Thailand TEFL Taster - Your no-fuss route to teaching in Thailand

I am 2 months into the 5-month Thailand TEFL taster. I signed up with my partner because I had always wanted to experience life in Thailand. Working and living in Thailand seemed like the best way to truly experience life here. So far, I have definitely found this to be the case. I am already beginning to see the gap between the small snippets of Thailand that tourists see, and the deeper understanding of it that can be gained by working here. I did expect this beforehand, but knowing where to start looking for work in Thailand seemed daunting.

This is where Travel Grad became useful. As a finalist at uni, who had never had a full-time job, let alone moved to another country, I found it really useful to have an agency guide me through the process. Travel Grad provided me with a timeline of what I needed to do and when and information documents for every step of the process. This assured me that I was doing everything I needed to do.

Another useful feature is the 24/7 WhatsApp chat. I use this to the FULL EXTENT. Whether I have a question or need to double-check something or feel confused, I can quickly send a message and receive a quick reply. As mentioned, moving to work abroad was a strange and unfamiliar process, so being able to contact Travel Grad whenever I needed to (literally whenever) was reassuring!

Of course, while this is a Travel Grad review, it is worth remembering that Travel Grad is one part of a bigger process. Your experience will also depend on the school that you are placed in, and the teaching agency in Thailand (MediaKids) that Travel Grad works with. If you are thinking about teaching English in Thailand, then do consider all factors. However, this advice would apply to any agency.

If you are set on teaching English in Thailand but are trying to choose an agency, then I would highly recommend Travel Grad. Even while in Thailand, we can use still Travel Grad for support. They were in contact with us while we were settling in, they put us in a group chat with all of the other people doing the Thai TEFL taster, and they booked us a complimentary night in a hotel upon arriving in Thailand. They definitely went the extra mile.

I came to Thailand as a qualified teacher looking to improve my abilities in teaching children whose first language is not English and experience a new way of living. I can safely say that I have achieved both of these things and so much more! I never thought I would be so lucky to live with 7 other amazing people in Maha Sarakham, Northern Thailand who I know I will call friends for life! I am also very lucky to live in a very nice city with lots of markets, nightlife, nature and food spots! Meeting the people I have and traveling with them all around Bangkok and then to places like Chiang Mai and Pai for New Year is surreal - I often forget that we have only known each other for 2 months so far! And the lifestyle in Thailand is something much to be admired. It is incredibly peaceful and nobody is ever in a rush! As someone who is a workaholic and always on the go, this took some getting used to, but I have never been so calm in my life! TravelGrad is definitely an excellent gateway into Thailand, and Andrew is incredibly helpful, reassuring, and always there when you have questions. Plus, if you are sensible, you can save enough money to travel more of South East Asia when your contract ends! I am currently planning my 9-week break trip to Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia!

I am very grateful for the experience I have had with TravelGrad so far, I don't want it to end!

Finishing university is daunting, but is much less so thanks to the support offered by TravelGrad. If you're eager to travel then this is the perfect opportunity. The job is rewarding, and balanced enough that you get to explore Thailand and immerse yourself in the culture.

It was always a dream of mine to work abroad, but it didn't feel like a tangible reality until the ease of TravelGrad's organisation and communication came to play. The logistics of moving abroad, which can obviously be very complicated, are made as simple as possible by the organisation.

When you move out here, you'll meet a tonne of like minded people at the orientation for working. Rest assured that as daunting as it is moving to a new country, there are many others in the exact same position. You'll soon develop connections with ambitious like minded individuals as yourself.

The job itself is vastly rewarding. Because Thailand embodies a culture of relaxation and positivity, the kids are very excitable and friendly, and you can guarantee that you'll be working with a smile on your face the majority of the time. You are genuinely contributing something meaningful to life with the work you are doing; a blessing not to be underappreciated.

Thailand is a beautiful country. Since I've moved out here, I've swam with fish and bioluminescent plankton off a coral reef, eaten some of the best food of my life, immersed myself in the culture and its festivities through Loy Khratong and Khon Kaen's annual silk festival. I've seen the most beautiful locations of my entire life down south, exploring the islands. You will feel grounded and present in the Buddhist temples, even if you are not a religious/spiritual person. I've also pushed myself out of my comfort zone and started Muay Thai. Rest assured that you have the work life balance to savour this country fully. Something I couldn't even do working back home in the UK.

