Teaching in ThaiLand at JasPlearn English
Agency with SupPat and others – SLC & Co.
Posted on
October
10, 2014 by
phatheya
After my first
teachingExperience,
which was quite disapPointIng in th’end but’stilAgood’start I
apPlied for other teaching-jobs inTL
andEvenMyanmar
unsucCesSfulLy; no-oneEven replied. But couple of’month later’
be-cause Isent off myCV Ive got anInquiry ofA
languAge-centEr
inBangKok if Icould teachGer-man sinGing
toJapanEse
Soprano. And this’was realLy
th’bestExperience, as
‘he
was’intelLigent and’keEn to-learn(mainly
phonics) I hadChance to-singClasSicAl song
for
her, while
she
played’piano’
this’was great!
December/January’was very busy andIgot’an-otherEnGagement
withIndian(Sikh) who was proBably bi-polar but’veryIntelLigent
too. UnfortunaTely inFebruary 2011 bothEnGagements sudDenly
finIshed Even-though ther’wer’stil’hours to-teach’ but
inSeptEmber
my
favorite JapanEse student‘re’turnEd.
InSirachA
languAge-centErContacTed
me as wel’and I had to-teachGer-man’toA1student
forGoEthe-Test.
Be-cause of’mistake(brinGing her to my’place)and’husbands
jealousy and’fiNanciAlConcerns, this’al’so
turned-out
to be’bad’
Dear Wanwisa,
in response to yesterdays
phone-calls I feel need to explain things in writing rather by
talking as it becomes too emotional.
Already Sunday I
wanted to talk to you about it but there was no chance as you have
been away…
As you know we had finished course on
Wednesday already and Friday 21/01/2011 at 12:53:45 I’ve
got the following message from Nui:
Thank you so much
for teach me. But i feel so sad as i saw u never prepareing for
teach me till last time i think i can learn by mien self by read
book the better about Gramma and another more every time u nevev
tell me today u will teach me what about? NO SYSTEM ONLY SHEET
PRINT TEST Geote and try to convince sale continue course and when
i see book from Success till last day i just get it i can try to
practice and learn but why not Give me first time? And i have very
bad feel u not real heart u try to show me something about Geote at
your room remember? But sorry am not BAR GIRL untill last day FOR
WHAT? I must to go with u again? NOT MAKE SENCE I hope u r gut
Teacher.
When reading I couldn’t believe it’s from
her! I read again. I was shocked! Why is she writing like this;
what happened? So I called her back but she didn’t answer the
phone.
The next day I sent her message:
I’m
very sorry for misunderstanding. Maybe if you want we can
meet tomorrow to talk about it? Rico wants to help Nui to go to
Germany fast!
Also this message was never replied
of-course.
By reading her message one can see: it is
long and detailed.
But when she doesn’t want to talk
with me about her accusations then she might have just want to let
me know something and think what could happen next. And I guessed
right.
Now let’s analyze:
The first
sentence means nothing now.
Yes she is sad because she
can’t go to Germany and her husband is getting furious as
well.
She thinks that I never prepared anything but I
spent hours of my spare-time researching for A1 level-tests etc.
If I wouldn’t be prepared then I couldn’t go on like this
for hours without doing nonsense. Instead we were actively
exercising every single minute of the course.
I pushed
her to learn so hard that she mentioned it to her husband and he
replied: No that’s good so!
To
my surprise she could follow the pace and she was a very good
learner. I was amazed by her!
I always told her to do
home-work: practicing what we did so far and even work forward so
that we can do the tests faster. And she did!
At first
I had to teach her the phonetics of the Alphabet plus special
sounds and exercising examples. Then we went to the sight-words.
Since then more and more simple grammar was involved and exercised.
And then we worked with the test-sheets themselves: Reading,
speaking, translating, writing. We did only three test-sheets but
this perfectly complete with exercising grammar-samples. The final
result speaks for itself.
Of-course she can learn from
the book herself but if she can understand without further
explanation&correction I doubt.
Her goal wasn’t
primarily to learn the language but to pass the test only! And I
focused on it.
That’s why I went straight to the
online-tests as she could experience it directly. The books were
not used for exercises but basic grammar.
I told her
this from the beginning how we would proceed and she agreed in
belief that the teacher’s strategy would be the best. And it
really worked-out perfect. She couldn’t have learned more in that
time. And in the end I was nearly to suggest, she could try on
Goethe-test because she passed our tests by 70 % even
A2-level!
This was the system. If I would have taught
her systematically from the books then we would have gone 30 pages
far and she wouldn’t have any clue of what awaits her at the
Goethe-institute and fail.
Both books are good for 200
hours learning basic German.
Who has told her that 30
hours might be enough?
I was researching and
found on ABC-website that the minimum
required for being able to pass the test is 60 hours private
tuition and I told her this and then it started that I tried to
convince her and her husband that they need to buy more.
