Don’t Speak Thai in the Classroom
A question I often get when I talk with people interested in teaching English in Thailand is “Do I need to be able to speak Thai to be effective as a teacher?” My answer to them is a resounding “No.” When I went through my TEFL training, I was taught to never use the local [...]
Why do kids learn languages so easily?
Children have an uncanny talent for learning languages. The younger they are, the faster they seem to acquire a language. Just by playing around with others, kids add vocabulary at an astonishing rate. In a 2007 study, which was just made available on the internet, Meredith Brinster found at least part of the answer: Kids [...]
5 Tips for Teaching English in Thailand
Teaching English in Thailand is a uniquely rewarding way for native English speakers to make a living in Thailand. Here are five tips to help you enjoy your job even more and gain respect from your Thai peers and your students: Understand Thai Culture This is not just a tip from me, but a requirement [...]
Making up English Words
For years an email has been circulating about the Washington Post’s Mensa Invitational which includes a very clever list of words made by changing common words. It’s a hoax, because The Washington Post doesn’t really have such an invitational. Nevertheless, it’s a funny list and I enjoy it every time I see it. It has [...]
Language of the Internet: English
Learning a language quickly and successfully depends largely on a student’s motivation. If your students have a compelling reason to learn English, they will make rapid progress. They will study not only in your classroom, and do their homework, but they will also seek out ways to learn English outside of your set curriculum. But [...]
Worthwhile Causes
