If you research the internet for the best places to teach English, Thailand will be among the top five. Apart from the beautiful scenery, amazing food, and access to free accommodation, there are other significant reasons why Thailand is considered one of the best places to teach English abroad.
With amazing teaching opportunities available, every aspiring English teacher wants to migrate to Thailand in hope of an adventure and earning a little bit of money but how do you get started?
In this piece, you will find out how it really is to teach English in this exotic paradise, and how you can access the best teaching opportunities.
What makes teaching English in Thailand so special is that you get to fully immerse yourself in the local Thai culture, living in Thai communities, sometimes in quite rural towns and villages, and interacting with your Thai co-teachers and your students on a daily basis.
If you’re interested in teaching abroad in Thailand, this article will give you a step-step guide on how to get started on a good note.
Why Should I Teach English In Thailand?
Thailand is a favorable destination to teach English abroad. The country provides a balance for internationals through its reasonable cost of living, incredible salary, reasonable visa requirements, and a whole lot more for ESL teachers.
The Land of Morning Calm is obviously the home to one of the best food on earth. To further buttress the vibe and feelings, take a look at the top 5 reasons why you should teach English in Thailand.
Low cost of living
The majority of things in Thailand are remarkably cheap: restaurants, bars, alcohol, transportation, buses, subways, clothes, and a whole lot more. So, as a newbie, you won’t have to spend much money on essentials. This will help you build a colorful financial stronghold.
With a wide variety of modern concept malls, giant shopping centers, traditional department stores, and busy market places, there is a shopping hot spot for just about every taste and budget, with opportunities to shop literally all day and night.
Access to free accommodation
As part of the contract, ESL teachers in Thailand are provided with free accommodation. This will help offset the cost of housing.
The properties where ESL teachers are placed differ based on the location and the nature of the job. Housing ranges from sizable two-bedroom separate kitchen apartments to smaller one-bedroom places with mini kitchen areas.
With an all paid accommodation, teaching English in Thailand is a professional thought inviting.
Amazing food
Thailand is world-famous for its mouthwatering cuisine and for good reason.
Northern Thai cuisine is strongly influenced by Lanna culture as well as Yunnanese, Shan, and Burmese cuisines. The flavors are mild or hot, salty, and sour but tend not to be sweet. Popular dishes include nam phrik oong (served with sticky rice and steamed vegetables), Northern-style curries like khao soi, and various soups.
Southern Thai cuisine packs a punch with its strong flavors. Influences to this region are from Malaysia, Indonesia, and India.
Northeast Thai cuisine is characterised by its hot (very hot!), salty and spicy combustion of flavours.
Central Thai cuisine is predominately hot, salty, sweet, and sour in taste. Steamed jasmine rice features more than sticky rice along with nam prik (chilli dipping sauces).
Beautiful Scenery
Thailand is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, it is home to some truly spectacular places. The country’s big cities have everything else that you might want including top-rated tourist attractions like:
How To Become An English Teacher In Thailand
To become an English Teacher in Thailand, you need to be a native English speaker from an approved country (for the E-2 visa), have a degree from a four-year university, plus a TEFL or TESOL certificate. Many schools prefer previous experience, but it’s not essential. A master’s degree, preferably in education, is compulsory to teach at the university level.
However, you can still teach in Thailand as a volunteer without a TEFL certification by simply registering for reputable programs like IVHQ and Volunteering Solutions are two options to consider.
What Are The Qualifications To Teach English In Thailand?
To qualify for an E-2 visa, there are four minimum requirements that you should meet:
These statutory requirements were set down by the Thailand immigration authorities to help obtain a visa.
Your employer may have additional requirements. For instance, If you need to teach at a public school through EPIK, there are a couple of other basic criteria you should meet.
What Supporting Documents Do I Need To Teach English In Thailand
Before you are allowed to teach English in Thailand, you need to tender the following documents.
When Is The Best Time To Apply For A Teaching Job In Thailand?
The best time to apply for a teaching job in Thailand solely depends on the type of job you’re applying for. If you’re applying to teach public school, it’s best you apply up to six months out. This is so because it takes public schools a long time to accept applications. However, public schools usually offer the best benefits and tend to really hold your hand through the process.
If you’re looking to start as soon as you can, consider applying to teach at a private school. These academies often hire year-round. But, for the best selection, note that most jobs are usually posted in February or March, around the start of the new semester. In spite of the fact that the hiring process for private schools is typically quicker than for public schools, still, give yourself a few months for both you and the school to prepare the necessary documents and accommodations.
English Teaching Jobs In Thailand
Public School Jobs
One of the most sought-after English teaching jobs in Thailand is a public school position. These jobs usually ensure a normal 9-to-5 (or similar) job schedule with actual teaching hours assured not to exceed 22 per week. In addition, pay scales are usually set per office of education area and vary with qualifications.
All public job benefits generally include a small settlement allowance, free furnished housing or a housing stipend, severance, an entrance and exit allowance, national insurance, national holidays off, and 18 workdays paid vacation. However, these jobs are also typically the hardest to land, especially if you’re skeptical about which city you want to end up in.
Most of the available public jobs are in elementary schools (third through sixth grade), although some middle and high schools hire, too. Additionally, public school jobs require a co-teacher to be present in the classroom with the native English teacher. Co-teacher duties and relationships vary per school, so you won’t know your exact duties until your first day of teaching.
Private Academy Jobs
Not all public school jobs are exactly the same, but most follow similar guidelines. Unlike public schools, teaching hours in private schools exceed 22 hours per week and less vacation time is offered. However, private academies offer two large benefits over public school jobs: quicker hiring turnaround and higher pay.
Additionally, most private academies don’t have co-teachers. Teachers who teach young children often work mornings, whereas teachers who teach middle and high schoolers often work nights. If you’re more of a “night person,” taking up a job in middle or high school will be perfect for you.
