Teach in Thailand with CIEE | Guaranteed Placement Before Departure

I taught in Thailand for a year and it was the best! When I first got there I thought I knew what to expect. And, despite being wrong, I found my small northern village to be filled with kindness, understanding (lots of communication hiccups at the local market at first), and support from the school and community. Everyone whipped out their best body language and English to help the new teacher. Even though the foreign teachers (and local population) consisted of me and another English teacher I had a blast being immersed in a completely different culture, tackling language barriers, and working with some of the most caring students (yes, even the difficult students were kind at heart). I think the best lessons and mindset you can have (which was stressed at the OEG orientation) was that your students come first (your not JUST here to go to islands for cheap...but don't get me wrong travel is super cheap here), appreciate and get to understand their culture (this isn't America, but it is something great in a different way), and stick through those first couple months. Even though I had traveled or studied abroad the first part was challenging, but as every month passed I would looked back and laugh at the culture shock I had experienced at different times. It is called the land of smiles for a reason.

FYI Future Teachers: Baby powder does wonders for keeping bugs out of your room. Also, pick up a local kitten and your lizard/insect problems will disappear over night! Plus, it is super cheap to take your pets to the vet in Thailand. The food (especially up north) is the best in the world. I hope you like spicy, and believe it or not Pad Thai is that most boring thing on the menu. Go to Phu Chi Fah in the winter months (ask OEG staff for specifics). Oh, and when your mom packs half your bag with soap, tooth brushes, and other US products there is no need. Even my rural village had a Tesco Lotus with a ton of familiar products, similar or cheaper prices, and a Dairy Queen/KFC. But consider bringing your own toothpaste if you like a particular kind...two-three big tubes should be fine. And, most important, WEAR YOUR HELMETS when traveling by motorbike. And tell your students to wear theirs, too. With the humidity and heat your hair is never going to look so good that you can fool your self into not wearing one.

Despite any challenges that arose the staff at CIEE (stateside) and OEG (thai-side) were prompt about getting answers and results. They were all very friendly and professional. I recommend this program to anyone that is not ready to do it on their own.

Teaching in Thailand had to be the smartest decision I ever made. Before coming to Thailand, I had no idea what to expect. I have travelled in my past, but to move to a country on the other side of the world was a huge change for me. I have always lived in a city, and when I got my initial placement in a rural village, I was extremely nervous. However, being placed in a rural village ended up being the best part about my time in Thailand.

I remember when I looked up my town it didn't even show up on Google. I was a bit apprehensive thinking I would be out in the middle of nowhere but that wasn't the case at all. I was surrounded by such beautiful scenery and was an easy motorbike ride to the city. The amount of help and support I had from my host school was incredible. People bent over backwards to help me in any way that they could. I never met such a kind and loving culture especially when it came to the people in my village. When it came time for me to fly back to the states, my eyes filled with tears saying goodbye to my local friends, like the lady who sold me fruit, the family who fixed my motorbike, and the family who made me dinner once a week. Being in my little village ended up being my favorite part of living in Thailand.

Travel was always a big priority of mine and I was able to have an incredible balance between having a true authentic Thai experience during the week and being a tourist on the weekends. I think being in a rural town really opens your eyes to a "true" Thai experience whether it was helping plant rice in the fields, riding your motorbike at sunset and stumbling across a hill tribe village, or even just singing karaoke with your neighbors while you try exotic foods. I never once felt alone because I was always surrounded by such a strong support system. My co-workers treated me like a family member and you were really able to immerse yourself with the locals in town. I personally think that being placed in a rural community in Thailand was such a blessing.

I moved to Thailand alone hoping for an adventure of a lifetime and it sure paid off. It was the best thing I have ever done for myself. Because Thailand was such a positive experience for me, I am planning to continue to teach abroad for a few more years. I hope the next place I teach will provide me with an amazing experience like my time in rural Thailand.

This program has wonderful job placement and the Chiang Mai office in particular has stellar staff. The orientation was helpful and it was a great way to meet all the other teachers that are placed around the country for support and travel companions. I was placed in a smaller city and while at first I was hesitant, in the end it turned into the best experience possible. My placement was excellent. I did feel that the cost was a bit high for the services offered.

After initially deciding to teach for a single semester in Thailand, I extended my contract and ended up staying at my school for 2 years due to the positive work environment, relationships, and satisfaction that came from teaching.

I stayed in touch with many fellow teachers in my program and everyone that I talked to had a very positive experience with CIEE and their schools. Even though I've been back in America for a few years now, I still feel like Thailand is a 'second home' of sorts and I plan to travel there and visit for the red to of my life!

While most of my friends spent their last couple of months at school stressing over jobs, interviews and salaries, I kept myself busy deciding on my choice of placement in Thailand. I decided to teach in Thailand during my last year of university, and I haven’t looked back since.

