TEFL Thailand Blog

I was reading a great article on various case studies of teachers in Thailand, and their salaries and budgets. If you are interested in getting your TEFL/TESOL certificate in Thailand and starting to work here, but are curious about the realities of budgeting on a teacher’s salary, it is a very helpful article.

All-in-all, teachers are realistically able to do pretty well here, save money and live the lifestyle they prefer, saving on some things and spending money on others. Like personal budgeting anywhere else you might be, it’s always easy to spend money and takes some discipline to keep your budget straight.

Some teachers have perks that come with the job such as apartments or food provided by the school district, and some fund this on their own.

People decide to take the TEFL course for a multitude of reasons. They may want a break or change in their career, they may have travelled to Thailand before and like so many others before them feel compelled to return, some students have had teaching English as a foreign language recommend to them by friends and family, others simply understand that it’s the adventure that awaits.

We recognize that for some people, moving to Thailand is a bit like stepping into the unknown. You may have some conception of how your life is going to progress once you set foot in the ‘Land of a Thousand Smiles’, but most people have some questions they must put to us before their journey can begin, and even though everyone draws on different life experiences’, there are a few general questions that pop up again and again and it’s our job to set the record straight.

The majority of people coming through our TEFL course want to find work in Thailand or throughout Asia after they’ve graduated. Although this is one of people’s major concerns it is the easiest question to answer – there are lots of jobs in Thailand, our jobs board is swamped with opportunities for our current students. If you are diligent in your job search you’ll find opportunities to teach almost everywhere, to almost anyone. Wages received, in relation to the cost of living in Thailand are excellent, and with the current economic climate as it stands you might well discover you have more disposable income than you did in your home country… so enjoy your free time.

Coming from a western society most of us are accustomed to a certain standard of living and we often find students anxious about their accommodation options - concerned that they’ll be living in a manner they can not adapt to. Please allow us dispel this common misconception. Thailand has a wide range of housing options to choose from and you’ll find there’s something to suit your particular requirements. While becoming TEFL certified at the School, and when you go on to teach elsewhere, you’ll find a range of cozy housing options, bungalows and serviced apartments – all with modern amenities at a very reasonable price.

English teaching is something the Thai people are in need of. Everyone is keen to learn and you’ll come across the Thais going out of there way to speak with you, one of the reasons for this is it’s just their nature and culture to be friendly, the other reason is because they want to practice their English on you. Give them a chance to do so… come and join in!

Students taking the TEFL/TESOL course do so for various reasons, you may want a change of career, you may have recently graduated and want to take a year out, or maybe you simply came here on holiday and fell in love with the place. At the present time there is an abundance of teaching jobs in and around Thailand and whatever your reasons may be for coming here, there is one consistent characteristic with teaching as a profession – it’s fulfilling! Speaking English in Thailand is very important and many of the Thai jobs require some level of competency in the English language and this is only increasing. As an ESL teacher you’ll be creating opportunities for your students, being TEFL certified allows you to get paid while you do so and live in one of the world’s most stunning locations.

When you make your decision to join us for a TEFL/TESOL course at our school in Phuket, you have chosen a quality course with the best location in Thailand.

There are several schools that are licensed to issue TEFL certificates in Phuket, and we’re one!

Here’s a scan of our license (click to see larger image):

From TEFL Phuket

We also have a very qualified TEFL instructor, Jim Heard, with a Master’s Degree in Education and fourteen years of experience teaching in Thailand and Korea; he will be able to impart to you both the most up-to-date techniques for teaching and practical knowledge on how to deliver effective lessons.

We keep class sizes small! Your class will never be larger than fifteen students.

We have the best location in Phuket- just a few minutes walk to the beach! Here we are:

View TEFL Phuket in a larger map

But you don’t want to take one of those courses where it’s just filled with people wanting to sit on the beach, right? You want to be with others who are looking to teach and start a new career. Well, how about a guaranteed job? Yes - take our TEFL/TESOL course, follow our advice, do a diligent job search and you will find work to teach English in Thailand. We will help with CV refinement for the Asian market, provide you with contacts and placement service (for those who excel in our course), and access to our online jobs board that is exclusive to our students and alumni.

