Teach Abroad with BFITS Thailand

BFITS is an amazing agency and I would strongly urge anyone considering teaching in Thailand to utilize them as your agency. The support was top tier and I always felt like I could turn to them with any issues I had. I had plenty of friends use other agencies to secure teaching jobs and I can honestly say I got the best deal with BFITS, better support, higher pay, better school placement etc. They provide you with all the materials and equipment you need to teach in the classroom so all you have to worry about is adapting your lessons and having fun.

For me, BFITS has been a good experience all around. I'm only working because I want to, not because I have to. That being said, I came to Thailand 11 years ago and have been with the company ever since. Though I had prior teaching experience in America, being here takes a different skill set, and BFITS has helped to teach me those necessary skills. Since being hired in 2007, they have seen fit to promote me not once, but twice, to my current position as School Manager. The support I've gotten over the years has contributed to my success, and continues to help me along in my on-going process. The amount of time I have spent with them should be a testament to their overall business practices, and how they take care of their employees. And there have been several times in which they went above and beyond what was required of them in order to watch out for their teacher's best interests. This is a good agency, plain and simple.

I spent a year with BFITS teaching at a large convent school based in the heart of Bangkok. Having worked overseas for one year in South Korea, I had some experience of dealing with companies placing native teachers in schools and language centers. Currently I work in essentially the same job at a private high school in Tokyo.

I found BFITS to be professional, supportive, and organised. Along with this, I found their staff to be knowledgeable with regards to good teaching practice. As somebody who still teaches English and sees this as my career, my time in BFITS taught me a lot about teaching large classes, using materials, engaging with students, classroom management, writing tests and arranging a curriculum. Among other critical applications for an aspiring teacher. The company were efficient with the arranging of visa dates and clear about how the process works.

I taught classes of around 25 students between the ages of 13 - 15. When I started the position, I was given a tour of the premises along with a chance to observe lessons and get a feel for the school. The company was very supportive in this and provided me with a useful handbook to give me an idea of how to conduct myself around the school, and I was also given pre-prepared attendance records and other such materials. Now that I work in a high school in Japan, i have learned that these benefits - while seeming small - are not always provided and are very handy!

BFITS is a multi-cultural organisation. Between management and teaching staff I worked directly with staff from Thailand (of course), America, Philippines, Taiwan, Britain, and Canada to name a few. This multitude of nationalities lends itself extremely well to a positive teaching environment, the importance of which cannot be understated as - in order to provide students with a cooperative environment in which to study English - that atmosphere should exist within the teaching staff as well. This is something BFITS has fortunately recognized.

In regards to management, I again left with a very positive impression of the program - BFITS provided regular feedback and observation, and my program manager did a wonderful job of recognizing improvement as well as offering areas for potential improvement. Feedback was always constructive and well laid out. My co-teachers were also very professional, highly motivated and generous with their time and knowledge. The head teacher of the English department was also very friendly and helpful - not always the case when working in a foreign country as an English teacher and a mighty relief.

Overall I would highly recommend BFITS, particularly to new teachers who are motivated and want to ''try on'' English teaching. Thailand is a very beautiful country and has plenty of sights to see, so even if you're just wanting to work overseas while seeing the sights, the company does provide a generous amount of time off. Just be sure that you're motivated to work hard and be professional, but with that being said, I think this role could appeal to someone who wants to take a year out and see Southeast Asia.

I have been working for BFITS for 7 years in the Northeast Isan region of Thailand. I have worked in large government schools in Surin, Khon Kaen and now Nong Khai, where I am presently employed as head foreign teacher, overseeing 6 other teachers in addition to myself. They provided ample training at the outset of my employment prior to my initial teaching assignment in Surin, where I began my career conducting general conversational English classes in an environment that was often rewarding due to higher motivation and language ability of multiple outstanding students, but could at times be challenging due to large class sizes coupled with low language ability and occasional behavioral issues. I currently conduct classes as part of the BFITS boutique portfolio of English and International programs, where other subjects are taught in the English language such as math and science, and classes are conducted in a climate controlled, multi-media environment and are smaller with a high proportion of highly motivated, high performing students. This is typical of the normal teaching environment in a BFITS contracted school. In the entire time, I have found BFITS to be an upstanding company with courteous and professional staff in both the central office in Bangkok and the regional Isan office in Buriram, providing additional training, encouragement and support as needed from to time to time. One thing that I particular enjoy about BFITS is their progressive educational ideas and willingness and desire to improve upon teaching processes and educational technology deployed in the classrooms. This is best illustrated by interactive computer technology currently deployed in 5 pilot schools in Thailand and soon to expand to several others. More important than the educational technology made available to teachers, BFITS employees at every level have always provided me with an excellent “sounding board” or support as I look to improve my teaching techniques on an ongoing basis or when encountering occasional issues with schools that can surface from time to time. Salary is competitive and commensurate with work performed with a year-end bonus, paid substantial paid time off during off-peak work periods and similar benefits offered which are not offered or are superior to competing firms. Assistance with visas, work permit and other items to ensure compliance with immigration regulations along with assistance with relocation as needed has been invaluable. Put simply, I enjoy working for BFITS. For that reason, I am now in my 8th year with them and plan to continue in with them in the future.

