TEFL Int'l Ban Phe Exposed

Below is a report on the TEFL Int'l teacher training school in Ban Phe which I wrote in July 2001.

WEEK ONE

The school arranged a van to pick up, free of charge, those students who showed up at the Bangkok airport on the Saturday before the course began and drive them the three hours it would take to get to the school. I chose this option and was the last of the 4 students who accepted their offer to arrive at the meeting point, even though I was 15 minutes early. Nobody from the school itself was present, but we very quickly and easily made our way to car and were off.

BACKGROUND INFO:
The Tef'l School costs $1590 for the four weeks, including accomodation in a little hotel/school just outside of Ban Phe, and about 30 minutes from the closest city, Rayong. They have what seems to be a very good reputation and brag that, (a) no student has ever flunked out, and (b) every student recv's job offers after attending their course. These, along with the fact that 4 weeks of solid studying away from the distractions of Bangkok would greatly enhance my ability to actually be ready to do a good job once it was completed, were the reasons I chose this school. (Stickman's reccommendation was a strong influence as well.) During this report I will attempt to only discuss my experiences and dealings with the staff of the school, and try to let the other students keep their privacy intact.

The four of us, 2 Brits and 2 Americans, got along very well and joked and talked the 3 hours to Ban Phe. (I would later learn that one of those 4 was a frequent reader of a certain site and knew exactly who I was.) Upon arrival at the school a few people came out to help us with the luggage including a very tall, odd looking Welshman whom I initially mistook for a slightly addled servant of some kind (turns out he was a teacher...and a very nice guy)

One of the students had packed enough for an army including a suitcase so heavy it took four of us to get it up the narrow staircase with its amazingly uneven steps. Finally I opened the door to my room to discover that indeed, distractions would be few. No tv, no hot water, a tempermental toilet and only a few feet separating the bed from the walls on any side. It was clean though, with a full size bed and an efficient air-conditioner. After shooing off the 3 or 4 cleaning girls who were lounging on my bed I quickly washed up and went back downstairs to meet my new mates.

Sounds of childrens laughter and playing were everywhere as the school was hosting an English Adventure Camp and the place was over-run with about 150 Thai kids from about 8 to 15 years. All of the main staff were either taking the day off or busy with the kids so it wouldn't be til a 6pm orientation meeting that I'd meet any of my new teachers. I, along with the other three of my compatriots, decided to explore Ban Phe and set out on foot to the town.

The school is very close to the beach and Beach Rd which is the main street of this small town. A sign on the side of the road very close to the school announces that Ban Phe is 3K away. There are a few restaurants and such before you get that far but we learned it would be a significant stretch o the legs whenever we needed anything from town. About halfway through, 2 of our group decided to turn back, while I and the other NanaPlaza guy walked completely through the town. Not much to see, really, with a 7-11 minimart being the only western establishment in the town. But it was a peaceful pretty place with very friendly people. We headed back in time for the meeting and I was robbed unmercifully when I purchased some chicken and sticky rice from a local vendor. Didn't see any go-go's, (which wasn't something I planned on spending much time at anyway), but did notice a karoake joint.

The leader, Bruce, welcomed us at the orientation and basically went through the rules and agenda of the school. The head teacher, Dave, was enjoying his weekend so we wouldn't see him until classes began Monday. There would be 14 of us in the class as 2 had had to postpone their arrival to another month. We were to expect to be in class, or teaching at a school from 9 - 4:45 Monday - Friday, with an average of 2 hours of homework each day. Cautioned, we were, that the one way to fail the course, was to fall behind in these assignments and let them build up to the point it was impossible to catch up.

Bruce had to leave after one hour because he was scheduled to lead the Thai students in a talent show. Most of our group went out to find a bar, but I stayed behind to check out the talent show and wound up getting into it so much that I stayed til the bitter end. The students were both cute and friendly, singing and dancing to Britney Spears songs while dressed up like some sort of tree people. They all wanted to say hello and shake my hand. This was followed by a limbo contest where I was truly amazed at how low the stick went before a winner was proclaimed. It was a fun night.