Then
she told me that her husband was finding ABC on the internet and
that they would offer about 30 k for 100 hours. But I pointed out
that
this is class-room teaching. It takes
three months. She will have to buy the course-books and needs about
9000 Baht for transportation plus about 3 hours travel-time.
I
tried to convince her that now as she started with Success it would
be better to continue instead of dropping out and investing another
43 k with no guarantee that she will pass either. I am sure she
would have made it because she was good but if not then there would
be at least another 10 k involved to continue course there
for another month and 30 hours or finally choose expensive private
tuition. I have seen pictures of those students struggling from one
test to another.
By the way: when I made my sales-talk
for you I did it from 10-11 right at the start and it wasn’t
count as lesson. I used my private time for it because I was
convinced that we could find the best solution for all of us.
Unfortunately you have never been available in office but I felt it
was important to get the customer continuing with us and make
decision before the course was finished as she told me the husband
wants her to better go to ABC as they look more professional and
promising. But it’s also just a business and they want to make
money out of the customers as well.
Say state 80 % pass
but I doubt. No-one can tell, only the ones who still need to
continue sitting in another class-room.
I told her to
talk to you and ask for a discount-price of maybe 15 k but
when she told me she paid 27 then I agreed that 15 might be
impossible as the teacher needs the same teaching-fee. Still I
urged her to at least try and if not then I will teach her private.
I was giving this offer because I liked her and wanted to help
going to Germany as fast as possible and with no more expenses as
the minimum offered by the competitor. That means that there would
be at least space for another 30 hours. And if I would have to
teach her free I thought. We have to do this for the customer!
But
at this point I didn’t know that there was no money to
spend anymore.
And this is the main-point of the story.
That’s why the whole circus now. The husband hasn’t much
income, is promising her to
live on tax-payers expenses and has no
idea of all the regulations and the financial part involved. One
can easily spend 200 k Baht for the whole procedure. He must have
thought: it might be much cheaper.
She probably told
him what I said in the introduction that the unsatisfied customer
can claim money back and now they try to do so by making the
teacher look very bad.
Sure I wasn’t acting all
professional thus did mistakes which I regret now but my intention
was always for the sake of the customer. I wanted to give her
everything possible to reach their goal.
As you told
me: They want to sue the school
I tell you: They can’t … as you need money and time for that
but they use it as a pressure-point that maybe you would make them
an offer to settle the matter. Don’t be stupid, there is no
reason to worry!
With no money they can’t sue anybody
and they wouldn’t be returning customer anyway.
I
don’t understand why now you don’t want to believe that we did
5 or even 7 hours a day? It is signed and agreed on the
attendance-sheet and Pui is a witness!
The schedule was
arranged on students-request to finish the course fast. In-between
I thought it was because they wanted to change school but then
there was the urgent need of the husband to get her over
quickly.
And again: Afterward she can not complain
because she has given her okay to each lesson with her signature.
If there would be something wrong then there is no need to sign and
can complain directly to the Manager after having tried the teacher
first. But it never happened!
About the course-books:
There must have been a misunderstanding and that’s why it went
wrong.
First I got the books for preparation and
teaching. Then you wanted to make copies. Later I’ve got the
copies from Pui and thought it was made for safety that the
originals didn’t get lost. I never thought that the copies would
have been offered to the student for free.
Then Nui
mentioned it and I said No these are the teacher’s books! But she
said: You have promised her. Can I see the receipt!? But there was
nothing on it. Until Pui called you on that Sunday and then we
corrected the matter. The last day I was apologizing for that again
and she said: No problem.
But now she complains again! I have nothing to do with it.
And
what it has to do with real heart? I think I have shown too much
heart for her and now I am kicked ass for it.
I did not
invite her to my room to show something about Goethe as I have no
internet there.
I wanted to show her later on the ABC
website that they write themselves that she needs at least 180
hours training before she can go for the test and then I wanted to
show her another online-exercise.
But we had to do this
at
Robinson food-court with free
wifi-internet. For this I had to get my net-book of my room
and I need to wash my clothes during day-time.
So we
agreed to go to my place first and after I will show her. I didn’t
push anything. She was fine with the idea as we had a good personal
relation and for me it is no problem anyway. I had no thoughts of
any wrong-doing. If your culture don’t allow to do such things
then she could have said: I am sorry teacher but I
can’t go with you to your room. I can wait you downstairs or at
the school or let’s meet later in the shopping-mall.
I would have accepted that as she isn’t a bar-girl and even
married. You mentioned that she might have difficulties to
disagree. It might be but that’s her personal problem then.
Because when I ask her Okay and she says Yes then I believe it is
alright and she behaves European already.