If there's anything constructive I'd offer, is before you come out, save as much money as possible. Save more than you even think is necessary. You're going to be overexcited by the new country, and my only regret is that I ran into financial problems from not having saved accordingly. But this is such a minor issue that I barely think about it now. Just make sure money isn't an issue for you inbetween moving jobs/graduating and starting teaching at your respective school.

And as a final note, listen to the advice TravelGrad give you before moving out. They'll work it all out for you, asking for preferences, giving you a timeline for VISA applications (and relevant vital documents). Be on top of your game and be in constant communication with everyone involved to make your life easier. TravelGrad already do the hard work of making your life easy, so give it back to them!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟5/5 stars round of applause for Andrew & the TravelGrad team!!! I am so thankful that I decided to take the plunge and move to Thailand with the help of TravelGrad. They have been a great support throughout what has been a daunting experience, always having an answer to your questions and being there if you need help!

The experience itself has been amazing so far. I have been fortunate enough to meet a group of like-minded people and know they will be friends for life. Living in the North-Eastern Isaan region in Thailand is so much fun. I’m enjoying the quiet life and being able to fully immerse myself in Thai culture. The placements are rural but there is always something going on whether that be joining a Zumba class with local Thai ladies, going to a night market to try new food, or having a beer with the locals! I would definitely recommend the experience, especially for those who want to experience a different way of life, meet people from all over the world, and immerse themselves in a new culture. Thailand is a great place with lovely people, places & food!!!

TravelGrad have been absolutely brilliant during every step of my teaching abroad journey.

I knew after I graduated that I didn't want to go straight into the working world in the U.K. and was ready to challenge myself to gain some extra experience of living and working abroad. However, I was unsure of the exact route I would take to do this. I then heard about TravelGrad through a friend who had previously used them and spoke of them highly.

After getting in contact with Andrew and the team, I got excited about the possibility of moving to either Thailand or Vietnam to work. Andrew was really helpful in helping me to choose the right option for me by supplying me with important information about both placements. Once I chose Thailand, the team was helpful in guiding me through the steps that needed to be taken in order to move abroad. They were also always able to answer questions I had whenever I needed to ask them.

Since being in Asia, TravelGrad has been a great support for navigating life abroad. Again, they have always been available to answer questions.

My time in Thailand so far has been life-changing. Immersing myself in the school environment has helped me to learn so much from the Thai teachers, the other graduates, and the children. Thai schools are so cool; unlike schools in the U.K., there is a huge focus on arts, creativity and self-expression. It has been so inspiring to see and get involved with this and it has helped me to take myself and life less seriously.

A big thank you to TravelGrad for helping to facilitate the positive and self-developing experience I have had so far here in Thailand. :)

I'm so glad I chose TravelGrad for my first teaching abroad experience. Andrew was always available to answer any questions, even though I was in a completely different time zone in the US. I loved that I was able to meet a ton of other teachers at orientation before going to my placement, which helped me not feel alone. My experience teaching in Thailand has been such an adventure! Students are so friendly and excited to see you. Everywhere you walk on campus, you will hear "Hello teacher!" or "Good morning teacher!" and see smiling faces greeting you. They get so excited over small things like playing learning games, which makes it so fun to teach them. I have felt safe and welcomed in my city the entire time. Overall, it has been such a fulfilling experience, and I'm so glad I took the leap and signed up. Also, I can't complain about eating amazing Thai food every night!

I’m currently on the Thailand taster course. TravelGrad made it super easy dealing visa applications and getting you in touch with the local company. Andrew in particular seems like he never sleeps and is always ready to respond to any questions.

Technically you can do all the visa applications yourself but having the peace of mind knowing you’ve got all the documents you need and checked all the right boxes for when you touch down is well worth it. Also just having a first port of call for any issues when you’re out and while you’re getting ready to leave is invaluable for saving yourself time and stress.

After a solid semester abroad I knew I wasn’t wanting to settle or stay in the UK for much longer than I needed to post graduation, I spoke to the guys at Travel Grad and they were incredibly helpful and understanding. Throughout the whole process Andrew was so insightful and covered literally everything I possibly could’ve needed to know about working abroad. I was originally wanting to go to Japan however he convinced me Thailand was the place for me. Could not thank Andrew and the others at travel grad for the experience I’ve had, and am incredibly sad at the thought of returning back to the UK. Couldn’t recommend travel grad enough to any future grads who are unsure about what they want to do/need time to think or get out of the UK - they have been so supportive and friendly, always there through the good and bad moments! Thank you guys!