Blogs on Teaching and Living in Thailand
The Insouciant, The Inert, And The Dernier Ressort Teacher
Many moons ago when I used to work in the 33k-38k range positions, and I found that they were usually occupied by three types of teachers.
First, there were the young and insouciant teachers who only intended to work for a year or two. They were simply here to enjoy a working holiday and spend their earnings on vacations and partying. Bless their hearts; they knew how to live life to the fullest.
Secondly, there were the inert teachers, who were often excellent teachers but had become stuck in a rut and believed that there were no better opportunities available to them. These are the good guys who merely require a little assertiveness to get back on track.
Lastly, we have the dernier ressort teachers, who were hired merely because the school or agency could not find anyone else to fill the role. These teachers are drifters and outlaws, some of whom are on the run from the law. They are the legends of TEFL, and they've given me so many stories to tell over the years. For instance, one teacher wore a T-shirt with track pants to school since he hadn't washed his clothes, while another teacher was punched in the eye by his Thai girlfriend after being caught exchanging love messages via his LINE messaging App with a Patpong prostitute. Whenever I saw these teachers around school, I knew I wasn't doing too badly myself.
However, once you get into jobs that pay over 80k, it becomes rather dull. The young teachers take it very seriously since it is their profession, and they want to make a good impression. The inert teachers aren't necessarily inerting; they've simply grown older and prefer a quieter existence. And, lastly, the dernier ressort teachers are non-existent since they would never be hired since they have no place near children inside any school in any country.
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Blog by Bobi Sanders
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Note that the author of the blog is expressing personal thoughts and musings, which do not necessarily reflect those of KruTeacher. Therefore, KruTeacher.com cannot be held responsible for any potential inaccuracies that may be present in the blog.