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!”

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


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