It looks like Bangkok might soon be overrun with English teachers that can’t speak Thai and know nothing about Thai culture. Well, if the course had worked at all.
Officials said yesterday that they are considering canceling the requisite 20-hour course in Thai language and culture that foreign teachers must complete before being licensed to teach the 1,2,3s and A,B,Cs.
Chaiyos Imsuwan, the deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education, declared the 20-hour course too short and ineffective to teach foreigners about all things Thai. He noted that the classes might be better left in the hands of the employing schools.
For schools that want to educate their teachers on when to wai and how to order som tam that’s not spicy, guidelines for what to teach in the 20-hour course will be available from the Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT).
The TCT is currently considering many changes to its programs, including allowing foreign teachers to renew their licenses at the five- and ten-year mark, after which they can apply for a permanent license that could only be revoked in cases of serious offenses, The Nation reported.
Reader Interactions