Teach English in Thailand

Eligibility Requirements

You don’t need to have any teaching experience to teach English in Thailand. You do need:

Required

• A passport from the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand
• A bachelor’s degree in hand in any field – no teaching experience required
• A Native English Speaker

Preferred on case-by-case basis

• Between 19 and 59 years of age
• No criminal conviction whatsoever (even misdemeanors)
• No major medical or mental health diagnosis or medication in the past 5 years
• No communicable diseases
• No visible tattoos, such as on the face, neck and hands

Get Started

Unsure? Get expert advice and guidance

We’ll send you more info, explain the program and answer all your questions.

Full Program Highlights

• Comprehensive pre-departure support and guidance

  • Getting the necessary documentation prepared prior to departure.
  • Assisting you with all planning, packing, visas, costs, budgets and booking flights.
  • Answering your questions to help ease any anxieties you may have regarding your trip.

• Logistics and safety when arriving

  • Airport pickup (provided participants land within five days of start date, and are going to the designated hotel).
  • Transfer from Bangkok to Hua Hin for TEFL training and cultural orientation.
  • Sim card and setup assistance.
  • Assistance with opening a local bank account.
  • Welcome dinner / Beach BBQ to meet your fellow teacher travellers.

• A toolkit for navigating Thai culture

  • Cultural Orientation and excursions.
  • Social events and meet and greets.

• Practical Teacher Training

  • To hone your craft and ensure confidence before you begin teaching professionally.
  • Lesson Plan templates and resource directories.

• Guaranteed Job Placement

  • At carefully vetted schools.

• An Internationally Accredited TEFL/TESOL certification

  • The knowledge required to teach english successfully.
  • You will graduate with an Internationally Accredited 120 hour in-class TEFL/TESOL certificate that never expires and can be used to teach all over the world.

• A support network of fellow teachers

  • Lifelong friendships and travel opportunities.

• 24/7 In-country support

  • Ex-foreign teachers and local, on-the-ground support staff provide you with personal assistance throughout the duration of your teaching experience.
  • You can rest assured knowing that any queries will be answered such as translation help, legalities, emergencies, travel options or school queries. Someone is on hand.
  • Teacher meet-ups.
  • We check in with you regularly and keep up to date with your teach abroad experience.

• Lifetime Teaching Placement Guarantee

  • Once you’ve completed your contract, we can guarantee you a position at another partner school throughout Asia for which you are eligible, at no additional charge to you.

• Self-development and advantageous future employability

  • When you do head back home, you’re not just another resume in a pile of resumes – you are someone different who’s done something interesting and rewarding.
  • Add teaching abroad to your CV to stand out from the crowd.

Although you may think it’s a halt in your education journey, you’re actually fast tracking yourself through:

• Learning independence.
• Learning how you react to different situations.
• Learning how to master and grow your confidence in public speaking.
• Learning how to overcome obstacles.
• Learning about yourself through your own personal self discovery.
• Learning how to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself.

These would normally take much longer in a normal, sheltered environment and wouldn’t be nearly as much fun!

When you do head back home, you’re not just another resume in a pile of resumes – you are someone different who’s done something interesting and rewarding.

Teaching Placement Overview

Teaching Placements

Placements are available in public schools.

Thai schools are generally very well-resourced and you will have a Thai teacher to assist you in the classroom.

Your books and teaching resources will be supplied, although you may want to get creative and supplement with your own. We’ll provide you with ton of resources and directories for all kinds of classrooms printouts and lesson plans!

Where will I be teaching English in Thailand?

• Urban or rural areas.
• In small or big towns.
• In some cases on Phuket island (Due to extreme demand these island placement locations are rarely available).

You can teach:

• Kindergarten.
• Primary (elementary and middle).
• High school.

Can I be placed with my friend or partner?

Yes, we can place you in the same town as your friend or partner. You might be teaching in the same school or in nearby schools, depending on the availability of jobs.

What are the working hours? And days per week?

