Know These before Joining English Teaching Job in Thailand

Thailand offers many opportunities to teachers, especially the teachers of English language. However, if you are planning to get going with this plan, you should first do your homework so that you know what to expect and what not to expect in this job. Moreover, you should also know what it takes to obtain such jobs in Thailand.

To be eligible to work in Thailand as a teacher of English, you need to have a valid TEFL certificate. You can't get a teacher’s licence without this and your work permit depends on your teacher’s licence. Once you have your TEFL certificate, you can start negotiating salary with your potential employer. You should also start proceedings on a work visa so that no legal issues pop up later. You should discuss this with your employer because you would need his help in obtaining this document.

Once you start on your English Teaching Jobs in Thailand, you should also need to be conscious of your real pay. While a Thai person earns 30,000 Baht on an average, you are a foreigner and you would expect to receive higher payments. However, realise one thing, the living cost in Thailand is low and thus, your salary will never be a direct conversion of a teacher’s salary in USA or UK. Moreover, be sensible when discussing salary with your Thai colleagues because they might not be as well paid. They must work equally hard to get a less salary and this fact might not go down well with them. The best would be to keep your salary to yourself.

Once you start the actual teaching, you would realise how easy it is to get going with Thai students because they are welcoming and open to the foreigners. However, you should make your lessons as engaging as you can because Thai students tend to lose interest really fast if it is not entertaining enough. You should inject interactions and lively discussions, allow role plays and engage them in different games with the aim to improve their English. Once you study the Thai culture, you can always find different topics which would interest your students.

You will also realise that most of the Thai people are generally shy, especially when trying to speak in English. They might continue to use their own language when you ask them to speak English. You need to handle this situation carefully.