Native English Speakers only

[Master J]

I know this has been talked about sa kung saan saan pati na rin sa Khao San. But really, I wanna hear from you ang mga sentiments mo about this. The past 9-10 years we have been friends with lot's of foreign teachers here in Thailand. I say, some are really good ones (may authentic scientist pa nga). Some naman ay talagang kaibigang panginuman lang, if you know what I mean.

Are you happy about this or not? No right or wrong answers here. Lahat ay mapupulutan ng aral.

[iSDa(GO PORTAL)]

if u mean schools wanting native english speaking teachers...

i guess this demand is partly driven by the pshycological mindset of the student's parents,

they think that if native speakers then of course cannot make mistake in spelling n grammar at may pleasant pronounciation pa, plus the cultural aspect of whiteness as a blessing from above, so if u r blessed then ma shower mo sa children.

and they expressed these desires to the school, "or else" sabi ng parents...

who knows...?

am not saying non-native speakers are less blessed than the statements above, in fact may angels tayo always by our side,
if u like satisfaction for the answers you should justify by soliciting the thoughts of the parents themselves, i am just a poor simple poster here earning his karma. 

i salute to all the filipino teachers, you are a force to be reckon with, others say good things and bad things about whatever, but i say them filipino teacher are heroes, you are a force to be reckon with  way to go

keep 'em those who say things about you, on their toes.

ganon...my 2 satangs

friends na.

[rain-phoenix]

aahh..the most common sentiment of filipino teachers working especially in asia..sad to know that fellow asians are the first to discriminate..its a cultural thing..native speakers have always been viewed as the superior race..and who doesn't want to be included anyway..

unfair it may seem to us but sometimes this challenge leads us to work harder and motivate us to do better..maybe we just have to prove to them that we are not a lesser race..and we know that we are not..

[iSDa(GO PORTAL)]

yeah sad to know...

partly to blame for the brainwashing is the bombardment of false images from the T.V. and movies and multimedia...

just imagine...si superman at si spiderman, sila x-men, these fantastic four, jessica alba, at hero ng transformer are all glistening white.

si die hard at si frodo...harry potter...so sad...what has become of da world.

me am dark brown due to playing outside the house in grass fields with my tabanog...but from time to time i still can walk tall among these whitey superheroes...

buti na lang si darna ay pinay...

my 2 satangs...

friends na

[rain-phoenix]

 ..mabuhay si darna!!

at buti nalng meron na tayong mga rounin sa pinas..
all elements of the universe pa ung powers nila!

[Master J]

Yes emancipate yourself from mental slavery - Bob Marley

Mel - tama ka malaking bagay talaga ang media. And daming suggestions sa ulo natin na hindi natin namamalayan ay pumapasok na pala. Like Superheroes, puro Marvel Superheroes ang nakikita at kilala natin mula pagkabata. Kesyo, gusto ko maging si Superman, si Batman, si Wonder Woman. Ayaw nila kay Starzan, kay Cheetaeh, Lastikman ... ang sama talaga ng colonial mentality 

rain-phoenix - sang ayon naman ako sa attitude mo. You looked at it as a glass half-full. Sabi nga ng isang mentor ko. Don't wish it was easier, wish you were better - Jim Rohn.

[erick]

The UNRESOLVED issue...

The only way to come up with a good solution on this is through POLITICS.  The more that I am wondering what in the hell are the people in the PHIL. EMBASSY doing???

I haven't seen any measures to protect the image of TRUE and HARDWORKING Filipino teachers in Thailand.

1. SALARY - There are neophyte teachers who are receiving as low as 7,000 Baht a month...how come the PHIL. GOVERNMENT can NOT intervene?

2. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION - It's soooo obvious that racial discrimination is rampant in Thailand particluary in the teaching industry. One of the reasons why schools do not consider FILIPINOS' applications is because of the POSSIBILITY that the Filipino teacher applicant is INDEED a bogus; has low English proficiency and lacks the PERSONALITY! As a result, THAI schools would rather get the RISK of employing a NATIVE speaker with bogus diploma, etc. rather than a FILIPINO applicant with the employer's burden on CONVINCING parents and school's boardmembers that they've got the best!