After these festivites as I was walking back to the hotel lobby, I was intercepted by the cutest teacher who had brought her students to the camp. We talked about ourselves for awhile, and darn it if we didn't wind up singing a duet of John Denver's "Country Roads", her favorite song. What is the deal with Thai's and "Country Roads?!! Unfortunately, I have not yet again seen this beautiful teacher for whom I was aching to be assigned some homework.

Back inside the hotel, sometime teacher/sometime business administrator Erica was braiding a girl's hair and suggested we watch some dvd's on the lobby's tv. Erica is the girl you'll correspond with via e-mail until you arrive. She was pretty much as I expected from her e-mails. An attractive, slightly batty hippy-chick, vegetarian/nature type from Canada who's probably never said a cross word in her life. This would be common among the staff at Tefl, who are without execption extrememly friendly and easy to talk to. Full Metal Jacket was selected and we spent the rest of the night watching Kubrick blow up gooks while various Thai women milled about.

Due to many many Thai holidays, our schedule was altered and on our first class Monday we learned that we would begin teaching a Thai student THAT VERY DAY because they would be out of school Thursday and Friday. While preparing for and spending my time with my student was easily the best and most instructive portion of the week's studies, having it begin the first day left us a bit overwhelmed and insecure on the first meeting. Our head teacher, Dave, gave hints as to what we might expect, but we felt unprepared as we inflicted ourselves on the poor kids.

Before I get back to the narrative, let me discuss briefly the school's set up, staff, and (in answer to a question posted in the first thread) the student make-up.

The school/hotel is 4 stories tall, the first being a lobby/recreation room with a tv with full cable line-up, vcr and dvd player. It also serves as restaurant/dining room as they have a full menu for all meals of the day to choose from. The prices, for both Thai and Western food are slightly higher than can be gotten from local vendors (with the exception of the steak/spaghetti items - which I haven't seen offered anywhere else) but are not far off the mark. The quality of the food I can't attest to because with living/working there, for mealtimes I need to get away. The large bottled water is a good deal at 5 baht, but I've just been informed by the head teacher that it sometimes gives him urinary infections...so maybe not such a good deal (I say as I take another swig)

The second floor is entirely made up of two large classrooms...only one of which is used for the TEFL class. The third and fourth floors are designated for bedrooms for students and some staff (although there's always several people hanging around for whom I have no idea their purpose). There are also an innumerable supply of dogs, cats, and the ever present gecko's which always seem to find their way into my room. There is also a large, huge really, backyard area with bungallo's, a mountain-climbing wall, and other playground equipment for the English Campers who come approx monthly for a few days at a time.

The Teaching Staff really boils down to one man, Dave, who truly is a Master Teacher. A man of more experience couldn't be found, and although he occasionally assumes we know things for which we have no clue, he is definately somebody to model yourself after. This becomes especially clear whenever another teacher is brought in for any length of time. He always tries to show, rather than tell you information, and does it in a way which doesn't make you self conscious or afraid of failure (well, not too much). Course, this opinion could change in a New York Minute should my grades fall!

Although I'm sure each class has its own unique demographic, ours has 10 men and 4 women. I believe only one of the men is in his 20's and only a couple could be considered anything like the backpacker stereotype (I'm guessing the B60,000 keeps them away). The rest are in their 30's and 40's from varying backgrounds. We are pretty evenly split between Brits and Americans as are the instructors. (Dave is an American.)

So Monday morning we arrive for our first class, and after playing name games which forever cement my classmates identities into the fabric of my soul, we start in on learning Thai as a foreign language. This is to show us different techniques of learning a new language as well as giving us some empathy for the students position when dealing with us. We will have 3 days of this.

Along with these language sessions (or inputs, as they call them) we also do a series of team building exercises to get to know each other better, including many which involve theatre games and techniques. Having 15 years experience in the live theatre, these suit me quite well. The grammar is a different issue.

