What Opportunities Are There For Teaching English in Thailand?
The demand for English teachers in Thailand is rising, making it more difficult to find the perfect job of teaching English in Thailand. Perhaps, the country is not as developed as teaching Jobs abroad experiences as its other Asian countries such as China or South Korea. But the trend to hire native English speakers for schools and institutions has seen an uptick in the last few years.
This is the right time to explore opportunities for teaching English in Thailand. The competition is not yet fierce, the country offers a great living experience and salaries are attractive. You might even manage to beef up your nest egg as teaching English in Thailand is lucrative enough to improve your saving potential making it one of the best countries to teach English.
Opportunities to teach English in Thailand are available in public schools, international schools, language institutions, and universities.
The Government oversees the public schools. Most Thai parents send their children to public schools as education is free. Children of expatriates studying in these schools are charged fees. There are opportunities to work as an English teacher, even in the public school system. In fact, these schools are eager to have native English speakers take the language class. Besides, there are schools run by the Government which follow an English program.
Students are taught all subjects in English. The Government decides the curriculum, and this “English” education is not free, unlike other Thai public schools. You may even apply to teach subjects other than English at these schools.
There are plenty of international schools in Bangkok. They include a wide range of schools from the very exclusive to the mid-level. The curriculum and facilities vary widely, even in international schools. Some international schools prefer teachers only from a few select English-speaking countries. Others have a more cosmopolitan structure. Once again, you can discover other avenues to teach other subjects in English.
If you are looking for the most rewarding openings to teach English in Thailand, you should narrow your job search to international schools. Of course, the qualifications required to teach in international schools are higher.
Private language schools are big business in Thailand. There are plenty of opportunities. However, work conditions vary widely. The smaller language school may have lower salary scales than what is offered by public schools or international schools. Second, the working hours are erratic.
Since these schools are open to professionals and adults, you must take early morning classes or late evening classes. It is only the more prominent and well-established language schools that offer you full-time teaching positions. The smaller schools prefer to hire teachers on a part-time basis and will offer you hourly wages.
It would help if you did your homework well while applying for jobs in language schools. Not all of them are professional. With many schools burgeoning in recent years, the language school market competition is tough, and many are unable to survive. But if you are not seeking a long-time career teaching English in Thailand and are just looking to finance your ‘Thailand journey,’ then these part-time jobs may be worth exploring.
You can also opt for private tuitions, though schools do frown upon their teachers chasing students for one-to-one classes.
Educating Abroad Quick Tip: Passport holders from US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and Australia are classified as NES by the Thai Government. Passport holders from other countries will have to prove their fluency in English before being able to teach English in Thailand.
How And When To Apply To Teach English In Thailand
The internet is a good source to look for job opportunities in Thailand, especially sites like Educating Abroad and our page search teaching jobs in Thailand.
However, you might be able to get more interview calls by being personally in Thailand. It may involve a financial investment, but Thai schools prefer to hire teachers after meeting them personally.
If you’re serious about teaching English in Thailand, you may have to dig into your savings to finance your stay in the country for a couple of months.
The teaching year in Thailand has two semesters beginning in May and November. The academic year ends in May. You can start your application process as early as February or March. But opportunities are available throughout the year, though fewer than in the peak hiring season.
Even if you start your application process a bit late, the probability of getting a job teaching English in Thailand is reasonably high.
Educating Abroad Quick Tip: Many language centers act as recruiters or agents for public and private schools in Thailand. You can use this approach to look for job opportunities in the school system.
The Qualifications Needed To Teach English In Thailand
As per recent government and OBEC rules, you can apply for the post of an English teacher in Thailand if you have a 4-year Bachelor’s degree. Native English teachers (US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand) do not need to prove fluency in English.
Passport holders from other countries, defined as non-native English speakers, must have certification proving their English language skills. It would help if you had a TOEIC score of 600+ or an IELTS score of 5.5+.
Schools are often willing to overlook the government’s English fluency criteria, especially if you have prior teaching experience. To summarize, to explore opportunities for teaching English in Thailand, you need the following:
Qualification |
Government |
Reality |
|---|---|---|
|
4-year Bachelor degree
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Fluency in English
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
IELTS/TEFL certification
|
Yes
|
Willing to overlook
|
|
Work Experience
|
No
|
Preferred
|
Educating Abroad Quick Tip: Teachers are usually offered six months contract. However, some schools do hire teachers on a one-year contract.
The Easiest Way To Secure A Visa To Teach English In Thailand
The documentation process to work legally in Thailand as an English teacher is a long and cumbersome one. The bureaucracy in Thailand moves slowly and loves to deal with paperwork! You may soon feel that you are drowning in documents as the process grinds its way through several levels of bureaucrats. The positive aspect is that Thai schools will assist you all the way. They are used to dealing with bureaucracy and will help smoothen the process for you.
To work legally in Thailand, you have to follow a three-step process.
