Great Expectations

When parents of students are simply too demanding

2nd October 2009

When it comes to learning English (or any other foreign language) there are no secret recipes, nor guarantees on how quick a student will improve or become proficient. Studying a language involves a lot of hard work including practice, repetition and revision. Students - or parents of students - who think that their or their offspring's English skills will skyrocket in a short period of time are nurturing unrealistic expectations. Getting better at English is not something which happens overnight, but depends on a lot of variables.

Apart from the hard work I already mentioned, students should ideally have a purpose for studying English. Trying to teach English to a student who has absolutely no desire to learn it and thinks that being in the classroom is a complete waste of time is tantamount to mission impossible. Without purpose, motivation or willingness to learn, students will hardly ever get anywhere.

What I've written so far isn't new or earth-shattering; it's just that I wanted to revisit this topic because I feel that sometime parents are pushing their children too hard when it comes to education. Although I wholeheartedly agree that getting a decent education is one of the most important things in one's young life, we shouldn't forget that there is a time to study and a time to play. Having fun and being allowed to horse around and just be kids shouldn't be denied to anyone.

The demands and expectations that some parents burden their children with are alas often too great. At the moment I'm teaching a kid who hasn't even turned six, yet his life revolves solely around learning. Although little ‘Jimmy' lives in China, his spoken English approaches that of a native because he lived for several years in Canada. In kindergarten he already started learning basic phonics, so he is able to read many 3-letter words. He's quite good at writing the alphabet as well.

One should think that his parents ought to be as pleased as punch about his accomplishments so far, yet nothing seems further from the truth. Instead of rewarding him and allowing him some time to play after a long school day in first grade, he is dragged three times a week to tutoring classes in order to improve his English. This in itself would be acceptable if he was just given the opportunity to practice and enhance his English skills in a relaxing environment. It would also be easier for the teacher that he wasn't overly tired when attending classes, especially not to the point of physically falling asleep.

Instead, his parents came up with a wish list of nearly impossible demands, including intensive vocabulary building, reading and writing. They mentioned that they expected the boy to be able to write essays after one year of study (that's just before he'll turn seven). Well, to be honest, not real essays, but just sentences and stories about his life and surroundings. But still, these are not exactly the favourite leisure activities of a young boy. Detailed lessons plans from the teacher on how to achieve this were part of the demand package, plus a phone call from a sibling criticizing the materials used for being too easy (remember that the boy can't even read most words). Mission impossible if there ever was one.

It is often said that parents are the best teachers. I agree, but only when it comes to certain life skills, such as teaching children how to speak their mother tongue when they're young, teaching them table and other manners, how to ride a bicycle and fly a kite. When it comes to teaching kids a foreign language or mathematics, parents are often the worst teachers imaginable. Not only are they too demanding, they also don't seem to realize what they are putting their children through. Not to mention their criticism of experienced and qualified teachers who have been doing this for years.

I think it is a wonderful idea to give someone a head start in life. Tutoring centres can play an important role in this process, especially if children aren't getting the necessary education they deserve in school. However, parents and students' expectations alike should remain realistic when they sign up for classes. As said, the student's hard work, motivation and cooperation are every bit as important as the instructor's experience, attitude and teaching skills. Miracles don't happen in this world and as I've said before, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

Check out Philip's photo portfolio onhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/philiproeland.

Ni Hao

I visited Southwest China for the first time some five years ago and was surprised how advanced and modern China had become. As a traveller, my first impression of China was quite positive. When I got a fair job offer a while ago to teach in Chengdu (Sichuan province), I decided to accept it up and move to the most populous nation on Earth. As living in a country is usually very different from travelling, I wasn’t really sure what to expect so you could call it a calculated step into the unknown. So far, after almost a month, I haven’t regretted a minute of it. Since I haven’t had the time yet to soak it all up, this month’s column will be a brief overview of what has captured my attention so far, especially in comparison to Thailand.

When I first went for a stroll after touching down, I noticed how quiet the city streets were. Although there are plenty of cars of all makes and origins, and associated traffic jams or rather stop-and-go traffic, there are still lots of bicycles to be seen on city streets. Many bicycles and most – if not all – motorbikes are electric and don’t make any noise whatsoever. Bicycle lanes are abundant and pavements are incredibly wide and uncluttered. Although walking and cycling can still be done in Chinese metropolises without risking life or limbs, cars are king and drivers often don’t give way to pedestrians unless there are traffic lights and zebra crossings. The free right turn spoils this though.

Chinese food is excellent; ordering it, however, can be daunting if the restaurant doesn’t have an English or picture menu. The average Chinese shopkeeper or waiter has very low or non-existent English skills. Tables usually sport real tissues or napkins instead of toilet paper like in Thailand. Local beer is drinkable, cheap and not very strong (avg. 3.6%). Drinking beer with ice would be considered an oddity. Although smoking is prohibited in many public places, some people still light up in restaurants and public toilets.

Shopping opportunities are everywhere. There are several major shopping areas in the city with plenty of malls and supermarkets. The latter cater to both Chinese and western tastes. Imported products are available at higher but affordable prices. Local products are cheap and fresh. Seeing turtles on sale at Carrefour was a first for me though. And no, there weren’t meant as pets, but were sold in the fresh foods department. There seem to be quite a few entertainment zones and venues as well, but I haven’t had time to check them out yet.

Living conditions are good, and the average size of apartments and condos is considerably bigger than in Bangkok. Forty square metres would be considered tiny in China. Most – if not all – places come fully furnished and include fridge, TV, washing machine, cooker, possibly microwave oven and A/C-heater combination, yet remain affordable. Renting always needs to be done via an estate agent, so you’ll need some local help if you don’t speak Chinese.

