Working with Farang Teachers

How does it feel working with western foreign teachers…

…especially when both of you are the only Filipino teachers among a crowd of Caucasian educators?

Miss Maricar and Miss Marianne got something to share. They are both working in a predominant western teaching staff in one of the Christian schools in Bangkok. They mutually agreed that it’s flattering to be employed by a big and exclusive school with the rest of the ‘farangs.’ However, do they experience any indifference in the workplace? Both said no.

“We earned the respect from them by simply “minding our own business.” It’s a working principle and you have to live by it. If you want to get respected then you need to respect them and their opinions. Sharing of ideas, materials and other teaching resources is something you do with teachers you are more comfortable with.”

Asked the difference in working in a Filipino dominated schools, Maricar explained the difficulty in coping with the negative values of some Filipino teachers.

“The ‘crab mentality’ of some of the Filipinos displayed through their constant gossiping that could easily destroy one’s reputation is something that is truly avoided in my current workplace. The western teachers are very supportive of what we do and how we do things. There are some disagreements but we deal with the issues professionally. Thai teachers value unity by working and helping each other; meanwhile, Filipinos are known to be intelligent but lack the ability to work harmoniously without sowing any personal grudges.”

“There are many Filipino teachers working in Thailand. Marianne and I are both fortunate to be here. I’m sure there are many Filipino teachers who also work in an environment where there’s a minimal number of Filipino teachers. If only Filipino teachers focus more on the development of their teaching skills, particularly, in their communication skills by using the English language with discernible accent (pronunciation) and by improving their personal and interpersonal attributes rather than competing and then gossiping with each other, then the perception of Thai and western teachers to Filipino teachers will be more inspiring,” she added.

Maricar and Marianne have their own game to play. Certainly, they could not escape their being a Filipino but they did start a very good impression of an ideal Filipino teacher at their respective job place: more professionalism and zero ‘crab mentality.’

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The Unsung Heroes of the Training on Thai Culture

Now that an affordable training fee on Thai Culture has been laid out to foreign teachers (from 10,000 Baht to an average fee of 3,000.00 Baht) many seem to take advantage of this ‘cheap’ fee while the number of foreign teachers eligible to take this training is at its highest. The reason for this ‘on sale price’ depends on the number of participants. In other words, the more the cheaper. Thanks to the rest of the eight council members of the Filipino Educators ( known as the Filipino Educators Council) who made the right choice by bringing this issue or concern up to the Private School Teachers’ Association of Thailand’s president, Dr. Usira Anomasiri. Recognition is due to Miss Hedda Tan, Miss Lorna Coral, Miss Cecille Orquiola, Mr. Rolly Obedencio, Mr. Jose Tan, Mr. Josephil Saraspe, and Mr. Reuben Budayao. Articles written for Miss Lorna Coral and Miss Heda Tan have already been featured in this blog. The rest of the brain-packed council members shall have their own place in this blog soon.

Nevertheless, it is not the conducting of this training that is challenging; it is the organizing part which is found to be very difficult. Filipino organizers of this training are commonly the leaders in the Filipino teaching community. Originally started by the eight members of the Filipino Educators Council, other leaders are encouraged to do the same thing for one good intention: respond to the needs of their members. But responding to their needs entails a lot of time and effort. First, contact the agency who conducts the said training: fix the schedules and sign agreements in terms of the target quota, venue, food and accommodation. Second, do massive information dissemination: sending announcements through online forums, emails, mobile phones and others. After sending announcements, people start inquiring about the training. Expect non-stop calls and emails. Fourth, make a list of confirmed and unconfirmed participants with the aid of proper pre-registration techniques. Before the training, checking names and verifying payments during the registration period proves to be even more stressful especially a huge number of participants is involved. Finally, ensure that every participant received his/her certificate. Indeed, it is a long and quite rough procedure.

Three Filipino organizers who closely worked with the Private School Teachers’ Association of Thailand deserve a credit of recognition: Ms. Teresita Zarate, Ms. Beverly “Raquel” Balacdao and Mr. Ranulfo “Raul” Millanes.

Ms. Teresita Zarate currently works as an administrator and coordinator in a private school in Ekkamai. She commands a big number of both Filipino and foreign teachers in Bangkok. Her management style is flawless which gives her the edge in organizing the said training. On the other hand, Ms. Raquel’s role is more of like a “filler.” She helps in gathering a considerable number of participants to complete the target quota of any training. She also commands a big number of both Filipino and foreign teachers in Bangkok. She was the former president of the Association of Cordillerans in Thailand (ACT). Mr. Ranulfo Millanes has a very inspiring experience to share. Despite of the ridicules and criticisms he got from his co-officers from one of the associations of Filipino teachers in Thailand, he heed the call for a better and more convenient training for his colleagues and friends. It turn out that the association he belongs to was organizing the same training but the scheduled training dates were not convenient to his colleagues and friends. As an option, he organized his own small group of participants. Unfortunately, as a result of his good motive, he was branded by some of his co-officers as uncooperative and worsts a non-Filipino. It is disheartening to know that some officers of an association of Filipino teachers who supposedly foster unity, humility and show high sense of professionalism instigate the opposite. What is even more hilarious is that some of them are non educators. Just like a real and ethical professional teacher, he gave his own position on the matter and continued to do good deeds. To date, he continues to respond to the needs of his ‘members’ by helping other organizers gather more participants in order to avail the most affordable training fee.

The unsung heroes of this important training among foreign teachers in Thailand are most certainly the most important people in this endeavor. Without their leadership, it would be difficult to vastly implement this particular government educational program.