Comments on: Kajonkietsuksa School Thailand http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/kajonkietsuksa-school-thailand-2006125.html Independent Information on TEFL Life, Opportunities and Schools Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:04:03 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Pita http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/kajonkietsuksa-school-thailand-2006125.html/comment-page-1#comment-104468 Pita Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:51:36 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/125/kajonkeitsuksa-school-thailand/#comment-104468 I have wanted to work for the school for some time. I have heard good and bad but then I have been teaching for 31 years. I have a degree in elementary education, certified all subjects grades 1-8, licensed in Texas, S. Korea, and Thailand. My room is my responsibility and I take it seriously. The only reason I did not consider a job offer there was the pay. You just can not live on the pay offered. If it wasn't for the pay, I would be camped out on the door step for consideration. I like the vision of the school and the fact that they are serious about the children. I have wanted to work for the school for some time. I have heard good and bad but then I have been teaching for 31 years. I have a degree in elementary education, certified all subjects grades 1-8, licensed in Texas, S. Korea, and Thailand. My room is my responsibility and I take it seriously. The only reason I did not consider a job offer there was the pay. You just can not live on the pay offered. If it wasn’t for the pay, I would be camped out on the door step for consideration. I like the vision of the school and the fact that they are serious about the children.

]]> By: tobefair http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/kajonkietsuksa-school-thailand-2006125.html/comment-page-1#comment-91112 tobefair Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:23:51 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/125/kajonkeitsuksa-school-thailand/#comment-91112 As a qualified teacher who's not afraid of hard work, I enjoyed my stay in Kajonkiet. It might seem a bit overwhelming to those who are not used to teaching or those who come to Thailand for its white sand and blue waters. I didn't agree with everything, but handled it all. Things are done differently in different parts of the world. If one tries hard, it is possible to change things for better. Complaining and whining behind others' backs won't get you anywhere. Well, atleast not to the right direction in my opinion. As for the comments about back stabbing and "old workers" not welcoming the new ones: Think about it. Some have stayed with the school for years. They see people coming in, drinking, partying, not doing the job properly. If you do your job well, trust me, you are welcome here. Don't expect people to come to you. Go to them. Let them know you are here to work and to co-work. Hey, you might even have some fun with your co-workers if you bother to try. I know I enjoyed the short talks in the teachers' room. It was a great place to let some steam out, to ask advice for solving daily problems from those who have lived in Phuket for longer and to have a laugh over coffee to make work more fun. It comes from my heart when I say I felt welcomed by my fellow workers and enjoyed working with them. When it comes to management, they are Thai, they have their Thai ways, but I felt appreciated and was always treated as a teaching professional. No job is perfect. -And having a job means working. I left Kajonkiet with nice memories and knowing I'd be welcomed back anytime. If you choose to work here, try to do your best, accept that there are things you can not change, but try to work to make things better. Remember that it's about the students. Most of all, there are great teachers working in Kajonkiet. Don't be intimidated to make new friends and enjoy your experience teaching in Phuket! As a qualified teacher who’s not afraid of hard work, I enjoyed my stay in Kajonkiet. It might seem a bit overwhelming to those who are not used to teaching or those who come to Thailand for its white sand and blue waters.

I didn’t agree with everything, but handled it all. Things are done differently in different parts of the world. If one tries hard, it is possible to change things for better. Complaining and whining behind others’ backs won’t get you anywhere. Well, atleast not to the right direction in my opinion.

As for the comments about back stabbing and “old workers” not welcoming the new ones: Think about it. Some have stayed with the school for years. They see people coming in, drinking, partying, not doing the job properly. If you do your job well, trust me, you are welcome here. Don’t expect people to come to you. Go to them. Let them know you are here to work and to co-work. Hey, you might even have some fun with your co-workers if you bother to try. I know I enjoyed the short talks in the teachers’ room. It was a great place to let some steam out, to ask advice for solving daily problems from those who have lived in Phuket for longer and to have a laugh over coffee to make work more fun.

It comes from my heart when I say I felt welcomed by my fellow workers and enjoyed working with them. When it comes to management, they are Thai, they have their Thai ways, but I felt appreciated and was always treated as a teaching professional.

No job is perfect. -And having a job means working.

I left Kajonkiet with nice memories and knowing I’d be welcomed back anytime.

If you choose to work here, try to do your best, accept that there are things you can not change, but try to work to make things better. Remember that it’s about the students. Most of all, there are great teachers working in Kajonkiet. Don’t be intimidated to make new friends and enjoy your experience teaching in Phuket!