When it comes to teaching English, there are very few good ESL resources available and course books from international publishers such as OUP, Macmillan, Longman or Cambridge are not available locally but need to be ordered. By the way, the one-child policy the Chinese authorities have imposed for decades now makes ‘Family’ units in course books virtually redundant, since most people don’t have any brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins, brothers-in-law or sisters-in-laws.

Zai jian (goodbye) for now.

Check out Philip's photo portfolio on www.flickr.com/photos/philiproeland.
The author of this article can be contacted at philiproeland@hotmail.co.uk.
1/9/2009

The Golden Land

My regional sightseeing trips took me to Myanmar last month. Due to limited time – just eight days – we only explored the capital Yangon and the nearby cities of Bago and Kyaiktiyo. I didn’t want to rush around, so we skipped the great city of Mandalay and the must-see temple town of Bagan, destinations I was fortunate enough to visit some years ago. If you wonder why of all places I chose Myanmar, the availability of cheap Air Asia tickets (2,150 baht return from Bangkok), the abundant cultural sites and the fact that I had already visited most of Southeast Asia would be the main reasons.

I do realize that with the international condemnations and boycott following the recent trial on trumped-up criminal charges of pro-democracy icon and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, the Golden Land, as Myanmar is also called, is probably one of the least popular tourist destinations worldwide (together with Iraq and North Korea). Actually, these countries are part of what George Bush used to call the Axis of Evil, although Axis of Poor Infrastructure might be a more suitable moniker.

Myanmar doesn’t welcome a great many visitors these days, so the country isn’t geared towards tourism like its Thai neighbour. Although people won’t exactly stare at you, you’ll generally have little interaction with locals, apart from hotel and restaurant staff. Also, although most people are either friendly or mind their own business, it is clear that many don’t know how to deal with tourists, but they try. As Myanmar is not exactly the most prosperous Asian nation, local businesses could do with some extra cash and would welcome more independent tourists spreading their wealth around.

Visiting Myanmar independently doesn’t mean you’re supporting the reviled military regime, as you’ll spend most of your money in private businesses such as hotels, restaurants, local guides, regional handicrafts and bus companies. There are of course some moderate entry fees to the most interesting temple sites, but these seem to go towards the upkeep and restoration of the sites, an admirable feat for a cash-strapped country that teetered on the brink of civil war a few years back.

Locals will have to learn to deal with travelling barbarians of course. For example, in downtown Yangon, there are numerous restaurants and teashops, yet there are hardly any tourists seen among the patrons. Lack of English menus, nobody to welcome you or usher you in and the fact that many establishments seem a men-only affair won’t earn them many tourist dollars. Also, the crowded yet crumbling streets around Sule Paya that look like London after the Blitzkrieg don’t provide a world-class culinary setting. Food is leaning mainly towards Indian, with biryani being served just about everywhere.

Although there is no lack of hotels and guesthouses, insufficient guests and income apparently hinders upkeep and renovation. This isn’t hard to understand when the country has fewer than 1,000 tourist arrivals daily – a mere fraction of the 50,000 revellers its Thai neighbour welcomes every day. This has basically put the whole country off the beaten track, something which might attract the more adventurous traveller.

Although within in the country there are no visible signs of public disgruntlement with the hard-handed regime, this doesn’t mean all is hunky dory. The Union of Myanmar, as it is officially called, is a quilt of seven divisions (mainly Bamar or Burmese) and seven different states (usually home to ethnic minorities, Shan State being the biggest). Many of the states have their own administration and separate armies and I wouldn’t be surprised if future troubles or uprisings would lead to a Yugoslavia scenario, triggering the creation of a swath of new nations. Police and soldiers were nowhere to be seen during my visit. Perhaps they have retrenched or dug themselves in around the new capital of Naypyidaw, located somewhere in the jungle.

Tourist-wise, Myanmar really has a lot of wonderful sights to offer. If it weren’t for its international isolation and lack of infrastructure, it could rival Cambodia and Vietnam combined. Unfortunately, it’ll probably take a couple of decades and billions of dollars before roads are fixed and power plants completed. It’ll also take a new, democratic government and a massive injection of foreign aid and investment.

Getting around the country can be daunting. There are lots of buses and even some train lines, but it often takes a lot longer to get from point A to B than you’re used to. Flying is a quick and fairly affordable option (Air Bagan is one of the local airlines), but of course, you don’t get to know the country very well doing so. As it stands now, travel is fairly easy but time-consuming. For example, the nearest beach is barely 100 kilometres from the capital, yet it takes four hours to get there and it is all but straightforward. Kyaiktiyo, home of the sacred and mind-boggling Golden Rock, is located just over 200 kilometres from the capital, but it almost takes a day to get to the top of the mountain (or vice versa). By the way, the person who designed the main bus station in Yangon ought to be hanged, drawn and quartered. Not only is it further from the city centre than the airport, it is also a cluttered and disorganised affair in the middle of nowhere.

In Myanmar, a new taxi is usually less than 10 years old, while the average age of the whole fleet is probably closer to 25 years. Air-conditioning in taxis or on buses means windows (and possibly doors) open. Some cars, buses and trucks could have been called new just after the Second World War. In spite of these minor inconveniences, the Golden Land offers a treasure trove of temples, historical sites and ruins – and can be a photographer’s dream. Visas allow you a stay of 28 days and can be obtained at local Burmese embassies (be polite and patient).

