Thailand - TEFL in Thailand

Thailand

Virtually anyone who has a university degree and TEFL Certificate can teach in Thailand. With that said, simply having a degree is enough to be eligible for work, and, though it would not be recommended, there are many people working in Thailand who don't actually have a degree. Keep in mind the penalties for such work can be as severe as deportation! You would be forging documents in order to get a work visa!

It is generally a very safe country to live and teach in - aside from the traffic! - and an amazing place with many cultural delights. The students are generally very polite and respectful. The downside is that the salaries are quite low (enough to live on, but not much to save), and the famous attitude of "mai bpen rai" can sometimes be challenging to work with as a foreigner.

Where to Teach

As far as regions/places to teach, here are some basic descriptions:

• Bangkok is very popular with teachers and there are many jobs here. However, conditions are somewhat chaotic and it can be quite overwhelming.

• Chiang Mai is another popular big city amongst teachers as it's an attractive city and much cheaper than Bangkok. The weather tends to be better and there's a thriving expat community.

• Southern Thailand offers a few large cities as well as countless islands and beaches. Some of these places are thoroughly "spoiled" by tourists and merchants trying to gouge those tourists. However, there are still plenty of places "off the beaten path." Like the north, there are a several beautiful national parks, and there are hundreds of farming and fishing villages. There is always a good chance that wherever a teacher does work they will not be far from the big islands of Phuket or Koh Samui and it's surrounding islands. Nor would they be far from the rewards of living in rural, or smaller-town/city Thailand. It is still not advisable to seek a teaching position in the far south - near the violent border provinces with Malaysia.

• Northern Thailand offers a few large cities as well, mixed with many "off the beaten path" towns and villages. Perhaps the best things about this region of Thailand is its topography and the lifestyle afforded. Northern Thailand is mountainous, and there are many highlands and hills. The border with Myanmar can be wild at times, but not particularly dangerous. The climate tends to be much cooler than central Thailand (Bangkok) and certainly cooler than the south.

• Eastern Thailand (Issan) offers very rural and sometimes remote surroundings. The border with Laos is still relatively unchanged in many areas, where the border with Cambodia is (almost annually) the host of unfortunate violence between the military and political factions of both Thailand and Cambodia. The mighty Mekong River is of great importance here (the river forms the most of the northern and eastern boarders of Thailand), and there are many natural wonders and welcoming locals. As in northern Thailand, this region of Thailand is still home to several ethnic minorities and tribes, as well as families with close ties to Laos and Cambodia.

Looking for a Job

Bangkok, Thailand's capital city, offers endless employment opportunities, but work can also be found in other big cities such as Hat Yai and Songkla in the south, or Chiang Mai in the north.

The English language version of the Yellow Pages is a good first source. Equally useful are the Bangkok Post and the Nation, Bangkok's daily newspapers published in English where teaching posts are often advertised. A good search of the numerous TESL/TEFL job listing websites, or TESL/TEFL forums also offer resources to start looking for work.

Both private and state schools can offer you employment as an English teacher and locating them is not difficult. Though you are sure to find employment, you might have to start with part-time and occasional work with several employers and slowly work your way up to a 20-30hr week. However, Thailand offers enough opportunity that it is certainly possible to find work in Thailand from abroad. Most current teachers found their work while outside of Thailand, almost as many found work while traveling through and being in the right place at the right time, and a few people (who must also have lots of patience!) found work by coming to Thailand for it.

Perhaps the most demanding employers - in terms of curriculum - are the international schools, which require teachers to have experience and qualifications. These schools are also the ones which offer higher wages, particularly if you have been recruited outside the country.

Teacher's Wage

Average wages start at 30,000THB (Baht) per month (950 USD, 660 EUR, 594 GBP) at most public schools and universities, as well as most private schools. At this level of salary it is very possible to live well (vacations, eating out every night, enjoying bars with foreign and Thai co-workers, etc.), and still save some money. As always, it depends on a person's spending habits, and what one chooses to spend ones money on. The local economy of the place a teacher finds work in is also a factor (i.e. cost of living).

It is important to note that larger cities like Bangkok or Chiang Mai are an exception to this basic salary and cost of living. Though the salaries in these large cities may start at over 40,000THB (1,250 USD, 868 EUR, 782 GBP), the cost of living is sometimes comparable to what a foreigner might be used to in the non-major cities of their home countries. It takes much more fiscal discipline to live and teach in Thailand's large cities, as opposed to its rural and remote areas. Also important to note about wages are Thai laws regarding them. A portion of your salary is, by law, considered what your school is required to provide as a living expense (i.e. rent). Therefore, a new teacher should not expect to negotiate a larger salary, arguing it would cover living expenses.

Another variable in wages are "International Schools." International schools offer higher starting salaries of 50,000THB (1,580 USD, 1,097 EUR, 989 GBP) to 90,000THB (2,830 USD, 1,965 EUR, 1,771 GBP) or more, but very rarely hire new teachers who do not hold an undergraduate or higher level degree in education, early childhood development, and/or a professional teaching license recognized by the governments of their home countries, etc. A teacher with several years of experience teaching in Thailand can find work in an international school. With regard to what defines an "international school", it is important to research the school, understand its curriculum and learning goals, and take other steps toward understand the teaching demands and reputation of the international school before expecting to teach in a school with a more globally-minded set of standards versus a school that seeks to meet municipal and national government standards.

Living in Thailand

It is possible to spend around 2,000 to 10,000THB on rent, depending on the size and development of the place a teacher finds work in. In a less developed town, it is possible to rent a home with several rooms, a yard, carport, etc. in a gated community (mubon). However, a furnished living space is rare. Most teachers will end up in an apartment in the cities, because houses in those places can easily approach over 1/3rd of a teacher's salary to pay the rent.

