Teach English in Thailand

Teach English in Thailand. For many travelers in Thailand, the hardest part about the journey is saying goodbye. With it’s varied landscapes, friendly locals and inviting culture, it’s no surprise many come to Thailand for months and find themselves still here, years later.

With a new surge toward slow traveling – staying long term in a country to soak up the culture and learn as much as possible – teaching English has become a popular way to make living abroad a reality. Thailand’s top industry is tourism, and with that comes an urgent need to speak the global language. Teachers abound in every corner of this tropical nation, and every semester there’s room for more.

If you’re thinking about teaching English in Thailand to fund your travels in South-East Asia. Below is our beginners guide to teach English in Thailand.

How much can I earn?
Working as an English teacher in Bangkok you can expect earn between 40-50,000 baht a month. This will give you a fairly comfortable standard of living. In rural areas however wages are generally around 30% lower. The cost of living in rural areas is also much lower, so working on a lower wage is still a feasible option.

Is there a demand for English teachers in Thailand
Yes, in fact, the need for experienced, qualified teachers is higher than ever. However, unqualified teachers (those that lack a degree, a TEFL certificate, teaching experience, etc) can struggle to find decent work in Thailand. Regulations have tightened over the past couple of years for unqualified teachers in Thailand, making it harder to find work. As always, many employers can exploit loopholes in Thai law and manage to get their unqualified teachers legal. Much will depend on how organised and ‘savvy’ your employer is and how much they are prepared to go for their teachers.

What’s a qualified teacher?
In the eyes of the Thai Ministry of Education and the Thai Labor Department, a qualified teacher has a bachelor’s degree (preferably in education) and at least one year’s teaching experience.

Should I arrange a job before I arrive in Thailand?
No, do not arrange jobs before you get here. Get yourself settled in and then take the time to weigh up your options. Many schools just aren’t interested in hiring or even corresponding with teachers who aren’t living in the country. Teachers plans quickly change. When it comes to finding a teaching job in Thailand, nothing beats actually being here and pounding the pavements yourself, fixing up interviews and knocking on a few doors.

What are the best months to look for work?
December, January and the first half of April are generally harder times to find employment. Every other month of the year sees a very high demand. That certainly shouldn’t put you off coming in December and January though. There are always job vacancies around but just fewer choices in the months mentioned.

Should I get a TEFL certificate before I start looking for work?
The TEFL certificate is not currently a legal requirement in Thailand. However, many employers still want to see one. If two teachers go for a job interview; both have degrees and one has the TEFL certificate as well – guess who the job will probably go to. Having a TEFL certificate can do you no harm at all.