TEFL Thailand Blog

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!

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!

BTE – better than ever. As a career choice, teaching English in Asia makes more sense to me now than ever. The job is fun, rewarding and a reasonable economic choice for living a life of fun and adventure traveling and experiencing the cultures of our world.

Why better than ever?

First, the job market for qualified TEFL teachers is excellent. There is rising demand worldwide as English becomes Earth’s universal language. In most every country of the world, both for business and tourism, English has become the global language used by people of every nationality to communicate. In short, everyone wants to speak English and governments around the world are whole-heartedly encouraging their citizens to do so.

Second, TEFL Thailand’s TEFL certificates are accepted throughout the world by established businesses and schools employing English language teachers. This recognition means that wherever you go to teach in Thailand, Asia or the world, your TEFL certificate will open doors to better employment opportunities.

Third, a job placement is virtually guaranteed for all graduates upon the successful completion of the TEFL course and the staff at your training center will help you secure a position in the country or area of your choosing. (Of course, you should remember that all job placements are subject to an interview by any prospective employer. Frankly, your employment search is best accomplished in person, as this allows you to visit your actual workplace, co-teachers and students and ensure the best fit for you in your job.)

Next, the lifestyle is wonderful. Most TEFL teachers in Thailand enjoy a 4 or 5 hour workday and make a comfortable living. This can be supplemented by private tutoring, increasing your income, and there is still plenty of free time to pursue your leisure or adventure activities. The students are eager and enchantingly friendly and the work is entertaining.

Finally, the cost to live in paradise is amazingly low. I have friends who live in various parts of Hawaii. To slum it in Hawaii, chasing uncertain and seasonal employment opportunities, you have to pay through the nose. The cost of living in Phuket is about a tenth of what my friends report from Oahu. A private apartment, with a couple of rooms and small kitchen will run you about US$200 – 300 each month. Fresh, delicious, healthy meals are a buck or two, and Phuket is a shopper’s paradise with endless bargains on anything you could hope to own.

Teaching English in Thailand is simply a great job – fun, financially rewarding and in demand. If you are seeking a new way to live and enjoy life, join us now by visiting our enroll page.

English Teaching in Phuket, Thailand – here is the latest update.

The job market for English teachers is heating up, as local schools attempt to hire qualified teachers to work for their upcoming term. Plus, resorts and restaurants are making use of the slower off-season time to do some staff training in English. In short, it is a great time to be making a nice living teaching English. I have one group from a local AV company and another of friends who are at widely different levels, but want to learn together. Seems like these beautiful, gentle Thai people always care more about having fun than accomplishing. Conversely, they learn more because of the relaxed and open atmosphere. I am blessed to be able to spend some time with them here, and relish their influence on me.

We are through the hot season, and things have cooled off considerably. The sunsets are amazingly colorful with great cloud formations. The beach is quite simply the place to be in the early evening. You’re certain to encounter many like-minded folks who have finished their day and have nothing left to do but enjoy a little chill-out time with the quiet of the evening. Never crowded, always peaceful, our beach is a haven for romance, playfulness and wholesome family time – whatever you are seeking.

The rain has started again, but rainy season may be misnamed – or at least misleading. During peak season there is almost no rain. That we have a little bit each day only seems like a lot when compared to zero rain for months on end. The rains are refreshing and the air is squeaky clean once they have passed through. The surrounding mountains are lush and vibrantly green with wreaths of mist floating through the trees.

The main thrust of the tourist season is over. The pace of life is a bit slower and people are quite relaxed. There are still many foreigners here, but they are more of the long-term type or those who enjoy less of a crowded scene. This means there is ample time to have a conversation and become acquainted with folks from all over the world. I have heard some wonderfully funny stories in recent weeks.

There are also deeper discounts available on shopping and services than in high-season. House rents are cheaper as are those for motorbikes and cars. Most everywhere you go these days, there is a greater chance for success in your attempt to bargain a better price, be it clothes, shoes or jewelry and watches. So the money earned in my teaching job goes further.

The evening fresh market has scaled back to two nights a week. That is enough to load in a few days produce. The fruit is incredible right now: mangoes, dragon fruit, mangosteens, rambutans. You don’t know them? That’s just another very pleasant surprise awaiting you when you join us in paradise for a TEFL teacher training class!

