Teaching English in Thailand

When it comes to Thailand, not many places combine so well the amenities of the tourist Mecca and backpacker heaven, along with a developed infrastructure and a vibrant developing economy. In other words, what better place to teach English? Other countries that need English, for example, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea or Saudi Arabia, offer much in culture and adventure, but are not necessarily a vacation paradise.

 

With Bangkok long established as one of the more important cultural and financial hubs of Asia, the demand is high. If there is a caveat to Thailand, the pay is lower, and thus the career-minded person or recent college graduate with debts may not want to consider Thailand a first stop, but if pleasure trumps pay, by all means go.

 

Thailand was one of the last places I taught before I returned to America. I ended up teaching by accident while staying at a monastery, and volunteered by giving classes at a local elementary school. In general, English teachers working in Thailand are not trying to make large chunks of cash, and usually have secondary pursuits, whether Muay Thai kick boxing, language or cooking classes, or just a pleasant stop mid-travel.

 

One friend, while in the ancient capital, Ayutthaya, wound up being asked to teach for two weeks, and thus by serendipity he extended his vacation. Such is the Thai way: relaxed and informal. And what a country! Mountains and jungle in the north, exotic animals, islands and beaches, diverse ethnic minorities, and Bangkok, one of the most electric cities in Asia, where an elephant downtown, underneath the elevated train with flashing red tail light attached to rear, is a common site.

 

Per capita income, in Thailand, according to the 2009 report from the US State Department, is $3,900 (everything in this article will be given in US dollars, based on the August, 2010 rate of 32.46 Baht/US dollar). For most nationalities Thailand does not require any visa process upon entering the country. For an American, upon entry you will get a stamp permitting 30 days, which is plenty of time to find a job. Everything begins in Bangkok, a “primate city” or, specifically, a city whose population is at least twice as large as the next largest city in that country.

 

Budapest, Vienna, Mexico City, London and Paris all qualify as primates, but none dominate a country like Bangkok, whose population is over 35 times greater than Chiang Mai, Thailand's second largest city. Protests and government upheavals are not uncommon, and in the south there is unrest, but none of this should deter the potential teacher. Two English language newspapers, The Bangkok Post and The Nation, are great places for info about Thailand, as is TAT, or the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

 

For those who do not have a certificate or degree, TEFL institutions have popped up all over the country, and one might want to include this in the itinerary. Most of the schools offer valid certification in as little as four to six weeks. The certificate helps prepare the novice to focus on problems and methods specific to Thailand, as well as facilitating a visa. However; tuition can go as high as $1,500 and the certificate you earn in Thailand may not be valid for teaching in other countries.

 

As expected, salaries differ considerably between rural and urban. Pay ranges up to $1,000 or more in urban settings, for a contract that pays monthly salary. Jobs in rural areas may pay as little as $500, and volunteer work is possible. Hourly wages can be from $7-20, and higher for private lessons. Living expenses are usually the responsibility of the teacher in Thailand, and run from $200 to $600 a month for standard accommodation and location.

 

To teach you will first need a Non-Immigrant B Visa, good for three months until your work visa is processed with help from the school. It does not hurt to be a “squeaky wheel” and push the school if they lag, as an expired visa can be an unwanted headache. Thailand's relaxed attitude of mai pen rai, or “no problem”, means you may fall victim to procrastination. Thai government schools can be poorly equipped. I taught in a building without air conditioning and very few resources in terms of textbooks and supplies. However, as English is a second language of the elite, many of the private language schools, in Bangkok especially, will have access to top-end material.

 

Sexism is still part of Thai society, yet foreign female teachers, with few exceptions, are treated equally. When talking to the boss about problems, be aware of pii nong, the idea of superiors and inferiors, or social hierarchy, and the ubiquitous Asian concept of “saving face”. Bosses expect to be treated with respect.