Program Reviews

I am really enjoying my time teaching in Thailand, it has been such a unique experience and I have learnt so much already. Since day one Jaemi has been super helpful with any queries or issues and I have felt supported throughout my experience. I applied with a group of friends and Jaemi made sure it was possible for us to all be placed together.
Being placed in a rural area was quite daunting, however, I have loved living in Maha Sarakham and it is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in authentic Thai culture. A huge benefit of TFT was the group chat before we arrived as it gave everyone an opportunity to get to know each other. I would highly recommend this program if you are wanting to travel and teach!

From the moment I spoke to Jaemi (programmes director) I was instantly convinced to join the Thailand programme. The whole TFT team has been nothing but supportive and helpful from pre-departure to post. From the group chat with other teachers, visa and living in Thailand guides, to constant checking in after moving. The move to Thailand definitely felt easier knowing there was a team of people who will have my back and that I can rely on.

Overall, it truly is an authentic experience I couldn’t recommend enough, the local community, school and students are beyond amazing.

I'm loving my time in Thailand so far, and have connected with some really great people thanks to The Fewer Things. The teaching, though initially challenging, has become so much fun. We have learnt a lot here already, from transferable workplace skills to fascinating Thai culture. Settling in has been easy thanks to the friendly locals, amazing students and TFT team who have been an exceptional help every step of the way. There are so many friends to make and great experiences to be had- I would highly recommend!

From the first moment I spoke to Jaemi from TFT I felt super at ease, and that moving to the other side of the world was not as difficult as I first thought! Pre-departure, TFT could not have been more helpful! They answered all my questions, eased my worries and sorted every single detail in order for me to have a smooth and worry-free experience. I have now been in Thailand for 2 months, and even still TFT are in touch and on-hand to help with whatever I need. Before applying, it was super important to me to find an agency with which I felt I could rely on and would be there for me every step of the way, and TFT are definitely that agency! I have not felt alone at any point of this experience, and I am definitely hoping to pursue other destinations with their guidance and through their Clubhouse.

My experience since being out here has been simply dreamy. I have met so many amazing people, and have experienced so much already in only 2 months! From hanging with elephants, visiting the islands, partying in Bangkok and exploring my local area, it truly has been wonderful so far! I am so happy with my school placement, the students make every day a laugh, and the Thai teachers are very welcoming and friendly. I felt it was very easy for me to settle into my new life, and would definitely recommend TFT and moving to Thailand to anyone and everyone!

Having taught abroad before in Thailand I knew I wanted to use an agency for moving to a new place as it was a bit of a headache when I first got to Thailand (without agency). TFT has been very supportive from start to finish in setting me up with everything I needed, I had full support with all of the document and visa stuff as well as being placed in a great public school here in Hanoi. I did not have any issues at all and I am very happy with the overall experience. Like any new place you got to there will be culture shock and settle in period, but you have to keep going through it, it is an amazing thing to do an I have a huge more amount of confidence than when I first started. 100% recommend TFT for teaching in Asia.

Thank you to The Fewer Things for providing the authentic Thai experience.

The advice from Jaemi was very helpful in putting me in the right direction to have an immersive experience in Thailand. The TFT found the perfect place in the heart of the Isan region. Buriram (the city of happiness) is a peaceful city with also a lot to do. So far, living in Buriram has felt like I have been part of the local community. For example, trying out the incredible food in the street markets, visiting the weekend markets, watching Buriram United play, and visiting the historical sites. There's also a social scene where you can watch live Isan music.

I have met amazing people who have helped settle me into the area. My main reasons to go on this trip are to challenge myself in viewing how another society lives and to go on an adventure to explore. From what I've experienced and seen in the Isan region of Thailand, it has an open culture in its social attitudes and it's refreshing to be surrounded by it.

In terms of teaching, everything is new and it's an opportunity to learn an important skill. If I'm honest I'm still learning and trying out different teaching styles to see what works. It allows growth in confidence and you're able to keep learning whilst being able to explore.

The TFT has provided a new bonus with the Clubhouse meaning you don't have to pay the programme fee again if you want to go on another placement. This allows you to think ahead in keeping your options open for the future.

TFT offers a reliable, relatively easy way of teaching English in China, especially given the difficulties posed by the pandemic. Jaemi and the staff at CITPC (the state-owned organization that connects foreign teachers to Shenzhen public schools) are very helpful and provide guidance in every step of the way, both before and after you get to China. This makes the process as smooth and stress-free as it can be, given the situation. Possibly the biggest benefit is having peers going through this process alongside you, so you’re not alone.