In order to take it all in, the intrepid traveller will have to take his time, be patient and put up with a bit more hassle and a lot less luxury than in other countries. If you take the trouble though, you won’t be disappointed. If you don’t like to travel independently and make all arrangements yourself, you can hire a local guide with car to take you around the country for as long as you wish (30-50 USD per day, depending on your bargaining skills and quality of guide and vehicle). You will probably get to see a lot more of the country than when you travel by night bus. Finally, if you’re married to a woman whose idea of having a good time is trolling around A/C shopping malls for bargains or brand name goods, I’d go it alone or give it a miss altogether.

Check out Philip's Myanmar photo portfolio on http://www.flickr.com/photos/philiproeland">www.flickr.com/photos/philiproeland
The author of this article can be contacted at philiproeland@hotmail.co.uk.
1/8/2009

The Ideal Student

It is generally acknowledged that a teacher's life is often stressful and daunting and that pursuing a teaching career is not exactly the shortest path to fame and riches. This seems to be more or less true all around the world. Nevertheless, legions of foreigners still end up on Thailand's shores each year, either competing for the most lucrative positions or contenting themselves with securing less demanding jobs. Schools, on the other hand, try to pick the cream of the crop in an attempt to sign up the illusive ideal teachers.

However, if school boards and parents keep insisting on higher standards, we teachers should at least be allowed to fantasise about the benchmarks for role model students. This month's column doesn't focus on teachers and how to achieve near-perfection, but on what the ideal student would be like. Let's keep in mind though that nobody's perfect and that most teachers would probably be over the moon if only a slight majority of students showed some of the traits mentioned below. Again, like in 'The Ideal Teacher' piece (Feb 2009 column), these characteristics are not based on full-scale research among teachers but rather on personal experience. Also, finding an accurate yardstick valid for the whole student body worldwide is tantamount to looking for the Holy Grail as regional cultures and customs play a determining role.

Anyway, these are some of the characteristics I think ideal students should have:

Motivated
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Even the best qualified teachers will have a hard time transferring their English skills to students if the latter are completely unwilling to absorb any of it. Motivation is vital to doing well when learning a language. More information on how to motivate students can be found in one of last year's columns (March 2008).

Inquisitive
It's very handy for teachers when students occasionally ask questions when they don't understand a word, expression, idiom, grammar point, etc. This not only shows their interest but also gives the teacher valuable feedback without solely having to rely on formal tests (on which lots of students try to cheat anyway). Unfortunately, general lack of interest in learning English and possible loss of face often prevent students from doing so as in Thai culture, asking questions equates to admitting you are stupid.

Cooperative
It's always nice when students do what you ask them to do. Although this may seem self-evident, it not always is. By the way, I'm referring to basic classroom instructions which students understand but sometimes prefer to ignore. Examples are 'Please open your books on page 27' (met by blank stares), 'Attention everyone' (students keep talking among themselves), 'Be quiet please' (students start talking more loudly), 'Please do exercise 3 on page 11' (students start moaning 'mai ao') and 'Please move your chairs and sit in groups of four like we've been doing for the last three months’ (students look flabbergasted and remain immobile)

Enthusiastic
Let's just say it is far more pleasant to teach a group of motivated, energetic students than a bunch of loafers slouching in their chairs with boredom written all over their faces.

Unafraid to make mistakes
Teachers like students who try out the language they've just learnt when asked to. Controlled practice and free conversation are essential to internalise structure and vocabulary as well as improve pronunciation. Many Asian students, however, have a deep-rooted fear of making the slightest mistake as in their respective cultures this is tantamount to losing face. Consequently, many of them are reluctant to answer oral questions freely or engage in discussions enthusiastically.

Hard-working
Learning a language involves making considerable efforts. In order to better their skills, students not only need to work hard, they should also be persevering and determined. Nobody's active language skills will improve just by listening to a teacher. Teachers can teach, guide and assist students in their learning process, but they can never do the actual learning and practising for them.

Open, talkative
Students who aren't afraid to share their opinions and experiences are a joy to have in the classroom. Being talkative is not only beneficial to students as it will help them progress at a faster pace but also to teachers as this will make their lessons more interesting and faster-paced. For teachers, it is a welcome break from conversation classes in which trying to get students to talk is often similar to pulling teeth.

Realistic
When students are learning a language intensively and practise often outside the classroom, their English skills will pick up quickly. Rome, however, wasn't built in a day, so it is important that students don't have unrealistic expectations when starting a course. One can only achieve so much in a short time. It is impossible to be fluent after doing a 20-hour conversation course or fully prepared for devilish exams such as TOEFL or IELTS after signing up for a 30-hour prep course.

Patient
In my experience it is often the more zealous – but not exceptionally smart - students that can be a wee bit impatient. When they get stuck while doing an exercise they'll call your name or say 'Teacher, come here please' and keep repeating this until you actually go over and help them, even if it is clear that you're in the middle of helping one of their classmates.

Helpful
Some of the more intelligent students who fall in the category 'quick finishers' sometimes turn into real teaching assistants, helping weaker students get through difficult exercises and actually explaining again the teaching point you wanted them to grasp. Needless to say that this is a dream situation where you can easily overlook the use of L1 in the English classroom.

Independent
It is nice to have students who can think for themselves and try to solve problems on their own before asking assistance from either teacher or classmates. Classroom exercises, homework assignments and tests are often subject to blatant copying and cheating as well as any activity that requires critical thinking. Independence is also important when it comes to learning and practising English outside of the classroom. Students who make an effort to do so will usually progress much more rapidly than the ones who constantly need their hands held or only respond to the carrot and stick approach.

