A Complete Guide to Teaching English in Thailand

Requirements to Teach in Thailand

Lucky for you, teaching English in Thailand isn't as hard as it is in many countries around the world. The list of of requirements include:

• Bachelor's degree in any subject area (it doesn’t have to be English)
• Clean criminal record
• Basic health check
• TEFL certification (not required but preferred by almost all schools and certainly anywhere with a good reputation)
• Non-native teachers can work in Thailand but you usually need to prove your fluency with a TOEIC/IELTS score or verifiable references

Note that this is different from teaching at international schools. The list of requirements and steps I'll share with you to land a job are specifically for those wanting to teach English in Thailand, not work at international schools.

In addition to these requirements, there are a few documents you'll need when you get ready to apply. To ensure the application process runs as smoothly as possible for you, go ahead and get these items ready to go (minus the medical check which will be done in Thailand):

• CV
• Valid passport
• Original copy of your university diploma
• Medical check (done in Thailand)
• Original copy of your TEFL certificate
• References
• English proficiency test scores if applicable
• A smile! (Thai people love smiles)

Getting Your TEFL Certification

The first step to teaching in Thailand is to get a 120-hour TEFL certification; you don’t need more hours than this, but the Thai school standard is 120.

After doing lots of research, I narrowed my decision down to a few courses. Before choosing a TEFL certification, make sure another option isn't actually better for you. See the difference between TEFL, CELTA, TESOL, etc before making a decision by checking our guide to teaching English acronyms.

In terms of TEFL, there is a LOT of junk out there so take some time deciding which course is best for you instead of just buying the cheapest course you see. I wanted a course that made me feel actually prepared to teach, not just a piece of paper. 

I opted for TEFLPros for several reasons. First of all, they are the highest rated course on GoOverseas and GoAbroad which are both trustworthy resources for graduate reviews, so that was a pretty good start. It’s a smaller company that has been around for about 4 years, but don’t let that relative “newness” dissuade you. Their fresh and very transparent approach to TEFL was something no other course had.

Also, I could try a module for free so I knew what I was getting into.

The course is accredited and even though I was planning to teach only in Thailand, I could use it elsewhere if I wanted, even to teach online. Most importantly, I at least knew that even if all these other things were changing in my life, at least I felt really prepared to enter the classroom (of course, I have since learned a lot more!).

Want another option? Kat, the A Way Abroad founder, got TEFL certified with ITTT, International TEFL and TESOL Training.

What’s included with TEFLPros?

• Internationally recognized and accredited TEFL certificate (accredited by Accreditat)
• Many videos (45+hours): almost 18 of which are actual classes of Thai students with real teachers
• Weekly live coaching calls to answer your questions by training staff
• A hard copy certificate mailed to you anywhere in the world
• Lifetime job assistance at no extra cost (to be honest, their help was great but for Thailand, you don’t need the help of a TEFL company)
• 101 Activities book
• Facebook support group of nearly 10,000 people
• 18 months access to the course materials from your registration date from any device that has internet (yes, I did a whole module from my phone on a family vacation)
• Incredible support (I can’t say enough about this considering what a big change it all was)
• One-on-one feedback on all of my work from one of their certified teacher trainers 
• I graduated with a portfolio of lesson plans that I could use in my classes and more importantly on interviews‍

When should I start the course?

The TEFLPros course takes about 3-5 weeks to finish.

As far as the hiring season in Thailand goes, you can start any time really because there is constant turnover. However, there is a hiring spike in July/August for an October semester start, and again in December to replace teachers who have left. School break is from Thai New Year, mid-April, through late September.

With that being said, some schools have a totally different schedule that doesn’t fit this model at all. Universities are all on an August-May schedule. Plus, there are lots of private language institutes and corporate things that run all year.

There’s a high demand all year.

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Finding a Job as an English Teacher in Thailand

A lot of people I met in Thailand decided to do their TEFL training in-person as part of a package. These packages typically offer job placements after you complete your training.

If you're really nervous about your options, you can always go that route, but I can assure you: it's not necessary.

There are so many job opportunities for English teachers in Thailand.

I later realized that one of the reasons why teacher turnover is so high is because people get “placed” in schools that turn out to be a poor fit for them. This can occur from lack of research, or simply going with whatever a TEFL company suggests.

When I started putting my resume into a few job boards or emailing schools directly, I was overwhelmed with the response. It gave me the power to choose the school that would actually be the best for me, which interestingly is what all the experienced teachers know to do.

