Commit To Classroom Improvement – During the first few weeks of 2016, complete an honest self-evaluation of your teaching at least once a day so as to identify teaching skills that need improvement. If possible, ask a respected peer to observe your class and share their thoughts with you. Narrow weaknesses down to two or three teaching skills and commit to researching ways to improve.
Utilise Social Media – Improve techniques and build professional awareness by paying attention to the experts through blogs, YouTube and Twitter. Scott Thornbury’s blog, “An A-Z of ELT” is fantastic; sign up for Adrian Underhill’s newsletters for improving pronunciation; subscribe to EngVid’s YouTube channel for fun and interesting lesson plan ideas. Free sources are virtually endless and utilizing these usually results in a renewed interest in teaching.
Earn A Certification – A wide variety of reasonably priced, advanced-level TESOL courses are readily available online (International House, for example). Choose a discipline you’re most interested in or one that addresses a weakness you want to improve. Ensure the certification is recognised internationally as this might be especially good for those looking to work elsewhere in the near future.
Build Bridges – If you work at a school with great Thai-Western relations, consider yourself lucky. Cross-cultural relations in most staffrooms isn’t great but how much of that can be eased by small gestures and proactive positivism? Smile more, bring in some fruit or snacks to share, exceed dress codes, volunteer for a task that only Thai teachers usually do. Such efforts don’t go unnoticed. Kill colleagues with kindness for a while. If nothing changes, at least you tried.
Learn more Thai – The easiest way to build bridges is to learn more Thai. If you’re not an independent learner, find a few co-workers and sign up for 10 hours of class (I recommend Brainy House) or find a Thai friend and do some language exchange.
Thai isn’t nearly as difficult as many think it is. Just learning the basics of reading can significantly improve your tones and build vocabulary. Before you know it, you’re sat at a red light trying to read a sign or you’re able to read items on a menu.
Embrace One Thai Activity – In my experience, the foreigners who do more of this enjoy life in Thailand more and therefore appreciate the opportunities that teaching in Thailand presents. Try venturing out by signing up for a course in Thai cooking, batik art, meditation or something else that interests you. If you’re more of an introvert, try getting into Thai music or pick up a book on Thai history. Share these experiences with Thai co-workers, students, parents and friends, and rewards will present themselves.
Here’s to a happy, productive and meaningful 2016. Make the best of it.
If you’d like to offer additional ideas or comments, please visit www.teflcampus.com/blog/TEFL-resolutions-for-2016.