• You should expect to be at school for 8 hours per day, but you will only have about 4-5 “in class” hours though.
• In most cases you will work a regular Monday to Friday, 7:30AM to 4PM with an hour for lunch.
• There may be times when you are asked to participate in events or activities outside of these hours.

Are there sports after school that you have to attend or teach?

This will depend on your school. In most cases, teaching activities out with work hours is voluntary, however they do have concerts, cultural festivals and after school activities every now and again that you will be expected to attend.

What if you are unhappy in a job? Can you get a new one?

Yes, but we don’t often find this to be a problem. If you really dislike the job and you have a good reason, then we can help move you. But you need to understand that this can take time, and we ask that you be patient and flexible.

What us the dress code for teaching?

Men are expected to wear smart trousers and a collared shirt. Depending on the school you may also be required to wear a tie. Women are expected to where a skirt and a smart shirt or blouse or a dress. Some schools may permit women to wear trousers. The dress code varies depending on the school but you should plan to dress to impress.

Can couples be placed together?

This can be done, but not always at the same school. The schools may be within the same town. For participants travelling in couples or friends, they need to be extremely flexible and open to placement location.

What is the level of English and behavior of students?

This will vary city to city; however, there is typically beginner knowledge of English throughout the country. Thai students are generally well behaved.

What curriculum will they follow at school?

There is no set curriculum; each school will have their own curriculum and procedures.

Will my colleagues speak English?

Yes. Sometimes only limited English though.

Will I work with any special needs children?

Yes, probably, but they won’t necessarily be classified as such. They will just be in your normal classes.

What are the chances of schools deducting security money? And how does this work?

Schools may sometimes hold a small portion of salary in escrow until the end of the contract to dissuade teachers from leaving in the middle of a school term. This is, however, a rare policy.

What are the expected deductions from your paycheck? Does is differ from school to school?

Yes, some schools take off tax at 3%. But normally they don’t take off tax for the first year.

Will I get paid overtime?

No.

What are the chances of getting a salary increase?

If you do a good job there is potential to get a pay rise or a resigning bonus.

Is all paperwork and books supplied by the school?

Yes, most of the time, but not all the time.

When are the school holidays?

Typically, Thai government schools have a month holiday in October and two months in March-April.

Are you expected to work during school holidays?

Not normally, however your school may ask you to participate in an English camp or activities camp of some kind.

A TravelBud teacher in her classroom in Thailand.

A TravelBud teacher engages in group work in a classroom in Thailand.

Our Program Includes:

Pre departure Support

• We’ll outline the entire process you’ll follow to realise the teaching abroad dream.
• You’ll be provided comprehensive information relating to each step in the pre-departure process and you’ll have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you like, no matter how silly you may think they are!
• We’ll explain and help you get the necessary documentation prepared prior to departure.
• We’ll assist you with all planning, packing, visas, costs, budgeting and booking flights.
• We’ll ease any anxieties you may have regarding your trip and share the positive and life-changing adventures of the teach abroad experience.

Logistics and Safety when arriving

• We’ll pick you up from the airport so you won’t have to stress when you arrive off the plane (provided you land within five days of start date, and are going to the designated hotel) and transfer you to Hua Hin.
• We’ll introduce you to your 24/7 support team on the ground.
• We’ll take you to your pre-arranged accommodation. Read more about our course accommodation.
• We assist you with your SIM card setup so that you can contact your loved ones back home and your new friends you’re about to make on your epic orientation!
• We assist you with your local bank account setup so you can save money on international withdrawal fees. Your salary is paid into your local bank account.
• You’ll get to meet and greet fellow teacher travellers with a welcome dinner or beach barbeque!

A toolkit for navigating your new country

Our 1 week cultural orientation on Thai culture and language gives you the perfect foundation for adjusting to life in Thailand as well as an opportunity to bond with your fellow teachers-in-training and in-country staff members.

Learn foundational Thai language

We help you with foundational language to help you navigate:

• The bustling markets.
• Grabbing a taxi.
• Ordering a delicious mea.
• Garnering respect from locals.