What I am trying point out is that the PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN THAILAND should DO something about these problems...HOW TO INCREASE THE THAI SCHOOL's CONFIDENCE TOWARD FILIPINO TEACHERS!

...and not just GOOD AT hosting PARTIES!!!

[thelight]

Hello there.

Allow me to share my experience.

I used to work with an international school before as ICT teacher. Most of the staff were Thai and Koreans. One day, they asked me to help sort out email applications for teaching positions and one email application stands out.

This is the part I remmember from the message:
"Before you put this application letter into the trash bin because I am not native speaker, please hear me out!"

It expresses rather strong sentiment. It's very clear that the person has had it "up to here" about the issue of "prefering native speaker". As for the recruiting officer, it's a sure guarantee to being thrown into the trash bin. In the end, the candidate didn't get the interview.

The point is, there are good ways to make your point said. Ten years in Thailand, the Thais have their ways in communicating. Jai yen, yen. Poot praw, supap. (Keep your cool. Speak in a good tone and politely). The equivalent; speak softly but carry a big stick.

Being with HR, here's a technique: Get certified. It doesn't matter what field. Say TOEIC for positions in businesses and that require English skills, get Linux certified or MSCE (Micrososft Engineer), get IELTS certified. If you have an engineering background or medical background, show your certificates. The key: get certified.

In our company, English instructors should have TOEIC of 700 and above and have experience in curriculum design and teaching at least one year. TOEIC is required but if you have IELTS, it will be an advantage.

Certification "levels the playground" so to speak. That's your ammunition.

[Chupau is BACK!!]

Ok lang,, in my opinion kasi this shows na insecure yung mga native speakers sa atin because ung mga nag rerecruit nyan makikita mo mga head ng English Department mga farang,, di ba mga pinoy nga iniimport narin natin mga tachers sa america at kung saan pang ibang bansa,, pero bakit ung mga yan di maka pag apply sa kanilang lugar,, maganda naman ang sweldo at kailangan pa nilang pumunta dito,, kasi sila mostly hi skkul lang ok na sila,, mga degree nila galing kao san road,, sa atin naman mga nag aaply na pinoy lahat degree holder. Naniniwala ako kung sa mga malalaking University sila mag turo in ABAC at sa skul nila madam H for example,, mukhang mas marami pa ata ang mga asian teachers jan kesa sa mga farang,kung meron man mga farang ung legit ang mga degree nila. sa tingin nyo itong mga thai na ito naiintindihan nila ung mga australian , british and american english lalo na pag masyado na slang ang salita,, I dont think so,,, this is just to attract and show parents that they have a blonde haired teacher,, ung mga tanga naman  ok yan ok yan kasi farang,,, well I have taught English too for a year and I see it only as purely business in the owners part. PEACE!!!

[erick]

Hello there.

Allow me to share my experience.

I used to work with an international school before as ICT teacher. Most of the staff were Thai and Koreans. One day, they asked me to help sort out email applications for teaching positions and one email application stands out.

This is the part I remmember from the message:
"Before you put this application letter into the trash bin because I am not native speaker, please hear me out!"

It expresses rather strong sentiment. It's very clear that the person has had it "up to here" about the issue of "prefering native speaker". As for the recruiting officer, it's a sure guarantee to being thrown into the trash bin. In the end, the candidate didn't get the interview.

The point is, there are good ways to make your point said. Ten years in Thailand, the Thais have their ways in communicating. Jai yen, yen. Poot praw, supap. (Keep your cool. Speak in a good tone and politely). The equivalent; speak softly but carry a big stick.

Being with HR, here's a technique: Get certified. It doesn't matter what field. Say TOEIC for positions in businesses and that require English skills, get Linux certified or MSCE (Micrososft Engineer), get IELTS certified. If you have an engineering background or medical background, show your certificates. The key: get certified.