In the room I
told her to sit down, getting out the material and repeat things. I
was preparing for laundry on the balcony and offered her free
lesson while I would wash my clothes. But suddenly she became very
strange giggling and using excuses that she has to go now, her
husband is waiting on chat for her at an impossible time by showing
old text-message on her phone. I knew instantly that it was a lie
and felt disappointed. It was the first sign of her foolish
attitude. She left and I knew that there would be no possibility
for private tuition at my place further more. Only at school as I
can not teach her in public.
I don’t know why she
mentions bar-girl in relation to the visit at my place. I was at no
time offending her in any way. But when she has told her husband
then he might have got some concerns and another reason to put down
the teacher.
And the last day she wanted to invite me
for dinner and I had to tell her again that I need to wash clothes
first! So I went to my room alone and she went home.
To
all I don’t understand her attitude: She made always compliments
to me that I am a good teacher and I did the same to her. Was it
all just a lie? How she can do that? Why she didn’t raise
concerns during the time? We could have adjusted things. But there
was no need to do because in actual fact it was alright. She
couldn’t have learned more. It was a very good
teaching-experience with her as I didn’t expect so much progress
but now she makes it look all bad, as she had learned nothing. But
the tests are proof that she got it.
This first trial
was so important to me as I wanted to continue business with you
and doing legal documents as well.
Now it looks like
failed only because the customer tries to get some money back to
invest it at another place perhaps.
I understand the
customer as they thought 30 hours could be enough but frankly:
Everyone knows you can not learn a language within 30 hours only!
That’s why they have to blame themselves and not us, as we have
done the best and even more.
I hope we can get this
straight somehow Wanwisa!?
Actually I wanted to
introduce you another project I have developed in the past.
That’s
why I would like to meet you private if you can find time.
We then met’atACafe’near-by But She wasStrict AndDEducted
my’salAry BEcause’she might have to-pay back’toThe’customer.
But it nevEr hapPenEd. Later’ Nui sent’me anOther’mesSage:
I
pasSed the TESt! Thank you for EveryThing’teachER! ‘sorRy when
YOU had’difFIculties Icouldn’t
BElieve it.
SubsEquently th’empty time apPearEd. For many’onthsI had no
more teachingEnGagements but ImetAwoman
‘wit’herIwen’to-travel
for’firs’time since 6years. My’friendStev’helpEd me’by
givIng’job
of
his’bos’to me: Teaching basicThai
toItaliAn profesSore fromRoma. ThenIwas lucky
That
so-me shop-owner in the’streEt
was’inTerEsted That Iwould teachGer-man/English(firs’time
afterAyear)to her’daughters. ButEven’myContacts
at’he’park
grew; ther’was’til’no break-through. I Thought Iwaste my time
ther’ and soIdeciDed to-leav’and’stay with my fe’male
friend
inSat’hib.
Her familyMembersDidnt realLy lik’me ther’
be-cause’theyThoughtIwould just us’her asIwasnt working and’had
not much’oney’
Al’though this’wasnt th’caseEven she disliked
the’situatIon and’wanted me to-work’
but
in the comMunal Kind-er/gar-ten
wher’herSister was’or-king nor in’hi’schoOl wher’niec’was
going’ ther’was no-thing’for me.
One’day’came’phon’call. Iwas sitTing at’he’tabl’
playing’com’put-er andIheard’talking abou’teaching…then
sh’gave’phon’to me andIwas tal’king toThat’woman.
IanswerEd’questIons and’gav’phon’back to
her;cudntBlivThat’hi’wasAjobInquiry.
She wanted me to-go’ther’for’job-inter’view.
Thus we drov’to-get-her by’car toBangKok and
the’taxi-driver’brought us
to
his’ouse wher’th’meEting
should
tak’place.
When’arRived
IsawThat’lady’but’wasnt
sure’
who
she is’
Then my’friend asked
her’and
sh’repliEd Yes’
We
sat down and’starTed to-talk;
an-other’teacher
came and’got inVolved’
She sad so-me/thing
about
social comMunity work which put me of’lit’le
bit be-cause it sounDed’voluntary’but my’friend asked
for’salAry and he repliEd 25but we’agreEd on35then.
We drov’around
to-seeSchools
and at’he
main-schoOl
Imet
‘asSisTant
diRector’ andEven loOked for’roOm
to-stay’
นา่อยู่อพาร้ทเมนท้
Ther’was noContract signed yet;just’mutUal agreEment.
SoIwasnt’sure’
But my’friend me-ant:
Do-you
think’heShows youSchoOls, whe’notGivIng you the’job?
She was right.
‘second timeIwen’ther’al’one be-cause she
neEd’to-work’and it was about my-self any-way.
The’taxi-driver picked me up
atBiTec-BangNa
and’we drov’
to’gaso-line
staTion‘to pick up an-other’teacher.