]]> By: Joe http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/kajonkietsuksa-school-thailand-2006125.html/comment-page-1#comment-88238 Joe Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:34:02 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/125/kajonkeitsuksa-school-thailand/#comment-88238 No problem Smitty. I wasn’t going to post again, but unfortunately, the grapevine says nothing positive other than the possible resignation of a few aforementioned “experienced” teachers planning to “coordinate” a low quality of education on some school soon to regret their poor interview and screening standards. This previously guaranteed attrition may not even happen due to other “reasons”. Not surprising. There’s no way they could ever duplicate the fortunate set of circumstances that led to their current positions. Why would they ever leave? I want to answer “Mike” but, Kaj, is only one of three schools I’ve taught since coming to Thailand over six years ago. I’ve heard stories and read things about other school along the same lines as him so one obviously must be careful in LOS. I can say, the people responsible for Kaj.’s poor reputation would never last the first month of probation in either the first or my current school. So, that’s some positive news (kpg comment) for Mike. I don’t know Smitty and the other posters, but I think our experiences here are similar by having very positive experiences for a number of years of teaching in Thailand and then came across the stark contrast of dodging daggers being thrown around at Kaj. I’ve can count on one hand the positive conversations I overheard in the teachers room (kpg must be thrive on the negative between reading this thread and working at Kaj.) Mike, sorry to be another downer during your decision to teach here, but there are some great schools here in Thailand. Further, Phuket is paradise and makes even teaching at Kaj, worthwhile after five o’clock and weekends. There are three other schools currently recruiting on Phuket who’ve never made even a mention on this site. Do some quick research. I quite personally know someone that I’m positive would say that the best four years of his/her life was spent teaching at one of those three schools. (kpg, another positive for you to place on the scale of “The balance of the nature of things”) Sorry kpg, I don’t know you but I can’t think of anything you’d think was positive other than I’ll spare readers some more specifics about curriculum and the Kaj, university bound student expected academic competency, and what’s got to be a nervous group of “experienced” “coordinators” who’re responsible; that I’m dying to elaborate. If I were them I’d be jumping ship right about now and making a bee line return to the TGIF’s cocktail and wait staff crew back home. Smitty, I would’ve surely written in about Dixie’s post. Dixie’s comment gives readers a peek at the ugly monster’s head that brought back the now comical, but then annoying memories of the situation that one finds oneself while teaching there. Kaj.’s recruiters had to breathe a sigh that Dixie did well to keep the beast caged while they’re struggling to fill openings. Although her cheap personal “pot” (pun intended) shot at you was interesting given the known working documentation issues with more than a few of Kaj.’s staff. My comments may seem cheap and personal as well, but my contentions about poor working conditions brought about by the aforementioned competing groups of twits is concurred here and with many others on Phuket. Unseemly staff retention statistics also verity this fact. My contentions about student competencies will be verified soon enough when the primary goes on into secondary or takes admission tests with expectation of using the score for entrance elsewhere. ”). Kaj’s students are a seriously mitigating factor for employment there. Truly great kids that have cool parents with interesting character. (Another positive for kpg’s “scale”). Good Luck Mike No problem Smitty. I wasn’t going to post again, but unfortunately, the grapevine says nothing positive other than the possible resignation of a few aforementioned “experienced” teachers planning to “coordinate” a low quality of education on some school soon to regret their poor interview and screening standards. This previously guaranteed attrition may not even happen due to other “reasons”. Not surprising. There’s no way they could ever duplicate the fortunate set of circumstances that led to their current positions. Why would they ever leave? I want to answer “Mike” but, Kaj, is only one of three schools I’ve taught since coming to Thailand over six years ago. I’ve heard stories and read things about other school along the same lines as him so one obviously must be careful in LOS. I can say, the people responsible for Kaj.’s poor reputation would never last the first month of probation in either the first or my current school. So, that’s some positive news (kpg comment) for Mike. I don’t know Smitty and the other posters, but I think our experiences here are similar by having very positive experiences for a number of years of teaching in Thailand and then came across the stark contrast of dodging daggers being thrown around at Kaj. I’ve can count on one hand the positive conversations I overheard in the teachers room (kpg must be thrive on the negative between reading this thread and working at Kaj.) Mike, sorry to be another downer during your decision to teach here, but there are some great schools here in Thailand. Further, Phuket is paradise and makes even teaching at Kaj, worthwhile after five o’clock and weekends. There are three other schools currently recruiting on Phuket who’ve never made even a mention on this site. Do some quick research. I quite personally know someone that I’m positive would say that the best four years of his/her life was spent teaching at one of those three schools. (kpg, another positive for you to place on the scale of “The balance of the nature of things”)
Sorry kpg, I don’t know you but I can’t think of anything you’d think was positive other than I’ll spare readers some more specifics about curriculum and the Kaj, university bound student expected academic competency, and what’s got to be a nervous group of “experienced” “coordinators” who’re responsible; that I’m dying to elaborate. If I were them I’d be jumping ship right about now and making a bee line return to the TGIF’s cocktail and wait staff crew back home.
Smitty, I would’ve surely written in about Dixie’s post. Dixie’s comment gives readers a peek at the ugly monster’s head that brought back the now comical, but then annoying memories of the situation that one finds oneself while teaching there. Kaj.’s recruiters had to breathe a sigh that Dixie did well to keep the beast caged while they’re struggling to fill openings. Although her cheap personal “pot” (pun intended) shot at you was interesting given the known working documentation issues with more than a few of Kaj.’s staff. My comments may seem cheap and personal as well, but my contentions about poor working conditions brought about by the aforementioned competing groups of twits is concurred here and with many others on Phuket. Unseemly staff retention statistics also verity this fact. My contentions about student competencies will be verified soon enough when the primary goes on into secondary or takes admission tests with expectation of using the score for entrance elsewhere. ”). Kaj’s students are a seriously mitigating factor for employment there. Truly great kids that have cool parents with interesting character. (Another positive for kpg’s “scale”).
Good Luck Mike