Step 1: Apply for a Non-Immigrant B Visa
Once you have an employment contract, you have to apply for a non-immigrant B Visa. The application, along with the necessary documents, has to be submitted at your local embassy or consulate. The school will have to be your sponsor. The documents required are:
- Offer/employment letter
- Original copy of your degree certificate
- Certified clearance from local law and order authorities/criminal background check
- Passport with at least six months validity
- Passport photos
- Application form with fee
Step 2: Apply for a Work Permit
You can enter Thailand and start working as soon as your Non-Immigrant B Visa is granted. The next step is to apply for a work permit. The documents to be submitted include:
- A passport that has the non-Immigration B Visa
- Original degree certificate
- Medical certificate issued by a Thai doctor
- Certificates vis-à-vis previous work experience (if applicable)
- Passport photos
Some Quick FAQ's On Teaching English In Thailand
Do I need a degree to teach English in Thailand?
The official answer is no you cannot teach English in Thailand without a degree. However it you join any of the teach English in Thailand facebooks groups you will soon come to realise that it is possible to teach English in Thailand without a degree.
How much money do you make teaching English in Thailand?
Teachers teaching English in Thailand Can Make approx $1000 USD If you secure a teaching role at an international school you could expect this to double to circa $2000+ USD per month
Step 3: Apply for a Teaching License
This is the last of the steps required to start teaching English in Thailand legally. The documents required include:
- Work permit
- Passport with non-immigration B Visa
- Original degree certificate
- University transcripts
- Certified clearance from local law and order authorities/criminal background check
You are now cleared to work legally in Thailand! Enjoy your stay!
Educating Abroad Quick Tip: It might be helpful to get your degree certificate and university transcripts certified by your country’s embassy or consulate in Thailand.
What Is It Like To Work As An English Teachers In Thailand?
Working in a Thai school can be disconcerting initially. First, if you’re working in a government school, you may be the only ex-pat teacher. This may lead to slower cultural and professional adjustment. Second, Thai schools and students have a very different concept of discipline. School meetings rarely start on time.
Thailand is known as the ‘Land of Smiles’, so you may expect to make friends quickly and instantly. However, people are wary of foreigners. But once you do make friends, you are considered to be a part of their family!
Salaries at public schools range between $800-1000. If you have a full-time job, language academies will pay you slightly lower than public schools. Your salary could be anything between $700-$1000 based upon your expertise & certification.
However, most language academies prefer to hire part-time teachers on an hourly wage ranging from $10-30 per hour. Bilingual schools with an English program have high pay scales ranging from $1000 – $2000 per month.
International schools are the most lucrative in terms of salaries and benefits. The average pay for international school teachers is around $2000-4000.
The benefits offered to vary depending on the institution. Language schools may offer return airfare with a one-year contract. The workload here is generally heavier than the public schools. The mainstream schools typically have a 40-hour workweek from Monday to Friday.
Additional benefits may include housing allowance and paid vacation time. Some schools offer an end-of-the-contract bonus. If the school is willing to extend your contract once it expires, you can expect a pay rise.
Health insurance is a legal requirement in Thailand, and your employer is expected to pay a certain percentage of your health insurance. Most schools have a cafeteria where teachers have free lunch facilities. However, it is not mandatory, and if you do not like the fare, you are allowed to bring food or go outside campus to eat outside.
The international schools are generous! Their employment contracts typically include free housing, paid vacation, round trip tickets, and health insurance. Of course, getting a job in an international school with such fabulous benefits would require several years of teaching experience.
Educating Abroad Quick Tip: Never argue, show anger or frustration while teaching English in Thailand. It is against the local Thai custom, where you are expected to tackle every situation with equanimity.
How Much Can You Make As An English Teacher In Thailand?
One of the questions we get asked the most, especially from those in their native country who are considering embarking on their first international teaching assignment, is “If I teach English in Thailand can I survive? Is it financially rewarding? Is there any saving potential?” But because it’s so difficult to answer as everyone is different, I usually say, “If you cannot add to your nest egg, will you have enough money to have a good life and realize your dream of exploring the country?”
Daily life in Thailand is not very expensive. Besides, your house rent may be subsidized by your school. Eating out is very cheap.
Thailand is famous for its street food, and you can have a great meal at surprisingly affordable prices. Bangkok is at least 30 percent more expensive than in other Thai cities. However, it is also the most exciting place to live in.
While you are pursuing your dreams of teaching English in Thailand, you may have a rather delicate decision to make. Should you choose hip & happening in Bangkok and have a blast? Or should you go to a more sedate Thai city and save some money? It could be a difficult call!!
The Cost Of Food In Thailand
Since one of the most delicious aspects of living in Thailand is the chance to explore and savor its fabulous cuisine, let us first look at how much eating out in Thailand is going to cost you.
A meal for two people in an inexpensive restaurant will cost you around $1.5-2. If you are checking out the street carts, this can come down to $1 for a meal consisting of a plate of pad thai.
A meal with a starter and a dessert in a mid-range restaurant will cost you roughly $20. You will also have to buy bottled water as the tap water is unsafe to drink.