When moving to another country — especially China — it is important to be proactive and ask as many questions as possible before you go, and collect answers from as many people as possible. Treat any undocumented reassurances or vague promises with a healthy dose of skepticism, and always press for specific answers. Find out as much about the actual teaching position as you can, and contact current teachers in China if possible. But be aware that many details here are naturally handled last-minute, so you’ll have to be willing to adapt. For example, CIPTC generally won’t tell you your schedule — or even which school or grades you will be assigned to — until you arrive in China. This may vary in other cities and companies.

If you are willing to put in the extra work, sacrifice having a support group of other peers, and take on some risk in the process, you may find positions with higher salaries or different work (other than teaching oral English to primary/middle school) at other schools, like private ones that TFT doesn’t work with. But for most people — especially those new to China, like I was — I’d recommend TFT.

Lastly, it’s helpful to know at least some elementary Chinese before you come. It’s technically not required, but it will make your life easier, so I’d recommend starting to study it as soon as you know you want to come. This also depends on the city and whether you live in an expat area.

I started my journey 2 years ago but due to personal reasons I was unable to continue the programme. However when I was ready to travel again, Jaemi the Programmes Director was so lovely and helped me start my new life here in Thailand. I wanted to go with an agency as I had no idea where to start, the support I received from Jaemi and the team (Molly and Will) was so helpful. Every step of the way TFT always answered my questions (trust me, I asked A LOT of questions). Even now 2 months on, they still check up on you to make sure you’re okay.

The experience itself is definitely scary and there is a big culture shock. Once you get past that initial shock it is definitely worth it and you meet so many new people as well as making unforgettable memories. The best thing about going with TFT is the people you meet who are in the same boat as you. Plus with The Fewer Things, the whole process is a lot less stressful.

If you love travelling this is definitely for you. With the school I’ve been placed with, there is a 2 month long break starting in March and there are often Thai holidays on Monday/Friday. Which means long weekends away. Depending on where you are placed, you can travel to other parts in Thailand.

Living and teaching in Thailand was made so easy by the team at TFT. From initial application to beginning my placement, there has been constant communication over the steps along the way. Even now two months in, Jaemi continues to keep in touch and is there to help if any issues do arise.

One of the major advantages of the program is the group chat made before coming to Thailand. Here I was able to connect with other applicants and now have ready made friends to travel with at the weekends. Cannot recommend the program enough!

Overall, I would say I am highly satisfied with the experience here in Shenzhen. But to write a proper review, I feel I need to break down the experience into it's 3 main parts - The Fewer Things (pre-departure and logistics prior to coming to China), CIPTC (Company on the ground, logistics in China), and the School you get assigned to.

The Fewer Things: Overall, quite satisfied with Jaemi and the team. Very genuine and friendly dude, very knowledgeable and attentive to any questions you may have. Programs a little pricey but I have no complaints in other aspects of the experience. Get's you to China as promised.

CIPTC: Basically the company on the ground (in Shenzhen) that serves as a bridge between you and the school that you will work at. Personally, I think they do a pretty good job of taking care of you and fulfilling their end of the contract, and have no major complaints. I think they could improve on their communication and reduce the hours of mandatory training some, and give a bit more time for people to settle in before throwing them into their schools. But my group and I did arrive a little later than anticipated (early October for me), so that may be the reasoning for the rush. But definitely expected to hit the ground running, which can be pretty overwhelming/stressful if it's your first time in China. I would advise a healthy level of skepticism when dealing with them, but personally I haven't experienced anything to warrant distrust or paranoia.

School: Basically unique to each person, as most teachers will only have 1 or no fellow CIPTC teachers at their school. So everyone experience differs. Personally, my experience with my school has been pretty good. It's a great location, great work environment, and the students are loads of fun to work with, especially the younglings if you get the chance.

In my experience, this is where most problems can arise. You're basically thrown into the deep end and expected to figure everything out, which can be pretty overwhelming and stressful at first. I would say I've definitely have had problems with lack of communication and oversight/mentorship, and you might feel pretty under supported at this stage.
I was pretty anxious and hesitant to reach out for a while, and it can feel like they don't really care about you and your classes, but I do think a lot of this is the result of language barrier and just cultural differences. And it does take 2 to tango. So I would advise being proactive and reaching out to your contact teacher from the get go and befriending other teachers as well. Once I finally did, it was clear they do care and want to help. So try not to take things personally and make the effort to communicate if you're struggling!

In general, I have really enjoyed my time living here in China. The work is fulfilling and enjoyable. I've made great friends, tried so so much great food, and have seen plenty of awesome sights in the city. Excited to explore the country more broadly this Winter!

In summary, if you're laid back, adaptable, and willing to roll with the punches, then you can definitely thrive in this program. I do think it requires a good amount of open-mindedness, understanding, and perspective, but you'll be sure to grow from the experiences here if you so choose to embark! Hope this helps! :)