Interview: Teaching English In Thailand
Oksana has taught at Tak Pittayakhom School in Northern Thailand for the past 3 years. She is Ukrainian and has a master’s degree in philology. When I first came to teach at Tak Pittayakhom she was already well established here and specialised in working with older students, mostly in M6 (year 6). Her perspective is an interesting one; she began teaching online for Tak Pittayakhom School during the COVID-19 pandemic and then transitioned to in-class teaching. She is regarded by staff and students alike as one of the best teachers at our school. I interviewed her at the end of her time teaching in Thailand, having recently secured a new position in Singapore.
As Singapore is highly regarded for its educational standards, we will follow up in a few months for a longer podcast discussion.
This interview can be thought of as a primer for our next discussion. Here we cover: starting out as a teacher in Thailand, gaining classroom experience, navigating the education system, and making the most out of new teaching opportunities.
The Interview:
Why did you want to teach in Thailand?
So it was not my original goal to teach in Thailand it just kind of happened accidentally. I have an acquaintance who taught in Vietnam, he was an English substitute teacher but he couldn't speak English very well. So I thought to myself maybe I should give it a try. At that time only Thailand was open, and open specifically for non-native speakers; I could work here legally and I could feel safe here. Soon after I started browsing I found an agency in Ukraine and they had some offers in Thailand and somehow I ended up here.
So what was it like in the beginning when you started in-class teaching?
The way students were treating me here was so different. Ukraine is similar to Europe, students can be quite spoiled and they don’t respect teachers that much. I remember when I started teaching online and Thai students started messaging me: ‘Your voice is so soft’, like soothing. So I worried I wasn’t loud enough so I started shouting and then my co-teacher started laughing at me.
When I went back to in-class teaching students were really listening to me, like they were eager to be back in school and eager to learn. So it was quite easy for me.
You’ve taught mostly M6 (year 6) for every semester.
Yeah, I had many subjects in the beginning but then someone decided that I worked better with M6 so they gave me more M6 students. Later a co-teacher asked if I would be able to teach academic writing and I said okay.
What has it been like teaching M6?
Well they're older, they listen more. The age cap is not that big but in their eyes I’m a mentor, even though our age difference is only around 5 years let’s say.
The way I deliver classes is probably best suited to M6. I like explaining things and maybe I like playing games a little less. I think I like teaching with a more serious approach.
Looking back now it’s been three years. How do you think you’ve changed as a teacher from the beginning to the end? What have been the big changes?
As a non-native speaker, I was quite insecure about teaching English at the beginning. I felt like, ‘Can I really do that’, ‘Am I allowed to do that?’ I was trying different methods and different approaches. I observed the way other teachers teach and with time I realized what works best for me. Now I’m very relaxed when I teach, I’m not afraid of trying different things and if you know the Thai educational system it helps. You also need to be willing to accept the Thai educational system otherwise you will not survive.
What things stand out the most from three years of teaching here?
The students actually and their feedback. I would also say our colleagues and their feedback. We get along and I know the way other schools can work, sometimes the atmosphere could be very tense. At our school it’s pretty nice, more or less we all get along even if we have some small disputes it does not affect your life.
Do you know how many students we have now?
Yes, now our school has around 3,000 students and every year they are expanding.
What advice would you have for new teachers coming to Thailand?
Be open. Try to accept a new culture. Also if you feel like you cannot stay here in Thailand, if you feel like it isn’t for you, do not force yourself to stay. I’ve seen so many teachers that come and they cry and suffer and then they try to change the education system in Thailand. But if you have enough patience to deal with students who cannot speak a word of English it will be fine for you. Just be open.
I think you get at the heart of it. You may have some students who cannot speak a word with you at all but you will also have some incredible students that come through the system and are self-motivated, they want to have conversations with you.
Yeah, their English is amazing. Sometimes I’m amazed by the way students can express themselves, and the way they can even pick up accents.
Also, we have special programmes for /1, /2, /3 /4 and then we have other programmes. The way students are sorted into these programmes is usually based on money. However, the lower classes can sometimes be the most rewarding to teach. If you can devote your time to them, even if you’re only teaching them basic English you will have a great time.
We discussed we would have a follow-up to this on the other side of your new position in Singapore. Do you want to say something about the new opportunity and the new teaching job?
Yes, it’s going to be a big change. In Thailand, my experience is all in high school but in Singapore, I will teach kindergarten students, between 2-8 years old. So yes they are going to be very small. However, in Thailand, I teach ESL (English to speakers of other languages) but in Singapore English is practically their first language and I will need to teach phonics. I’m excited and scared but mostly excited about the opportunity.
I think it’s a great opportunity. But it also points to an issue in Thailand that many foreign teachers can’t stay a long time. They often want to stay but the incentives are usually for short-term teachers.
True and you have to be ready that every 6 months teachers come and go. So you also need to be ready for that.
Thanks Oksana! We will follow up this conversation maybe in a couple of months when you have something to balance your time in Thailand with.
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