Teach English in Thailand

About Teaching in Thailand

Thailand... superlatives gone wild! Visit the world's largest Buddha, go to the world's largest crocodile farm, find the world's smallest mammal, the Craseonycteris thonglongyai, all while teaching in Thailand. While there, you will never run short of things to do, whether it be eating delicious Thai cuisine, witnessing interesting Thai culture or teaching your fun and energetic students.

Types of Teaching Jobs in Thailand

Different types of locales will offer different teaching positions - be sure to select a post that you will be most comfortable with. Here are the different types commonly chosen by ESL teachers in Thailand:

Private Language Academies/Schools:

While they were the primary employer of English teachers in the past, the most common employer are now public schools. If you apply for work at a private institution, ask how long they have been in business because many come and go due to the difficult business environment. Working in a private language institution can result in a more erratic schedule to accommodate business people (early morning) and students (afternoon and evening). Class sizes are generally small (around 10 students per class). Teachers may be able to earn additional income by offering private tutoring to their students for around 300-700 baht/hr but be aware that some contracts prohibit private tutoring and schools will fire teachers for "stealing their customer."

Universities:

Teaching at a university is highly prestigious and comes with few contact hours (10-12 hours per week). However, the salaries are similar to the salaries of public school teachers and professors must have at least a Bachelor's degree, usually higher. The high prestige allows many professors to obtain other work and supplementary income while teaching at the university.

Public Schools:

Most teachers teach in public schools and can expect to receive training from the Thai Ministry of Education. Depending on the region, the resources available could range from limited (in poor areas) to modern. Expect to have many large class sizes (around 50 students in a class) but also expect many days off (2-3 months off fully paid per year). The numerous tests Thai students take (4 weeks of testing per year) further cuts into teaching time. While students might normally be stressed over tests, teachers cannot fail any Thai students. If a student fails a test, the student retakes the test until he/she passes.

Planning to Teach Abroad Thailand

When and Where to Look for Jobs:

The Thai school year is composed of two semesters starting May and November respectively. Semester breaks are on April and October. Finding a job in a popular city, such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai, might be difficult due to the competition but otherwise, finding a teaching job in Thailand is fairly easy.

Private institutions hire year-round but public schools and universities generally recruit teachers from March-May. Schools may also need to hire replacement teachers during the mid-year break in October. You can also look for a job throughout the year but try to avoid looking for one from December-February.

Do you think there is something missing in our guide to teaching in Thailand? Contact us and let us know! We want to make sure our information is relevant and up to date.