So, my advice here is just to be aware of that “guarantee” and don’t let your fears pigeonhole you into a job provided by a TEFL company.

Job Platforms for English Teachers

When you start your job hunt in Thailand you might be overwhelmed or nervous, especially if this is your first time teaching abroad. The good news is there are a ton of online job boards that post job opportunities throughout Thailand (and the rest of the world).

While this isn't all of them, my top website recommendations to find teaching jobs are:

• Dave's ESL Cafe
• Go Overseas
• Go Abroad
• Teachaway
• Teaching Nomad
• Facebook Groups (country and city-specific)

If you'd rather, it's also completely possible to get hired in-person, rather than applying for jobs online. This is beneficial for the employer to get to meet you and see how serious you are about living in Thailand but it's also a great chance for you to scope out the school in-person before signing any contracts.

Just know that if you go this route, you'll have to enter on a tourist visa and later swap to a work permit once you get hired. More on this in the section below!

If you're more interested in volunteering in Thailand see how you can land a gig volunteering in Phuket.

Securing Your Work Permit

If you've ever lived abroad before you know that visas can be a headache. Luckily, when teaching English in Thailand, your school will handle all of the paperwork for you on their end.

Just make sure you have your:

• Bachelor's degree
• TEFL Certificate
• Medical check (they will help with this)
• Police check

Next is the fun part, you will have to actually LEAVE Thailand and go to Laos (or another country) to process your visa. This is so common that there are visa run companies who will take you and hold your hand through the process.

And then voila, you have your non-immigrant B visa and your school will get you a work permit.

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Daily Life as an English Teacher in Thailand

For the most part, my Thai students are wonderful. They are respectful and really fun.

The Thai teachers I work with are helpful and after they get over their initial shyness, can be a great resource for you. Befriending your coworkers is one of the best ways to make friends abroad - locals and other foreign teachers alike!

With that being said, classrooms are typically overcrowded, maybe 50+ students. Your resources aren’t always great and you’ll see Thai English teachers making blatant mistakes. This can make the day-to-day tough if you're teaching English in Thailand at a school similar to the one I work at.

You might have smaller classroom sizes at private schools or afterschool programs, but not always!

The pay will give you a comfortable life, but you aren’t going to be getting rich. Between $1000-$2000 per month is pretty typical depending on what part of the country you are working in; but remember the cost of living is MUCH lower (rent is $300/month or less). Do note these prices are based on this teacher's experience in 2019. Your salary and cost of living might be higher than these numbers represented.

Best Places to Live in Thailand

While you can easily find teaching jobs all throughout Thailand, I was interested in living in the capital city, Bangkok. This is also where there are the most job opportunities.

Although living in Bangkok has been a lot of fun for me, I'd also recommend you consider one of these spots:

• Chiang Mai
• Phuket
• Koh Samui
• Chiang Rai
• Koh Pha Ngan

Housing in Thailand

Because there are SO many tourists, there is a lot of cheap temporary housing in Thailand. This is true from almost anywhere in Thailand, especially anywhere that you'd get a decent job teaching English.

I’d recommend going as a budget tourist to start (almost all teachers come in on a tourist visa). Get an Airbnb or stay at a hostel and meet some people as you gain your bearings on the city/country.

TEFLPros gave me lots of resources to find housing but honestly a good old-fashioned walk around the neighborhood will yield some good results for apartment options. 

If you're moving to Bangkok, I recommend you book a stay at one of these spots to start your job and apartment hunt:

• Budget Stay: The LOL Elephant Hostel: Choose a dorm or private room with bathroom at this hostel. Not only is it affordable but it's a great place to meet people, too.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Saan Hotel Sathorn: This is a great choice if you want a larger room and a shared pool without breaking the bank.
• Luxury Stay: Floral Court Hotel & Residence: Rather live the good life? Go for this luxury one-bedroom apartment where you can fully settle in while you house hunt and get your teaching job.

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Will You Try Teaching English in Thailand?

Teaching abroad is such a wonderful experience. You will learn and grow so much and Thailand is an incredible place for this journey. Thanks to the welcoming Thai culture, abundance of foreigners to help show you the ropes, and the plethora of English teaching jobs out there, it's no wonder that Thailand is one of the best countries to teach English abroad.

Best of luck to everyone who is just starting out, and get ready to be told that you are so brave!