Teach English in Thailand

Thailand is the hub of southeast Asia and in the last 20 years, it has developed into the popular destination we all know and love today!

It’s a vast country, with most of the population in and around the Bangkok area and neighboring provinces. There are only 2 cities in Thailand! Bangkok and Chiang Mai. One south, one north. They each have a population of approx 8 million, the size of London, UK. Outside the city, you’ll find small towns and villages. All with the essentials; a school, shop, bank, doctor and so on.

To the south of the country are the amazing islands! Over 1,000 in total, it’s best to choose wisely. Koh means island in Thai. The most famous and packed with things to do include Samui, Pha Ngan, Phi Phi, Tao, Samet, Khood, Lipe, Lanta.

You’ll find beaches that are out of this world and will be able to explore the lush forests and stunning waterfalls.

Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist country, Monks hold extremely high rank, only the Monarchy being higher. The temples are out of this world and you’re likely to see a statue of Buddha around every corner.

You’ll be amazed by the plentiful, fresh and cheap street food! A meal costs around $1 USD from a street vendor and there’s something to suit everyone’s taste! Thai people don’t generally cook, or have kitchens in their homes and with fresh, cheap food so readily available, it’s not hard to understand why!

Be sure to brush up on Thai etiquette before you arrive!

Thai people are extremely laid back – horizontal in fact! This may be a world away from what you’re used to, but we can assure you that you’ll enjoy it after a while.

You won’t find a friendlier nation. It’s called the land of smiles for a reason!

Thailand is a very inexpensive place to live. Western food and drinks can soon mount up however so you’ll definitely want to take advantage of the delicious, plentiful local street foods.

As a rough estimate, you’ll spend approx 15,000 Thai Baht (approx $450 USD) per month on all your living costs, including that’s including rent, food, bills, transport – all the essentials! Leaving you with half your salary each month as disposable income and to travel!

Asia is a great place to save cash or spend freely with no worries. Mai pen rai! – You’ll hear that a lot as it translates loosely to ‘no worries’!

It’s recommended to have savings of approx $1000 – $1500 USD before you begin your program, to live comfortably until you’re paid by your employer, which is usually at the end of your first month teaching.

OPTIONS DURING THE COURSE

We have a number of affordable options close by. Prices start at 6,500 THB ($215 USD) to 18,000 THB ($600 USD) per month. There are serviced apartments, hotels, hostels and more all located within a short walk of the TEFL training centre. It’s also located around 300m from the nearest MRT station, meaning you can venture further into Bangkok and easily commute if you choose.

OPTIONS AFTER THE COURSE

Usually, your school will have teachers’ accommodation. Where they don’t have housing, you’ll have full assistance in finding somewhere local that’s clean, safe and close to your school. Typical rent in Thailand averages at 6,000 Thai Baht per month (approx $200 USD), for a one-person apartment.

• Course format

The TEFL course is 120 hours in over a 4 week training period. You will be in class Monday to Friday, from around 9:00 am to 16:00 pm. Teaching practices are organised after your usual day’s training, on selected days.

• Teaching practices

You’ll complete 6 teaching practicals, with real Thai students. The ages will range and class sizes also. You’ll also learn from observations of your peers.  When sessions are done, verbal and written feedback is provided by the course trainer.

• Type of assessment

You will be constantly observed and assessed throughout the course. There are projects, reports and journals to be submitted, all forming your overall assessment.

• Course location and centre

The TEFL training center is located in north Bangkok between the home campus of Kasetsart University—Thailand’s third oldest and now largest university with some 67,000 students—and the world’s only “Elephant Building”, a thirty-two story tower that floats over the area.

• Requirements

To do the TEFL course need to be at least 18 years old (although each case is considered on a case by case basis. You can also be a non-native speaker of English as long as you have a level C1 or above, which will be tested during the interview. In order to work in a school or language centre in Thailand, you need to hold a Bachelors degree, in any discipline.

• Job market and employment possibility

There are hundreds of TEFL jobs throughout the country. You’ll have full assistance in securing your TEFL role after training. The team will ensure your needs are met. Most jobs are in schools, ranging from kindergarten to high school. Occasionally there are summer camps and language centre positions, as well as online teaching opportunities.

• Visa Requirements

Visa information changes all the time. Most candidates enter on a pre-purchased tourist visa. Following the course and once you’ve secured your new job, you’ll be guided through the process of applying for a work permit. This is correct at the time of publication, for accurate up to date information, please email/contact us.

Most teaching jobs in Thailand are in public schools, with ages ranging from kindergarten, through to high school.

You can expect to work on the mainland, Monday to Friday, from around 8am to 4pm. You’ll be teaching around 20 hours per week, and lesson planning and marking in your free periods.

Peak hiring season is May and November, as there are only 2 long terms in Thailand each year. There are jobs all year round in English camps, summer camps, language centres, and online teaching.  A usual contract length begins around 5 months.

You can expect to earn 30,000 Thai Baht (approx $1000 USD), per month as a minimum. Some schools do pay more, dependent on experience.