Dave freely admits, even propagandizes, that grammar is both inacurate and unnecessary. He claims he teaches it only because we will want to be able to discuss it with other teachers. I, for one, couldn't give a flip about talking to other teachers in the hall (especially if doing so requires me to re-learn what a dangling participle is) but I think the real reason is that it is required by the powers that be for the certification. There is to be a test after the fours days of grammar and phonology study, but we are assured that we WILL pass this test if he has to stand over our shoulder while we take it. (It is open book...so keep good notes, you prospective teachers out there.) Also we learn that this course has just been recognized by the University of Washington for 12 credits, which may look good on a resume.

The highlight of the week was our first encounters with the Thai students. Both the first and second day, we were driven to a middle school on the outskirts of town to do one-on-one teaching with our own little Thai guinea pig. Mine was names Surajit and he is 13 years old.

The first days goals were nebulous at best. Get to know the student. We wrote out a lesson plan which included a seemingly unending stream of questions we could ask during our one hour together. 30 minutes in, those questions were used up and it was improv time (and you can only sing "The Birthday Song" so many times without barfing into the swarm of mosquitos who are making a nice lunch from your leg).

The second day was far more rewarding as we had actual lessons to teach and goals which could be attained (goals are a big thing with me). The boy and I got along very well and I was proud of the progress we made together. It also re-inforced what Dave had told us about the importance of modeling any question or ideas you are trying to put to the student, who may not understand the words by themselves.

Interspersed with all this were occasional inputs on teaching techniques, but the dreaded grammar and phonology took up most of the rest of the week, leaving us more than ready to get away for the weekend. Some would go to Bangkok, others Ko Samet, or Pattaya, but I was headed to Rayong.

Before I move on and discuss the comings and goings (so to speak) during the second week of the class, I thought I'd discuss a bit of the nightlife of Ban Phe and Rayong for those who may be interested on what there is to do after school hours. As this may not be so much of interest to those on the Ajarn site, (Phil) feel free to edit it when transferring this report over there.

Being a small beach community, which, for farangs, only exists as a docking point for Ko Samet, there is very little in the way of western comforts. Even the city's largest hotel, the Pine Beach, has only Thai tv channels. Apart from a 7-11 and a Kodak store, there is nothing to be found which resembles anything you're used to back home.

There are quite a few restaurant/bars either on or along the beach that many of the students hang out at. The two favorites seem to be Dewey's (on the beach) which is famous for its food and pleasant atmosphere and Nim's (on the land side) which is famous for...Nim. An elderly, toothless lady who generally manages to get at least one thing wrong with your order, she is also very amusing, and grows on people quickly. They do make a very good fried chicken and french fries...with the fries being the best I've tasted in all of Thailand. Also, they make fruit slushees that are to die for...for 15 baht.

For even more "adult" sanuk, there are several karaoke bars in a little square behind the 7-11. For the most parts these are all very small with 4 to 5 girls working in each, and the music machine only plays Thai songs. Although I have to this point never had more than conversation with these girls, they are quite friendly, but lack the English skills of their Bangkok counterparts. From what I understand, they have short-time rooms available for an all-inclusive 1000 baht (this is the stated price so I imagine you could bring it down)

Otherwise Ban Phe is filled with the generic Thai shops and street vendors. Their big cultural event, the Monday market, is very similar to Chatuchak - only on Monday and about 10 times smaller. There are scads of mosquitos so bring some repellant or be prepared to enjoy the benefits of angry welts up and down your legs.

Rayong is like a little suburb, but it is an actual city. It has a big western-style mall with all you could want and its main road is a highway with four lanes. It was a very enjoyable day I spent there, and, although I again did not take advantage of what was offered, I did see some sexy massage places near the bus station. To get to Rayong from Ban Phe, there is a Baht Bus that goes for 15 baht. The ride takes about half an hour.