In our company, English instructors should have TOEIC of 700 and above and have experience in curriculum design and teaching at least one year. TOEIC is required but if you have IELTS, it will be an advantage.

Certification "levels the playground" so to speak. That's your ammunition.

But be aware that CERTIFICATIONS do not necessarily reflect your ability in TESL (teaching English as a Second language)...

TOEIC; IELTS and other English proficieny tests have their OWN purposes...if you pass or get a high score from these tests...it simply means that you are COMPETENT ( proficient , indeed, in English) but does not CERTIFY you to be a PERFORMING language teacher.

Then again certifcates are a PLUS....even the 3-month /6-month language teaching course is not enough to make you desirable but to THAI administrators it is a good FACADE and to cover-up the "guilt" they have in employing NON LANGUAGE TEACHERS!

If certificates and trainings are what WE ALSO NEED to uplift the CONFIDENCE of Thai schools to Filipino teachers; and convince the idle Ministry of Education in Thailand to standardize foreign teachers' salaries, then the PHILIPPINE EMBASSY should start such project!

Certificates can be availed in some accredited language centers and universities in Thailand but LANGUAGE TEACHING TRAININGS designed for Filipino teachers is a good idea WHICH can be initiated by the PHIL. EMBASSY!

Kelangan ipakita natin sa manga THAI SCHOOLS at MOE na ang mga FILIPINO TEACHERS ay gumagawa ng hakbang upang tayo ay MAPANSIN sa larangan ng pagtuturo na bilang NANGUNGUNA sa pagtuturo at hinde lamang isang ALTERNATIBO sa mga puti at TAGASALO sa mababang sahod!

Kelangan kasi MALAKAS at MAGANDA ang reputation at credibility muna ng grupong FILIPINO teachers para mabago ang pakikitungo nila sa atin!

[spongklong]

right now, napakahirap talaga maghanap ng school because mostly native speaker ang hinahanap. pero ang totoo nyan eh, they are just for display. hehehe! and the fact is, mas gusto ng mga bata ang mga Pinoy na teachers kesa sa puti. kaya ung mga farang teachers when they resigned parang bale wala lng sa mga students pero pag pinoy ang umalis, hinahanap hanap nila. 

[iSDa(GO PORTAL)]

sure naman because the filipino have soul!!! 

thai and pinoys/pinays are same same in some some aspects

we smile deeply a little better than anybody,
and could inspire others to laugh a bit more easily

we felt more pain at somewhere in time,
and as a result we could feel more happy 

the deeper the hole that pain has caused 
thus the greater the capacity to experience joy

and the children love us for that...the joy they see in us glowing...emanating..shining 

ganon...chai mai

friends na 

[Giorgio-Giovanni]

This is typicly Thai thinking and you can't blame them for it because they dont know any better. They live in their own little world I bet they dont even know that almost everyone speaks english in Philippines.

[Madam H]

Here are my two centavos na rin on this topic:

1. The farangs or the native English speakers are here to stay in Thailand. Kahit na nga backpackers ang iba at gawa man o hindi sa Khao San ang diploma o certification, they have a niche market so to speak, and it will take years before the image of them as being superior when it comes to teaching English will change.

    And come to think of it, it is really THEIR language. Gio, for instance, I think, would rather learn Tagalog from a Filipino than from a fellow countryman or farang who learned Tagalog as a second language, no matter how fluent he/she may be. Would you agree, Gio?

2. Yes, I agree with Erick that having a high score in TOEFL or TOEIC does not guarantee that one is a good teacher, but again, education of parents and some school administrators on this fact is another feat - that will again, take a lot of time.

3. Although we Filipinos, in general, seem to have a good grasp of the English language, we have, over the years, developed a certain slang of our own, use vocabulary that native speakers don't normally use in conversations, and thus, we actually fail to communicate our messages sometimes. (I know I had to relearn how to speak to both Americans and British people when I first came to Thailand 12 years ago, so that I may be understood.)

