TEFL Thailand

Posted on October 4, 2010 by Mike

Teaching English as a foreign language(TEFL) is a big business here in Thailand. To do so legally you require a first degree,  with many employers also seeking a relevant TEFL certificate before they consider that you meet the Thai Ministry of Education requirements for a teachers licence.

So what’s it like to complete a TEFL course and what’s on offer in Thailand to a successful teacher suitably qualified.

TEFL Courses:

TEFL courses are available all over the world. Providing  teachers with suitable qualifications through a  multi-billion dollar business. Incidentally it is also one of the largest unregulated businesses in the world.

No doubt a TEFL insider would argue that the business is self regulating and indeed in countries like the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand there are many links with academic establishments who help provide regulation.  But what about the rest of the world the US for instance, where several big players are based or even places like Thailand for example.

Personally I have completed a TEFL course here in Thailand and certainly have no complaints about what it entailed or indeed the cost($1500 four week course), the provider was based in the USA. The course was comprehensive and included observed teaching practices with real language students.

That said I had already been teaching for several years, was experienced in a classroom environment and just adapted my teaching skills to the new challenge. However many of my classmates were fresh out of college and had no teaching experience whatsoever. Thus those who successfully completed the course, armed also with their college degree could then seek work in a Thai school. Unfortunately there was little provided to help them during the course as classroom management was not on the agenda.

TEFL in Thailand:

There are plenty of job opportunities for suitably qualified TEFL teachers in Thailand, particularly if they are native speakers. Salaries range from around 30,000 Baht in government schools to upwards of 60,000 Baht in private establishments each month. Specialist English language schools also provide another source of work with a range of salaries, depending on hours and other conditions.

Although you are unlikely to get rich quick teaching TEFL in Thailand even the bottom end salaries compare favourably with what a Thai teacher is paid for doing the same job where an average salary might be around 15,000 Baht a month. Non-native speakers of English say from the Philippines or India attract salaries lower than a Thai teacher.

Recruitment of teachers tends to take place early in the New Year in Thailand with posts becoming vacant at the start of the academic year in March. There are numerous agencies and web boards that advertise posts one such example is Ajarn. This particular site also offers some excellent background information to prospective teachers.

A Word of Warning:

Several TEFL provider in Thailand offer job placements after completing their course, which is nice if that’s what you want, but just be a little wary if you are tempted since what they often omit to mention is the visa and work permit requirements if you are to work legally in Thailand. You might also find that the referrer is getting a cut of your salary.

Incidentally although I am suitably qualified I have never worked in a Thai school. I do however occasionally help out at an adult community college with the English part of the curriculum as an unpaid volunteer.  My adopted niece Doy attends a private school with an English programme and there is one foreign teacher there(Swedish). Having spent some time there chatting with the teachers who are looking after 35-40 seven year old kids I’m quite glad I only chose to teach adults in my spare time.

Check out this informative post on finding work as an ESL teacher in Thailand written by Paul Garrigan.

Related posts:

  1. English Second Language Thailand
  2. My Love Affair with Thailand-Epilogue-Chapter 3
  3. English in Thailand
  4. My Love Affair with Thailand-Epilogue-Chapter 2
  5. Thailand Average Salary Income
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  • http://paulgarrigan.com/ Paul Garrigan

    Hi Mike, good post on TEFL. I was teaching here in Thailand for about seven years before finding work that better suited me :-) I think TEFL is useful when it provides actual teaching experience. I suppose it is also good that some of these places can provide you with a job at the end of the course; maybe a mixed blessing. I completed a PGCE in the end; it was a big commitment and it cost me a fortune but maybe I can use that knowledge some other way. I wonder what your view is on further education following TEFL; postgraduate TEFL courses, PGCE? Do you think that people who want to teach in Thailand should consider these? I think financially that I made a mistake by doing the PGCE, but maybe other people would benefit more from it.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Paul I rate PGCE, but I got mine free from the place I worked in the UK. Its an interesting subject though because as I understand it the Thais don’t recognise it, I may be wrong of course.I think PGCE is great for folk working at say an FE college in the UK, but I still think a first degree is the qualification that opens doors. I also have a Cert ED which again Thai employers seem to ignore.Maybe a TEFL degree(diploma possibly) would be a suitable progression for anyone interested, that said in Thailand Caucasian features preferable blonde seem to go down quite well too;-)Back home CELTA or something similar seems to be a requirement for TESOL.

      • http://paulgarrigan.com/ Paul Garrigan

        Hi Mike, I agree that most Thai school administrators are impressed when they see blond hair and blue eyes on the application form.

        I noticed though that most of my Thai colleagues would always be doing some course or other – most of them had a Masters – although they relied on the foreign teachers to do their essays. There does not seem to be the same push for western teachers to do courses- I suppose this is understandable given the nature of employment. It is a shame though because it might help with retention.

  • http://www.jonathan-russell.com/ Jon

    Hi Mike,Just a quick note that you do not need necessarily need a TEFL to teach in Thailand. Holding a degree is enough in most cases. In fact, working with a TEFL and no degree is technically a breach of the law, whereas a degree with no TEFL is fine.Also, as I understand it, a teacher is allowed to work at a school for two years after which they must “attempt” a Thai teacher’s license degree – but not necessarily pass – in order to continue in that position. Teachers can move schools without needing to take the test however.I found my experiences teaching to be a mixed bag and the low barrier of entry re qualifications is the main contributor. Many people turn up thinking they can teach but in fact have no idea…while others are just here for a visa and some money to make ends meet so take the p*ss despite many parents belief that they are making a difference..I will admit, openly, that this was my initial reason for teaching and as soon as I had the opportunity to find new employment (having initially arrived in the country without employment) I moved on.I wouldn’t say I was a bad teacher, but ultimately, and for many reasons, my heart wasn’t it in.I’ve witnessed many TEFL graduates who believe they are great teachers but in reality have no ideal/control of what they are doing. For this reason I worry about putting my children through school in Thailand. And then there are the school and their rules such as no failure, and frankly a ridiculous lack of discipline/responsibility in the kids.Don’t get me wrong, there are some great and very committed teachers in Thailand, but there are an awful lot of cowboys and it is almost random as to what you will find at each school.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Jon, thank you for your insight, you are of course right regarding TEFL certificate, although most of the jobs I see advertised do ask for some form of TEFL. Unless you have a first degree in English I would also say that its needed to help the teacher get on track with their English skills.

      When i finished my TEFL course in Phuket I was quite shocked that many of my classmates with no teaching experience(save 4 weeks on the course) would be let loose on 40 Thai kids!

      Guess I was somewhat naive in those days :-)

      At Doy’s school the foreign teacher of English is actually Swedish i.e. no a native English speaker. I also find myself correcting grammar in her English books or commenting that what she has written is correct and the teacher is wrong!

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