The bus station in Ban Phe only goes to Bangkok (about 100 baht) so if you want the bus to Pattaya, you first need to get to Rayong where the bus fare is 50 baht. You can also hire a minivan for 300 RT to Pattaya or a taxi for B700.

WEEK TWO

Fresh, relaxed, and rejuvenated from our weekend away, we began Monday morning by returning to the dreaded grammar lessons, followed in the afternoon by Phonology. Last week I mentioned that the Head teacher, Dave Hopkins, was all that we could have hoped for. While this continued, week 2 brought us an ever-increasing amount of time with another instructor, Steve. This was not good news because Steve, for all his effort and easygoing ways, is simply not up to the standard set by Dave.

In fact, the more often Steve taught, the more clear it became that we'd be facing a wasted 90 minutes. While Dave would spend 20 minutes using us as Thai students as he taught a lesson, then explain in detail exactly what he did, followed by having us get up and do it for ourselves, with Steve it was all Steve. Basically we would be his Thai students for the full period, until it seemed we were giving HIM teaching practice more than he training us to be teachers. On Tuesday we spent 45 minutes writing a little play in English (we were pretending to be Thai students) and then performing it for him. The purpose? I'm still not sure. We had done this twice before with Dave, but in each case there was always an ulterior motive which made logical sense. Meanwhile, as usual, he never got to the end of the handout he was describing, and still kept us late, so we could complete the meaningless task he set for us. Add this to the fact that Steve doesn't really seem to be on top of the lesson he's teaching, frequently just reading directly from the handout, and you can imagine how frustrating these sessions can be. To be fair, though, it is unfortunate for him to be compared with Dave, who truly is the captain of the ship in every way.

I hope you don't get the wrong idea about Steve, as I do like him as a person, and I do understand he is, in a sense, in training himself for this job, but I did not pay 60,000+ baht to pretend to be a Thai student or to give him practice teaching. I did make the appropriate comments during a feedback session, so we'll see if things change (although we are now almost done with the "input" portion of the class).

Tuesday we took the grammar and phonology exams and, blessed be his name, I managed to pass. (Actually scored pretty well, although the fact that it was an open-book test helped quite a bit.) I had also recv'd a very good feedback report on my teaching time with the Thai student, and am current on my homework assignments, so... so far, so good.

Wednesday we learned that, once again, Thai holidays were screwing with our schedule. Monday and Tuesday of the third week, which were supposed to be our first days of real teaching practice were called off because the high schools were out. To fill the time, Dave would spend a day on Business English, a course for which he normally charges extra, and would spend more time on job hunting, resume, and job interview skills. This was actually good news because it was these things I really wanted to learn. (Most of the class, apart from grammar-type stuff, deals strictly with teaching children)

The rest of the week went by pretty easily, as the heavily front-loaded first week consumed most of the big projects of the course. The amount of homework drastically decreased, and there was much more time to play. For me (besides the actual teaching) the only big hurdle remaining, is a set of materials I have to create when doing my teaching practice. I seriously, seriously suck at art, so I'm a little nervous about creating all of the pictures I'll need to model the concepts of my lesson.

Friday, we recv'd more good news, in that they were about to finalize a written agreement with the AUA schools where, if you taught there for a certain length of time, they would pay back some or all of your tuition, and possibly pay at a higher rate than someone who was not a TEF'L Int'l graduate. The details aren't final yet, but when I know, so will you. The owner, Bruce, spent the week in Turkey, where they are apparantly trying to expand. Things appear to be moving rapidly for the school, and they even offered to hire us for one week after the course to help out while another of their English camps was going on. They offered to pay 1500 per day for the five days.

Week 3 then, promises 2 days of added coursework not originally intended for the class followed by our first three days as teachers of a semi-full class of students.

WEEK THREE

I must first apologise for the lateness of this edition. Much has happened this past week...including my getting a job, and with the end of the course coming up, time to write here has been scarce. That said, let me get into week 3.