]]> By: Mike http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/kajonkietsuksa-school-thailand-2006125.html/comment-page-1#comment-88205 Mike Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:11:50 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/125/kajonkeitsuksa-school-thailand/#comment-88205 It's very scarey to read all this. I just decided to check this school out and put it's name in a search to find some pictures to see if I should apply for the jobs advertised. I have done the same with every job I have considered applying for and rarely see anything good written. I am wondering if Thailand is worth bothering with or should I get the hell out of here before the whole thing chews me up????? I have now attended 15 interviews and have never met so many obviously shady caracters in my life and after 15 years as a child protection social worker you have to realise thats realy saying something!! It’s very scarey to read all this. I just decided to check this school out and put it’s name in a search to find some pictures to see if I should apply for the jobs advertised. I have done the same with every job I have considered applying for and rarely see anything good written.
I am wondering if Thailand is worth bothering with or should I get the hell out of here before the whole thing chews me up????? I have now attended 15 interviews and have never met so many obviously shady caracters in my life and after 15 years as a child protection social worker you have to realise thats realy saying something!!

]]> By: Smitty http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/kajonkietsuksa-school-thailand-2006125.html/comment-page-1#comment-85604 Smitty Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:28:47 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/125/kajonkeitsuksa-school-thailand/#comment-85604 Well, let's see, during my 6 year teaching career in Thailand, all of my students parents have praised me, and all of the principals at the schools I've taught, have given me outstanding reference letters, including Kajonkiet. I continued my education and now have a Bachelor of Education, specializing in kindergarten. I have steadily climbed the ladder and now receive a salary easily twice what Kajonkiet will pay. But forget all that and hear this; I had an advantage over all the teachers there, in that during my 14 month stay, I was able to observe what was going on behind the teaching scene concerning how the Thai help was being treated, which I wish not to speak of here, in order to protect the innocent. You have to know what's going on starting at the top, to fully see the whole picture. You of the jelly fish gang who criticize me, have absolutely no idea what REALLY is going on there. Yes, I moved on finding much better schools paying higher salarys, with much less stabbing in the back. Well, let’s see, during my 6 year teaching career in Thailand, all of my students parents have praised me, and all of the principals at the schools I’ve taught, have given me outstanding reference letters, including Kajonkiet. I continued my education and now have a Bachelor of Education, specializing in kindergarten. I have steadily climbed the ladder and now receive a salary easily twice what Kajonkiet will pay. But forget all that and hear this; I had an advantage over all the teachers there, in that during my 14 month stay, I was able to observe what was going on behind the teaching scene concerning how the Thai help was being treated, which I wish not to speak of here, in order to protect the innocent. You have to know what’s going on starting at the top, to fully see the whole picture. You of the jelly fish gang who criticize me, have absolutely no idea what REALLY is going on there. Yes, I moved on finding much better schools paying higher salarys, with much less stabbing in the back.

]]> By: ihatekajon http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/kajonkietsuksa-school-thailand-2006125.html/comment-page-1#comment-83756 ihatekajon Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:36:10 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/125/kajonkeitsuksa-school-thailand/#comment-83756 I have been at the school and I recently decided to pack it in, like most others. Be very careful, the school is going from bad to worse. This school should be blacklisted for they way management treat teachers and students. Everything said: never take a job there if you care about your sanity. I have been at the school and I recently decided to pack it in, like most others. Be very careful, the school is going from bad to worse. This school should be blacklisted for they way management treat teachers and students. Everything said: never take a job there if you care about your sanity.