Sign up with us as soon as you are able – there is no reason to wait. You can enroll at www.teflphuket.com/enroll. We have courses beginning on both June 2nd and June 30th, as well as throughout the summer.
Thanks for your time, and see you on the beach!

Teaching English is sometimes said to be highly rewarding and fun. But is it really, or is this simply some sort of sales job?

English is the language of travel, commerce and the primary language of communication internationally. Teaching in Phuket provides the chance to teach not just Thai people, but people from all of Asia and the world. I have met wonderful people from China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia, during my Phuket teaching time. As our world becomes more interdependent, everybody wants and needs to learn English. Thus, the demand for English teachers in Thailand and Asia is continuing to climb.

People from these countries can travel to Thailand, take class every day of the week, stay in a nice room near the ocean – enjoying some relaxing time on Phuket’s famous beaches. They can do all of this for roughly the same cost as a private English tutor at home. Generally, these students have studied quite a bit of English on their own – mainly through non-native speakers, computer programs or even simply reading books. The opportunity to work on actual speaking skills, usage and conversation with a native speaking teacher is what they need. This is the best way to learn how to actually speak and listen to English in a conversational situation.

Students also come from all over Europe: Germany, Italy, Sweden, France and even Greece. Once again, basic English conversational skills are seen as advantageous – they are a way to prosper and have fun. Therefore, the market for the services of a qualified English teacher continues to expand. Seemingly, there is an endless stream of people who want and need to learn to speak English.

So is Teaching English truly fun and rewarding? You may have the idea that working for a large part of an hour on a point of grammar or pronunciation and attempting new and engaging means of approaching the material does not sound all that appealing. But, with persistence, they begin to get it, then they nail it and all of your efforts have paid off, then you’ll know.

The smiles on the student’s faces are worth all the effort.

Consider a normal Thai student. They don’t really consider doing anything unless it’s fun. This is part of their “sanook” culture – sanook means FUN.  So, the teacher’s job is to be entertaining and funny with a good handle on English and solid speaking skills. Teaching in this casual way with lots of laughter as a vital part of each lesson is a wonderful way to foster an environment of positive learning. Slip ups and stumbles are not met anxiety or self criticism, as in the west, but rather with smiles and giggles. The Thai people are certainly onto a good trick here! Learning to relax while working as a teacher is a key to success in the classroom and life! Thank you, Thai people!

Sounds great, right? How to begin? If you are fluent in English, earning a TEFL certificate is the only way to go. Why? In barely a month of fairly easy studies, you will be ready to teach. The TEFL course teaches everything you might need to get going and establish competence in front of real students. Lacking a TEFL, you are likely to needlessly complicate your English teaching and cheat your students in the bargain. Thai students are keen to learn, and while attending a private school, they have coughed up good money to do so. So, TEFL is a key to doing it right.

For a list of course dates and housing options please visit our enroll page.

Yes, teaching is rewarding. Join us in paradise and start having some fun!

Let’s assume you wish to relocate abroad and start a career as an English Teacher in Thailand.

You must start by earning a TEFL certificate to teach. All employers will be interested in your qualifications, and a TEFL is the key to demonstrating yourself as seriously focused on teaching and well-qualified to do so.

TEFL Phuket is approved by the Thai Ministry of Education (MoE), and your certificate is registered with them. So anywhere you go in Thailand, you’ll be respected as trained to teach English. This is important for you, as there are many untested and unapproved programs offered online and other places and these are not well received by employers, nor are they certified by the M o E.

Your odds of employment are better than excellent. Allthough Phuket is very popular with foreigners, there remains a large shortage of English teachers here. A recent editorial in the Phuket Gazette by the Chief of the M o E detailed a shortage of some 400+ teachers in Phuket alone – most of them in English. People here wish to learn English – it is imperative for their financial success in their hospitality and tourist businesses. The remainder of Thailand has an even larger shortage. So finding a job, once you are qualified, is almost guaranteed.

As part of a job offer, your employer will help you with the documentation for a one year work permit. Then, you are on track for permanent living in the “Land of 1000 Smiles!”

Go online and make a deposit down on your course – that way, your spot is reserved when you are ready to start. enroll here