Serious
While most students in Thailand perceive this as a negative quality, they only do so because they are referring to the wrong definition, i.e. unable to laugh, quiet, overly thoughtful. I'm using it in the sense of determined. Students who are serious about learning English and willing to put in some serious efforts are obviously easier to teach than the ones who consider it a waste of time or even a joke.

Sense of humour
Using humour in the classroom can help teachers build rapport and create a relaxed and non-threatening atmosphere. Therefore, it's useful if the students have some sense of humour themselves, aren't awestruck by your every casual quip or don't try to dig for biblical meaning in your latest joke gone wrong. However, teachers should never overdo the serious humour part as you don't want to be seen as the resident joker or turn your classroom into Comedy Central.

Well-mannered
Although I have been teaching for years in Thailand, I am still appalled by the lack of basic manners that some students exhibit. Openly sleeping in class, playing computer games, texting, burping, farting, fighting and shouting are some that spring to mind. Some adults aren't much better when they forget to turn off their mobiles or don't even bother going outside of the classroom when taking or making calls. I suppose it's a worldwide phenomenon and I should be somewhat grateful that at least most Thai students don't bring knives and guns into the classroom – and when they do it's not to hurt the teacher but to maim or kill students from rival schools.

Disciplined
Apart from behaving themselves in the classroom and refraining from being rude, unpleasant, cocky, crass, coarse, insolent, obnoxious, uncivil, snotty, ill-bred and vulgar, ideal students should also show some self-discipline when it comes to doing homework, taking exams, practising English outside of the classroom and making genuine efforts in general to further their language skills. After all, their future may depend upon them.

Sociable
Teenage and adult students who enjoy meeting new people and aren't afraid to use English during conversation are definitely a step ahead of their shyer peers, who recoil from speaking to any stranger, no matter what their nationality. Although being gregarious is a trait that is worthwhile having for every language student, I feel it's particularly important when people study – out of their own volition – in a language school where the dynamics of a lesson often depend on the atmosphere and collaboration among all students.

Well-dressed
This is not really an issue as most language learners wear uniforms. Most students dress in their obligatory uniforms, unless they take tutorial weekend classes. Business students are usually dressed business-like, especially when coming from or going to work. Many female university students are dressed in skirts so short and shirts so tight one sometimes wonders if they have lucrative part-time jobs. Although I am not averse to eye candy and prefer sexy girls to dragons and battle-axes, it can be distracting when teaching.

Rich
Although being affluent does not necessarily make learning English easier, it sure helps (both student and teacher) when expensive private lessons are about to come up for renewal. Having the means to travel extensively and practise English along the way is another advantage. Up until now, however, I haven't positively witnessed any correlation between wealth and talent/motivation.

Good-looking
Although I am not averse to teaching students who are easy on the eye, teachers who think that ideal students are sexy and available are clearly crossing a line which is a lot vaguer than in most western countries. Whereas socialising with students may be okay in certain situations (e.g. end-of-course get-together), striking up relationships with students can hardly be called ethical and can lead to immediate dismissal. Fantasising about students among colleagues may be technically legal, but it nevertheless turns my stomach.

Check out Philip's photo portfolio on www.flickr.com/photos/philiproeland.
The author of this article can be contacted at philiproeland@hotmail.co.uk.
1/7/2009

ESLprintables.com

If you’d ask me what my favourite or most visited websites are, Flickr.com, BBCNews.com, the BangkokPost.com, Answers.com, TheFreeDictionary.com, Hotmail and Google would probably top that list. I also surf regularly to quite a few EFL websites, but most of them are just one hit pit stops to me. I don’t often return to one and usually use Google as a starting point to find whatever I need. Until I stumbled upon ESLprintables (www.eslprintables.com).

ESLprintables is a website where EFL teachers from all over the world upload and share their home-made worksheets. Thousands of spiffy worksheets are available for download, all for free. Now don’t stop reading at this point to visit the site, eagerly expecting to siphon off all those materials, because you won’t be able to. Let me explain.

Browsing and searching the site can be done by anyone, but if you want a piece of the action, you’ll need to register – a process which is free and doesn’t take long. After that, you’ll be a registered member of the site, but you’ll still be unable to download any goodies from the treasure trove. That’s because the philosophy behind the site is to give before you take.

In order to download the worksheets you so desperately want when you had a peek, you’ll have to upload some of your own work first. Each worksheet you upload gives you one point and each download of your worksheets by another member gets you one point as well. You can then spend your points downloading the stuff you want. Once you have reached 30 points, you’ll be automatically upgraded to premium member, which means you’ll be able to download 30 recent worksheets for free each day. By the way, if you share quality worksheets, you’ll achieve 30 downloads in no time.

If this sounds too complicated or you’re in dire need of a specific worksheet, ESLprintables is not the site you’re looking for. Instead, you should view this site as a platform where teachers share some of their best creations with others worldwide, free of charge. Should you ever decide to give it a go, get some quality worksheets ready to upload. Make sure it’s your own work, as copied, scanned or stolen material isn’t tolerated on the site. Moderators check uploads for violations of the site’s rules, and flag and remove unacceptable worksheets. By the way, every member with more than 1,000 downloads automatically becomes a moderator.

