Plus and minus

So what is true about all the stuff you hear about teaching in Thailand? Is it really that good? Is it that bad? Probably not. Here's a pro and con list: you decide.

Pro

+ Teaching can be very sabaai sabaai (Thai for: easy going)

+ The kids and most people you work with are very endearing

+ You'll get a unique perspective of Thai culture

+ No worries about cold winters: the sun will shine!

+ Good food always, everywhere

+ The cost of living (especially in Isaan) is very cheap

+ You are giving people a (huge) opportunity

Con

- Disciplining can be a problem for some teachers

- The range in a classroom is a challenge: from clever to slightly autistic

- Expectations of parents and the school can be very unrealistic

- Sometimes everything else seems more important than learning

- Thai culture can be puzzling and sometimes frustrating

- Saving money and good health insurance can be a problem

A lot of these points depend greatly on one thing: the way YOU look at it. In my school teachers have left crying in the middle of their 1st lesson, never to be seen again. Other teachers have been coasting along for years.