Teacher Tim's TEFL International Blog

“Teacher Tim” is Tim Torkildson, who was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Before becoming an ESL professional, Tim led a most interesting life, first as a circus clown, and then as a radio newscaster.

While visiting friends in Bangkok several years ago it was casually suggested that he take the TESOL certification course at TEFL International, on the Gulf Coast in Ban Phe, near Rayong. His friends thought he might like teaching in Thailand. More on a whim than for any other reason, Tim took the course and became totally enamoured with introducing Thais to the mysteries and joys of the English language.

After several years of successful ESL teaching in Bangkok, Tim returned to the States for some further education and then moved back to Thailand for good in 2009. He now works for TEFL International as their Communications Specialist, and has also been involved in online ESL teaching.

Tim says “I really enjoy working with people, especially recent college graduates, who want to take control of their life and not wait around for that big job break back home; these are the people who make outstanding students and then outstanding teachers here in Thailand and elsewhere.”

Founder and CEO of TEFL International, Bruce Veldhuisen, says “Tim is an outstanding communicator, with a daffy and endearing sense of humour that works well with Thais and farangs alike. I plan on giving him a big raise in the very near future!”

  1. Let’s Play Dress Up In Thailand
    June 9, 2012
  2. What’s Up, Doc?
    May 26, 2012
  3. The Visa Run
    April 29, 2012
  4. Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Thai Beer But Were Too Drunk To Ask
    April 22, 2012
  5. Can Thais Be Taught?
    April 15, 2012
  6. Your ESL Horoscope
    April 8, 2012
  7. Odds and Ends
    March 24, 2012
  8. The Great Capsicum Caper
    March 17, 2012
  9. Going Shopping with your Thai Girlfriend
    March 10, 2012
  10. Fishing For Squid In The Gulf of Thailand
    March 3, 2012
  11. Taxis in Thailand
    February 25, 2012
  12. The Dangers Of Blogging
    February 18, 2012
  13. The Bugs
    February 11, 2012
  14. Beef In Thailand
    February 4, 2012
  15. The Man In The Moon is A Rabbit
    January 28, 2012
  16. You Didn’t Say
    January 21, 2012
  17. Flower Power
    January 14, 2012
  18. I Get Five Dollars For Writing This
    January 7, 2012
  19. Taking A Nap In Thailand
    December 31, 2011
  20. A Guest Column From ESL Student Somsak Praphan
    December 24, 2011
  21. Thailand Snapshots
    December 17, 2011
  22. Textbook Trials
    December 10, 2011
  23. Thanksgiving Memories
    December 3, 2011
  24. Will Hay Redux
    November 26, 2011
  25. A Guest Column From Teacher Tim’s Wallet
    November 19, 2011
  26. Teaching ESL Online
    November 12, 2011
  27. Backseat Driver
    November 5, 2011
  28. T’aint Funny, McGee!
    October 29, 2011
  29. A Visit To The DoctorRomance In Thailand; How To Break It Off (The Romance, That Is!)
    October 22, 2011
  30. A Visit To The Doctor
    October 15, 2011
  31. Mr. Blandings in Thailand
    October 8, 2011
  32. Teaching English B.C. & A.C.
    October 1, 2011
  33. The Second Language I Teach, Or “The Ugly Farang”
    September 24, 2011
  34. Scrub A Dub Dub
    September 17, 2011
  35. Golf In Thailand
    September 10, 2011
  36. Even The Best Thais Won’t Tell You
    September 3, 2011
  37. Disconnect Your Panic Button
    August 27, 2011
  38. Beware Of The Pie Crust Promise
    August 20, 2011
  39. Tap Water Truths
    August 13, 2011
  40. I Never Met A Deadline I Didn’t Ignore
    August 6, 2011
  41. What Was Heard Between London And Washington?
    July 30, 2011
  42. How Red is Your Tape?
    July 23, 2011
  43. It’s 4 AM – Do You Know Where your Lesson Plans Are?
    July 16, 2011
  44. Who Goes There?
    July 9, 2011
  45. That’s My Boy
    July 2, 2011
  46. Haunted Hunting
    June 25, 2011
  47. How to Watch TV with a Thai
    June 18, 2011
  48. The Good, the Bad, and the Whacked Out
    June 11, 2011
  49. Dog Daze
    June 4, 2011
  50. An Apple a Day
    May 28, 2011
  51. Landlords
    May 21, 2011
  52. The WC And Me
    May 14, 2011
  53. Are You Wokin’ Hard or Hardly Workin’?
    May 7, 2011
  54. The Necktie Party
    April 30, 2011
  55. The World’s Oldest ESL Teacher in Thailand
    April 23, 2011
  56. Speaking of Talking
    April 16, 2011
  57. The Isaan Diet
    April 9, 2011
  58. A Resume By Any Other Name
    April 2, 2011
  59. James Joyce Pitch Hits for Teacher Tim
    March 26, 2011
  60. The Long Commute
    March 19, 2011
  61. A Soliloquy
    March 12, 2011
  62. Gesundheit!
    March 5, 2011
  63. If You Are Absent Today Please Raise Your Hand
    February 26, 2011
  64. Salvador Dali Was A Thai
    February 19, 2011
  65. A Public Service Announcement From Teacher Time
    February 12, 2011
  66. Teacher Time Talks Turkey
    February 5, 2011
  67. The Sky Is Falling
    January 29, 2011
  68. Lucy & Ricky Ride Again
    January 22, 2011
  69. My Guilty Secret
    January 15, 2011
  70. You Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover – Unless You’re Illiterate
    January 8, 2011
  71. The Immersion Version
    December 18, 2010
  72. Tis The Season
    December 11, 2010
  73. The Burping Contest
    December 4, 2010
  74. Teacher Tim and the Sticky Wicket
    November 27, 2010
  75. It’s Better Than A Poke in the Eye With A Sharp Stick
    November 20, 2010
  76. Food For Thought
    November 13, 2010
  77. Teacher Tim Remembers
    October 9, 2010
  78. Water, Water, Everywhere . . .
    October 9, 2010
  79. Lunch Time
    October 2, 2010
  80. Teacher Tim Gets The Business
    September 25, 2010
  81. Using Modern Media in Your Thai Classroom
    September 4, 2010
  82. An Open Letter To My 24-Year-Old Unemployed Son Back In The United States
    August 28, 2010
  83. The Sales Bug
    August 21, 2010
  84. The Many Marvelous Uses Of Marmite For ESL Teaching In Thailand
    August 7, 2010
  85. How To Get Along With Your Boss At School
    July 31, 2010
  86. Teaching ESL In Thailand Using Alice In Wonderland
    July 24, 2010
  87. Sweat
    July 17, 2010
  88. Surprise, Surprise, It Is A Conspiracy!
    July 10, 2010