4.If it's any consolation to anyone, mas mababa pa nga ang ibinabayad sa mga Thai na teachers kesa sa mga Pinoy. At ang nagpapasweldo sa atin lahat, most of the time, ay ang mga Thai, hindi ang mga farang. The truth is, ang mga puti ay para sa advertising at marketing ng mga schools (this is coming from an owner of an international school, is Thai, and hires Filipinos). Sabi niya, ang mga puti, kailangan yan para manghatak ng mga parents, pero ang mga Asians ang backbone ng eskwelahan niya.

5. There is a place for Filipino teachers in Thailand, but, as New Light says, certification is the order of the day. A Master's degree is not a bonus, IT'S A MUST, if you want to land a good job in a reputable school, and earn a 6-figure income every month. And if you want insurance, free schooling for your kids, housing allowance and professional development allowances thrown in as well, confidence in speech and in your craft as an educator is something you have to prove and show your would-be employer.

6. The problem with us most Pinoys sometimes, I think, is we tend to settle. When we know something works, we stick at it like glue, and we stop aiming to be even better. Imagine this, a recruiter looks at hundreds of applications everyday, how do you ensure yours stands out among the rest?

7. Ten years ago, you walk into a school in Thailand, all you need to get hired is a degree (on anything!) and you speak English (forget good or bad!), But like I said, that was ten years ago... times have changed, it has become a different ball game. I mean, the students we teach now are opinionated, their parents are well traveled, and man, they pay a huge amount of money to get into schools. They will, and they DO, demand more for the price they have to pay for their dear little Sukrit or Chanticha's schooling.

8. But this is not to say, we Pinoy teachers don't have a problem. We do! Many Pinoys come and ACCEPT very low pay, not knowing they could be paid more. Some Pinoys, out of dire need (Junior needs 10,000 pesos to get into Nursing school back home), grab the first job they are offered. It does not matter anymore if they only get 8,000 baht. At least they have a work permit. Some think they get away with the best deal!

9. So now we ask ourselves? What do we do about it?

10. Siam Pinoy does not pretend to have all the answers, but these issues, believe me, have been plaguing us day and night for a long time now, and we have been asking ourselves, what could we do about it?
     Well...
     A. We are starting a series of workshops and ideas exchange projects, and we have the Embassy's
         support on this endeavor. We will let you know details of these activities, as soon as we have
         finalized venues and other details. Presenters, materials and participants are ready. The only thing
         that remains is, are you ready?
               
     B. There will be a Photography workshop in August. Details will also be posted as soon as they are final.

     C. There will be other workshops in Writing More Effective Resumes, Acing an Interview, as well as
         Theater Arts and Writing.

These projects are the fruits of months of lengthy discussions with the presenters. It will all happen because there are people like you Erick and others in this forum, who are no longer content with the status quo, and would like CHANGE to happen so we Pinoys in Thailand earn better wages, get hired for better jobs, and simply, get better at what we do!

Just to let people know where I am coming from...I was fresh out of Nursing School and already a Registered Nurse at that time when I came to Thailand. I didn't have plans on becoming a teacher. All I wanted was a job to pay for my international phone bills to my boyfriend back home! But teaching was the easiest one to get into at that time. Believe me, it took a year of adjustment before I could really be comfortable telling people I was a teacher.

   What helped me was our weekly teacher trainings, in-house. As I learned more from others, and led some workshops myself, I gained more confidence - slowly. Then came a time when I knew I had to get a Master's so I can go higher, and I did. When I got into an international school, I realized there was yet another thing to have - a teacher's certification. And yet again, I did.

   There are many Filipino teachers who have been here in Thailand for 20, 30 years. It's just a good thing that we have Siam Pinoy so I am able to express and share what I've learned over the years in this venue. But for those of you who have read about our feature on 3 teachers who work in the same international school for at least 2 decades now, you too, would understand that there are many out there, whose career paths are something to be learned from, or to be inspired of. We could have featured more, but Siam Pinoy  also would like to offer opportunities for Pinoys in other fields to tell their story.

