hour, and deducts 2000 baht from their monthly pay cheques to be paid in full upon completion of the contract.
A director at one language school commented that contracts are hard to enforce in Thailand, and that if the conditions are too strict, teachers would simply leave and find employment at another school.
Schools that pay teachers well and provide a good working environment ensure the high quality and standard of what is taught. Generally speaking, the average hourly pay rate in Bangkok is around 250-350 baht per hour. Universities tend to pay more, Mahidol University’s English Language Service (MeLS) pays a very high salary of 600 baht per hour, but the screening process is tough and Assistant Professor Diane Urairat, the director, admits that she "rejects more than accepts." Most language schools are not as strict in their screening process as they hire on a monthly basis since teachers come and go.
Students and parents of young children enrolled in language schools should be aware of the standard that is in placed in each establishment. A school may look very professional with teachers well dressed and well mannered, but the reality is that looks can be deceiving.
Teachers who have never taught before will tend to be very shy and afraid, thus may speak too softly and be unable to control a class full of screaming kids. Some teachers have never formally studied English grammar and do not know the difference between a verb and noun and have problems writing themselves.
Some teachers’ training programmes provide a review of fundamental English grammar and methods of teaching grammar to students. The TEFL Institute provides a grammar review because, as the director of the programme, Milton D. Jones, puts it, "native speakers are not formally taught grammar."
What are language school employers looking for?
 Matthew Hogan |
Different schools have different requirements and criteria when hiring teachers. Ninety percent of the teachers at King’s College of English, for example, are from the UK and all have the Certificate in English Language Teaching for Adults (CELTA). Matthew Hogan, the academic director of the school commented on the necessity of training for teachers so that they have the proper background to excel in a classroom setting. He says, "there is a difference between what we think we say and what we really say."
Hogan also mentions that his school "only accepts native speakers because only they can teach the language most effectively." Having native speakers teach is important, he explains, as they will know the nuances and the ins and outs of the language. Thus, private language schools give Thai students "an edge, an opportunity to interact with native speakers and practice their pronunciation, learn idioms and English usage."
 Victor Hammett |
Victor Hammett of Pro-Language at the Times Square Building says that he has "no absolute requirement, but [looks for] at least a bachelor degree and one or two years experience. Having the theory, but no chance to have used it is not practical."
Since MeLS caters mainly to students at the College of Management, Mahidol University, knowledge of some business concepts would be advantageous. Professor Urairat says that a certificate is not enough and would prefer someone, like herself, with a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Applied Linguistics.
Urairat places the British Council’s training programme in great regard because she feels that " only people who are committed go there. They teach people how to get to students." She also adds that teachers "need to know automatically what to do in a classroom, they must have a back-up plan if the lesson plan fails."
 Sheila Taylor |
The British Council will only hire those graduates with a bachelor degree, with a minimum requirement of the CELTA, two years teaching experience and familiarity with the British education system," according to Sheila Taylor, head of Professional ELT Development. Not all teachers are from the UK, but the majority are. "Some are also from Australia," adds Budsaprapat Thatavakorn, ELT Projects Officer.
What language students should look for
Because of the large number of choices available, students should take great care in selecting the best school to fit their individual needs.
Students should not be afraid to ask the school, and the teachers themselves, about the teacher’s academic background. Schools must be open to justify the high tuition fees that they are charging by showing evidence of the teacher’s diploma or teaching credentials.
If a teacher appears to be unqualified, this matter should be discussed with the manager of the school and the situation should be corrected immediately. Schools which do not appear to be operating up to professional standards should be reported to the Ministry of Education for further investigation.
There are so many schools out there that finding the best one can be difficult. Ask friends for recommendations of schools they have personally experienced, or stick with programmes at universities which tend to have higher quality control and employ only excellent and fully qualified instructors, often with Masters degrees.
The right school is important as education is an important and costly investment, and the return that the student receives should be optimal.
terryfrd@ksc15.th.com |