In less commercially and industrially developed places of Thailand it is possible to eat out on the equivalent of about 1USD to 2USD a meal - although eating with large groups and ordering alcohol and special drinks (Coke, Chai-yen, ect.) can add up fast. In such circumstances it can be a hassle to have the restaurant split up the bill - not only for you and your friends, but imagine as a restaurant splitting up a bill of orders for 20+ people who don't speak your language! All places will offer several wonderful markets, at special times and days of the week, and chances are a small town or larger will have a big chain grocery/supermarket like a what a foreigner would see back home, maybe two!

Purchasing a motorbike ("scooter", "mo-ped", ect.) costs 30,000THB to 45,000THB for a brand new bike. The costs of a used bike vary wildly - and so does condition, so make friends with a reliable Thai mechanic! A good mechanic will give you honest prices for his work and parts and may even help you sell your bike to the locals. There are many good mechanics though, who will also charge you an unjust premium for work and parts, and those bills can add up quick. Having a bike is a the most common way teachers get around their towns, but in cities, or villages an old fashioned bicycle works too! Cars in Thailand are not really affordable on a basic salary, nor would they measure up to the safety standards of the Western world - and if there is one place in Thailand where you face serious dangers it's Thai roadways. Plus, car ownership in Thailand comes with more rules and requirements than a motorbike - and riding a motorbike is a part of the experience of living in Southeast Asia! Filing up a motorbike costs about 300THB/week, where a car could cost thousands in a month for gas! Big road trips can be done via very comfortable coach buses, or getting a ticket for a van. (Note that van rides are sometimes white-knuckle experiences too!)

Utilities vary depending on the person and their living arrangements. Some people use so little electricity that the government will actually pay their entire electric bill for that month (part of a special program to encourage conservation among the Thai people). Most, however, will spend lost keeping air conditioners blasting. Figuring in electric, water, internet, TV, etc. and utilities will run about 3,000THB or more. (Internet and TV services are the most expensive, second to electricity. Drinking water and tap water - which you can't drink with out serious filters - are often the cheapest utility bills.)

For those who need corrected vision, Thai optometrists are excellent. Keep your prescription information handy before you leave, and expect excellent deals on glasses and eye exams - bartering even in the eye glass store is not unheard of!

It is possible to get excellent deals on luxury items (HD LCD TVs, super high volume external HDDs), but be wary of knock offs, and sometimes these items aren't so "cheap" compared to home.

A teacher looking for a job should also consider health insurance. Some employers provide it, others don't. It's hit or miss.

When to Go

The best time to look for work is February or March as term starts in May. Late September into October is also another good time to find work as this time of year is approximately in between terms. Generally, any time of year is a good time to find work in Thailand, but it depends on the specific place a person wants to work (i.e. big city v. small town - so hundreds of schools v. maybe half a dozen).

Legal Requirements

With regards to the legal aspects of working in Thailand, in principle, visas should be obtained before entering the country. Visas can be obtained from all Royal Thai Embassies and Consulate-Generals abroad. There are different types of visa which are issued according to the purpose of the visit so make sure you check with the relevant Thai authorities in your area.

In practice, though, the majority of foreigner teachers teach on a tourist visa or a non-immigrant visa. To become a legal employee and therefore be entitled to a work permit you need a Non-Immigrant B visa. The papers you will need to present for this type of visa will depend on where you are coming from. Once you have your visa you can leave it up to your employer to organize the work permit. Universities and established language schools may be willing to apply for a work permit on behalf of teachers who have proved themselves successful in the classroom and who are willing to sign a 1-year contract. To be eligible for a work permit you must have a minimum of a BA and, in most cases, a relevant teaching certificate. However, it is common practice for English teachers to cross the border into Malaysia every 3 months to get a new 3 month visa from the Thai consulate there.

Cultural Issues

• As a teacher you will hold a respected place in society so be sure to live up to this expectation. You will be expected to behave well both inside and outside the school. This extends to your dress sense: conservative and respectful; to this extent piercings are frowned upon (except small earrings for female teachers) as are tattoos which should be covered up. Beards are not looked on kindly as well.

• The head is sacred; do not touch another person's head. At the same time, it is polite (and expected) to dip the head as you walk past or meet "superiors" or people to whom you should show mutual respect (such as parents of students, your school owner, etc).

• NEVER criticise the monarch or Buddha. Great respect must be shown towards both of these figures even to the extent that their pictures are required to be respected (defacing the picture of the monarch on a currency note, for example, can be punished harshly). Some time ago there was a report that the government were looking to ban tourists from entering the country if they had religious tattoos on their body (e.g. a picture of the Buddha) however this was not the case.

• Do not touch a monk, even when offering them something. Give up your seat to a monk on public transport and do NOT sit in seats reserved for monks.

• Thais do not shake hands, instead they place their hands in front of their face and bow slightly. It will be appreciated if you can do this.

• Losing your calm is not regarded well.

• Do not even consider drug use or taking drugs into Thailand. It is extremely dangerous and can lead to extensive prison sentences if you are caught.

• Smoking in the street is illegal, as is dropping litter.

• Do not suggest improvements or criticise the school you work in; this is heavily frowned upon even if it is positive and constructive criticism.

• Intimacy in public is frowned up; being a male alone with a female will likely make her uncomfortable and you should avoid this if possible (for example, if you need to speak with a female student after class then make sure there are other people present to avoid any problems).

• The foot is unclean. Don't point it towards anyone (especially a picture of the monarch or Buddha).

• The left hand is deemed unclean; try to use the right in all actions.