Are you wondering how to get a job teaching English in Thailand?
Don't worry, it's relatively easy to get an ESL teaching position in Thailand! Basically, all you need is a notarized copy of your degree, your official transcripts, a TEFL certificate, a passport and a clean criminal record! (Please check with your company for the specific requirements, but these are what you will generally need!)
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| Are you ready for your adventure?! |
The school semester starts in May and ends in February, so you can typically start in semester 1, mid-May or in semester 2, which begins in November. Many companies will allow you to commit to a one-semester contract of 4 months, so you can see whether Thailand is a good fit for you without having to sign a contract for the entire year.
SEMESTER 1: mid-May - September
BREAK: October
SEMESTER 2: November - February
BREAK: March, April
The company I worked for is called MediaKids Academy, (it's a good company, but they do not have any placements in the south of Thailand, so if you're looking for a beach destination, you'll need to try one of the other options listed below). Feel free to check them out here: MediaKids
Check out their company reviews here at Glassdoor: MediaKids Employee Reviews
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Be sure to always check out any prospective company on Glassdoor and read the current and former employee reviews.
The best place to search for jobs in Thailand is definitely Ajarn, which means "teacher" in Thai!
You can always find lots of teaching positions in Thailand and elsewhere on Dave's ESL Cafe !
Additionally, you can research specific schools if you're looking to live in some region of Thailand in particular. Here are some of the top international schools in Thailand:
You should also check out this great article from Thai School Life:
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Basically, what happens when you teach in Thailand is that you book a flight (most companies do not pay for your flight), you go to some training seminars (which will mostly be bureaucratic stuff like getting your visa photo taken, paying fees you weren't advised of, and meeting various staff members), then you'll probably be asked to pay out of pocket to take a bus to your school (in some cases, this may be a 12+ hour overnight bus).
You will start working and get the work visa later. This is standard procedure. Usually, you'll have to take a trip by yourself or with another teacher to Laos (the cost of which is only partially subsidized by the company). The company will help you get your documents in order, but you will be responsible for figuring out how to book a bus across to Savannakhet and getting your documents in to the proper authorities.
Try not to spend too much on tuk-tuks, as they tend to overcharge foreigners. But don't haggle too much, because even though you're now being paid in Thai baht, a weak currency compared to that of most English-speaking countries (re: your country, presumably), you're still making a higher salary than most of the Laos locals, so try to be considerate.
Even though you'll be jet-lagged, dying from the heat, probably stressed by the lack of organization and absolute chaos of teaching in Thailand, and just trying to figure out who is the right person to ask about getting a refill on the printer ink... TRY TO BE FRIENDLY. It's going to take some time to adjust, but the most important thing is to make a good impression on the students and staff. So, although you may be experiencing culture-shock, just remain calm. I can't tell you how many times I freaked out about something privately with my co-teacher only to later realize that it was no big deal. I was in a state of panic every time a class was randomly cancelled or something weird happened. But in the end, everything usually worked out just fine!
And if you read my other posts about teaching in Thailand, you should have a good idea of what to expect!!!
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