Teach in Thailand with CIEE | Guaranteed Placement Before Departure

Teaching in Thailand with CIEE was the perfect program to help me pivot from corporate America to a life and career abroad. With no prior teaching experience, CIEE provided me with a surplus of information and tools to successfully leap into being an international educator. From the moment I was accepted into the program, CIEE was incredibly responsive with any questions or concerns (no matter how big or small). They kept me well-informed on each step before my departure and were equally as supportive my first few weeks in Thailand. I had multiple opportunities to join calls, webinars, and forums to speak with participant alumni and hear their experiences firsthand. This allowed me to get a glimpse of what my day-to-day might look like and reassured me that I made the right decision. Additionally, CIEE staff members have deep international experience, and I valued working with people who were knowledgeable and passionate about travel and life abroad.

My five months teaching abroad in Thailand has changed my life! Living in Thailand for five months immersed in the Thai culture was very impactful. My placement was perfect for me. I felt so happy and welcomed in my Northeastern town and Anuban school. The best part of my experience were the Thailand relationships I formed as well as the English teachers I met at CIEE orientation and at my school. I have continued these relationships upon my return home.
My apartment was in an ideal location-I was able to walk to my school daily as well as find my meals and shop for necessities. I encourage everyone to become part of your local community-get out and meet people, take classes and immerse yourself in Thailand! I was able to travel every weekend either by bus or plane. I swam with elephants in Chiang Mai, bathed in the luxurious waters in the tropical island of Koh Samet, rode bicycles in Ayutthaya, and had many relaxing Thai massages! The possibilities are endless! Travel in Thailand is so easy and cheap. I felt safe my entire time abroad.
Because of my experience with CIEE and OEG I have made lifelong connections and have gotten to know Thailand and share my experiences with my school community here in America. I definitely plan on teaching abroad again. If you are thinking about teaching abroad with CIEE...just DO IT. It will change your life too!

I would want future participants to know that this is one of the scariest, hardest things you'll ever do--and you have to do it. You'll regret it forever if you don't, but even worse--you'll be missing out on the chance to become a different version of yourself. I am different because of Thailand: I am more well-aware of my privilege, I am less worried about trivial things, I am more aware of the importance of being friendly towards foreigners here in America, I am more appreciative of things, I am more confident and able to take on new challenges alone. Most importantly, I am proud to be who I am, and I have a newfound level of respect for myself; you won't find this confidence, this self-worth, if you don't test it. Also, I want MORE out of my life than I did before; meeting travellers, learning about their life experiences and their various ways of arriving at their careers, made me less likely to settle in my own life. For instance, I learned about a writer who has been freelance writing for 10-years while he travels the world, and that is my new goal: I've learned through this experience that the 9-to-5 desk job is not the only option.

After a very positive experience teaching English in China with CIEE from 2015 to 2016, I decided to use CIEE again to help me secure a teaching position in Thailand from 2016 to 2017. I am so glad that I used CIEE to help me find my last teaching job in Thailand! My school, supervisor, and students were wonderful, and I loved having the opportunity to learn about Thai culture and to travel in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Before leaving for Thailand, CIEE was there to help every step of the way. The current Teach in Thailand Program Coordinator, Kerry Plath, is always prompt, thorough, and honest when responding to emails and answering questions. CIEE helped me a lot with the work visa process for Thailand, and their pre-departure courses about living in Thailand and Thai culture helped me feel prepared before leaving the United States. CIEE's partner organization in Thailand, OEG, is also extremely helpful when you're in the country. OEG and CIEE give all teachers on the program a week-long orientation in Thailand, which is a great opportunity for participants to network and meet other teachers who will be placed in the same school/province/town as well as in other parts of Thailand. The orientation also provides seminars on the Thai language, Thai culture and history, and teaching English in the Thai classroom to help prepare teachers for starting their teaching jobs in Thailand. Anytime I ever had a question or concern in Thailand, all I had to do was email CIEE or OEG, and I always knew that they would respond helpfully and promptly. I had an amazing time teaching English in Thailand, and I really think that CIEE and their partner OEG played a huge part in making my teach in Thailand experience smooth and successful. I would definitely recommend CIEE's Teach in Thailand program to anyone who is interested in teaching English in Thailand. Especially if this is your first time teaching abroad, you can be sure that CIEE will help you to complete all of the documentation needed to legally work in Thailand and place you in a reputable school that will guarantee you accommodation and a steady salary each month. You can also be sure that if you have any issues with your school or contract, CIEE will mediate and advocate on your behalf. Thank you so much again CIEE for all of your support! Once again, you made my teaching abroad experience stress-free, fun, and fulfilling. :)

