Sine Education Co., Ltd.

Program Reviews

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Susan
1/5
No, I don't recommend this program

A very disappointing experience

I really would not recommend working with sine education in any capacity for a vast number of reasons. I am a qualified and experienced language teacher in my home country and I could not believe some of the things that happened during my experience with this company.

Lessons are provided for you, but you are required to teach the same lesson between 10 - 20 times each week. The lessons are of little educational value to students. The students are just required to chant words/ conversations back to the teacher. There is very little learning for students in a sine classroom. The vocab/scenarios in the lessons are not of interest or relevant to students. It’s not really English they would use in everyday situations. Students get bored of this regime very quickly and it’s hard to blame them. As a teacher I found it terribly boring so I can only imagine how children would find it. The level of English in the classes I taught was shockingly low, some students were unable to communicate with me as their teacher at all. Due to these difficulties students seemed to act out due to their frustrations in class. I noted this with my coordinator in weekly reports every week but I was never once offered support or advice. The situation was ignored. I would say that they are quite unsupportive when it comes to classroom issues. There is no discipline or consequences for any student.

I found management, in particular HR, quite difficult to deal with also. Throughout the application process, namely my online interview, there were a number of verbal guarantees made to me, namely the location I would be placed in, being placed in a school close to the person I was applying with so we could live together and also that I would be teaching older students in a specialized program with approx 12-15 students in the class. Sine did not keep their word on any of these verbal agreements. When I contacted sine regarding this they insisted that there was never a guarantee and that I had “misunderstood”. Personally I find it hard to believe that both myself and the person I applied with both misunderstood these 3 issues in our separate interviews. I did inform HR of these issues and a few other issues, including an instance of late pay, when I handed in my resignation and the reply I received through email was genuinely shocking. It was full of untruths and in all honesty it seemed like an attempt to gas light me. They put any issues I had down to me “not understanding Thai culture”, I found that quite a shocking response as the person I applied with, who is also my partner, is of Thai origin. Sine were well aware of this.

My last pay cheque was also short. Sine education underpaid me by two days.

The Thai teachers in my school were all very welcoming and very polite during any interaction I had with them. Most of the sine teachers were also polite and pleasant however there were some in my office that really contributed to making the sine office a hostile environment. There were a number of instances where mean comments would be made about another member of staff in front of the coordinator and nothing would be done. Just like the students there is no consequences for staff either.

Overall a company that should be avoided. You can get much better pay and conditions at other companies. Also worth noting a portion of the reviews below seem to be from the sine senior management team.

Cons
  • Not paid accurately
  • Lack of support
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Vikas
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Awesome Adventure

If you’re looking for something to get your teaching career started then this is the perfect opportunity to get your foot in the door.

A lot of the material is quite simple and Sine are very helpful in guiding you through it and assisting you in any challenges you encounter.

I would definitely recommend participating in this program if you want to experience teaching and cultural exchange, meeting people from all over and making an impact not only on your life but the students you will teach.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
It was probably my first lesson because I wasn’t really sure how I would be received by my students but I think if you just have good energy and a smile on your face, then you settle in really quickly and are received and accepted with a big smile.
Pros
  • Sine staff are really kind and helpful
  • Teaching material is given in a simple format
  • Teaching hours are quite good
Cons
  • Some of the teaching material isn’t fully relevant to the kids.
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Bria
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Start Your Teaching Journey in Thailand

Teaching language has always been something I am passionate about. Working with SINE has allowed me to follow my dreams of travel and cultural exchange all while progressing my career as an English teacher. The SINE staff are very supportive and will make sure that during your transition to Thailand you do not feel alone. If you are up for an adventure and ready to make a difference in not only your life, but also in the lives of your students, I recommend SINE as an agency to support you along the way.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I ate a scorpion on Khaosan road!
Pros
  • Complete lesson plans
  • Wide range of partnering schools
  • Short term contracts
Cons
  • Overhead costs including visa runs
  • Various team dynamics at different schools
  • Lack of job progression
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Neil
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

SINE Experience.

Having worked for SINE for eight years I can recommend them as an excellent employer. Their management team is extremely professional and they always provide a high level of support to their staff.
I would recommend them to anyone who wishes to experience teaching in Thailand. They have schools in two regions of Thailand. You can either work in the NE of Thailand or the Bangkok area. They have over 50 partner schools and around 200 teachers working for them. The people from the NE of Thailand are amongst some of the kindest and most hospitable people that I have met in Asia and I have worked both in China and Korea.

Pros
  • Respectful students.
  • Friendly school environment
  • Good support
Default avatar
Andrew
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

This is an amazing company.

