LIVING IN AN AMAZING & UNIQUE REALITY!: THAILAND, TEACHING AND ANYTHING IN BETWEEN

03 December 2013

THAILAND, TEACHING AND ANYTHING IN BETWEEN

When I returned to Bangkok on April 30, I then proceeded to job hunting. I stepped into a very modern looking Language Center, went up to the lady at the front desk, and said "I'm applying for a job, and I would like to leave a copy of my resume."

The man seated next to her said "Let me have a look at that". He proceeded to scan my CV and I could have sworn his eyes shot back and asked..."How did you get this?" As he looked up at me and pointed at my IELTS (International English Language Test Standard Scores).

I am not paid by the Institute to endorse them, but me posting my pic and giving them due credit for my success is due and it is my way of thanking the Institute.

(The Study Aide Avenue, Davao City)

"I just took the exam like everybody else". I replied.

The man seated next to me ended up to be the

Academic Head himself. He then said with a puzzled look

"Okay, but I have an English degree in a University from America and My bandscore is just 7. So how could you have possibly gotten scores like these? Do you have the original copy of your IELTS)"

I knew he was doubting the authenticity of my papers

Asking me to follow him for an on the spot interview made me have butterflies in the stomach.

He told me that among the Foreign applicants, I had an very beautiful accent and an aura of command. However, in Bangkok, it is all about appearance and as much as he does not want to sound racist and to sugar coat things, I had to accept that I do not meet the standards most people in Bangkok would look for in a Language Teacher.

I must warn you that this part here may be unbelievable but I have seen this myself and so have some Ex-pats in Bangkok.

1. Native English Speaker : Yes you must have a passport from the US, UK, South Africa

2. Must Have a Teaching Degree ( or any degree in a related field) , coupled with TEFL, TESOL, CELTA

3. Must have blonde hair and blue eyes.

This bit here might be ridiculous and offensive but I tried applying for jobs with my friend and he's African American . He's one of the nicest people that I know but I saw how he was shot down even though he has a US passport, Master's Degree, and TEFL certification and yet it was hard for him to find a job.

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To make a long 800 pages story shorter in 300 pages, I ended up working in the South of Thailand where people are seemingly more accepting, gracious, and have a lot of the positive qualities that Thais are known for and I am happy.

I can write a million things about the things I have seen in Bangkok and the South....
But as the 'cliche' goes, A picture is worth a thousand words. I have several, you do the math and tell me how many words these pictures are.

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