Having no clue what to expect from living and teaching in Thailand, I have been so overwhelmingly happy with what the experience has been like so far! CIEE was great in helping place me at a school that I feel welcomed and at home in. I have been able to get to know some of my Thai community, have taken Thai boxing classes at the local college, celebrated Thai festivals with other foreigners in my town, motorbiked to the biggest Buddha in Thailand less than 50 km away, and have indulged in more delicious Thai foods than I knew existed. Teaching through CIEE, I was able to meet tons of other English teachers excited about traveling. I was able to explore the most beautiful beaches, temples, caves, waterfalls, mountain villages, animal sanctuaries (Thailand literally has everything) almost every weekend with people that share the same passion and desire for travel and cultural immersion. Teaching has been a fun and sometimes hectic learning curve -- I've learned to lesson plan, control a classroom of 50 wild Thai high schoolers, and get used to the different structure and pace of a Thai school, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I've grown to love my students and have met some of the best people in my life while teaching and traveling in Thailand. I have 5 more months here, but already can't imagine leaving the Land of Smiles.

CIEE is a great program to teach abroad through! They provide a placement for you to teach, housing, pre-departure support, a training in Thailand to meet the other teachers and create a network of support/travel buddies and you get paid a salary to do it! The staff are very friendly and always available to answer your questions big or small. Their counterpart in Thailand is also a wonderful group of staff (OEG) who are willing to help you with anything and they have an incredible knowledge of Thailand, most are Thai or are ex-pats who have been living there for years. The one thing that was a bit shocking was how expensive CIEE was, but with everything that they provide you with, the cost is worth it. My experience with CIEE is one I still think about everyday, I have made great friends, excellent connections and feel like I have a deeper connection with Thailand than most tourists or even teachers do. They are the best company to go through if you have never taught abroad and/or you are looking for excellent support through every step of the process. If you have any doubt about moving abroad or changing your life, they are the ones to get you through it.

My experience with CIEE has been great! They've been helpful since before I left on my trip abroad and continued to help me throughout my time here. They took the time to answer my very specific questions before I left for this adventure which made me feel more comfortable before leaving home. After arriving to Thailand they had a well organized orientation for the first week in Thailand, the orientation was very helpful and had a lot of good information which was the perfect way to start my experience. I've been nothing but happy with CIEE and would recommend them to anyone who is planning on teaching in Thailand.

*UPDATE 11/14/2017*
Before coming to Thailand I had zero travel experience. CIEE made me pre-departure easy and stress free so my experience was already off to a great start. They have been available to me for questions and concerns the entire time I've been in Thailand. I loved working with CIEE so much that I have now applied for another program through them. I trust them and the people working there :) I'm currently still here in Thailand but this experience has 100% changed my life, it's allowed me to travel and do something I love, working with kids, at the same time.

I studied abroad through CIEE in Seville, Spain in 2013 and had such a great experience. After studying in Sevilla, I knew I wanted to live abroad again and I am so glad I did!

The week long orientation was such a great way to make friends and it really eased any nerves I had about living and working in a foreign country.

I definitely recommend this program if you want total support and guidance on obtaining your visa, making friends, finding a school, and finding housing.

I honestly have zero complaints about my experience with CIEE thus far - all positives!!!