]]> By: Past life http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/kajonkietsuksa-school-thailand-2006125.html/comment-page-1#comment-14085 Past life Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:46:27 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/125/kajonkeitsuksa-school-thailand/#comment-14085 Heidi: I survived my time at Kajonkietsuksa without too much pain but like most of the decent teachers that started with me, I moved on. When I started there was one guy who should not have been teaching. He had no ability and I remember one occasion when all the children from his class were running around the landing and not in the room. He did not care because he was busy with something else. He is still there and is part of the family. Decide for yourself, if you cannot control children and are no good at teaching, this may be just the place for you, but if you are any good it will just be a stepping stone. Heidi: I survived my time at Kajonkietsuksa without too much pain but like most of the decent teachers that started with me, I moved on. When I started there was one guy who should not have been teaching. He had no ability and I remember one occasion when all the children from his class were running around the landing and not in the room. He did not care because he was busy with something else. He is still there and is part of the family.

Decide for yourself, if you cannot control children and are no good at teaching, this may be just the place for you, but if you are any good it will just be a stepping stone.

]]> By: Heidi http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/kajonkietsuksa-school-thailand-2006125.html/comment-page-1#comment-13299 Heidi Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:38:42 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/125/kajonkeitsuksa-school-thailand/#comment-13299 As a qualified, experienced teacher looking for a new teaching job in Thailand, the location in Phuket is attractive, and I got a postive response to my application to teach at Kajonkietsuksa School. I, for one, totally appreciate the warnings by those who have come before and have been honest enough to articulate their dissatisfaction with the management of this school. I am leaving a really chaotic so-called "International" school with a dictator of a Head Teacher. Thus, I consider myself warned, and have cautiously decided it is best to not step "out of the frying pan into a fire." This forum at teflwatch is a service, perhaps saving people misery in their lives, not to mention helping good people to avoid emotional and economic upheavals. Thanks for your comments and advice colleagues! As a qualified, experienced teacher looking for a new teaching job in Thailand, the location in Phuket is attractive, and I got a postive response to my application to teach at Kajonkietsuksa School. I, for one, totally appreciate the warnings by those who have come before and have been honest enough to articulate their dissatisfaction with the management of this school. I am leaving a really chaotic so-called “International” school with a dictator of a Head Teacher. Thus, I consider myself warned, and have cautiously decided it is best to not step “out of the frying pan into a fire.”

This forum at teflwatch is a service, perhaps saving people misery in their lives, not to mention helping good people to avoid emotional and economic upheavals. Thanks for your comments and advice colleagues!

]]> By: CmH http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/kajonkietsuksa-school-thailand-2006125.html/comment-page-1#comment-7864 CmH Thu, 17 May 2007 03:00:38 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/125/kajonkeitsuksa-school-thailand/#comment-7864 The school's numbers have grown (over the last academic year) from 600+ to 910 (in 2007). This is only the English Programme School. They must be doing something right. Go on, think about it! The school’s numbers have grown (over the last academic year) from 600+ to 910 (in 2007). This is only the English Programme School. They must be doing something right. Go on, think about it!

]]> By: GE http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/kajonkietsuksa-school-thailand-2006125.html/comment-page-1#comment-7857 GE Wed, 16 May 2007 15:28:31 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/125/kajonkeitsuksa-school-thailand/#comment-7857 Jimmy Dean, it would appear that your experience at the school was not a good one and that you have since left? I am sorry if this is the case. I sent my child there for two years, I was very happy on the whole. I originally wanted to send her to BCIS / Dulwich (we will one day move back to UK and must have IB), but the school she was at (bottom of the Island) was poor and she was seriously behind and "underdeveloped" if you will. I sent her to Kajonkiet. Under her teachers she improved greatly and after two years I was able to move her to BCIS where she entered 2 years higher than where she left Kajonkiet. I know that nothing is perfect, I saw the poor grammar in the letters. Probably some Thai person worried about saving face. All I can say is that in my experience the teachers who taught my child cared and demanded the best from her. Not only can she now spell properly, read properly and do Math at a functional level, she was accepted 2 grades up. Do you know how much money that is?? Jimmy Dean, it would appear that your experience at the school was not a good one and that you have since left?

I am sorry if this is the case. I sent my child there for two years, I was very happy on the whole. I originally wanted to send her to BCIS / Dulwich (we will one day move back to UK and must have IB), but the school she was at (bottom of the Island) was poor and she was seriously behind and “underdeveloped” if you will.

I sent her to Kajonkiet. Under her teachers she improved greatly and after two years I was able to move her to BCIS where she entered 2 years higher than where she left Kajonkiet.

I know that nothing is perfect, I saw the poor grammar in the letters. Probably some Thai person worried about saving face. All I can say is that in my experience the teachers who taught my child cared and demanded the best from her. Not only can she now spell properly, read properly and do Math at a functional level, she was accepted 2 grades up. Do you know how much money that is??

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