OK, I have a few classes called "conversation" classes in the Uni.

And essentially all they entail is lots of oral excercises to get students to speak English more often. Normally students who are struggling with English and Literature classes in Thailand at English speaking Universities are required to take 'conversation' classes.

Their grammar is always bad. And they are often very shy to speak.


However, I've really gotten my English IV class to talk alot. They actually enjoy the games I bring to class and have them play.

So anyways, I had them play that picture game (the name escapes me), where you give them a list of words, and they have to draw pictures of the words/phrases while trying to get their teamates to yell out the correct words.

I actually have the students come up with their own list of words, and each team's list is handed to another team for that team to figure out during the game. That way, the teams that come up with the words will try harder to come up with challenging words.


Anyways, after about an hour of fun and spirited playing of the game, one of the words that one of my more....erm... unique teams "The Cute Girls is the team name " came up with was "masturbation"


The girl who from the other team didn't know what "masturbation" was...at least in the English form. So after her teams turn, she asked me, "Ajaan (teacher) Dan... what is this masturbation? What is it?"

The rest of the class bursted out in laughter...


I sat there looking at this cute little fragile thing staring at me with keen interest....and all I could say was, "It's very very VEEEERRRRRY safe sex."

at which point the classroom erupted in laughter again


Yeah---I'm really bridging the gap of our two cultures--Thai and American.

My Xmases will never be the same since I started reading your stuff...

RenHoek said:

Love you lots, Ren

Imago said:

Love you too...

RenHoek said:

Mach said:

Yeah, I know... but 'tis the season to be jolly fa-la-la-la-laaaa-la-la-la-laaaaa!

RenHoek said:

That's adorable.

I'll bet you're a great teacher.

No joke, last year I gave a spelling test where the kids had to define colors, for example 'blue is the color of the ocean'. One kid had looked up in their dictionary 'gay instead of 'gray'. They wrote 'male homosexuality is the color of my pencil'. I love being an ESL teacher just for these moments.
[Edited 12/14/09 15:14pm]

Like what were the requirements do teach their?
Like do you have an english education degree?
or does it not matter if you have a bachelor or a master
its been a dream of mines to teach english in a foreign language, if not english maybe spanish(which i doubt)

Imago said:

RenHoek said:

Don you now your gay apparel fa-la-la-la-laaaa-la-la-la-laaaaa!

Nikademus said:

This reminds me of waaaay back when I did my Japanese Adv Dip....

The saying in Japanese for "to be fired" is used by saying you were "necked", in the passive tense.

So to say I was fired you say:

社長に首された。　(Shachou ni kubi sareta.) Kubi is the word for neck.

Unfortunately for this lovely poor girl in my class, while kubi is the word for neck, "yubi" is the word for finger.

So in one of those "lightning translation round" things that you do in high-level language classes, when she was supposed to say she had been fired by her boss, the poor thing yelled out "I WAS FINGERED BY MY BOSS"



She never lived it down. I've never seen anyone turn a shade of purple like she did that day.

baroque said:

Might I suggest Spanish would be a better idea?

Nikademus said:

baroque said:

Depends on the University or School.

Some places will hire you just for being an American. The pay is very low but if you don't have a lot of debt then you can live comfortably in Thailand off the pay (lower middle to comfortably middle class).

A 4 year degree gets you into more respectable institutions. A teaching certificate makes it even easier.

A masters gets you more money and better positions in certain Universities.


But there is such a demand for English teachers that you can roll the dice and see what happens.

I literally got my job by doing a Wiki search on English speacking Schools in Thailand. Then sending my resume (you need a resume with your photo attached to the word document, and a cover letter. You should also get some friends to write/sign letters of recommendations).

I sent off about 20 resumes and got 4 responses. I chose the Uni based on name recognition and the fact they gave me a dorm and free transportation.



Japan is also hurting for teachers.


I won't do this forever, but it's ALOT of fun and beats being unemployed back in the USA.

LAWD, your avatars!

Cool and very funny story!

slimhustle said:

I decided to change it just for you

Imago said:

Nooooo.

i just rarely understand them.

Maestro Quiñones
NO sabe leer
y da lecciones

Imago said:

lol...looks like we have a few ESL/EFL teachers on the org.....never knew that

hmmmmm, actually it is getting harder to find jobs in Japan nowadays according to what i hear around

the other day one of my students asked me if constipation was the opposite of diarrhea

that was a fun one

japanrocks said:

But it is

PANDURITO said:

Sorry Pandurito but I saw your sig and just had to post.

*insert something relevant to thread here*

japanrocks said:

I'm another. Worked in Italy and Turkey. Lots of work in both, but you won't get rich.

I manage a school in the UK now, and it is very competitive here.

The UAE is a good place for big bucks.
[Edited 12/16/09 3:25am]

slimhustle said:

I feel like I've been complaining about the roach avatars for years

But seriously, what a cool job - I didn't realise you were doing that now. Sounds like you have a great class.