I'm now 6 monthsinto my role at SINE and I have nothing but good things to say about the company. I've been helped every step of the way with visas, finding accommodations, and anything I've needed to help get settled here. My colleagues Thai and foreign and the students in Bangkok are by far the best hands down. My days are filled with constant laughter, smiles, high fives and so much love from the students. I’m glad the company gave me the opportunity to work for them. Highly recommend giving them a shot

Pros
  • Amazing working hours
  • Stress free
  • Fun lessons to teach
Default avatar
Dean
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Perfect Stepping Stone for First-Time Teachers

An Ideal Launchpad for Budding Educators! This job is a confidence booster, affirming you can indeed excel as a teacher. SINE equips you with everything you need - from lesson slides to books. It's a breeze to follow their well-structured curriculum. As for the school, I was placed in one of Thailand's top government high schools, a truly enriching experience. The camaraderie among teachers was amazing, with fun activities like football and bowling. Not only did I make lifelong friends, but I also gained invaluable teaching experience. The support staff was a lifeline during the challenging times of the 2021 pandemic. After two rewarding years, I decided to move on due to the modest salary and lack of advancement opportunities. Despite this, I'm grateful to SINE for kick-starting my teaching journey in Thailand. Now, I'm stepping into a management role at my current school, ready to scale new heights.

Pros
  • Comprehensive teaching resources and support.
  • Great camaraderie and social activities with fellow teachers.
  • Valuable teaching experience at a top Thai school.
Cons
  • Modest salary.
  • Lack of advancement opportunities.
  • Financial challenges during the unpaid summer months.
Default avatar
Gallus
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great company, so glad I went with Sine. Especially for 1st timers

I'm now 1 month into my role at SINE and I have nothing but good things to say about the company. I've been helped every step of the way with visas, finding accommodations, and anything I've needed to help get settled here. Also, they respond to emails very promptly so if you need some guidance or whatever, its always just a quick email away. Also not having to lesson plan is a massive time saver. Also, the people and the students in Bangkok are great and will make you feel right at home. Also if you like watching fights, there are constantly different events going on (some free) at least in Bangkok

Pros
  • providing assistance
  • compensation (especially relative to the amount of work expected of you)
  • fun times
Cons
  • you've gotta pay for your own visa costs
  • lots of british people in training
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Pam
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Head Of SINE English Teachers

SINE helped a lot when I first started. I had no teaching experience. It's a good stepping stone for anyone that wants to start their teaching career. The lesson plans and material are provided for the teachers, this is a great bonus.
I teach new students every year which broadened my range of classsroom management skills, dealing with students of different age groups.
SINE's management teams are great, they have been very helpful and are a great support during the difficult pandemic times.
I've been with SINE for 4 years and the work life balance is great. Not planning to leave anytime soon.

Pros
  • Good working hours.
  • No work stress.
  • Many benefits
Cons
  • New teachers come and go all the time, someplaces will have a constant change in teachers.
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Lee
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sine Education. Good company, good people. A decision I'll never regret.

Joining Sine Education changed my holiday in Thailand into a place I now call home. Visa's, work permits all taken care of. The job security is great with a management team I trust. As long as you can arrive on time and follow the classroom scripts, the job is easy, fun, and immensely rewarding. Salaries paid on time, every time. Lot's of holidays and plenty of time to enjoy life away from work. The lesson plans/exams/activities are already written which makes our lives as teachers so much more relaxed and stress-free. This company changed my life and I'll personally be forever grateful to the managers that made it possible for me. I now have two young daughters here in Thailand and an amazing life. The past 10 years have been the best of my life and hopefully I'll have many more ahead with this company.

Pros
  • Job security/satisfaction
  • Work permit/visa's all taken care of by the Sine 'Foreign Teachers Assistance' department
  • Free-time to explore and travel outside of work. Evenings, weekends and so many holidays!
Cons
  • I'd like longer contracts than 10 months. The two month break at the end of term can be tricky to navigate having a family.
  • Not all Thai High School classrooms have air conditioning.
  • Like most people, I'd prefer double the pay and a four day work week
Default avatar
Simon
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Opinion on working for Sine

I've been working for Sine for over 5 years, have had a and still having a superb time working for them. I've had the opportunity to work both in Bangkok and Isan.

Mentioned earlier in the ratings,I only have good things to say about the management,problems do arise, that's a part of life, but if it's possbile they will be sorted out immediately. I was made to feel very welcome from day one and that's still the case.

I'd also like to mention the people who work for FTA, it's their job to sort out our visa's and work permits and they do an absolutely superb job at it. I've spoken to people who work elsewhere and they've had problems. During my time with Sine I've done exactly what FTA said to do and I've had no problems.

When I joined Sine I didn't have a lot of teaching experiance so was a little nervous.
I found out on day one that if I followed the teachers script there was nothing to worry about. The script is there to help which it certianly does..

If you're looking to teach in Thaialnd in my opinion Sine is the way to go!

Pros
  • Good management
  • Meeting many geat people some of which I'll stay in contact with even if they of myself leaves Sine
  • Fun lessons to teach.