As mentioned before, the Ban Phe high school schedule of holidays rearranged our planned agenda of events and we had to make new plans for Monday and Tuesday.

On Monday, Dave Hopkins gave us 5 hours of Business English, which included much of what you might teach in corporate classes. Interesting stuff it was, but with only five hours to learn about an entire class of teaching, all I came out with was that I wasn't ready to do this right away without some additional experience with it. This business English study is normally not in the class at all unless you pay Dave to teach it after the normal course has completed.

Then, thanks to my, and other classmates suggestions, they held another 90 minute workshop on how to write your resume and where to look for work. In it, they gave us a map which noted the schools on the skytrain line, their contact info, and whatever information they had on them. As I have said, my main reasons for taking the course, were that: A/ I could get a job, and B/ once I had the job, I'd do it well. This job getting info then was, in my opinion, one of the most important 90 minutes of the class altogether. Also on the plus side: No Homework!!!

Tuesday, Bruce, our fearless leader himself, came in to teach us about teaching young learners...which he defined as anybody who wasn't yet able to read. This was fun and interesting, but, as it seems to have a lot of similarity to babysitting...I think I'll pass.

Whether or not my issues about Steve lecturing us had any impact, he has, thus far, never led our class again without Dave being in the room to back him up. Steve, if you read this, I hope I'm not hurting your feelings, but at this time I believe we were better off this way.

We got out a bit early Tuesday, and I used the time to put together my resume. Through a computer literate classmate, I managed to attach a picture to the resume and send it out to 4 e-mails from ads in the Bangkok Post. By the next day, I'd have three replies. I decided to go to Bangkok that weekend to start the job hunt, and maybe check out apartments.

On Wednesday, our classtime schedule changed from a 9am start to an 8 am start, which it would remain for the rest of the course. This was so we could leave via a very crowded songtoew to get to the high school in time to begin teaching at 8:30. This first day, all we were to do was watch as three teachers, Dave, Steve, and Erica each took a one hour turn teaching a class. We would then fill out observation reports on them. Learned several things this day: Students get to school at 7am so they can stand by the flagpole in uniform and listen to various speeches, songs, and moral messages for an hour and a half; shoes are not to be worn in the classrooms; the classrooms are NOT air-conditioned (making for some very sweaty teachers); 3 of the floor rooms we'd teach in had no desks or chairs, meaning we'd be getting up and down from the floor to communicate with the students; and Thai students are adorable in every way...but can be extremely rough, hitting each other wildly much of the time.

All three of the teachers did a good job with the students, but, surprisingly, it was Steve who seemed to have the best control and keep the students the most interested of the three. It was good to see.

That afternoon, and every afternoon to follow, would be given up for us to write out our lesson plan and get materials together for the next days lesson. Our first teaching day, Thursday, would be shared teaching, with 2 of us working together with the class. My partner and I decided to keep things as simple as possible to make it as easy as we could to keep our first experience with a full class from ending in disaster. And together, we did quite well.

By Friday, I had 2 job interviews lined up for the following day, but I first had to teach my first class on my own. Also, I was given the video classroom, meaning there would be nobody to supervise the session but the cameraman. Whether this was done as a show of confidence in my abilities or just dumb luck I don't know, but being I was also the first one on the day, I was a touch nervous.

Not too much though, because, with all of my theatre experience to guide me, I'm used to talking in front of people. The hour went by quickly and successfully. While, as I was sure would happen my artwork left a good deal to be desired, my rapport with the students was very good, and they grasped the ideas I was trying to show them. We had fun together.

Our schedule for the last 6 days of class would be the same, teaching from 8:30 to noon (50 min teaching, 3 hours observing classmates...which really means sitting in the back filling out work for your next class) then preparing for the next lesson and getting feedback from the teachers until you were done. Knowing how bad I am at art, (and that no matter how hard I tried it wouldn't get much better) I spent comparatively little time on this aspect compared to the hours spent by others drawing the cutest little pictures of stuff I couldn't do given days. Instead, I made copies of pictures from books, and rummaged through piles of cards made out by former students to get my stuff together. For some of my classmates, the cards themselves would do most of the teaching. For me, though, I was gonna have to do it myself.