   To empower Pinoys in Thailand, no matter what career path you are on, is something we wish to support in Siam Pinoy. All great endeavors don't happen in just one week, not even a year. It will take time, but we hope to stay the course, and hopefully, you would also be there to lend support, give suggestions, and perhaps even laugh with us (stressful na nga minsan ang life sa Thailand, e). Siam Pinoy is for all of you Pinoys out there who want to make a positive contribution to our community and to the individual living and working in Thailand, or who have left their hearts in Thailand! So, stick around!!!

[erick]

    And come to think of it, it is really THEIR language. Gio, for instance, I think, would rather learn Tagalog from a Filipino than from a fellow countryman or farang who learned Tagalog as a second language, no matter how fluent he/she may be. Would you agree, Gio?


- Point taken.  However, there's a difference between teaching THEIR language and TESL/TEFL. This needs a lot of discussion but just to give an insight: the ENGLISH language NOW has become so nativized in every country that one important factor in language education in order to be successful is on hiring well-trained teachers of ESL/EFL. The issue of teaching the NATIVE ENGLISH LANGUAGE by a native speaker is no longer the real deal.  In fact, one of the lecturers in the ESL EXPO last year suggested that teachers of ESL/EFL should NOT be based on whether or not they are native speakers of the target language but the trainings they had in the complex field of language of education; particularly on TESL/TEFL.



2. Yes, I agree with Erick that having a high score in TOEFL or TOEIC does not guarantee that one is a good teacher, but again, education of parents and some school administrators on this fact is another feat - that will again, take a lot of time.

I'm sorry but I can't see the relationship of your premises.

3. Although we Filipinos, in general, seem to have a good grasp of the English language, we have, over the years, developed a certain slang of our own, use vocabulary that native speakers don't normally use in conversations, and thus, we actually fail to communicate our messages sometimes. (I know I had to relearn how to speak to both Americans and British people when I first came to Thailand 12 years ago, so that I may be understood.)

- I agree. This is the process of what we call "INDIGENIZATION" of the English language.


7. Ten years ago, you walk into a school in Thailand, all you need to get hired is a degree (on anything!) and you speak English (forget good or bad!), But like I said, that was ten years ago... times have changed, it has become a different ball game. I mean, the students we teach now are opinionated, their parents are well traveled, and man, they pay a huge amount of money to get into schools. They will, and they DO, demand more for the price they have to pay for their dear little Sukrit or Chanticha's schooling.

- I agree.

9. So now we ask ourselves? What do we do about it?

10. Siam Pinoy does not pretend to have all the answers, but these issues, believe me, have been plaguing us day and night for a long time now, and we have been asking ourselves, what could we do about it?
     Well...
     A. We are starting a series of workshops and ideas exchange projects, and we have the Embassy's
         support on this endeavor. We will let you know details of these activities, as soon as we have
         finalized venues and other details. Presenters, materials and participants are ready. The only thing
         that remains is, are you ready?

I guess with proper coordination and budget-sourcing, your PILOT teachers will just be waiting for official letters of invitation!
               
     B. There will be a Photography workshop in August. Details will also be posted as soon as they are final.

     C. There will be other workshops in Writing More Effective Resumes, Acing an Interview, as well as
         Theater Arts and Writing.

These projects are the fruits of months of lengthy discussions with the presenters. It will all happen because there are people like you Erick and others in this forum, who are no longer content with the status quo, and would like CHANGE to happen so we Pinoys in Thailand earn better wages, get hired for better jobs, and simply, get better at what we do!

These are definitely fruitful projects! Keep it up!

[Madam H]

Hi, Erick!

     Thanks for your comments!

     There were a couple of things, I think, I did not make myself very clear on...

     What I meant when I said it will take time for parents (and maybe some administrators) to be reeducated, is on the fact that even if somebody has a high score in TOEIC or TOEFL, this does not mean that he/she is capable of teaching the English language. Most parents, I think, don't realize this.

     When I was doing my Master's we organized a conference where one of the speakers is somebody who held a prominent potition in ISAT (International Schools Association of Thailand). He was a native speaker, and there was a question there about how to solve the issue of parents' (and some schools') prejudices about Asian teachers - that they are not fit to teach English by nature of their first language being NOT English.