Although this site is a goldmine when you’re looking for worksheets, there’s more to it. Once you get into creating and uploading your own materials, you might get addicted. You’ll start excitedly monitoring your worksheets, the number of downloads you’ve accumulated and the comments other members make on your worksheets. The forum on the site is rather small and basic, but provides a simple way of addressing the whole community should the need arise. Apart from printable worksheets, members can also upload PowerPoint presentations and make online exercises (this is done with cloud software; instructions provided online).

With 180,246 registered users and 162,784 printables (on May 21, 2009), ESLprintables is unquestionably a popular EFL resource site. The fact that there are more registered users than worksheets may indicate that some cybernauts don’t bother to read the rules and policy before signing up. The site isn’t a money spinner, quite on the contrary. It’s a private initiative from a Spanish teacher named Victor, has no advertising and limited server space. In fact, worksheet uploads are limited to 300Kb and presentations to 500Kb, so the site is definitely no alternative to file-hosting or file-sharing websites like Scribd.com, iFile.it or torrents.

You can check out the thousands of printables on www.eslprintables.com. To access my own materials, you can go straight to www.eslprintables.com/buscador/author.asp?user=60456#thetop.
If you can’t be bothered creating and sharing materials or need some conversation topics fast, feel free to downloads my ‘Let’s talk about’ conversation worksheets on file-hosting site www.scribd.com/PhilipRoeland (free registration).

Check out Philip's photo portfolio on www.flickr.com/photos/philiproeland.
The author of this article can be contacted at philiproeland@hotmail.co.uk.
1/6/2009

Things To Do Before You Die

Over the last few years a myriad of books have been published recommending what to visit, see, eat, drink, do, listen to, etc. I’m referring to titles such as 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die, 500 Cities to See Before You Die, 1000 Books to Read Before You Die, and so on. It seems to have developed into a craze with publications (and websites) such as 1000 Wines to Try, 1000 Recordings to Hear, 500 Trips to Take, 1000 Films to Watch, 500 Natural Wonders to See, 1000 Birds to Spot, 1000 Artworks to See and many more. I wouldn’t be surprised anymore to come across a volume entitled 1000 Cigars to Smoke, 500 Bars to Get Hammered In, 1000 Cathouses to Patronise or 500 STD Clinics to Visit.

From most of the above-mentioned titles I have deliberately omitted the ‘Before You Die’ part as I find it somewhat lugubrious. Actually, I think some of the titles – esp. the ones concerning alcohol and daredevil activities – should be labelled ‘And Then You Die’ or ‘And Hope You Don’t Die’, since doing what the books say could definitely lead to liver cirrhosis at best or an untimely death at worst.

Also, most of what the books prescribe is virtually impossible to do in just one lifetime. For example, the recommended places to visit are spread all over the globe and the reading suggestions contain works such as Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Apart from becoming an energetic and globe-trotting centenarian, being a millionaire is a necessity as well for enjoying many of the fine wines and far-away exotic locations. Not to mention stamina and 20/20 vision for some other activities.

I actually like perusing these books although I am quite aware that I’ll never be able to complete even a tenth of what they encourage people to do. Unless you combine several of the once-in-a-lifetime activities and do so for decades on end, it’s impossible to experience them all. However, I can’t see myself riding a camel (a thing to do) in the streets of Timbuktu (a place to visit) while savouring a Chateaux d’Yquem (a wine to try), puffing on a Cohiba (a cigar to smoke), listening to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture (a recording to hear) and reading Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea (a book to read) all at the same time.

Although I’m not a die-hard fan of these ‘list-books’ and feel there are too many already, I couldn’t resist jumping on the bandwagon and provide you with some lists of my own. Contrary to the authors of most – if not all – of the books, I decided to include only what I’ve experienced first-hand. My approach unfortunately excludes a number of amazing locations I haven’t been to myself, but so be it. Although most of what I included is definitely worthwhile, I don’t expect you to go running to your local travel agent or bookstore to book a world trip or buy a cartload of novels. You will survive and possibly live happily ever after without treading in someone else’s footsteps and ticking off ‘been there, done that’ lists.

By the way, even though there is occasionally some kind of advice in my column, one of the best pieces of advice I can give is not to listen too much too other people’s advice. Yes, you read that correctly. This is based on the fact that everyone is unique and has different tastes and preferences. What I consider to be a picturesque waterfall might just appear another boring day trip in someone else’s eyes. What others consider must-see ruins may seem uninteresting piles of bricks to me. Some readers may consider Stephen King worthy of a Nobel Prize while others think it is literary rubbish.

So please don’t think you should do everything these lists or books mention, nor should you get frustrated or depressed if you don’t have the means to do so in this lifetime. Nobody would expect a New Yorker to go on a city trip to Sydney or a Singaporean to fly around the world just to see Machu Picchu. However, if you happen to be in the neighbourhood, you might just as well make a detour or add a couple of days to your journey. Alternatively, if you have time and funds aplenty, take a few months (or years) off so you can enjoy some of the beauty at your leisure.

I chose to keep the lists that follow short. I know there are uncountable other marvelous things to see and do around the world, but if you’re really into long lists, just pop out to any of the major English bookshops, spend some cash and support the local economy.