Throw in twenty hours of teaching observation and practice to get you into real-life teaching environments, and you have yourself a serious TEFL course. The proof of this is a 100% success rate for people finding work when they do a diligent job search and employers soliciting us for graduates of our courses.

So: spend four weeks in an intensive, serious training course, relax by the beach a few minutes away, and start a new career. Let’s get you going: Enroll Now

Jobs available for TEFL Phuket graduates!

Our four-week course pays for itself in the first two months of working.

Enjoy the beach, nightlife, and relaxing after class.

Become a teacher: our graduates have a 100% success rate in finding jobs!

Join us now! We need teachers.

Call us immediately! Begin a new life, new career, and make money doing meaningful and productive work!

As I am writing this article in Kamala, Phuket on the first day of the Songkran festival, things are looking up for a very happy and festive Thai New Year. This is by far my favorite festival of all here in Thailand (there are so many!) with all the splashing water and well-wishes from the Thai people.

Students in the current TEFL course are getting some very practical Thai Language and Culture training today by experiencing the festival for themselves, going to a local Wat (Buddhist temple), and receiving their own blessings for a New Year.

If you are planning a course with us or are considering one, you will find that you will have an enjoyable, value-filled experience here. If you have any questions, you can always feel free to contact us directly.

Best wishes for a good year and new careers to everyone.

As they say here for the New Year: Sawat dee Songkran!

People interested in TEFL teacher training often ask:

“What kind of teaching opportunities or English teaching jobs are available after I get my TEFL certificate?”

English teachers are in such high demand, there are job opportunities in more settings than you might imagine.

Government Schools

Many EFL teachers find good jobs in public schools -  this is one of the main areas in which to find employment.

The Thai government has put much effort into teaching English to students. The Thai people are not ignorant and understand how important it is to learn and know English. However, unless a school can secure a native speaker of English as a teacher, the English teachers in schools are Thai, and most have never left Thailand to visit an English-speaking country, so their English is only based on classroom experience as taught by other Thais, and this has limited effectiveness in mastering English.

School administrators understand this situation and actively search out native-English-speaking teachers to come to their schools to teach. They are taking an active role in their children’s future and success by bringing in qualified teachers who will teach at a higher standard and as a complement to the current Thai teachers.

International Schools

International schools are found throughout Asia, and usually have an English program where all classes are held in English across all subjects. The student body generally consists of both Thai and foreign students, and they offer a very good curriculum.

Graduates of the TEFL Phuket course have gone on to teach at these types of schools in Phuket. The schools have found the quality of teachers we produce extremely good, resulting in requests for more students from our courses to join their schools.

Working in a program like this can also provide the opportunity to teach more subjects than English - depending on your background, education and experience.

Language Schools

These schools fill a very important need in local cities and communities for providing language education to adults seeking to improve their English - primarily to help further their career, fit in with the culture if they plan to travel, or simply to learn a new language. These learning centers offer private and group language lessons, and are a great place to start your TEFL career. Pay is usually by the hour and on a contract basis, so you can be more flexible with how many hours you work and what kind of classes you teach.

Language schools also do a lot of contract work with local schools and hotels and resorts for providing teachers, so if you are uncertain of what kind of teaching you might like, working at a language school can help you explore those possibilities.

Hospitality Industry

Hotels, resorts, and restaurants are a big part of the English teacher job market as they invest a lot of money to train their staff in English, the most commonly spoken language among tourists and in international business.

The size of these different employers varies greatly, from small family-run restaurants and hotels to internationally-run resorts. Some hire trainers full-time to work with their large numbers of employees at different levels of English ability, while others might contract with a teacher to do hourly work.

No matter the job or location, the students found in these types of jobs are generally well-motivated and eager to learn, as their supervisor expects it and they are more successful in their job.