When heEnter’the’car’started questioNing me:
What
is’your’teachingExperience; what kind
of’visa’you’have…ver’nosy. But I
answerEdEvery-thing corRectly asI Didnt know who he realLy was.
We had’talk with’new boss at’he’ouse andIshowe’documents
but he’toOk’and’loOked at it him-self.
Then I had to-make’teaching-demonstraTion on11-12 years
oldStudents from th’vilLage; they came to-loOk’and’toOk’photOs’
bu’then’disapPearEd’
AgainIDidnt sign any-thing yet but’got’teaching-material
and’met’other teachers of th’team.
So it loOked like Iwould hav’the’job’
‘cudntBliv*my-self but it wasnt just about me.
Later-onIshalLearnThat it was my’friend who openEd the’doOr’for
me. With-out THE ad’ onAweb-site for her formIran’ and
her’talk’on th’phone plus her apPearAnceIcertainly wudnt have
go’it.
Then I moved to Samut Bpragarrn into the Samrong district where was
my base. Dtugk Didn’t really like That place but I promised to
visit her on the weekends.
Iwas happy to be there and start working as aTeacher for BpraTom
LevEl.
TeachEr
JenNEfer shall Show me the’way to
One
of the’schoOls and I sat with AcofFEe
in’herROom.
BEcause of
the
floOd I Didn’t neEd to go
‘ther’
but instead’joined
JENnefEr’s
clas’ Thus I could first
learn’from
her / after’lunch-break I toOk’over
and’tried myself.
Then I started at
The
main-schoOl and I liked it Ther’ The
ENvironment looked realLy nice. I introduced myself to The’students
in each clas’
The first weekEnds Iwas very Excited about Teaching but Stev’
meant’
it will change…
After 3weEks I had to break-up with Dtugk BEcause She was too
jealous. IarRived’friDay EveNings / Saturdays Ireserved for
my’friends Stev’
andKrisz
and’sunDay was for her but in the afterNOon I had to get
The
MIni-bus back to Samrong Al’ready. She
Didn’t like That I had so Lit’le time for her and’went’crazy.
I had to break out completEly.
Istil’wentSaturdays toPatTAya / firstTo Stev’ andEveNing
toKrisz (stay over’night) this was’goOd and I had’money
to-spend. Icould Al’ways REcover from the hard working WEek.
But Then the bacterias from
the
floOd got me down. I had Al’ready adjusted
my voice quite wel’ but Then the cough toOk over. One day I
had’fevEr and I hardly could teach. But still I was nevEr Aday
sick andExcused mySelf just for One hour Helping
TeachEr
Joe.
Istruggled myself through. The children Al’ways toOk and
gaveEnergy’ but in theEnd I lost’
Icouldn’t make it. My Health went steadily downHil’
Towards theEnd of JanuAry ther’was the first stupid complaint
AT an
English-camp
when Iwas falLing’sick Again and it was very stres’ful’
I toOk it mayBe toO Serious. Then in February it continued: The
coOrdinator for MEP-clasSes SudDenly complained to The director
in’front OF the other agencies That Iplayed the favorite
English
Songs Of the Students in’clas’
The first 4 months I kept strict To the teaching from the boOk.
I had to learn’mySelf first but I realized That it’s very
boring for the Students – they Didn’t learn ANYthing but only
acted like parRots.
BEcause’ IrealLy cared About Them I planNed to-change my
teaching completely and so during the Term-break I devEloped my
InterActive KinderGarten-program for them.
Now I wanted To create so-me/thing byMYself which neEDed
alot Of’time.
During the sumMer-break I gotEye-INfection as wel’
Icouldn’t REcover.
At my birthDay
SupPat
ofFerEd’me a1year ConTract but halfAmonth BEfore The start of the
new schoOl-term Iresigned from My duties BEcause I felt That
Iwasn’t able to ful’fil’ theConTract.
สุภัต ตันมันทอง couldn’t
acCept That and pleasEd me To-stay and’try’
Icouldn’t leav’ And’actualLy wanted to-work
for
her. Thus Icontinued’
But afterAmonth’problems with my new teaching-method ocCured
and Iwas forced to switch back to The normal boring style. Iwas So
frustRated That I had no more wil’power to-continue. It was
realLy sickeNing me all. Icouldn’t sleEp in’nightTime. Ive’got
stomach-pain ASwel’ It was just TerRible for me. Ipleased her
to
Take so-meBody Else now but she Stil’gaveME theChance TOwork at
least 2days for her. But Even this Icouldn’t continue longer
thanAmonth.
I finally completEly REsigned from the bigGest job-OPportuniTy
IveEver’got – thanks SupPat.
One more year was neEDed to REcover myHealth from it al’ I had
to-pay Expensiv’
for’hospital
Treatment BEcause of this’
Even privately I Didn’t want To-teach’anyMore. IcompletEly
Lost’interEst’
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