A foreign teacher in Thailand….
A while ago a blog commenter wrote: 'As a foreign teacher in Thailand, someone can afford little or nothing in Thailand.' As a lecturer at a university in Bangkok, I feel addressed because the comment is flatly incorrect.
The suggestion is made that you cannot afford anything BECAUSE you are a foreigner and work here, in this case as a teacher. I suspect that the writer implicitly means that this applies to any foreigner who works in Thailand in any organization. And that, too, is patently incorrect.
Let me limit myself to the academic environment in Thailand because I know the most about it; both own experiences and experiences of other foreign (not necessarily Dutch or Belgian) colleagues. The flaw in the reasoning is that your hierarchical position in a Thai organization (a teacher with a associate dean for academic subjects and above one dean) largely determines what you can or cannot do, say or write.
In Thailand you have public and private universities. In addition, within the universities you may or may not have a so-called International College. This is the faculty where all education is given in English, where not only Thai students study but also foreign students. The universities where ALL educational activities are given in English can be counted on the fingers of one hand and do not (require) an international college.
It is important to look at the corporate culture of these 'international colleges'. Most are led by a management team consisting exclusively of Thais (public universities have no other option because foreigners are not allowed to hold management positions, regulated by law). These Thais speak English of course and some of them have gained teaching experience abroad. (e.g. a PhD in America).
Depending on the views of the incumbent management team and the position of the International College throughout the university (is it a large faculty or not; with international standing yes or no), the corporate culture is predominantly Thai or more international. The latter certainly applies when the dean is a foreigner, which is the case in some private universities.
I dare say that the more international the internal corporate culture is, the more foreign teachers can afford to do, of course within the Thai regulations in the field of education.
By a more international corporate culture I mean elements such as open communication with staff and students, an approach to students as young adults (and not already children); regular consultation structures and reporting thereof; equal treatment of persons (staff, students).
In a relatively small 'international college' in a public university where I work, the corporate culture is still strongly Thai. This should mean that foreign teachers can afford little or nothing. Sometimes it seems that way, but looks can be deceiving.
In a corporate culture that is more Thai-coloured, it is not so much important what you do (every foreign and Thai teacher basically does the same job) but who you associate with, who you are married to, who your friends are, or in short: in which (Thai) network do you function? The more important this network is, the more you can afford at work. Because all this may sound a bit academic, I'll try to clarify it with an example.
I have three foreign colleagues: ajarn (the term of address for lecturers at a university) Jean-Michel and ajarn Ferdinand are French and ajarn Andrew is English. Jean-Michel has been married for 30 years to a Thai woman who is a dean at a university outside of Bangkok. Ferdinand has been married for 15 years to a Thai woman who until recently was head of the Department of European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has now been appointed ambassador for Thailand in a Western European country, so they are moving. Andrew is married to a Thai woman from Isan who runs two small shops here in Bangkok.
What happens if each of the three foreign colleagues does something that you should not do in a Thai culture, for example more openly criticize a management decision. In case Jean-Michel has a problem with that, his wife (who formally has nothing to do with the case; in an international corporate culture one would say: what are you interfering with?) with the dean of my faculty and the matter is discussed and arranged.
In the case of Ferdinand, the same thing happens, with the difference that Ferdinand's wife insists that things be settled properly; his wife thinks so, of course tarmac Ferdinand is right. If that doesn't happen, his wife threatens to call the president of the university (and SO my dean has a BIG problem). Ajarn Andrew is told by the dean that he must keep the critical comments to himself from now on. Perhaps his employment contract will not be renewed next year without further explanation.
Can a foreign teacher afford little or nothing because he/she is a foreigner? No. In a more international corporate culture in a Thai university organization, the foreign teacher can afford more and more, of course with due observance of Thai legislation. In a more Thai corporate culture, this depends much more on the foreign teacher's network than on his/her position as a foreigner in itself.
It won't surprise you in practice the dean of my faculty does not take action in the case of jean-michel and ferdinand (because she could receive annoying, confrontational phone calls) against ajarn andrew. Life, including in college, must'sanook' to stay…..
Chris de Boer
Chris de Boer has been working as a lecturer in marketing and management at Silpakorn University since 2008.
Chris, it would be different in the Netherlands. After years of working in business education, I also came to the conclusion that a network of some level gave you more room in your functioning.
I think both in Thailand and in Western countries the difference is not that great, perhaps the way and what.
Thailand is built on hierarchy to a greater extent than ours, but the principles are the same.
Unfortunately, it is not always about what you perform or can achieve, but the frameworks determine the boundaries and that sometimes does violence to being well and functioning optimally. That is why it is sometimes compromise and deal within the given possibilities. A bit of luck, where you end up is also an important factor. Sanook is therefore a strong personal experience of well-being, which manifests itself in a situation in which appreciation and personal development can flourish.
Clear explanation of how things work at the university level in Bangkok. The way things are going in the "provinces" will not or hardly be comparable with regard to the lower education levels. The “power” there is limited to the local hierarchy.
In that sense, I understand the blog commenter and your account also shows that (as an example) Andrew had a very big problem.
Such an observation here only arouses revulsion, which also applies to comparative situations as far as I am concerned
would be the case.
This story once again confirms that your social position depends on the social status of your partner. This manifests itself in shops, hotels and on the street.
I work in education myself and can confirm that your partner's status is significant: at my school in the Deep South, Isaan women are criticized. I shouldn't show up at school with a partner who comes from there. But remember that we are considered a guest at all times. You therefore have to adapt to the local culture to a certain extent.
As a lecturer, you also have a public, representative function. In a small, very conservative-Islamic town like Narathiwat, you certainly can't bear it - even in your private time - to walk down the street drunk with an Isan barmaid in hand. It won't be long before a student or colleague sees you and then you can say goodbye to your contract. If you lose respect from the people at your school, your role as a teacher is over.