     The ISAT rep, to our delight, replied that one of the ways to remedy the problem is for schools to actually hold Open House for parents, where these sensitive issues could be discussed and addressed. With Open Houses, the Asian teachers themselves could, if you like, "show off" their wares; skills in the English language.

     I'm just drawing from my own experiences here, not to say that these are the be-all and end-all of this never-ending issue on native vs. non-native speakers...

     When I was teaching at my first international school, I had to replace a Homeroom teacher right in the middle of the school year. That class was a problem class as it was, because the former teacher had issues about his teaching, and parents wanted answers! The other teacher who was offered the job (another native speaker) bowed out because he wasn't ready to face the parents' questions and the consequences on the event that the parents won't be satisfied with his performance either.

     Then there was me - ignorance on fire! Ha ha! I was so focused on the opportunity to be allowed to teach, that failure at what I was about to take on, was not even in the far recesses of my mind. But what I learned form that experience is, if you have the confidence at what you are about to do, others are likely to take risks with you (in my case, that included my principal and the parents). We arranged for a meeting with the parents, where I spoke about my plans for the class, and my qualifications and experiences. After that, the year went uneventfully (luckily for me).

     As to the workshops under way, they are open to anybody who is interested. We will, of course, post the necessary details (outline, venue, date, time,etc) here as soon as we are ready with them.

     When I did my Master's I actually wanted to do my thesis on this issue on native vs, non-native speakers. But my professors (who were Australian and British)stopped me - I didn't really ask why. I guess to them, it's not an issue. But I thought, and I still think, it is probably the one biggest thing we Asian teachers have to deal with, on a daily basis.

      My question actually is, are we, Filipino teachers, doing what we ought to be doing, to remedy the fact that not everyone agrees we are fit to teach the english language? If so, what are those measures our schools, or we ourselves do, to counter the fallacy (if indeed it is a fallacy). 

[erick]

     What I meant when I said it will take time for parents (and maybe some administrators) to be reeducated, is on the fact that even if somebody has a high score in TOEIC or TOEFL, this does not mean that he/she is capable of teaching the English language. Most parents, I think, don't realize this.

    - I agree. Many parents have NO IDEA on the real nature of TESL or TEFL. Their minds are conditioned on the belief that native speakers can teach English better than Asian language teachers. The solution to the problems lies on the hands of Thailand's  MOE down to the level of school administrators. They KNEW that not all NATIVE SPEAKERS are effective language teachers; and that there are Asian language teachers who are more effective in terms of PEDAGOGY. But they became "deaf" on the clamor to INFORM parents and even school administrators about it. The problem is: most schools take advantage of these NATIVE SPEAKERS and use them as BAITS to attract more parents and students. In other words, it's PURE bussiness. This is the saddest reality.

 When I was doing my Master's we organized a conference where one of the speakers is somebody who held a prominent potition in ISAT (International Schools Association of Thailand). He was a native speaker, and there was a question there about how to solve the issue of parents' (and some schools') prejudices about Asian teachers - that they are not fit to teach English by nature of their first language being NOT English.

- True. The more I see and believe that people in the MOE are NOT actually playing dumb...they really are bunch of administrators and teachers who can't see further than their nose.  Such issue can  be easily resolved if the MOE or the school administrators first disspell the negative impression on Asian language teachers by giving them the confidence they need.  No wonder even parents have a zero "trust" to Thai English teachers. Yet in fact, with proper training of Thai students in the college of education in the universities and constant ELT trainings to THai teachers, there would be a gradual improvement of the THAI TEACHING FORCE.  The Asian teacher, however, also needs to prove his/her worth in the school level to gain trust and recognition from the parents.


      My question actually is, are we, Filipino teachers, doing what we ought to be doing, to remedy the fact that not everyone agrees we are fit to teach the english language? If so, what are those measures our schools, or we ourselves do, to counter the fallacy (if indeed it is a fallacy). 