In Thailand, there are two breeds of jobs for English teachers: International schools and government schools. International schools require advanced degrees, teaching experience and the ability to create your own content. Government schools don't care who you are as long as you can be in a classroom. BFITS shows that there is a third category of work. BFITS brings international school quality to a level where good people can become good teachers.

I worked with BFITS for 2 years and had zero years of experience beforehand. BFITS helped me get all my visa paperwork, set me up with a laptop and all of my content and told me that the class was mine. This was a huge seller on two fronts. First, they gave me all my content. Many schools don't do this and I am well aware of the amount of time it takes to create that much content. There is no way I could have been a good teacher if I spent all my time making lessons. Secondly, BFITS gave me the class to run in my own method. Their sister company, SINE gives teachers a script and doesn't let them tailor a class to their own style. I like my unique method of teaching and I know that none of the teachers at my school taught in the same way. It's a good thing. Variety is the spice of life. These two things alone were enough to keep me at BFITS the entire time I was there. Why bother go to another school when I'd just have to start it all over and with even less material?

BFITS also gives you paid breaks (partially paid for conversational teachers), only requiring you to spend 1-2 weeks at an office in Bangkok to do some summer work and training. I mean, they have to have some reason to pay you... The other weeks are completely yours to enjoy the country and get some rest.

From the moment of my interview with an incredible HR rep, Angel, I knew working for BFITS would be an absolute delight. Every member of the BFITS team, especially my amazing coordinators MJ, Jang, and Nink, treated me with hospitality and kindness which made me feel safe and right at home. Compared to my other colleagues I participated in a TEFL course with, I lucked out with the Cadillac of agencies in Thailand. BFITS takes care of every detail from airport pick-up, accommodation, work permit/visa assistance, and teaching materials.

My time teaching math in Kanaratbamrungpathumthani School definitely presented some challenges because we had the responsibility of implementing a new system, Learntron, into the classroom. Furthermore, the English language ability ranged substantially so just be prepared to demonstrate and break down concepts into simple terms. However, the time I spent being able to teach and interact with such bright students has made my first term teaching in Thailand unforgettable.

Perhaps one of my favorite memories was the opportunity to be Santa Clause at our school's Christmas assembly, I had two giant sackfuls of toys and snacks to throw out to hundreds of screaming students (I finally know how The Beatles felt).

For my send off, Nink and my other colleagues created a photo collage of my time at Kanarat which was absolutely heartfelt and unexpected! If you are looking for an unforgettable teaching experience in Thailand with a company who truly takes you under their wing, choose BFITS.

The BFITS staff is second to none. Their dedication and caring exceeds all expectations. Each staff member is dedicated to helping you on your teaching journey and they work hard to ensure you are the best teacher you can be. The company creates a close relationship with its employees and fosters healthy growth of individuals. BFITS always pays on time and will give opportunities for overtime. Year end bonuses are fair and timely as well.

From my very first interview with the HR rep from BFITS, I felt like I was in good hands. BFITS took care of everything and communicated efficiently from the get-go. The process of signing the contract went smoothly, and my HR rep was always willing to answer the many questions I had. The Foreign Teacher Assistance (FTA) department handled all my visa and work permit requirements, and all I had to do was show up at the right time. My head teacher and program manager were nothing but supportive, and I really enjoyed working with them throughout the year. I would highly recommend BFITS to anyone coming to Thailand for the first time. They know what they're doing, offer very fair packages, and are upfront and honest.