TEFL Phuket News

Teaching English is often touted as highly rewarding and fun. But is it really, or is this just another sales job?

English is the language of commerce and travel. It is the default language of international communication. Teaching in Phuket gives the opportunity to teach not only Thai people, but also people from all of Asia. I have encountered travelers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia, during my teaching time in paradise. As our planet becomes more interconnected, everybody needs to learn English. Thus, the demand for English teaching in Asia continues to climb.

People from the above-named countries are able to come to Thailand, book a room, take a couple of hours of class each day and enjoy some rest and relax time on one of Phuket’s famous golden sand beaches. All of this for about the same cost as an English tutor back home. They have studied and learned quite a bit of English on their own - mostly through books, computer programs or non-native speakers. The chance to work on pronunciation, usage and conversation with a real, live native speaker is what they desperately need. This is the only way to learn how to actually speak and hear how English actually sounds when spoken correctly and in person.

Additionally, I have had students from all over Europe: France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and even Greece. For these people, basic English conversation is becoming a necessity as well. Again, the market for the services of a teacher continues to grow. There is a seemingly endless stream of people who want and need to learn to speak English.

So is it really fun and rewarding? You might think that working for the better part of an hour on a point of grammar or pronunciation and creating new and interesting ways to approach the material doesn’t sound all that great. But, when they finally get it, and all of your efforts have paid off, then you’ll know.

The smiles on the student’s faces say it all.

Take the average Thai student. They don’t really want to do something unless it is fun. This is part of their “sanook” ethic. Sanook means “fun” in Thai and if a lesson isn’t fun, lively, interesting or attention-grabbing, what’s the point, really? So, my job is to be an entertainer and comedian with a good grasp of English and clear pronunciation skills. Teaching in this relaxed manner with laughter as a healthy part of each lesson is an excellent way to foster a positive learning environment. Mistakes or slips are met with smiles and chuckles - as opposed to a more western model of anxiety or self criticism. The Thai are really onto something here! I have actually learned to relax while working! Thank you, Thailand!

So how to get started? If you are fluent in English, taking a TEFL course is the best way to go. Why? In a month of easy study, you’ll be prepared to teach. The TEFL course covers everything you’ll need to get going and feel confident in front of students. Without a TEFL, you’ll probably over complicate your attempt to teach English and short change your students in the bargain. My students are eager to learn, and since I work at a private school, they have paid good money to do so. Visit our enroll page to review course dates and accommodation options.

Why not have a fun and rewarding adventure in paradise? Join us now!

Tags: , asia, beach, course, fun, jobs, phuket, teaching, TEFL

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 9:55 pm and is filed under Teaching jobs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.