So you are entertaining the idea of going abroad to teach huh? Well I am confident it will be the best decision you will ever make – it was for me! Although moving your whole life 5,000 miles away can seem a daunting task, it is really much more simple then people think! Here are the basics to get you moved and working in Thailand!

Getting Started:

In order to teach English in Thailand you must be a native English speaker from the UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, Canada or South Africa and have a TESOL/TEFL or CELTA certificate. If you are not a native English speaker it is not impossible to get a job, although it does make it much more difficult.

In order to get a job you will need an undergraduate degree in any subject and a teaching certification. There are several different ways you can obtain the required teaching certificates, there are many different courses offered online in which these are awarded at completion or alternatively you could travel to Thailand and complete your TESOL certification in the country. Choosing to get certified at home usually costs less but getting certified in Thailand, although it is more expensive it comes with the benefit of in classroom learning as well as acclimating to the country.

Looking for jobs:

Once you have decided whether you want to get certified at home or in Thailand you then can start to research company options. Here you have a couple of options as well! You can either search for a job yourself or use a company which can help place you.

If you are searching by yourself consider looking at Ajarn.com or Daves ESL Cafe, these are both great sites at post job opportunities.

If you are arriving in Thailand certified and need help finding a job CIEE is an excellent program that matches up its participants with jobs around the country. If you want to get certified in Thailand some programs that are reputable include: Green Heart Travel, Gap360, and TEFL Heaven.

What next?

After choosing which company you would like to go through the rest is relatively simple, look up vaccines you need to get, book a flight, and pack your bags! Congratulations you are on your way to Thailand!!

Fast Facts and Tips:

• May and October are the best months to start teaching as they are the beginning of each term.
• There are two different types of schools in Thailand: government and private. Each comes with pros and cons, for example private schools often pay more, where government schools will have more holidays.
• You will most likely work 30-40 hour weeks, and the average pay is around 800 USD a month.
• Many schools have MEP (Mini English Programs) or EP (English Program) portions of the school. These are often programs where the student’s parents pay more to have them enrolled. There are usually more than one subject taught in English.
• Teaching out of an English Program means you will teach many different classes one hour of English every week.
• Dress codes are very important, make sure that you have proper teaching clothes. For men slacks/nice trousers and a collared shirt are a must, and for Women closed toed shoes and business casual skirts or dresses are required. Make sure that the length of your hem is at or below your knees and your shoulders are to be covered always.