There are many types of English teaching jobs in Thailand. Teaching English is one of the easiest and most popular ways to live in Thailand. They types of English teaching jobs in Thailand vary from full time to part time and teaching adults or teaching children. There are positives and negatives to each type of teaching jobs in Thailand which we will examine below.For information about getting a job teaching English please go to this guide.
Government School
Working in a government school is the easiest way to get a teaching job in Thailand. Every government school has been requested to find native teachers to teach English so there are opportunities all around the country. This means you can chose to live in a city or in the countryside. There are also opportunities to teach on one of the islands which could be your dream job. The hours are usually from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday which normally allows you teach ( around 24 hours a week ) and use the extra time to plan and mark work. You will also get long holidays in May and October during the school vacations. You may be asked to do extra activities outside these hours such as summer camps or sports events but such duties will be outlined in your contract upon starting at the school.
You will get to teach a wide range of students at a government school. Overall the level of English at most schools is quite low but you will find a couple of students who can speak reasonable English in each class. If you are teaching outside of the main tourist areas in Thailand you might be the first foreign person your students have ever met. This can cause problems with shyness and it may be an issue that needs to be resolved before being able to get effective communication from your students.
However there are some downsides to working in a Thai government school. Firstly the salary. At around 25-35k the salary is the lowest around and can make life difficult depending on where you live. Living in rural Thailand this salary can be enough to live a comfortable life but in the cities it will be very difficult. Many people will take on extra private classes with their students or at language centers to top-up their salary. However this means giving up either some of your weekends or evenings after work. The other issue is that government contracts are normally only for 10 or 11 months a year so you wont get paid for the whole year so sometimes you need to live for a month or 2 without getting a salary.
Language Schools
Of the different types of English teaching jobs in Thailand language schools offer the most variety in terms of different types of students. From 3 to 90-years old there are many different options. Some language schools cater just for adults whilst others are focused on children. This means that you can chose a job to teach your preferred type of student. You will also find a wide range of abilities from complete beginners to near native speakers. This means you will need to use a wide variety of skills and techniques to get the most from your students.
Another benefit of language schools is that you can get to teach specialist subjects such as exam preparation, business or Maths. This means if you have a related qualification in these subjects you can find yourself in great demand. Wages in these schools tend to be better than government schools with many offering between 40-50k for full time teachers but expect your work requirement to be around 45 hours per week with around 30 teaching hours. However, with smaller class numbers, normally less than 10, classes are easier to manage and control than those found in schools.
However not all language schools can provide a full time schedule so you may find yourself working 2 or 3 part time jobs or doing a mixture of work and private classes. Hourly rates tend to be around 300-400 Baht and when you factor in travel costs this might not be acceptable, however with AEC ( Asian Economic Community ) starting at the end of 2015, the need and demand for adults to learn English has never been higher in Thailand. Another issue is in terms of holiday allowance. Compared to the traditional school a language institute will typically offer a 10 day vacation plus public holidays. This can make it difficult for vacations back home and indeed around the world with most Europeans used to 20 plus days vacation every year.
For younger students a language school might not be how they had planned to spend their free time so you can sometimes face a bad attitude and low work ethic from these students who have been sent there by their parents.
Universities
Teaching in a university offers a very relaxed schedule compared to many other types of teaching jobs in Thailand. Normal teaching schedules are around 18 hours per week and in many university jobs you only need to be onsite when you teach meaning that you are free to spend the rest of the time at your leisure, teaching or otherwise. The salaries at government universities are around 25k per month but as stated there is plenty of time to do additional private classes with the numerous students from your classes. There is also the possibility of teaching specialist subjects at universities which can pay salaries up to 100k. However these jobs are difficult to get and are in fields of great expertise such as engineering, physics and law.
You may think that being at university, especially top ranked universities, the students will have at least an intermediate level of speaking but the average ability is much lower. Of course there will be good speakers and those who enjoy speaking English but most students will only have basic abilities and communication levels can be shockingly low. However this can work in your advantage when it comes to picking up students for private lessons.
Downsides to working at universities, apart from the low base salary, include the location. Some universities are not found in the city center but on the outskirts and as such you may find yourself living in a quiet location away from the action.
International School
Perhaps the most desirable type of teaching jobs in Thailand are those at international schools. The term international school can mean several things in Thailand and sometimes a school uses this term to promote itself whilst not being a true international school. A true international school aims to provide an education equivalent to that found in Western countries and usually adopts the curriculum found in a certain country, for example the UK or USA. Lessons are normally always conducted in English and students are often from many different countries. Parents spend a lot of money to send their children to international schools, up to 600k for a year, so expect the highest standards in terms of facilities and teachers. This means that teachers often have to be qualified as professional educators in their home country. Many hires happen at exhibitions in the UK or USA which means it can be almost impossible to get into the best international schools if you are already here in Thailand. However the second tier of international schools are more willing to accept hires from Thailand provided you have the relevant qualifications. Some are also willing to hire if you have a Masters degree, TEFL and 2 plus years experience teaching in Thailand.
With these high demands on teacher quality there come great rewards. For teachers hired from overseas this means salaries of 100k plus with benefits package such as return flights, housing allowance, driver and bonus. This means teachers here often have a much higher standard of living than their own country, especially when you factor in the lower cost of living here. Generous holiday breaks, often linked to Western dates, mean that Christmas, New Year and summer holidays can be enjoyed here in Thailand or back home with your family. The facilities at these school are very impressive and the teaching experience will be very rewarding.
However there are some schools who call themselves international but do not live up to these standard. Often facilities are only slightly better than government schools and teaching practices are not as focused and dynamic as those found at the true international schools. Teacher qualification requirements are lower and while salaries of 60-80k are possible the overall experience is not as enjoyable as those found at true international schools.
Private Teaching
Private teaching alone is possible but please note you will not be able to get a work permit for this type of activity. Many teachers use private teaching to boost their income. There are numerous ways to find teaching work such as:
- Being approached by your current students (check your contract to see if you can do this )
- Advertising on websites such as Craigslist, Thailand Facebook groups or by leaving flyers at your apartment etc.
- Online teaching through websites such as Italki . This website lets you set available times and prices so you can teach from home. Its also great for learning languages, including Thai.
For more information on private teaching please see this article:
Choosing from the types of English Teaching Jobs in Thailand
As you can see there are many options to chose from. It often comes down to your qualifications and what type of lifestyle you want to live. Most people will be looking at government schools or language institutes as their only option. Some people who decide they wish to live here long term decide to gain new qualifications such as the PGCE to become eligible to teach in the higher ranked international schools.
Overall there are lots of types of English teaching jobs in Thailand and each of them can provide you with a fun filled day, and for me personally, I find it a better option than my old job in the UK. You also have the option to change from one job to another if you don’t like a certain type.
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