Thread: Is speaking Thai a plus for English teachers?

I guess I'll go first; I said it helps some, but it's not a big deal. Some TEFL courses teach you NOT to speak L1 to the students. Some schools in Thailand require you to only speak English in class. That's good in theory, but in practice, it helps to speak at least basic L1, especially for beginners. First day of class (yesterday) several people with new classes probably wished they knew how to say in Thai, "Supachit, sit down and open your book!" because Supachit didn't understand it in English.

Originally Posted by paulen

I plan to teach English and live in Thailand for a few years when I graduate and I was wondering if speaking Thai will help me out in the job market?

Do schools like it when English teachers can speak Thai as well or could they not care less?

Will a Thai speaking English teacher be more qualified then a non Thai speaker and possibly be qualified for a higher wage?

Finally, do Thai students like to have an English teacher who can speak Thai as well and will Thais in general be more friendly to a forigner if they speak Thai?

Thanks!!

~ Paul

It will help you out in several ways. You'll get up to 20% off everything. You'll be able to bust the kids for racist shite. You'll understand the culture more.

On the down side you'll have to buy a MP3 player to drown out ignorant/racist/provocative stuff that they'll say around you thinking you don't understand. :sad:

It won't add to your wages......they have a saying

Farang reu mak mai di.

It's not good for a foreigner to know too much (about their ways).

Many of them are nice, but many resent us too.

It will help. You shouldn't really use in the classroom (or if you do minimally) though.

I find when a farang comes in here with a reasonable command of Thai the Thai staff do like it, so it might mean you'll find it easier to find work.

You also can think about working at a proper Thai company, as I know a fair few people (again with a good command of Thai) that have landed relatively cushy jobs in this way!

i hate nothing more than tales of teachers using the classroom to practice their Thai
yes a bit of thai will facilitate things
but i'm sure we have strong opinions on Thai teachers using our time to use their english
yes it can be impressive but its not appropriate

it will get you laid more, cmon we were all thinking it
but probably with the wrong kind of girl

Sorry, but I find that when it comes to discipline L1 is 100% the way forwards.

Think of that Farside cartoon where the man shouts at the dog, then you see the dog's perspective blah blah blah.

Thai in discipline matters saves time gets your message across quickly and so as not to disrupt the flow of your class with having to explain ettiquette concepts using language far beyond the scope of the lesson plan you have for them that day.

i never follow this logic. anything that is effective to be said in l1 can be taught in l2, i.e. "somchai you useless fat tosser shut your stupid mouth when i'm talking".

discipline in l1 if you must, eventually transate and teach so that you only have to discipline in l2.

I do translate, however the effectiveness of L1 discipline is quite apparent in my experience...of course sanctions when actually carried out are the clearest message, but quickly getting over the threat in L1 is a good stopgap. I'm kind of half and half....especially on the talking when I'm talking thing...a few mai suparps can do a lot to shut them up a bit.

well thats all good. each to their own. i've never used thai in the classroom and could get a class to shut it pretty damn quick.

I once observed a teacher - trainer at T+T give a class to Thai Ss in maybe 40 % English and 60% Thai. Apparently he often used to do this, what a waste of time

totally agree.