A Native Speakers EFL Teachers' Association - Page 4 - Ajarn Forum

DunceCap · 20th November 2006, 17:43

I agree watdog, it is not like Torbek is off the mark with his ideas, it just don't seem like the timing is right.

watdog · 20th November 2006, 17:46

greens for torbek...greens for torbek, i say. (pity when good ideas get rewarded by a kunts game but its all i have energy for right now)

jonny danger · 20th November 2006, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by watdog

a whole new paradigim, eh unwell. tough not to agree. but i like torbeks energy. his mind is still working while i have to turn mine off in spurts just to stay sane in this morass.

yes, he does have good energy. if you consider this idea, and lots of teachers have thought of it, where in the tefl world is it in action today? and if it is, how is it going? and how does that nation compare to this one? we must consider too, what someone has already mentioned, how would such an idea fall onto the ears of military men? did you know what's-his-face the commander of the thai air force is now in charge of thai airways? the ex-general of battlefield communications will most likely head the moe sooner than you think.

Unwell · 20th November 2006, 17:49

of course his ideas are on point; he's a smart guy and he knows his stuff.

applying sense and sanity to either business or bureaucracy?

might as well do this -

. or maybe even this -

.

torbek · 20th November 2006, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by DunceCap

Thailand is under martial law and you are suggesting that a large group of angry teachers get together and tell the MOE that they can go screw themselves unless they make changes. Can you here the gun fire?

Is that what I was doing?

I missed that.

-----

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny danger

yes, he does have good energy. if you consider this idea, and lots of teachers have thought of it, where in the tefl world is it in action today?

Probably nowhere. It is common to associations for TEFL schools...Australia certainly has and have developed a stromg self-regulatory regime.

But that is not teachers.

On the same token...where in the world is there such a large body of TEFL teachers, in many cases integrated into the broader education system, many of whose members also stick at it for an extended period of time?

trep · 20th November 2006, 18:31

There already IS a professional organisation of English teachers - Thai Tesol. It is apolitical in nature but otherwise it is a perfect body to protect teachers interests.

Any new organisation would have to prove its commitment to professional development first, there's no way to start a lobbying group that is interested only in contract details and working hours, it will luck any credibility.

That's where Thai Tesol might be useful if it agrees to provide an umbrella.

anon · 20th November 2006, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by torbek

Is that what I was doing?

I missed that.

i don't think so, but i'm pretty sure that is how many bureaucrats would view the endeavor, and i'm confident that is how it would be portrayed in the media.

i applaud the idea....but like most things in life, it's all about the timing.

paully · 20th November 2006, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by torbek

Like many here, I've always rated such a think and impossible and unworkable. The Thais wont like it - both government and school administrations. The Teachers have too much self interest to worry about the plight of others - who's going to strike on behalf of someone they have never met who is supposedly poorly treated somewhere in the boonies?

[/b]

I wish you all the best with it, Torbek, and salute you for wanting to put your head above the parapet. But, I just don't think that such an association will be listened to and the ideas/suggestions acted on by the people that matter - the school directors/owners and the MoE. You may recall that, a few years ago, Phil was destined to meet the (then) Minister of Education, but it never came about - through no fault of Phil's.

DunceCap · 20th November 2006, 20:38

torbek, yes I was a little over reaching and dramatic in my "angry teachers rally-up" comment, but I think you got what I was aiming at.

-------------------
Trep, Thai-TESOL, wouldn't be much help for the many math and science teachers.

I once did a project with Thai-TESOL. It was stretched out over about 6 to 10 months. Upon completion, only the Thais got accredidation. The foreigners were just smiled at.
I want nothing to do with Lie-TESOL.
--------------------
jd, has a good idea about looking at another model. (is there one?)or something similar

Dr dude · 20th November 2006, 20:44

What a brillant and original idea!

Downtrodden teachers of the world unite!!

Is this just a "farang" union, or are Filipino, Blacks, Indians, and Thais who teach also welcomed?

Unwell · 20th November 2006, 21:00

no polacks.

zeitgeist · 20th November 2006, 22:11

English teachers need to do something, from what I read it seems dire.
I really don't know why so many put up with such crap, English teachers are much more tolerant than me.
I still don't know why some do it.

panhunger · 20th November 2006, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeitgeist

I really don't know why so many put up with such crap, English teachers are much more tolerant than me. I still don't know why some do it.

Good point. I think it's a great idea that needs support. If wages were higherand working conditions better, this thread would not exist. However, these new requirements may have a beneficial effect. By weeding out the unqualified, fewer teachers will remain, giving them more bargining power, thereby raising salaries and conditions...please wake me up!

jonny danger · 20th November 2006, 22:36

Sorry, Z, already gave my green away today. The more you guys bend over for them the more they'll know how easy you are to shag.

My boss thinks I'm an Internet addict. But know she knows I'm a teacher forum addict. This makes my time at the office computer more viable. I'll read for a time and then get up and grab my face with both hands and say, "Well, about 200 more farang teachers left Thailand today." Or, "I just saw 480 jobs adds on ajarn. They're starting to offer higher pay and bennies." The schools need to unite, not us. Get 200 EPs writing in telling tales of woe and the junta just might make a move.

zeitgeist · 20th November 2006, 22:38

I happen to be involved in an international school and when people complain I tell them of all the people I know who put up with horrendous amount of crap. Simply put, a teacher should never have to do a visa run or pay for a work permit, full stop.

I used to do the shakey Thai run education gig and called it quits and wouldn't settle for anything near. I put my foot down and have left that bullshit behind, I hope some of you get picky and skip the crap jobs out there.