Many others…

This is just a broad overview of the main areas of English teaching opportunities in Asia, there are many other opportunities, including jobs for corporate training and private tutoring. You can also use your language skills in ways other than teaching such as helping with translations, editing, and copy work.  When you arrive, the possibilities open to you are only limited to your imagination and attitude.

For more info and to get started, visit our enroll page.

We wish you the best of luck in finding your dream job in Thailand and Asia and are here to help get you started and manage the process efficently. Your new life is ready and waiting - are you ready for it?

Here is an example of why Thailand is a wonderful place to spend some time teaching English.

We have a student, Johnny, who earned his TEFL certificate with us and is teaching in one of our schools, and he shared a lovely story with me.

He had a minor motorbike accident – he slipped out in some loose sand on the road - and scraped up a knee and foot. Johnny did the standard “no insurance” thing, washed his wounds and put a small bandage on them.

Later that day, several new Thai friends were visiting him - he had met them once or twice before. They saw what he described as his “amateur attempts” at being his own doctor. Without prompting, they pulled his bandages off, checked his injuries, pronounced them no good, and as he said: “one went this way, one went that way, and the third went another way.” His Thai friends returned with an assortment of medicines, cleaned his wounds, applied some various salves and bandaged him up correctly. All of this was done without request or compensation.

Later, when he was out and about, his landlady cleaned his apartment, changed his bedding, and left his home spotless. Again, without prompting by Johnny.

He has healed perfectly, with only some minor scars and a beautiful story.

Simply put, the Thai people are incredibly compassionate and caring, unlike anything you may have ever encountered.

Do yourself a favor and come to Thailand when you can. Your spirit will be refreshed and your heart will be touched by the gentleness and beauty of Thailand and her people.

Thanks to Johnny for the story and to the Thai people for being ambassadors of kindness to the world.

Many of our potential students wonder: Is it possible to teach English in Thailand without speaking the Thai language?

YES you can teach as knowledge of Thai is not necessary to teach English in Thailand.

In fact, speaking Thai in your classes can be a hindrance to the progress of your students.

TEFL is Teaching English as a Foreign Language. This means the language spoken locally, outside of the classroom, is not English. This is different than EFL or ESL and sometimes TESOL which are generally taught in an English-speaking country. The difference is that your class time may be the only time that your students are easily and safely (without risk of embarrassment) able to practice their English. To speak Thai with them, or to rely on their mother tongue for instruction, would mean they lose valuable English practice time and opportunity.

We view the classroom as a safe place in which errors in English are welcomed as opportunities to learn. Your role as teacher is pronunciation coach and usage adviser. As a native speaker, you have a natural “ear” for what sounds correct. English is highly irregular in some situations, and a native’s knowledge is irreplaceable for students learning to speak well.

Thai may sometimes be used to clarify a point or as an aid in definitions, but the absolute majority (99%) of your classroom time should be speaking English with your students. It is possible to use an online dictionary or translation service to give a general idea of meaning, as well. Plus Google image search can help with pictures of things, emotions or activities. There are also online videos from YouTube and other sites, which can be beneficial, but these should be pre-screened.

In our training, we emphasize maximizing student talk time (STT) rather than teacher talk time (TTT). You can speak English, your students cannot. So we engage our students, teach them a bit of new English, then set up a safe “free practice” opportunity. Thus, they learn with confidence and in an enjoyable manner, so they learn better and more quickly.

Thus, near-native proficiency in English is the only language skill necessary to be successful Teaching English in Asia.

For more information on registering for the course, please click here.

Thanks for your interest and see you in Phuket soon!

Sawatdee - The Thai equivalent of Aloha!

In response to many inquiries among our recent emails, we have updated our FAQ page to include information helpful to students interested in teaching English in Thailand.

Topics include:

Choosing a course

the TEFL acronym jungle and some definitions

TEFL distance learning

university credit

degree requirements

job prospects and placement

visas and more…

Please give it a look, and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have: info@TEFLThailand.com.

Thanks and we look forward to helping you begin your teaching adventure.