Next...the job hunt in Bangkok. and the final week of classes.

WEEK FOUR

Here we are...finally at the end of this long journey through training hell and into the great wide open. Thanks to all who've been so supportive throughout this month of reports, and good luck to any and all who take the leap themselves. I look forward to seeing you in person someday. Until then, I present week four in Ban Phe.

Actually, I first want to go through the weekend. Many people seem curious about the job situation in Bangkok (as was I) and this was the weekend I would find out about it firsthand.

I took the air con bus Friday night, arriving at Ekamai station around 8:30. A quick pit stop at my hotel, the Business Inn on Soi 11, and by 9 I was sipping a beer with the Stickman at Woodstock and planning strategy.

My first stop Saturday morning was at 10 am at AUA Thonburi, a place highly recommended by Dave Hopkins for both its curriculum and for it's administrator, Suman. Even Stickman praised it as being a good place to start out, although the location and pay are definite drawbacks.

I took the skytrain to Surasek, then a cab the rest of the way. Took about an hour and over 100 baht all together to get there, but once I arrived Suman couldn't have been any nicer. More than interviewing me, he basically was trying to sell the school to me, offering me a job on the spot (which would start the following Monday) and giving me his cell # to give him an answer in the next couple of days. Impressed, but still concerned about the location, I headed up to Siam Square to make the rounds of the schools there.

Siam Suare boasts several language schools, from the huge and imposing ECC to many little hole-in-the-wall places. I first went to ECC, but their long application (which includes a 2 page grammar test) made me re-think this option. I left with the application and later showed it to the Bruce and Dave at TEFL, who both shook their heads in disgust at it (it seems the test, which was unnecessary to begin with, was also inaccurate in its questions).

I strolled into several of the smaller schools along the square where the result was always the same. Behind a large desk would be 3 to four Thai workers, none of whom spoke much English. I would saunter up with my shiny new briefcase, and inquire if they needed any English teachers. "Okay, you start Saturday, 400 baht one hour." Keep in mind that they knew nothing about me, and I knew less about them at this point. I took a few cards, without having any intention of using them. One interesting place was called AIMS, located in a large building on the corner across from the mall on the fourth floor. I spoke with the head recruiter, who got excited at the mention of my theatre experience on my resume and talked about creating a broadcasting class for me to teach. This was something to think about, but it was all very vague as to what may happen and the school itself didn't look like it had seen any students for some time. Still, it's something I may look into further. The administrator has since e-mailed me several times, trying to get me to teach a TESOL class for up and coming teachers.

There are many, many more schools along the skytrain route, which Dave Hopkins had mapped out for us. This I managed to leave back at Ban Phe, so the rest of the day was spent bumming around the Emporium with an old girlfriend, watching a fashion show where even the Thai people were complaining the people were too thin.

Back at Ban Phe on Monday, I had some decisions to make, and I had to make them fast. The AUA course would begin in one week's time, and Suman needed an answer that day. He said that if I chose not to use them he might have to cancel the course, since his only other option was a sketchy guy from Burma who refused to give him his last name. Another friend, Loo Doot, had a possible opening at his job for corporate work, but I was unable to get through to the supervisor on Monday, plus I was worried about creating my own course right off the bat. So I mulled over the plusses and minuses of AUA Thonburi.

Pluses: A great administrator, who looked out for his people and who would even spend a day showing the area to a new person to help in finding a place to live; a good curriculum, using the Interchange books; good hours from 5 - 9pm Mon - Fri, allowing me to either sleep in/stay out as long as I wanted or accept other work during the day (you are not required to be at the school when not teaching; a work permit and health insurance; a month's bonus pay at the end of one year. One week off every seven weeks (also a minus due to loss of pay); and cheap housing.