Wonderful Places to Visit in Thailand
1. Chiang Mai (esp. the old part of the city surrounded by the moat)
2. Sukothai and Si Satchanalai World Heritage Sites
3. Krabi, Ko Phi Phi and selected islands in the Andaman Sea
4. Temples and ruins of Ayutthaya
5. Rattanakosin Island, Bangkok (Grand Palace, Wat Pho)
6. Hua Hin and Petchburi (Kao Wang Historical Site)
7. Kanchanaburi
8. Phanom Rung and Phimai
9. Lopburi
10. Mae Hong Son

Breathtaking Sites to See in and around Southeast Asia
1. Temples of Angkor, Cambodia
2. Bagan and Mandalay, Myanmar
3. Halong Bay, Vietnam
4. Luang Prabang, Laos
5. Bukit Lawang and Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia

Stunning Locations Worldwide
1. Machu Picchu and Cuzco, Peru
2. Luxor and Aswan, Egypt
3. Atacama Desert and the Lagunas of the Altiplano (Andean Highlands), Chile
4. Venice, Italy
5. Iguazu Falls, Argentina & Brazil
6. Alice Springs and Ayers Rock, Australia
7. Tropical rainforest, South America
8. Lake Titicaca, Peru and Bolivia

Fabulous Big Cities around the Globe
1. Rome, Italy
2. London, England
3. Sydney, Australia
4. Barcelona, Spain
5. Paris, France
6. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Interesting Medium Cities Worldwide
1. Sevilla and Cadiz, Spain
2. Lijiang and Dali, Southwest China
3. Hue and Hoi An, Central Vietnam
4. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
5. Bruges and Ghent, Belgium

Relaxing Small Towns around the World
1. Vang Vieng, Laos
2. San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
3. Dalat, Vietnam
4. Otavalo and Cuicocha, Ecuador
5. Kuranda, Australia

Worthwhile Daytrips to Take
1. Island and snorkelling trip in Krabi, Andaman Sea, Thailand
2. Sightseeing trip around Iquique, Chile
3. Skyrail Rainforest trip from Cairns to Kuranda, Queensland, Australia
4. Railway trip from Riobambe to Alausi (Nariz del Diablo), Ecuador
5. Trekking in Chiang Mai, Thailand (usually 3-day trip)

Thrilling Authors to Read
1. Tom Clancy
2. Frederick Forsyth
3. Minette Walters
4. Agatha Christie
5. Carl Hiaasen
6. Jeffery Deaver
7. Michael Ridpath
8. Philip Margolin
9. Dick Francis
10. Andy McNab
11. PD James
12. Stephen Leather

Exciting Films to Watch
1. The Shawshank Redemption
2. In the Name of the Father
3. Se7en
4. The Silence of the Lambs
5. An Inconvenient Truth
6. The Usual Suspects
7. Pulp Fiction
8. Something Wild
9. Rattle and Hum
10. Groundhog Day

Must-visit Countries Worldwide
1. Egypt
2. Cambodia
3. Spain
4. Australia
5. Any country in sub-Saharan Africa

Top Destinations on my Wish List
1. India
2. South Africa
3. Mexico
4. Russia
5. Mali
6. Philippines

If you are puzzled with my number 5 choice (any country in sub-Saharan Africa) in my Must-visit Countries Worldwide list, let me explain. If you are reading this online column, you must have a computer or at least access to one. You probably have enough money to spend on leisure activities, eat three meals a day and live in a house that doesn’t have a leaky roof. Visiting an African country will give you some sense of perspective. You’ll realise how incredibly lucky you are because most of the things we take for granted are in very short supply or completely inexistent in this vast continent.

As I’m based in Thailand at the moment, I only thought it fair to give this amazing country its own top 10. However, if the popularity of my photostream on Flickr.com is anything to go by, it could mean that interest in the Land of Smiles has decreased sharply. Among my 200 most popular photos, only 22 are from Thailand. Pictures from Laos are the most popular by a mile, followed by Vietnam as a distant second. Let’s hope the Land of Smiles can find a quick and peaceful solution to the predicament it is in and become a prime and carefree destination its people can be proud of again.

PS: After having written this piece, I came across a book called 1000 Things to do Before you Get Married. After perusing it, I was pretty sure that someone trying to do all the stuff mentioned in it would never get married at all.

Photos of many of these wonderful locations are available on www.flickr.com/photos/philiproeland.
The author of this article can be contacted at philiproeland@hotmail.co.uk.
1/5/2009

Making the Move

Thailand is not only a popular holiday destination, it is also a country many foreigners want to live and work in. However, giving up your life in the west to move halfway around the globe and take a leap into the unknown is evidently no small feat. Uprooting yourself – and possibly wife and kids – from a country you may have lived in since birth takes careful consideration and preparation in order to avoid bitter disappointment down the road.

It will come as no surprise that most people making this life-changing move are single (or happily divorced) without children. Even then, giving up your accustomed surroundings, friends and worldly possessions in pursuit of a more fulfilling life-style is no split-second decision – or one made when under the influence. In this month's article, I'll address some issues that may worry adventurers pondering a move to Thailand to become an English teacher and give some practical advice that might come in handy either before or after the move.

If you're still in the safety of your western home, the first thing you need to ask yourself is whether you are really sure you want to travel to the other side of the world in order to pursue a teaching career – because realistically speaking that is about the only job for which there is a big demand for westerners - and live a long stretch of time in a foreign culture. This decision should never be made just after a fantastic, fun-filled beach holiday in Thailand, where your only daily worries were limited to what to have for lunch and which bar to patronise at night. If your desire to move to the Land of Smiles is mainly based on your urge to see your summer sweetheart again, you'd better let your infatuation cool off a few months in order to avoid rash decisions you might regret forever after.

