I have only been to the UK once, and although it was for a job interview and not for a vacation, it seemed a nice enough place and I had a few nice conversations with some of the people I met there. I also do some academic work for a few of British Universities and usually have my books published in the UK, so I am not completely unfamiliar with British society.
Nevertheless I do not pretend to be an expert on British culture, but from looking at the results of British elections of the last half century, working with a number of British book publishers and universities, and reading many British authors it is obvious the UK is home to a wide variety of personalities and beliefs.
However when coming across middle aged British English teachers in Thailand, it almost seems they come out of a cookie cutter mold. I don’t mean physically, but in worldviews and personalities.
The political and social viewpoints of British English teachers here in Thailand seem to be very consistent. Why is this?
At least 9 out of every 10 middle aged male British English teachers I have met in Thailand have had at least 9 of the following 10 characteristics
1. Anti-American
2. Anti-Christianity (which they feel a need to express frequently)
3. Working class socialist (or at least far left) in political orientation
4. Hatred for American slang
5. Listen to pop/rock music from a different era
6. Condescending attitude towards Thai and other “non-native speakers”, especially Thai teachers and administrators
7. A tad anal over grammar rules
8. Sticklers for classroom rules
9. Grumpy and complain quite often about working conditions
10. Pessimistic about the future with low to moderate ambitions
We see Yank, Canuck, Aussie, and Kiwi teachers of multiple personalities and worldviews. So why the cookie cutter worldview of male middle aged British English teachers in Thailand? Why the lack of variety of thought in Brit English teachers?
Last edited by Guest Guru; 16th October 2011 at 15:50.
I had no idea that British publishers were so desperate for work.Originally Posted by Guest Guru
Could it have anything to do with the Americans they come across on internet forums?
4 more years!
Negative, I'm a pretty awesome guy. Any hate directed towards me is jealousy
---Update---
This thread has potential to be far more popular than mine.
You not? I not either.
---Update---
Don't forget, modest.
Guess so
---Update---
British?
Ah yes, how could I forget?
---Update---
Is over-confident the correct path to follow this thread?
Your second Brit bashing thread in a matter of hours.
That time of the month, is it?
Take me down to the paranormal city where the girls are green and they have three titties...
Oh, won't you please take me home?
Not British bashing at all, just an observation of Britsh ESL teachers.
Have any British ESL poster here every voted for a Tory?
Look at the thread after thread bashing Thailand and the Thai educational system started by and carried on by Brit teachers.
Is this list accurate or not?
I think I made it pretty clear I know this list does not apply to all Brits, but does seem to describe the vast majority of male middle aged British English teachers in Thailand to a T
No sure why British ESL teachers are not more of a cross-sample of the British population, like is found in other nationalities teaching in LOS.
Utter bollocks, IME.
Frederick Douglass: Find out just what any people will quietly submit to
and you have found out the exact measure of injustice
and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these
will continue till they are resisted with either
words or blows, or with both.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn;
“Don’t believe them, don’t fear them, don’t ask
anything of them.”
I taught English in Thailand for three years and never met the Brit you describe. As for "low to moderate ambitions," what does that mean? That being happy teaching English in Thailand is some kind of character flaw? I make a lot more money now, but 9 days out of 10 days I wish I were back there.
Kissing don't last; cookery do.
...it's a bad translation from his native tongue: somewhere Middle Europe-ish, I would guess...
...majestically enthroned amid the vulgar herd...
^
Obsession with me. Why?
Bastards!
"Take this, brother; may it serve you well."
The only thing I notice about British teachers here is the funny way they mangle their(our) language.
As I said before,let's call it what it is. They are ENGLISH, not British. ENGLISH. We hate The English.I don't think anyone has a beef with Welsh, Scots or (northern) Irish.
---Update---
You're kidding right? That's every Englishman who works in my school. Every last one. I don't hang out with any of them for all those reasons (except for the music thing, which is true BTW).
Actually, the Englishman who is the HOD of English in my school refers to Thais as "The Brown Savages". Every time we have some sort of activity in the school when parents come I have to listen to that. With the fucking superior English mumbling accent.
I am guessing deep down The English actually feel inferior so they have to compensate.
For some reason the English are very good salesmen and they can sell themselves to Thais very well and Thais believe everything they say. They just adorn their shit in a pretty English accent, but it is still shit.
Last edited by venting; 17th October 2011 at 07:34.
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