The minuses: Location, Location, Location. This far away, it would I would be limited to getting back to the areas of Bangkok I enjoyed to at most once a week, and it would mean I could never get to the Woodstock meetings on Fridays due to me working til nine, therefore cutting me off from many of the people I knew in town; A one year committment that AUA wanted; the pay, which at 250 bht an hour Mon - Fri is very low, and forced Saturday work from 8 - 3, meaning a six day week and over 100 contact hours a month for around 32,000 baht a month (not counting the lost wages for the interim weeks) (Saturday pay is 500 bht per hour); and few opps for one-on-ones, since my regualr working hours are when most would want to do the private sessions.

Those at my school thought I should definitely take the job, my friends in Bangkok said not to, that there were too many jobs available with better pay in better locations. Although I'm sure they're correct, the pluses at AUA more than outweigh the negatives, and, after, 3 months of bumming around, I was looking for some stability. So, after speaking with Suman about losing the one year committment, I accepted the job.

This made the last week of classes somewhat anti-climactic, as I already had what I'd come to the course to get. Of course, standing in front of a class of Thai students doesn't allow for you to just float through...nor would I want to because they were so much fun to teach (apart from one older group who spent their time tapping the floor rather than listening). Still, the sessions went really well, and my lessons were always marked as "very good to excellant" by the TEFL instuctors who monitered my classes.

None of the other students had jobs yet, and most weren't really even looking. A few were going back to the States, some wanted to travel around Cambodia first, and others were just playing it by ear.

The days went by quickly. I began adapting lessons from an Interchange book to teach my Thai students to help me get ready for my real job. Many of my classmates wound up doing what we'd been warned about, that is, deciding they liked the school too much to leave. At last count, five of them would be staying on to help with the English Camps who were coming in. I, on the other hand, would be leaving first thing Saturday morning so I could pick up my books and sit in on a class before teaching on Monday.

An "end-of-the-course" barbeque on Thursday night (free, including a TEFL T-shirt, which Bruce joked was the REAL reason we'd come) was followed by the traditional students beach party blowout Friday night, full of drunken debauchery, some meaningful conversation, and, according to one of my classmates, suspicions of some homo-erotic activity. And it was something like saying goodbye to a little family. We had lived and worked together for a whole month, sharing in the successes and failures.

We received our certificates Friday afternoon. Everybody, as usual, passed. There is only a pass/fail option, which they claim is to keep students from competing with one another. This may be true, but I would have preferred to get an actual grade, as I believe I was better than average, and would like to have that documented on my resume. Also, having that as a goal to strive for might have motivated me to try even harder, since it was soon obvious that you didn't exactly have to be teacher of the year to pass the course.

Still, it was a good place to learn. They are very supportive and are expanding rapidly, building a good reputation that can only help me as I list them as a reference. As with AUA, I believe the positive's far outweigh the negatives, and I am glad I chose to go there. Also, they are a good bunch of people.

Postscript:

Arriving at AUA Saturday afternoon, Suman had a teacher who wanted to show me her apartment complex as either a short-time, or possibly permanent solution to my housing needs. When I made it known that a separate phone line, allowing me personal computer use, was essential, he frowned, then pulled out a brochure for a condo nearby.

The owner of the condos wanted AUA teachers to live there, but thus far, he'd not taken a look at it. I, along with two other teachers, went to take a gander. Turned out that it was the only stop I would need to make. 67 sq meters, clean, with a separate bedroom, and an additional small room in the middle (which I have no idea what to do with), it is walking distance to the school, furnished, with it's own phone line, and no surcharge for phone or electricity. Cost $6000 bht. I signed the contract within an hour, and, after a trip to Makro for bedding and a tv, I moved in that night.

I teach level 1 and level 6 at AUA Thonburi. First day went great, although, at dinner after classes had finished, several teachers attempted to "take the piss out of me" with increasingly wilder stories about the goings on. A good group, it seems.

Thus began my life as a Bangkok resident.

David Amitin - Teacher