Many people are interested in teaching English in Thailand and are therefore very curious about the ins and outs of what to expect being an English teacher in Thailand. From teacher salaries through to the general requirements of becoming a teacher, we have come up with the 10 most important facts associated with being a teacher in Thailand.
English teachers are paid between 20,000 and 40,000 Thai Baht per month. This is the equivalent of $770 to $1,230 (USA) or R8,060 to R12,890 (ZAR).
Bachelor Degree holders can expect to earn slightly higher salaries as they will receive preference from the higher performing schools, which will offer higher salaries.
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The general and most important requirements to become an English teacher in Thailand are:
One can live and teach anywhere in Thailand. It really depends on the preference of the teachers and the availability and demand for English teachers in their preferred location.
Be it a small rural town, a vibrant big city like Bangkok or Chiang Mai, or an island location such as Phuket or Koh Samui, we can place teachers throughout Thailand.
**Please note: Job availability on the island tends to be a lot scarcer and the demand is relatively high.
You can teach children anywhere from kindergarten to high school. Again, it depends on your preference with the age of the children you’d prefer to teach.
Teachers have to complete a TESOL/TEFL course prior to acquiring a teaching position at a school. The best course to do is the 120-hour In-Class TESOL in Hua Hin, Thailand.
This course is tailored specifically for teaching Thai children and includes a Thai Cultural Orientation program, in-class theory taught by former Western teachers as well as practical teaching experience at a non-profit English camp in Hua Hin.
4-5 hours in-class teaching Monday to Friday.
Teachers will also be required to prepare lesson plans in their own time which will take up some additional hours. Teachers will not be expected to work on weekends and during holidays.
Thailand is an extremely safe place to live for both men and women; however, like anywhere else in the world, it is recommended that one remains conscious of their surroundings.
Accommodation rates can vary in terms of location and one’s preference, however, 6,500 Baht per month is a safe budget we recommend. This can easily be made cheaper depending on the preference of quality housing one has but 6,500 Baht will get a teacher quality housing. Electricity will be charged on top of your rent and you can expect to spend anything from 1,000 to 2,000 Baht each month.
Our recommended budget for food is also 6,500 Baht per month. We recommend that one will spend approximately 215 Baht per day on food which will suffice for three meals per day.
The Thai food is very unique and is well-regarded throughout the world. Thailand offers an array of eastern cuisine which boasts unique eating experiences.
English teachers from Western countries are paid about double as much as the local teachers. With the cost of living being extremely low, one can easily save up to travel around Southeast Asia or further.
Teachers can spend the remainder of their salary on entertainment and going out in Thailand and travelling to neighbouring islands and countries during weekends and school holidays. Transport through Thailand is very cheap.
One does not entirely need to have a degree to teach English in Thailand, however, non-degree holders cannot be guaranteed job placement and it will be more difficult to find them a job. Bachelor Degree holders (in any field of study) are given preference over non-degree holders and can 100% be guaranteed a teaching job in Thailand.
**Please note: College diplomas are not regarded as Bachelor Degrees.
