When we decided to teach English in Thailand, we first searched the internet for information and organisations that open the way for you. By chance we found an advertisement for people interested in such an adventure in the newspaper.

After we contacted and met the person, who is an English teacher in Thailand herself, we decided to trust her. She acted as our agent and booked us on a two-week course where we were taught how to teach English to children or adults. If you do not have a degree in education, it is desired to do this course. Our agent also arranged our visas, sorted out our air tickets and helped with general inquiries.

So we had left for Thailand with 20 other South Africans. We all lived in the same place where the course was presented. It is a TEFL course (Teach English as a Foreign Language) for which you get a certificate so you may teach at schools and businesses.

During the two weeks we realised that there were a few snags, but most of them were not serious. We had a problem with our visas, but we have obtained student visas by registering for further studies. That way we felt safer living in Thailand.

Anyhow, the course was enjoyable and we really benefited. We were given an overview of the Thai culture and gained a lot of practical knowledge on how to manage large classes. We also learned to teach English to children who do not understand or speak a word of English. The person who presented the course was from the Philippines, pleasant and knowledgeable. In each class we had to do practically what we have learned and come up with new games and techniques. Because most jobs are available at schools, the lessons focused on children.

With a certificate and a recommendation from the course presenter in the bag, we arrived at an agent’s office with shining eyes. Both of us got jobs at schools in a small town, not far from Bangkok.

It was then that we have awakened to all the pitfalls on our adventurous journey. ‘Agent’ now is a word that makes us shudder; but we got smart and do not use agents to get work anymore. We just do it ourselves. It is very easy to get a job and age is not a factor.

The one big problem all of us are confronted with is that the contracts offered to us are not worth the paper on which it was typed. In Thailand you have no chance to take the school or agent with whom you signed a contract to court. But this is not a story one can explain in a paragraph or two. It is a very complex problem.

Well, here I’m going to stop. Next time I will give you a glimpse of our days at school over here.

By the way, of the 22 of us who came here, only six remained. For now we hang in here.

Also read: Teaching in Thailand