Once you've made the decision to take the jump, it's time to get organised as you'll have lots of things to do. Quitting your job (if any) and giving notice to your landlord probably top the list. Informing friends and family, selling your furniture (and possibly car) and getting rid of stuff in general are not to be underestimated either. I feel that if you're really committed, it's better to go for a clean break as putting things in storage or filling up your parents' attic only results in unwanted bills and mountains of dust. Moving all your stuff around the world could cost more than it is actually worth. If you're a tenant, subletting your dig to friends may seem a good idea at the time, but once they call you for every minor problem or skip town unannounced you'll wish you hadn't. If you're a home owner, get in touch with a trustworthy estate agent who manages rental properties.

It is probably easiest to make the move to Thailand when you're single, live in rented accommodation, are fed up with your job, don't consider friends and family to be of monumental importance, and are quite familiar with foreign cultures. It is a plus, but not essential or foolproof, that you've visited the country beforehand. Previous teaching experience and relevant qualifications will also give you an important edge. If your employer allows you to take a sabbatical with the option to get your old job back, don't think twice. If you don't have the resources to scout your final destination beforehand or are already planning a possible move back home before even taking off, it might be a good idea idea not to burn all your bridges and have some kind of pull-out scenario in place should things not work out.

Please understand that the above profile is flexible. If you don't fully recognise yourself in it, don't start being miserable and put all your plans on hold. Strong motivation can be an excellent substitute for lack of whatever you're short of if you don't fall into the 'perfect candidate' category. However, if you've never set foot abroad, have never travelled independently, have a hard time making friends, thoroughly dislike exotic food, get homesick easily, are not used to taking the initiative and need your hand held most of the time, then I wouldn't bet the kitchen sink on you bringing the house down in Thailand.

Anyway, let's suppose you do want to move to the Kingdom no matter what. You'll have to save some seed money first in order to pay for a round trip ticket and organise your job hunt once you're on the ground. You should be aware that applying from overseas is virtually a waste of time unless you're PGCE qualified and have teaching experience in your home country. You'll need some nice clothes (which can be acquired quite cheaply in Thailand) and money to get a place to live and buy some essentials (I'm not referring to a wide-screen plasma TV here but to ordinary stuff like bed linen, pillows, a fan, an electric kettle and possibly a fridge).

Airfare and emergency cash included, you'll ideally need a minimum of 3,000 US dollars before making the move. This amount is not set in stone but only a guideline; I estimated airfare at USD 1,000, emergency cash at USD 1,000 and initial expenses at USD 1,000. This is supposing you don't want to find yourself in a faraway land forced to take up a career as a beggar or bum; I am also assuming you don't want to pester your family at home into sending you money every other week or build a reputation as freeloader among your newfound local friends and colleagues. If you plan to do a TEFL or CELTA course before starting your Thai teaching career, make sure to have another fistful of dollars handy.

Don't forget that once you have arrived in the Promised Land, you should hunt for a job before settling into an apartment as you don't want to get stuck in endless traffic for your daily commute. This means that you may have to stay one to four weeks in a hotel or guest house before moving into a more permanent place, depending on the success of your job hunt (by the way, if you still haven't found a satisfactory job after a month, I'd start planning the return leg). Get yourself a local SIM card – available on just about every street corner - so that possible employers can contact you easily. Get streetwise in your new surroundings. Know that metered taxis, Skytrain and subway are often the easiest and cheapest way to get to an unknown destination timely without arriving drenched in sweat. This is no time to start saving a few baht by using non-A/C buses or walking several kilometres to your next interview in the sweltering heat.

Once you have successfully landed a job, start looking for a place to live. Inner city places near good transport links might save you a lot of time but usually come at a considerable premium. Although Skytrain (BTS) and underground (MRT) are difficult to beat when it comes to getting around easily, they are rather limited in range. Many areas outside of the city centre have comfortable vans and buses going into the belly of the beast, so unless you are addicted to the adult entertainment zones in downtown Bangkok, taking up a job on the outskirts of Greater Bangkok is definitely worth considering. I wouldn't dismiss jobs further afield out of hand simply because of the absence of either Skytrain or underground. As taxis are cheap, the money you save on rent will more than likely surpass your monthly taxi fares.

Try to get accommodation near your workplace or at least within a reasonable distance of the school you'll be working in. It's difficult to say what an apartment will cost as it depends on quality and location; it can range from 2,000 baht for a spartan room in the boonies to 20,000 baht or more in the CBD. MrRoomfinder.com might give you some idea of what's out there, although I feel you'll mainly see the more expensive tip of the accommodation iceberg. As a rule of thumb, I think rent shouldn't take more than 20% out of your salary if you plan to make ends meet. Most landlords will insist on a two months' deposit and a month's rent up front. Utility charges will be another 500 to 5,000 baht monthly, mainly depending on your use of A/C.

Living and working near the beach is probably the dream of the majority of foreigners arriving in Thailand. It's also the dream of many expat teachers who have been in Thailand for years. I'd take it for what it is: a dream. Apart from a handful of jobs in Phuket, Hua Hin and some lesser known beach towns, the bulk of teaching positions can be found in and around Bangkok, which has after all a population of nearly ten million. For some, reality kicks in when you realise that living and working in Thailand is a world apart from coming here on a package holiday.

Although your health is invaluable, I don't think you should buy expensive medical insurance beforehand as Thailand is cheap compared to the west. Most people already have some kind of travel insurance anyway. Also, good employers offer medical insurance for free or at a reduced cost. If they don't, take out your own locally by contacting for example BUPA, a major insurance company which offers competitive packages or Ajarn.com's Group Package from Tony Dabbs. Don't bother bringing a truckload of medicine from home as Thailand probably has more pharmacies than the rest of the world combined. Yaa (Thai for medicine) is cheap as well.