(plus it’s pretty cool to impress your mates at home or add it to your resume!)

Cultural and History lessons

• Learn from local Thai staff and ex-foreign teachers who have made their home in Thailand.
• You’ll understand the cultural dynamics so that you don’t feel like a fish out of water.
• You won’t be making any faux pas or disrespecting the locals.
• How to address locals and your fellow teachers.
• You will know what you can and can’t do in Thai classrooms.

Relevant Cultural Excursions

Excursions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Visit Buddhist temples and learn about Buddhist philosophy.
• Visit local Thai markets and learn how to barter and purchase fresh local produce.
• Take part in a Thai cooking course.
• Volunteer in a stray animal rescue organization.
• Self-empowerment workshops.

A quality TEFL/TESOL course helps teachers avoid the frustration and pitfalls of being unprepared in the classroom and provides all the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively teach English.

Educational Philosophy

In-Class TEFL/TESOL Course Location

The TEFL/TESOL course in Thailand is offered in the beautiful beach resort setting in Hua Hin.

Hua Hin

Hua Hin is one of the most charming beach resort towns in Thailand. It is recognized by TripAdvisor’s Travellers Choice as one of the top ten cities in Thailand and one of the world’s top 20 best cities to retire in.

Hua Hin is a 2.5 hour drive south of Bangkok and sits between a mountain range to the west and a calm sea on the Gulf of Thailand to the east. The sea in Hua Hin is adorned with small islands, fishing boats, and majestic rock formations, which dot the horizon of the coastline under a sun filled sky.

Hua Hin is known as Thailand’s Royal Beach Resort. It is the oldest and most traditional Thai resort in the country and also the current residence of the Royal Family.

Hua Hin strikes the perfect balance between traditional Thai culture and modern amenities. Hua Hin has a rich diversity of Thai temples and a genuine Thai hospitality. It also boasts a lively downtown district, as well as international quality hospitals, malls, accommodation, and transport.

Course Components

• Information and discussion about Thai culture, history, politics, and society to provide exposure and help students navigate their new environment,
• Significant instruction in Thai language (6 Hours).
• Strong grounding in the history and theory of teaching English as a foreign/second language. This is taught in a way that emphasizes application of theory to enhance success in the classroom.
• Significant practical training in teaching listening, reading, speaking and writing in the classroom, including extensive lesson planning, presentation, and feedback from peers and instructors.
• Tons of tips, tricks and examples of how to teach English to every age group.
• Advice and guidance for effective classroom management.
• 16 hours of teaching practicum.

Detailed TEFL/TESOL Course Overview

Week One – Orientation

The first week of the course is an amazing, interactive orientation on Thai culture and language, as well as an opportunity to bond with other teachers-in-training and staff members.

The program is held in Hua Hin and encompasses Thai language, culture, and society. The course is taught by area experts and includes several exciting and informative cultural excursions.

Week Two

The second week of the course is a deeper exploration of theory in the discipline of English as a second language and how to teach grammar. Students learn about the structure and key elements of a lesson plan. Every lesson requires a detailed lesson plan that lays out the procedures of the class, and encourages teachers to consider the challenges, technology resources, and other factors that can impact a successful lesson in the classroom.

During week two, students will also learn how to teach speaking and grammar. Grammar can be challenging to teach. One of the reasons for this is that it has been a long time since native English speakers have reviewed grammar rules, so we provides students with a bit of a refresher. The major assignments for week two are to create a lesson plan for teaching grammar and to present a full lesson just as a teacher would in a classroom.

Week Three

The third week of the course focuses on how to teach reading and listening. The major assignments for this week are to create lesson plans for teaching reading and present full lessons just as a teacher would in the classroom. During this week participants will learn more about teaching young learners and practice planning lessons for kindergarten students. Additionally, our participants will learn about curriculum development for long term learning goals for their students.

Week Four

The final week of the course is dedicated to classroom management and preparing for and conducting the English camp.

