| One of Mike Fook's latest helpful guides is, "The | | | | because it just is not what they expected. Mike |
| Ultimate Guide to Teaching English in Thailand" which | | | | states that he hopes to give those considering |
| appears to be exactly that. | | | | teaching in Thailand a very realistic view of what the |
| Mike tones down his usual hard-hitting style with this | | | | job and cultural experience is like, thereby cutting |
| more than 100 page information packed guide for | | | | down on the number of people that waste a year of |
| wannabe teachers of English in the "Land of Smiles" | | | | their lives. |
| as Thailand is often known. | | | | Mike relates that there seems to be a certain type |
| Recent changes have made teaching in Thailand a | | | | of person that is cut out for the task. |
| rather exclusive occupation. Gone are the days of | | | | - Teachers that go easily with the 'flow' are going to |
| backpackers from Europe or North America popping | | | | do best in the Thai school system because often the |
| over to Thailand for a years stay and teaching | | | | schedule changes at a moment's notice. |
| part-time as they wish. | | | | - Those that match themselves with an area, a |
| A number of regulations have been put into place by | | | | climate, a cultural tempo that fits them are more |
| Thai Ministry of Education authorities which have | | | | likely to survive and thrive as a teacher in Thailand - |
| increased the hoops one needs to jump through in | | | | or as a long-term expat. |
| order to teach legally in Thailand. Police background | | | | - Adventurists that come to teach for the pure |
| checks from the hopeful teachers home country as | | | | experience of living in and teaching in another culture |
| well as within Thailand are necessary in most cases. | | | | across the globe tend to do well. Their reward is |
| There is now a Thailand Teaching License that must | | | | everyday that they are teaching something new to |
| be awarded for those wishing to teach in Thailand's | | | | Thai children and adults, not when the the school day |
| government school system. This teaching license | | | | ends at 4:30 p.m. |
| requires a Thai culture course be attended by all | | | | Before moving to Thailand five years ago, I spent |
| teaching applicants and has set the expat teaching | | | | thirty-dollars or so on four paperback books that |
| community reeling. Many teachers have since left the | | | | were supposed to prepare me for teaching in |
| country for what they saw as greener grass in | | | | Thailand. None of these books prepared me much for |
| Korea, Japan, and Vietnam to name a few Asian | | | | the reality of living, eating, breathing, and getting |
| countries that benefitted from the English teachers' | | | | along socially in a country so different from my own |
| exodus from Thailand. | | | | home in America. Mike's book is extremely |
| Mike covers everything would-be teachers need to | | | | comprehensive and I can highly recommend "The |
| know starting with tasks teachers need to complete | | | | Ultimate Guide to Teaching English in Thailand" as the |
| before leaving their home country. Most foreign | | | | premiere resource available on the subject. |
| English teachers do not stay to teach long-term | | | | |