In order to survive Thailand as a bachelor(ette) you don't need the skills of an experienced housewife as the average cost of eating out is anywhere from affordable to dirt cheap. Keeping your clothes clean is also a piece of cake as myriads of laundry shops around town are keen on washing your dirty underwear and pressing your shirts. Again, you don't have to break the bank to use these services. I don't think shopping even deserves to be mentioned, but let me point out anyway that small purchases can be made at the 7-Elevens that possibly outnumber the urban cockroaches. More substantial shopping pleasure – and possible credit card hemorrhaging - can be experienced at local or international hypermarkets such as Big C, Tesco Lotus and Carrefour, as well as at the massive shopping centres such as Siam Paragon, Central Plaza, The Mall, the Thai-style behemoth BMK, the hi-so hang-out Emporium and the snobbish Gaysorn, most of which are conveniently located within the city centre.

Once you're settled into your new job and dwelling, you should explore other possibilities for getting around cheaply such as motorbike taxis, vans, buses and river boats. Those of you who plan to work and travel around Thailand or Southeast Asia should realise that it's not always easy to take a few weeks or months off whenever you feel like it. Either choose a school which allows for long summer holidays or travel around the region before taking up a job. Southeast Asia is probably the easiest and cheapest part of the world to travel in, with lots of wonderful beaches, national wonders, ancient temple complexes and exotic foods. Although inexpensive, an average one month's itinerary will still cost around USD 1,000 minimum, so make sure to have either credit card or money belt available. If you're not into travelling, check out the parks Bangkok has to offer as they are welcome and relaxing oases in the noisy concrete jungle.

When coming to Siam from overseas, arriving on a tourist visa – if possible a multiple entry one – is probably the simplest and most sensible scenario, unless you can obtain a non-immigrant B visa at your local embassy without the hassle of needing to submit extensive paperwork from a prospective employer. After having found gainful employment, your employer should handle the necessary paperwork and apply for a work permit and a yearlong extension of your visa. If you arrived on a tourist visa, this will either need to be converted to a non-immigrant B within Thailand or you'll have to do a visa run to get the latter.

Remember that in order to be eligible for a work permit you should have at least a (genuine) bachelor's degree and a TEFL certificate (the latter is not required if you have a B.Ed). Make sure to bring the originals. If you get your non-immigrant B visa abroad, don't forget to bring a police clearance as well (the conversion of a tourist visa into a non-immigrant B within Thailand, although more expensive at 4,000 baht, seems to make a home police clearance redundant). For more information on this topic, please browse some other parts of this site, the forum or consult the Visa Guru, as I personally get splitting headaches from this ever-changing red tape. By the way, if you're a tree hugger or a nitpicker, this process will be sheer agony: not only will you be asked to sign a ludicrous amount of papers, it will also include a baffling amount of powers of attorney and possibly a few blank sheets just in case.

Although I've covered most of the practicalities in this article, I think that for many planning to move to Thailand the main hurdle before making the final decision to come to Thailand is psychological. From the dozens of emails I've received over the years, it is clear that you have lots of questions which in fact nobody can answer. The list is probably endless, but I'll give a few examples anyway (for more, look at the Questions sections elsewhere on this site).

• Which is the best TEFL course to take? (search for feedback on-line, scour the forum)
• Will I find a job without having experience? (likely)
• Without a degree? (possibly)
• Without either? (who knows)
• Without degree, experience, hair and teeth? (please stay put)
• Will I find a job in Pattaya or Phuket? (are you sure it's the teaching you love?)
• Is 55 too old to start a teaching career in Thailand? (probably not)
• Should I do a TEFL or start a job first? (the former would be better)
• I'm an American citizen but look Thai. Will I find a job? (I'd give it a try)
• I have a 3-year Teaching Diploma, am qualified to teach in my home country, have 21 years experience and have enrolled in a TESOL course. Would my overall qualifications be suitable for acceptance as a teacher of English in Thailand? (does a bear shit in the woods?)

The real answers to all these questions aren't just the ones in brackets, they are also 'I haven't a clue' as I don't personally know you, what drives you, how good and motivated you really are. Teachers with degrees and experience (and a score of unrealistic demands) occasionally muck up job interviews while others without either manage to worm themselves through the door, so if you'll ever get that plum job is anyone's guess. I can guarantee you one thing though: if you've really set your teeth into moving to Thailand and finding a job, you'll probably succeed as long as you try to suppress some of what is considered by Thai employers your arrogant western attitude and expectations. And even if you don't and eventually return back home, make sure to take the opportunity to explore the region and enjoy all the marvels Southeast Asia has to offer.

Finally, I don't think it would be a good idea to consider this column gospel, as some arrive in in Thailand each year woefully unprepared yet seem to find their bearings rapidly and adapt to living and working in a tropical country where some local customs range from eye-opening to mind-boggling. Anyway, as they aren't the ones to worry incessantly and to prepare themselves for every imaginable eventuality, they probably won't come across this piece unless they stumble upon it. This being said, if you have doubts about a move to the Land of Smiles – which is after all only human – I suggest you don't let your insecurity spoil the adventure you're about to embark upon. Take a deep breath and take the plunge; it is likely that you'll learn to swim before you drown. Genuine inquiries remain welcome, but please don't call me when you're stuck at the airport without a clue how to get to the city centre.

This column was inspired by dozens of e-mails received over the last few years and my own move back to Thailand where, after a relaxing six-months' break, I have taken up a new head teacher's position.

Photos can be found on www.flickr.com/photos/philiproeland.
The author of this article can be contacted at philiproeland@hotmail.co.uk.
1/4/2009