A bottle of water (300-ml) is priced at $0.30. A can of domestic beer or a cappuccino will cost you $2.
What if you decide that you also want to pick up some Thai cooking along with teaching English in Thailand? With Thai ingredients readily available, you could learn to whip up local delicacies in your own kitchen.
The Cost To Rent In Thailand
If your employment contract does not include a housing allowance, expect your rent to take up about 24 percent of your monthly outflow.
An apartment in the city center, usually one bed, will rent for $400-450. If you live outside the CBD, rent for a similarly sized apartment will be approximately $270.
Utilities, including electricity, water, cooling, heating, and garbage collection, will add another $75 to your expenses. Communication costs – internet, mobile – will be around $22-25.
The Cost Of Public Transport In Thailand
Thailand has an excellent public transport system. From the famous tuk-tuks to motorcycle taxis known as songthaew, from regular buses to skytrains, from taxis to train, you can hop onto any mode of transportation to get around the city or country. Bangkok even has a subway system.
Tuk Tuks are surprisingly expensive, especially if you are not very good at bargaining. The drivers may charge you as much as $5 for a trip. The songthaew charges are between $0.60 to $3.00, depending on the distance.
Bus trips are very economical. There are long-distance buses from Bangkok to other tourist destinations like Pattaya and Phuket. You can travel within Bangkok on a bus with tickets priced at an affordable $0.20
Living in Thailand is not very expensive. If you plan well, teaching English in Thailand will allow you to have an exciting time in the country and let you save some money for the future.
Educating Abroad Quick Tip: Try to spend sometime to familiarise yourself with all the transport options to save you a lot of money,time and most importantly hassle.
Other Things To Know About Thailand Should You Decide To Teach There
Bangkok’s infamous nightlife, the constant buzz, the alleys filled with food carts, the innumerable bars and clubs can make weekends in Thailand a fun-filled adventure. But If you do teach English in Thailand, it can a whole new learning experience for you. There is so much more to this country than Bangkok and famous beaches like Phuket and Pattaya.
Use a long weekend (here is a tip: Thai schools have plenty of long weekends!) and explore Thailand’s rural side. Life is quiet in agricultural communities. The green paddy fields are interspersed with some spectacular landscapes. From silent woods to cascading waterfalls, from deep caves to soaring cliffs, rural Thailand is mesmerizing.
Thailand has robust connections with Buddhism. The gleaming Buddhist temples are, of course, well known to tourists. You must visit them when you if you teach English in Thailand.
But as a resident in the country for at least six months, you could perhaps explore a bit more into the fascinating philosophy that governs life in Thailand. One option could be to visit the monasteries and meditation retreats. They offer courses in meditation to even non-Thai speakers.
Of course, meditation or nang samadhi, as the Thais call it, is not for everybody. But there are courses of varying duration and levels. You could initially choose a shorter term and then move on to a higher level if it interests you.
Any discussion on Thailand is incomplete without a focus on its cuisine! Thai food is famous the world over. Perhaps, you could sign up for a cooking class while teaching English in Thailand.
After your return home, you may be overcome with nostalgia for this beautiful country. The best way to combat it would be to put the cookery skills you learn in Thailand to fair use. Whip up a steaming plate of Gaeng Daeng and let the delicious flavors take you back to your days in Thailand!
Some Other Notable Places To Visit Should When You Teach English In Thailand
Chiang Mai:
Explore the alleys and side streets of this old city. Chiang Mai is known as one of the cultural centers of Thailand. Explore the ancient temples. Shop for the lovely handicrafts made by local artisans. Enjoy the lovely food, including the Japanese and Burmese restaurants in the area.
Railay:
The white expanse of the beaches, the soaring karsts, and the quiet forests of Railay are perfect for a weekend adventure. Explore the area on foot, dive into the azure sea, climb up the forbidding limestone cliffs – and watch your weekend pass by in a flash!
Phuket:
If you are somebody who likes to be away from the maddening crowd, you may be disinclined to visit Phuket.
Do not make that mistake. For all its ‘touristy’ avatar, Phuket is worth a visit. There is, of course, the lure of being on vacation in a tropical paradise. But you could also explore Phuket’s mangrove forests. Or spend a day conversing with the massive residents of the elephant rescue sanctuary.
International Teachers Experience Who Teach English In Thailand On YouTube
Our Conclusion About Teaching In Thailand
Do you like the adrenaline rush provided by life in a busy, vibrant city? Welcome to Bangkok!
Are you looking for spiritual rejuvenation? Visit the calm monasteries that keep Thailand rooted in its spiritual past. Is the sun & the sea a part of your weekend plan? Head for the azure seas of Phuket.
Need to spice up your culinary adventures? Moo ping, gai tod, satay – there’s really nothing more to be said here!
Good quality of life, fantastic country, wonderful people and decent saving potential – if the opportunity presents itself to teach English in Thailand, be gone!!!