While classroom management may be the final topic covered, it is in fact extremely important, especially in cross-cultural contexts.

Classroom management is about setting ground rules, apply them consistently, getting to know your students, and earning and maintaining their respect and commitment.

Students spend several days preparing their lessons for the English camp. The camp typically lasts 2-3 days.

During the final week there will also be an in-class final exam.

International Accreditation

Our internationally accredited TEFL/TESOL course is accepted by employers around the world and is accredited by Accreditat. Accreditat is registered under the UKRLP (UK Register of Learning Providers), Number 10065351. Registration on the UKRLP means they have been verified against a recognised legal source.

Graduates of our internationally accredited 120-hour TEFL/TESOL course have used their TEFL/TESOL certificate to successfully find employment in ESL teaching and education fields in nearly every Western, native-English speaking country, as well as across Europe, Asia, South America, and beyond.

Accommodation during the TEFL/TESOL Course

When you arrive in Thailand, you’ll be picked up from the airport and will stay a night in a Bangkok hotel.

Hotel In Bangkok for your first night. Clean and modern.

Hotel room In Bangkok for your first night.

Hotel room in Bangkok with toilet and shower for your first night.

If you opt to do the 120-hour In-class TEFL/TESOL course which we highly recommend to best prepare you for your adventure, your fee includes shared accommodation for the duration of the course.

Accommodation in Hua-Hin

Tanawit Hotel stands out with its prime location in the heart of Hua Hin, just a short walk from popular attractions like the Hua Hin Night Market, Hua Hin Beach, and public transportation stations.

The hotel offers a range of features that will enhance your stay:

• Outdoor Swimming Pool: Perfect for relaxation after a day of activities.
• Spacious Lobby: Offers a comfortable area for participants to study and relax.
• Free Wi-Fi and Air Conditioning: Ensures comfort and connectivity in all rooms.
• Convenient Access: Close to transportation options, making it easy to explore the town.

Address Information:

64 1 Amnuaysin, Hua Hin, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan,77110

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BAsnJ7kuHo1Ghfhy7

Accommodation Details:

For participants that must pay for their accommodation, the weekly and monthly prices have not changed:

1 Week Stay:

• Shared Room: 2,500 THB (if accommodation is not included in program)
• Private Room: 5,000 THB
• No deposit required

4 Week Stay:

• Shared Room: 5,000 THB (if accommodation is not included in program)
• Private Room: 10,000 THB
• 6,000 THB deposit per room, if two roommates in the room, each pays 3,000 THB
• Additional charges for electricity and water will be deducted from the deposit upon check-out.

Accommodation after the TEFL/TESOL Course

The school where you are teaching will either organise accommodation for you or provide assistance with finding suitable accommodation.

Accommodation will vary from place to place. One bedroom apartments for single occupants or two bedroom units for sharing are usually comfortable and modern, with everything you need in terms of bedroom and bathroom amenities.

Many Thai homes do not have kitchens, which might be unusual for you. There will generally be a rice cooker and a fryer, but this might be in the lounge rather than in its own room.

Comfortable and modern accommodation, with everything you need in terms of bedroom and bathroom amenities.

An example of accommodation in rural Thailand. Read about Didi’s teaching adventure with TravelBud on our blog!

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A typical lounge in rural Thailand.

How much will rent cost?

Rent will vary depending on where you are living, but it is guaranteed to be affordable based on what you will be earning.

Will I be living with someone?

If you are placed with a friend or partner, you will be able to live together. Otherwise, you might be living alone or sharing with another ESL teacher.

• Thailand is generally a cheap place to travel to. You should be able to manage on a
  relatively low budget if necessary.
• You will be spending at least 1 to 2 months in Thailand before you receive your first
  paycheck.
• Although Thailand may appear inexpensive, costs add up and it can be easy to overspend.
• This guide is to provide you with an approximate budget for your initial few months in Thailand.
• These values will vary depending on your personal budget and spending habits.

The following costs make up the program fee and are payable to TravelBud before you head over to Teach English in Thailand.