- This is ONE good keynote address to be included in your workshops!

- THere are many Filipino teachers out there who are PROVING themselves as better if not the best language teachers in their own schools. On the otherhand, not ALL Filipino teachers in Thailand are really into ELT and they add to the negative feedback we hear about US.  Oh well, that makes sense.

As to  MY  measures "to counter the fallacy"...I guess we have to talk about them some other time.

[TARSIER]

I have been following this thread ever since. I want to post my comments but oftentimes I am overcomed by the fear that my opinion will be negatively criticized by other ESL/EFL professionals who have better knowledge than myself. But as I've read you comments, I saw how you help each other in resolving the issue about non-native versus english-native speakers. Anywhere in Thailand, the issue is very hot even in the smallest province of the country where I am teaching. But I guess, as Filipinos, we can do something about this issue since Filipinos are in the majority of  ESL/EFL teachers of Thailand.

I am a neophyte in the ESL/EFL arena and even in teaching. I graduated last March 2006 and I never expected that months after my graduation, I will be in Thailand to join the ESL/EFL teaching force. My course is Bachelor in Secondary Education major in Mathematics. After my graduation, I immediately got a teaching job in a private secondary school in the Philippines and taught Mathematics and English. After three months of teaching in the said school, I decided to go to Thailand.

I know so many Filipinos have stories like mine or worse than mine. The good thing there, is we have SIAMPINOY. I hope that the informations we are posting here will be a great help to each Filipino teacher in Thailand. I have read some posts at www.ajarn.com and I feel so sad to know that Filipinos are hitting each other. Guys, nobody can love the Filipinos better than the Filipinos themselves. Let us help each other!

[erick]

I have been following this thread ever since. I want to post my comments but oftentimes I am overcomed by the fear that my opinion will be negatively criticized by other ESL/EFL professionals who have better knowledge than myself. But as I've read you comments, I saw how you help each other in resolving the issue about non-native versus english-native speakers. Anywhere in Thailand, the issue is very hot even in the smallest province of the country where I am teaching. But I guess, as Filipinos, we can do something about this issue since Filipinos are in the majority of  ESL/EFL teachers of Thailand.

I am a neophyte in the ESL/EFL arena and even in teaching. I graduated last March 2006 and I never expected that months after my graduation, I will be in Thailand to join the ESL/EFL teaching force. My course is Bachelor in Secondary Education major in Mathematics. After my graduation, I immediately got a teaching job in a private secondary school in the Philippines and taught Mathematics and English. After three months of teaching in the said school, I decided to go to Thailand.

I know so many Filipinos have stories like mine or worse than mine. The good thing there, is we have SIAMPINOY. I hope that the informations we are posting here will be a great help to each Filipino teacher in Thailand. I have read some posts at www.ajarn.com and I feel so sad to know that Filipinos are hitting each other. Guys, nobody can love the Filipinos better than the Filipinos themselves. Let us help each other!

We are also learning in the process.  I'm a Doctorate student and I am specializing in language education. And this is what a doctorate student has to say:  The real score in TESL/TEFL is not on how much you know about the different mind-boggling language theories BUT it's HOW YOU DO YOUR JOB AS A LANGUAGE TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM! And TIME...years of experience and  open-mindedness NOT BOOKS gradually help US become better and more competent language  teachers. 

[Madam H]

Glad you could join us, Josephil!

YES! YES! YES! The reason why Siam Pinoy was started in the first place is so we may all have a voice. For now, let's not give energy and time to "other" things happening elsewhere that, in a way, give Pinoys a bad name. To focus on positive activities and discussions (such as the one we are having here in the forum) would hopefully eclipse the "not-so-good" happenings elsewhere!

In due time, we'll have to address those as well...

Erick, I'm proud that a fellow Pinoy is taking the time and effort to earn a Doctorate! Way to go!
If it's not too much to ask, if you may share your readings and thoughts through articles here in Siam Pinoy, it would really be a big help to everyone. The more varied our ideas are, the more learning will take place.

Thanks so much for your posts, guys!