Before I began searching for teaching opportunities, I reached out to a couple of friends who had previously taught in the Land of Smiles. Although none of them had chosen CIEE as their provider, almost all recommended the “Teach English Abroad in Thailand with CIEE” program for its reputation, value and placements. CIEE's sign-up process was simple, easy to navigate and full of details. From applying for a Thai Non-B Immigrant Visa to accepting my school placement, CIEE ensured that the stressful part of applying was anything but stressful.

I'm currently teaching in Phetchabun, a town just 4-5 hours north of Bangkok. What Phetchabun lacks in skyscrapers and "concrete jungles," it makes up for in beautiful landscapes, adventurous hikes and authentic Thai experiences. My placement with CIEE is exactly what I wanted and as I continue to teach for a second semester, I couldn't be happier.

The school day in Thailand starts off with assembly at 8 a.m. sharp. There, students sing the National Anthem, listen to announcements and recite prayers. During one particular morning, I noticed students pulling out money from their pockets. After a couple of minutes of confusion -- and many minutes of asking around -- I learned that the students were collecting money for an out-of-district student whose home had burned down. While students in the States will gladly raise money for their own sports teams, it's hard to imagine American students raising money for someone who doesn't attend their own school.

If you're looking to teach in Thailand, but are unsure about the process, I highly recommend looking into CIEE's vast network of current and former participants. CIEE's application platform is easy to understand and simple to use.

Teaching in Thailand was my first experience living anywhere that was more than 50 miles from where I grew up in Long Island, New York. To put it shortly this has been one of the best experiences of my life. All the apprehensions, and fears I had before I left debunked one right after another almost instantly upon my arrival. The orientation provided by CIEE was a big part in that. Spending a week in Chang Mai with other teachers, former teachers and the support system was extremely helpful for someone like myself who has never done anything like this before. You start to get a feel for the people and culture while still having the support to answer questions and provide information. I also believe that the community of teachers who are all arriving in the same position of having no idea of what to expect is extremely helpful.
After leaving orientation the same fears and apprehensions arise again, and one more time they quickly subside. I arrived in a smaller town outside of a small city, and immediately I felt safe and welcome. The people although largely surprised by seeing an American were always smiling wanting to communicate and make me feel at home. I have met people, seen things, and had experiences that will stay with me forever. More importantly I feel that I have become a part of a community and that is something special that I do not believe happens often.
Six months or even a year may seem like a long time but as I am writing this I am weeks away from completing my time here and it feels like I arrived yesterday. I also now understand why people don't leave. CIEE provided incredible support and helped walk me through this process step by step. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to travel and teach.

Applying to CIEE’s Teach in Thailand program was quite possibly the best decision I ever made. Before coming to Thailand, I’d never been overseas, so I was very nervous and didn’t know what to expect. The program coordinator, Kerry, was amazingly helpful, and she walked me through the entire process. Every time I called Kerry, she answered and talked to me for as long as it took to resolve whatever issue/meltdown I was having. When I ran into trouble with my visa, she made sure my school understood that I’d be coming and didn’t give my position away. The situation was a lot less stressful than it could have/should have been.

The real benefit of teaching in Thailand through CIEE is the support and how your host school deals with you. Schools that work with CIEE have to provide their teachers with accommodations and a contract completion bonus. They stressed making sure I became independent and comfortable travelling around town on my own. I didn’t travel to Thailand alone, and my preference was to be placed in the same location with my travel partner. CIEE actually placed me in the same exact school. It doesn’t get much better than that.

This wasn’t part of the contract, but my school taught me how to ride a motorbike and drive a manual transmission truck. The school also helped me buy my own motorbike and went out of their way to ensure that I had reliable transportation around town. This experience has reshaped my values, wants, and needs. I’ve met a ton of interesting people, and I’ve made some great friends along the way. I wouldn’t trade my time in Thailand for anything. If you’re looking to teach in the land of smiles, and you want to go through a program, you won’t do much better than the Teach in Thailand program from CIEE.

I first heard about the CIEE Teach Abroad program after I studied abroad with CIEE in 2014. After I graduated from college, I committed to teach in Thailand for one semester. I was nervous about moving halfway across the world, managing a large classroom and adjusting to the culture. Any fear I had about teaching and traveling abroad quickly disappeared given the constant support CIEE provides. I am happy to say I have made great friends in my community. I value my teaching experience and know I am learning as much from my students as they learn from me. When I am not at school, I explore provinces across Thailand, work on my Thai conversational skills and engage with other teachers along the way. I enjoy blogging about my experience as an official CIEE blogger and have found it to be a very therapeutic outlet. I am so happy with my experience that I have decided to stay and teach for a second semester! This experience is invaluable and the best decision I have ever made!