Because private schools are fully business-oriented, the teachers employed are maximized to the fullest and paid more. Teaching English in Thailand comes with certain obligations as you get to pay apt attention to not just the students and school authorities but also the parents of the students who usually have inputs to make.
READ ALSO: Best Countries to Study Abroad
University Jobs
Finding a teaching job in Thailand colleges isn’t easy. But, with a master’s degree and some teaching experience, you’re likely to get into the theatre of learning. College positions pay very well and require low teaching hours (as low as 10 per week), so it’s no wonder they’re highly coveted.
What To Be Aware of Before Taking Up An English Job in Thailand
Below are few things you should be aware of before signing your teaching contract:
If the above isn’t outlined in your contract, speak to your recruiter or school about what to expect, and don’t be afraid to ask for the contract to be redrafted.
So, while you might get enlivened about the new offer, ensure the offer isn’t a depleting one. That is why it is essential to research your opportunities carefully and ask a ton of questions but those that might seem irrelevant like, ‘I hope teaching in Thailand is not stressful.’ Let’s find out.
How Does It Fell To Teach In Thailand?
English teachers are worshipped in Thailand, especially by one’s students. The locals and your co-teachers have so much respect for you because of what you are doing for the local community; providing the local children with the incredible gift of being able to communicate and comprehend the English language.
The students are all so excited to learn how to speak English and absolutely adore the English teachers from the Western world. Not many schools throughout Thailand actually have English teachers so it comes with a ton of appreciation.
The bad side of teaching in Thailand is that Thais are much more relaxed and getting them to respect you and listen to you might take some time.
How Much Do English Teachers In Thailand Make?
Your salary as an English teacher in Thailand is dependent on your level and maybe location. According to gooverseas.com, most teachers earn a starting salary of 30,000 Thai Baht per month (about $1,000 USD), which is a comfortable salary, especially for Teachers outside of Bangkok.
As the cost of living tends to be relatively inexpensive, teachers find they live fairly comfortably, despite the lower pay-scale. Penny pinchers will do their best to finance travel excursions to one of Thailand’s many neighboring countries, or better yet, adventures to other exciting areas of Thailand.
Accommodation In Thailand?
The cost of living in Thailand is relatively cheap. According to smartasset.com, you can live in Thailand on a budget of at least $1,500 per month, with $2,000 being a more reasonable benchmark. This will allow you to live comfortably without breaking the bank. You could potentially live a lot cheaper, as low as $1,000 a month, but you would probably have a difficult time.
Best paid teaching Job Opportunities in Thailand
Here are a few providers of some of the best-paid teaching jobs in Thailand
Edvectus
Location: Bangkok
Average Salary: 98-113,000 baht per month
Edvectus is an international school recruiter who occasionally has openings in Thailand. To be considered, you must be certified back home and have a few years of experience.
Edvesctus often hire before the school year and will throw enough money at you to save for that fancy summer holiday backpacking trip you already started planning.
Media kids Academy
Location: Located at over 70 schools around Thailand
Average Salary: 31-35,000 baht per month
Media kids Academy is another popular recruiter that hires ESL teachers at various locations all over Thailand. Wherever you desire, Media kids can make your dream a reality. You’ll either get free housing or a generous allowance each month.
Media Kids Academy offers free service, so if you’re scrounging for cash during the application period, you don’t have to worry about hefty placement fees. Just save for that flight and you’re good to go!
BFITS Thailand
Location: Bangkok, Surat Thani, and Korat
Average Salary: 35,300 baht (ICEP) salary per month plus 500 baht per hour if overtime
Bright Future International Training & Services (BFITS) is an awesome company to work for. BFITS goes above and beyond to make sure its employees are doing well.
Being a staff at BFITS means, you’ll be committed to teaching students the necessary language skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing for effective communication.
In addition, you’ll teach essential learning skills of literacy, numeracy, and technological capability through the study of English, Science, Mathematics, and Information and Communication.
Intrepid Teachers
Location: Located across Thailand
Average Salary: 35,000+ baht per month
Intrepid Teachers offers free job placements for those who aspire to teach English in Thailand. Contract duration is six months but if you can extend if you want. Intrepid offers housing, a visa, a work permit, insurance, and many more.
A degree the only requirement you need to teach through Intrepid Travel. They seek out teachers who genuinely want to work with kids abroad and have a cultural experience. Although a TEFL isn’t required, it will make you eligible for a higher salary.
Travel Bud
Location: Located around Thailand
Average Salary: Up to 38,000 baht per month
Travel Bud is the ultimate package for those who want to make friends, learn about the culture, and get TESOL certified prior to teaching in Thailand. They offer full-on support from the time you step foot in the land of smiles by picking you up at the airport and taking you on a one-week cultural orientation. Also included is a 120 hour TESOL course at the beach town of Hua Hin.
Upon completion of your course, you’ll have guaranteed job placement, new best friends, and will be ready to go feeling confident about teaching English in Thailand.
Conclusion
Thailand has an attractive English teaching market and a great teaching salary. Take advantage of this opportunity and explore the beauty of the Land.
FAQs On Teaching English In Thailand
The best time to apply for a teaching job in Thailand solely depends on the type of job you’re applying for. If you’re applying to teach public school, it’s best you apply up to six months out.
To become an English Teacher in Thailand you need to be a native English speaker from an approved country (For the F-2 visa), have a bachelor’s degree, and pass a criminal background check.
Thailand is a favourable destination to teach English abroad. The country provides a balance for internationals through its reasonable cost of living, incredible salary, reasonable is requirements, and a whole lot more for ESL teachers. .
Yes, you do. One of the determining requirements to teach English in Thailand is holding a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
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